Big wadcutters!

[MarTay6]

I haven't been active here for a long time, but I'm getting into reloading. Looking at reloading for a 44 magnum Henry rifle. Have always been a fan of .38 wadcutters... I know they're a good target load, but I know some also like them as defensive loads. Which made me wonder- why not .44 mag wadcutters?
Wes
Winterport, ME

[Gar10]

Semi wadcutters maybe, the full wadcutters might not feed well in the lever gun. A lot of folks use the round nose flat point. Try both and see. Good luck!

[brewer12345]

If you can find a sample lot of 44 wadcutters, see if they will feed. Otherwise RNFP is always a good choice with levers.

[sutherpride59]

Semi wadcutters are the way to go bud, all the good and none of the feeding issues of wad cutters

[Conditor22]

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-210W-D.png

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-215W-D.png

[facetious]

I have this in 38 150gr. I load it in .357 with 15gr's of 2400 . It is my favorite in my Security Six . 8gr's of BE-86 shot well also.

LBT
OGIVAL Wadcutter (OWC)
This wadcutter form was developed to allow stable flight at supersonic speeds, which isn't possible with standard wadcutters. It makes an excellent target or light game bullet, with maximum accuracy range extended about 40 yards over full wadcutters, or about 90 yards. Because of the high velocity potential, we offer it in gas checked as well as plain base. However, the tiny radius of the nose with the small ogive prevents it from cutting paper cleanly. If you want a full wadcutter so you get clean holes in the paper, simply ask for a full wadcutter and I'll make it. Use the weights below, or order special weights if you wish. The weights below are maximum for stability out to the claimed 90 yards. Order any base style you like and any diameter, including 475 and 50 caliber, though those aren't listed.

32 caliber - 100 grains
38 caliber - 150 grains
41 caliber - 200 grains
44 caliber - 230 grains
45 caliber - 260 grains
Profile designation for all is OWC

[lar45]

If you want to see if it will feed, try seating a bullet backwards in a dummy round.

[oldsalt444]

You can get a box of 100 boolits from Matt's to try out. I've used their 45 WC in my revolver. These are great quality boolits and service is fast.

https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68_77&zenid=tcq30gsscl767spo70gico7au4

That 175 gr. looks like it might feed well in your rifle.

[charlie b]

These days there are a lot of wide flat nose bullets for revolvers. They are almost full cylinder designs. If you don't care for the SWC design they would be a decent choice.

[mdi]

Wadcutters in revolvers, good (I don't have a wadcutter mold in 44 cal. but I have shot a lot of Matt's Bullets full wadcutters in my revolvers). Wadcutters in semi-autos, not good. Wadcutters in leverguns, not good. Semi-wadcutters in revolvers, good. Semi-wadcutters in semi-autos, depends. Semi-wadcutters in leverguns, depends. I have 5, 44 Magnum guns, 3 revolvers and one Contender and one Puma levergun. The Puma just doesn't like semi-wadcutters even though I have played with different methods short of modifying the gun, to get 429421s to feed reliably; loading in 44 Special brass, deep seating in 44 Mag brass, trimming 44 Mag. brass to half way between Magnum and Special length, etc. (loaded singly they work quite well). My 3, 45 ACP guns feed RN and RNFP 100%, and 2 feed SWC 100% but my Ruger P90 doesn't like SWC and chokes on 3 or 4 out of 8 rounds.

My remedy for the 44 Magnums was to switch to a Ranch Dog RNFP design which is accurate, very effective on game and works quite well in all my Magnums...

[brewer12345]

If you want to see if it will feed, try seating a bullet backwards in a dummy round.

That is a very good idea.

[Wayne Smith]

Naah, if it doesn't feed in your rifle obviously you need a revolver!

[farmbif]

as far as swc in lever action I have to load h&g 503 clones and 429421 into 44 spl brass to get them to feed in my gun. ive yet to try 429215. 429667 feeds reliably in 44 mag brass. like others have suggested might get some sample bullets to try before spending a lot of money on a mold

[mr surveyor]

That is a very good idea.

DITTO


jd

edit to add: LAR45 made me look ... I just loaded a dummie in .44 mag brass with a Bayou Bullet 240gr LSWC "flipped" ... with just a bit showing (the bevel base) above the case mouth. Danged if it don't cycle perfect in my Rossi R92. And to think, I gave a buddy 500-600 .44 mag wad cutters a few years ago when I traded away a Ruger SRH. Looks like it works - at least in my R92

[MarTay6]

Wow, thanks for all the good replies here, guys!! Greatly appreciated! Also have a GP-100 I'm reloading .38 Specials for... using 158 gr SWC's for from Missouri Bullet Company to start with. Have some test loads with Bullseye and Unique waiting some range testing for.
For the .44 mag Henry, have some coated 240 gr SWC Keith style w/beveled base coming to start with.

[brewer12345]

DITTO


jd

edit to add: LAR45 made me look ... I just loaded a dummie in .44 mag brass with a Bayou Bullet 240gr LSWC "flipped" ... with just a bit showing (the bevel base) above the case mouth. Danged if it don't cycle perfect in my Rossi R92. And to think, I gave a buddy 500-600 .44 mag wad cutters a few years ago when I traded away a Ruger SRH. Looks like it works - at least in my R92

Funny, wadcutters cycle very well in my Rossi 92 in 357.

[mdi]

Funny, wadcutters cycle very well in my Rossi 92 in 357.

Wadcutters or semi-wadcutters? Can't remember wadcuttters feeding in any, but I ain't seen everything...

[brewer12345]

Wadcutters or semi-wadcutters? Can't remember wadcuttters feeding in any, but I ain't seen everything...

Haven't done a whole lot of it since I have no particular need to shoot them out of a rifle, but mine feeds 38s loaded with Berry's 148 grain plated wadcutters loaded to an OAL of 1.24".

[fcvan]

I was going to suggest the backward boolit test but it has already been mentioned. I scored a single cavity Lee 429-208 WC, mold, even though I didn't own a 44. A few years later, my wife fell in love with a 3.75" SBH , 44 M at a gun show. She looked dejected when I reminded her that a new caliber meant molds, dies, etc. She said 'oh, okay.' Hurt puppy look. Then I told here I already had molds dies etc., and told her 'Get that gun!' I love her when she smiles.

[mr surveyor]

The "flipped" 240 gr SWC I dummy loaded was 1.39 oal and cycled perfect several times in my Rossi R92. I didn't load my usual 4-5 dummy rounds to check total functionality though. I don't shoot 44 spl rounds in my .44 mag R92, and don't shoot .38 spl in my .357 mag R92. I don't want to even deal with the possibility of the short round carbon ring .... had it enough several years ago shooting .38 spl wad cutters in a Ruger Security Six. That ended up being a PIA. If I want bunnyfart loads, I'll just load em down in full length brass with normal-for-cartridge oal boolits.

just my opinion

jd

[megasupermagnum]

I always find it funny that people put up with so many guns that don't cycle. Now obviously there is a limit to everything, but just look at shotguns. How many millions of shells are fired from pump and semi auto shotguns every year with minimal issues. They are worse than a wadcutter, they are a plastic cylinder, they are anything but consistent. Yet a dirt cheap Mossberg 500 will cycle them like greased lightning. Not just 3" or 2 3/4", they will cycle shorter shells too.

So why wouldn't we expect a lever action pistol caliber carbine to cycle a precision, brass cased wadcutter? This is not a question directed at anyone, it is more a question directed to the manufacturers who continue to produce inferior designs.

[KCcactus]

I guess I'm lucky, my Rossi 92s in 357 and 44 both feed wc with no issues in mag brass. I load them with about 1/4" outside the case. In 38 cases, the 92 lets 2 rounds past the cartridge stop and jams. The extra length of mag brass takes care of the problem. I don't have any 44 spl brass, so I haven't tried any in the 92.

I have MP hbwc molds in 38, 44. They're my favorite hp boolits. The 44 is much more impressive than the 38 with water filled targets. The big wc are worth a try. You may decide you like them.

[Wheelgun]

I have no experience with a 44 WC or a Henry, but my Uberti 1873s leverguns in 45colt feed the Seaco #453 wadcutter slick as snot.