Only one 44 Mag SWC: A H&G 503 clone or a Lyman 429244 clone?

[Petander]

Gentlemen,

I want a new 44 mag SWC mold. I have a beaten up Lee 255 dual cavity from 20 years back but now that I have discovered NOE,Mihec etc... I want a Mihec brass HP mold this time. Enjoyable casting , more production plus they are in stock. I already have a couple of Mihas HP molds,including a 44 mag RF HP... I tend to laugh aloud while casting ...

But now I want a good SWC. It can be HP while at it,options are good. Miha's pin change is a breeze.



My 44's are an -88 m29 (10 3/8" Silhouette model) and a -19 mod 629 V-comp 4". I just succesfully reamed 629 throats to .431 , mod 29 is ~.4315. I enjoy good accuracy above anything else. Our club has a 75 meter berm where like to shoot claybirds.

Imagine this would be your one and only 44 SWC. Which one would you write to Santa about and why?

EDIT:It will be plain base, I also Hi Tek coat my boolits

Thank you.

[Petander]

503:

https://i.postimg.cc/FHsGdxfL/IMG-20201112-202650-447.jpg

429244:

https://i.postimg.cc/vB9vFqKp/IMG-20201112-202705-428.jpg

[cp1969]

I'd take the one on top. It looks like Elmer Keith's original design.

[RKJ]

It'd be the 503 for me. Gee, I'm a poet. Seriously, I like that design much more.

[farmbif]

+1 on the mp 503 hp. I got one through group buy years ago and it shoots great, no gas check and I've never gotten any leading or problems even when shot full power with h110 or 300mp . it my favorite super Redhawk load

[Don Purcell]

503, you don't need a gascheck with the right alloys for the load.

[derek45]

503

http://arsenalmolds.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=138

https://i.imgur.com/nQGypmJ.jpg

[Mal Paso]

Big #503 fan here. I also reamed my throats to .4313". I had the MP #503 hollowpoint and it's a great mold but if you want Solids the aluminum 6 cavity is better. I have the Arsenal #503 as well, they have cylindrical alignment pins. Good mold, just have to pay attention. I also have 2 4 cavity MP #503 Solid, brass molds. They have a tenancy to tin at the edges of the grooves during long casting sessions and require cleaning so I use the Aluminum 6 cavity now.

[Don Purcell]

Gee Mal Paso, I thought I was bad about the 503! One 8 cavity Hensley and Gibbs and a matched pair of Ballisticast 6 cavities. Somehow I see you in a dark alley saying "Hey buddy, need a 503?" and opening the trunk of your vehicle showing it full of molds.

[Mal Paso]

Gee Mal Paso, I thought I was bad about the 503! One 8 cavity Hensley and Gibbs and a matched pair of Ballisticast 6 cavities. Somehow I see you in a dark alley saying "Hey buddy, need a 503?" and opening the trunk of your vehicle showing it full of molds.

If you count what I lost in the fire I've had 1 four cavity brass HP, 5 four cavity brass solids, 1 five cavity aluminum and 4 six cavity aluminum #503 molds plus a BC1103. LOL

I was adding it up this morning. I've cast well over 100,000 #503s by now. That's like 2 TONS! Where does the lead/time go?

[Don Purcell]

I bow my head and raise my glass high to you. "Well done my noble and faithful apostle" is probably what Elmer would say.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I've had several 44 SWC molds, and my favorite was the Saeco 441
which if compared to the H&G 503 or the Lyman 429244, It is much closer to the Lyman 429244.
that's my 2¢

[Irascible]

NOE has a clone of the 503 he calls "Real Keith" and for a while they were even engraved with Keith's signature. I have one of those and 2 H&G 4 cavity 503s. The bullet is the same.

[Petander]

Thanks a lot everyone!

503 it is.

[stubshaft]

271396

Miha 503 HP

[Mal Paso]

NOE has a clone of the 503 he calls "Real Keith" and for a while they were even engraved with Keith's signature. I have one of those and 2 H&G 4 cavity 503s. The bullet is the same.

What has Al got against crimp grooves? His are the smallest. There is .015 less crimp groove on the NOE than the MP 503. It's also .002" longer and the nose is a hair fatter than the MP.

Of course we are talking thousandths when the original cherries were cut by hand and eyeball.

I started with 2 Lyman 429421 molds, the rear band was .429" the front .427". My first good bullet fit was the first run of the NOE 429421. They only had .434" molds and sizing water dropped .431" was a little hard on the sizer but leading stopped and I gained almost 100 fps with the better seal. I was in on the first group buy of the MP #503 and have used them ever since. The first 5 were Brass molds. I was going through 1200 rounds a month and casting about 1800 in a session. The deep grooves of the #503 right where they met the block would build up tin? oxides and need to be cleaned. I had 4 molds in rotation and would clean several at a time. Then came the MP 6 cavity aluminum. They were great except for alignment pin issues. Then came the wildfire, I got out with some molds and 800 #503 bullets. I got another 6 cavity MP but after a few months I had alignment pin issues so I got an Arsenal 5 cavity and kept casting. When I got some time I reset the 6 cavity pins, cross drilled and pinned them and I'm running that one now. I think all the new 6 cavity MP molds are cross pinned now. Aluminum expands faster than the steel pins. Those pins are on the bottom of the mold right next to the Hot Plate when the mold is warming up.... And who wants to fire up a 6 cavity without a hotplate?

[KVO]

I have one if the Keith signature 4 cav. aluminium molds. Agree on the tiny crimp grooves especially if PC they
just about disappear. Of course old Elmer didn't have a #5 butter tub and airsoft BB's by the campfire (or if he did I must have missed it in 6 Guns and Loads). Casts beautifully, but I could never get it to shoot as well as the MP #503 clone. I shouldn't bad mouth it too much since I'll be selling it some day. For reference the far right is the NOE "Keith" and the left three are all MP #503's.
271418
271419

[Mal Paso]

That one on the right looks like that 277g Signature Keith. I had 2 of those and agree about the performance. They also have a 264g Keith that matches the MP #503 except the crimp band and nose. I also bought a BC 1103 4 cavity before they closed their doors for the last time. Don Purcell was the smart one getting the 6 cavity BC Molds. Iron is still the best for molds.

[Don Purcell]

Thanks Mal Paso, but think it was more luck than smarts. Interesting that you and KVO agree on the accuracy or lack of with the big nosed N.O.E. Keith Signature mold. I have two of the .44's and one in .45 caliber. I have only shot the .44 in a hollowbase which I have shot in my 4 3/4 Colt Single Action and a 4 inch Model 24 Smith & Wesson. I ordered one to be able to make hollowbases because my Colt has at least .433 Throats and .428 groove diameter. Shooting has been at only 25 yards for now so haven't really wrung it out yet. 7.5 of Unique and 8.0 grains of Power Pistol is all I have tried so far. After the group buy for these molds I was surprised that there was/is no reports back on its performance or maybe I've just missed them.

[Petander]

Excellent info, thank you Mal and everyone.

I was thinking about the MP sixholer really hard but ended up with the familiar (to me) 4 cav brass HP. Gotta start somewhere.

Another MP (and a project gun under repair) here:

https://i.postimg.cc/BnRL2hhQ/IMG-20201115-163003-249.jpg

[Petander]

Unbelievable.

I placed my order late Saturday night - and DHL already has it moving on Sunday morning. Don't these people ever take breaks?

https://i.postimg.cc/KvmJVh6V/IMG-20201116-001342-297.jpg

[Mal Paso]

DHL here took 3 tries. I had to wait on the side of the road and flag down the driver.

The Hollowpoint is actually more fun to cast. I have been known to cast them even when I have plenty. I shot the new Larsen MP Mold today and it did very well.

[Don Purcell]

I was going to ask if you had any more info on the Larsen mold but forgot, it looks like a pretty effective design.

[Mal Paso]

I was going to ask if you had any more info on the Larsen mold but forgot, it looks like a pretty effective design.

I was shooting it against the 503 today and it was right there. No bags at the range to shoot from, must be on some covid list. I got a 2" 25y group easily shooting off my gun case. I have 432640s to shoot against it too but I really need a scope. And apparently sandbags too.

[Don Purcell]

Right now the way I've been shooting I would be tickled with 2" groups. Will pursue that Larsen mold.

[Petander]

DHL here took 3 tries. I had to wait on the side of the road and flag down the driver.

The Hollowpoint is actually more fun to cast. I have been known to cast them even when I have plenty. I shot the new Larsen MP Mold today and it did very well.

DHL is very good here where I live. As is FedEx. They mail, message and call.

Anything Post Office related is a no-no.

I like casting Mihas HP:s,too. They drop from the mold like water. Using the same mold with flat pins,solids sometimes need a tap.

One day I'll try Mihas alu mold but right now I'm going the familiar route.

[Petander]

https://i.postimg.cc/xCyh879h/IMG-20201118-204143-031.jpg

[Mal Paso]

Very Nice!

[Petander]

Hi Tek coated I'm getting .4325 bullets weighing 245 grns with penta pin. I did some serious micing and they are round.

High expectations for both my 629-6 and 29-3 are in the air.

https://i.postimg.cc/wMHt6hPV/IMG-20201119-212539-344.jpg

[gwpercle]

My ... The Times Are A Changing .
Now we can only have one mould .
I'm not sure I approve of this having only one mould religion .
Gary

[Don Purcell]

Petander, I have never powder coated but is .432.5 before you powder coat or after sizing?

[Mal Paso]

My ... The Times Are A Changing .
Now we can only have one mould .
I'm not sure I approve of this having only one mould religion .
Gary

This was about 1 New Mold, Not 1 Mold. None of us expects That Much restraint from a member.

[Petander]

This was about 1 New Mold, Not 1 Mold. None of us expects That Much restraint from a member.

Absolutely.

Thre was "IF" in my question to make sure everyone points out ONE 44 SWC mold only as a favorite. This worked great.


Petander, I have never powder coated but is .432.5 before you powder coat or after sizing?

No sizing,no powder coating either. Bullet drops @ .432 as advertised.

Hi Tek is different,making a thin coat. I did two coats here,three coats might be around .4335".

[Petander]

It was getting dark but I managed to find time to load & shoot some of these new bullets today.

https://i.postimg.cc/Px0RcrP1/IMG-20201120-190848-614.jpg


I like it - vertical spread is mostly darkness/shooter.

https://i.postimg.cc/9fWqjGvB/IMG-20201120-160621.jpg

Very very little leading,it's this barrel... but it's pretty good now. 4325 unsized snug throat fit to .431 groove barrel.

[cowboy4evr]

When I wanted a real Keith . I contacted Northern Valley Machine Co. in East Grand Forks Minnesota . They had all of the H&G spec's . They made me a 2 cav # 503 . A little later I contacted them again for the Keith swc for the 41 magnum , H&G 258 . I couldn't be happier . Both are great molds . Regards Paul

[44MAG#1]

Here is a group I shot offhand at 25 yards yesterday with a Ruger Redhawk 2.75 inch barrel using an Accurate Molds "250 Keith" it measure 3.420Inches outside to outside 8 for 8 shots. (what I had left)
Never have slugged the barrel or cylinder throats just sized in a .429 inch size die and loaded and shot.
This wasn't the only good offhand group. Plus being 68 years old is not a help either.

271833

[Petander]

Here is a group I shot offhand at 25 yards yesterday with a Ruger Redhawk 2.75 inch barrel using an Accurate Molds "250 Keith" it measure 3.420Inches outside to outside 8 for 8 shots. (what I had left)
Never have slugged the barrel or cylinder throats just sized in a .429 inch size die and loaded and shot.
This wasn't the only good offhand group. Plus being 68 years old is not a help either.

271833

Very good shooting!

I shoot snubs +25 too, and I also prefer small targets like yours.

Now that I got into 44 and like it very much... I may "need" a Ruger for heavy loads...

[Petander]

More shots in the dark.

https://i.postimg.cc/bvJd2LpW/IMG-20201122-121431-387.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/hPSDwH0F/IMG-20201123-155304.jpg

[doulos]

Dont mean to hijack this thread but Im interested in a similar style bullet mold. Who makes those?
Im looking to cast for my Henry Big Boy. Im thinking Im going to need a gas check design because of the higher velocities in the longer barrel. Or at the minimum a powder coated bullet. I need some instruction all of my casting has been for BPCR rifles and roundball muzzleloaders.
Which route should I go for a mold in your opinion? Id like to keep the bullet weight around 240.