44 molds

[Kirk Miller]

I am sure that this has been beat to death, but maybe, a few more people have joined this great forum and have a few more opinions.

If you were just starting out and wanted TWO non-gas check molds for 44 mag-spl. what would they be, and why.

Looking forward to everybody's input.
Kirk

[mtgrs737]

Kirk,

I have a Lyman 429421 which is a SWC Keith style and cast around 240grs in Wheel Weight alloy. I also have Lyman 429667 which is a RNF style boolit that casts around 240grs also. I like them both, the SWC design may not cycle in lever guns as well as the RNF style but the SWC is the classic Keith design and it is supposed to be very accurate (either is more accurate than I am). I also think the RNF works a little better with speed loaders as it has no square shoulder to catch on the chamber openings. I also like to have a crimp groove so I can roll the case mouth in and not have to crimp over the front driving band or into the lead to keep from having a edge exposed to catch on the camber mouths.

In my opinion the 429421 Keith is a must have just because it is a classic Keith design, the other choice is up to you, I stayed with the same weight just to make it simplier. They say that the total round nose design is better for long range accuracy, but my eyes won't let me test that, you might consider it though. Good luck!

[azrednek]

Hope I don't open a can or worms by suggesting Lee brand molds. I started out casting for 44 Special casting the Lee 44 cal full wad cutter. The Lee 44 wad cutter has been discontinued but they do have a good selection of plain base (non-gas check base) 44's. If you can afford the extra bucks you will be better off in the long run with Lyman or RCBS molds and if money is no object Saeco or NEI brands are the best. Lee 2- cavity molds include the handles. Other brands you have to purchase the handles separately.

Here is a link to Lee's bullet mold chart. I suggest the 200 gr round flat or the 214 SWC to get you started and hooked into this hobby!!
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1231995234.2427=/html/catalog/bullmol2.html

[Calehedron]

I am also a fan of the 429421 Keith bullet and the 429667 RNFP. Both shoot exceptionally well out of my 7 1/2" SRH with anywhere from 9.0gr of Green Dot to 20gr of 2400.

[Bassleg]

Hope I don't open a can or worms by suggesting Lee brand molds. I started out casting for 44 Special casting the Lee 44 cal full wad cutter. The Lee 44 wad cutter has been discontinued but they do have a good selection of plain base (non-gas check base) 44's. If you can afford the extra bucks you will be better off in the long run with Lyman or RCBS molds and if money is no object Saeco or NEI brands are the best. Lee 2- cavity molds include the handles. Other brands you have to purchase the handles separately.

Here is a link to Lee's bullet mold chart. I suggest the 200 gr round flat or the 214 SWC to get you started and hooked into this hobby!!
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata.../bullmol2.html
azrednek is online now Report Post Reply With Quote I agree if this is your first Rodio go with Lee my 2 cents

[beagle]

Amen on the 429421 and 429667. But....

Get DC moulds and have Buckshot HP a civity in each one and remove the BB on the 429667 and you'll be fine. The 667 HP'd will run a bit over 230 grains.

In fact, the two moulds are kind of redundant in weight.

The 429421 is a "must have". I might think about a 429215 and HP one cavity and have the GC shank removed. We've had good luck with that modification.

My 429215PBHP runs right at 204 grains and the HP 429421s will run in the 230+ range.

This gives you two nicely seperated weight and both are good designs./beagle

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Saeco 443. Casts a .433 plain base using about 30-1 .. real soft. WW casts about .434+
Rapine .429 casts .432 about 260 grain with 30-1 WW casts .434 and about 250+
I have been using them in my 44-40 1892 fat bore.
God Bless you !

[44man]

The .44 is a pain! So many great boolits made for it yet so few with a PB. I don't think gas checks are needed in the caliber at all.
I have thought about buying another Lee 310 gr mold and removing the check portion by lapping it out.

[FN in MT]

You absolutely NEED a #429421 as it will do anything You want in a .44 Spcl/.44 mag case. One can load them down to 700 fps in a Special case or up to 1300 fps in a mag case. I've used the Keith slug to shoot gophers at 800 fps, to shooting through a mature bull elk at 1300 fps.

No stability issues either at the low speeds.

You have a SWEET dilemma!! what fun, new toy to buy?? LOL.

FN in MT

[jack19512]

I have thought about buying another Lee 310 gr mold and removing the check portion by lapping it out.







That is what I did to my Lee two cavity mold. It turned out good. Now I have the option of GC or no GC. If I knew I would never need a GC on the 310 boolit I would do this to the other cavity also.

[Kirk Miller]

Thank you everyone for your replies.
I will definitely get a 429421. As for the 429667, I've got and like the 358665, so I might as well get the 44 version. As for beagle's suggestion of a plain base 429215, that's a great idea. Save some lead, and still have a pretty big boolit. Well, here goes again. Three, not two, new molds to play and experiment with. What a great sport.
Kirk

[Blammer]

Pick one of the plain base one's. You can't go wrong.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/44NEWLINEUP.jpg

[dk17hmr]

Did anyone tell you....you probably should get a 429421?

[The Nyack Kid]

I am going to be the Odd Duck in the bunch and reccomend the RCBS 250 K for starters . I have nothing against the 429421 , I have two of em ( a square lube groove design and a round lube groove design ), but I like the RCBS boolit better . Anouther sweet and fun shooting boolit ,is the 200 gr RNFP . Mine is a Lee , but others make them also .

[Wayne S]

SAECO offers a varied selection http://www.redding-reloading.com/PDFfiles/bulletchart.pdf
Don't know if this will open or not.
One think to consider is what firearm you plan to shot these in and at what distance.
first I would mike or slug my cylinder throats, then ask for experences with the different brand molds as to what Dia. their molds throw .44 bullets.
I would want one that cast bullets .001+ larger that the cylinder throat Dia. Then size with the largest Dia. sizing die available, usually .430
If you are looking for something to "plink" with go with a lighter 200<> 215 gn mold as they use le$$ alloy.

[rockrat]

429412 is one of the definite moulds you should get, I think it was the second 44 mould I bought and cast many thousands of bullets from it.. Another of my favorites is the NEI 429-290 pb, for a heavy bullet. I bought many bullets from Denver bullets, years ago, which was a heavy 439421 that weighed it at 295gr. Talking 20 years ago, still have some. Shot great.

[Glen]

First, and foremost, get a 429421 SWC mould. That bullet will do almost anything you want either a .44 Special or a .44 Magnum to do.

My second mould would be a 429421 hollow-point mould. They can be kind of hard to find, but they are out there. And the 429421 HP is a great hunting bullet.

[GLynn41]

RCBS their Keith bullet -- made for a friend by the 1000s-- great mold- the other although a GC is the thompson 429244 also a great mold as is the the other calibur versions in the 357 and 45 colt

[MakeMineA10mm]

Well, I like this one:
http://www.tmtpages.com/LinkSkyImages/forum_images/MakeMinea10mm/MakeMineA10mm_%
(Shameless plug :mrgreen: :oops: ) - That's my Keith group buy boolit, and they're all spoken for, unfortunately...

Since you specifically ruled-out GC boolits, my next choice would be this one:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8666&stc=1&d=1220705141
That's Catshooter's 225gr RNFP group buy. He recently closed it, but you might be able to get in, if you send him a PM.

[Lloyd Smale]

250k and 429421

[hedgehorn]

What Lloyd said^ But I would add the Lee 310 as well

[Kirk Miller]

Confession time:
I've ordered one of the ruger 44 spls. that are supposed to be available through Lipseys. My local gun shop has assured me that they will get it, but who knows?

If for some reason, I don't get one, I'm gonna get the 44 mag. bhk in a 5.5 bl. So for absolutely sure there is a new 4 cav 429421 coming my way. For a hollwpoint, I've got an old single cav. 429421 that I'll have hollow pointed. That will leave only a 200-225 boolit for me to decide on.

In the meantime, I've got to sell some duplicate .358 molds. SWMBO says "you always say, "this is the last mold I'll need. And then you buy another one". Innocently enough, I replied, "isn't it nice that at my age [I'm 48 and been married to the same wonderful woman for 27 years] there is still something that I can get excited about". Man, did that get me a dirty look.

So to keep peace in the house, I'll be listing a few mold in the swap @ sell.

Thank you again for all of the great advice.
Kirk

[vanilla_gorilla]

I currently run ONLY a RCBS 44-250-K mould, but if I were to ever purchase another .44 mould, it would be a 429421 HP.

[Kirk Miller]

The only thing that steers me away from the rcbs, is the rash of bad molds they've been putting out lately. In the early eighties, I bought a brand new one on a store close out and lent it to my brother in law.

He is the kind of low life, that if you lend him something, he instantly believes that he owns it. He is now my ex bil. So I'll never see the mold again but hopefully I won't see him either.
Kirk

[vanilla_gorilla]

So I'll never see the mold again but hopefully I won't see him either.
Kirk

Sounds like a fine trade, to me.

[abunaitoo]

In the picture you posted, the Lyman 429640 bullet has no hollow point. Is it a custom mould, or is it modified????
Could you tell me what it weighs????
It kind of looks like what I'm looking for.

[Irascible]

RCBS 250K Keith style. Excellant Quality mould and a very accurate bullet. If you have a 44, you have to have a Keith bullet.
200gr Saeco RNFP cowboy bullet. Very accurate. Excellant quality mould. A good light load bullet. For when you don't need a gas check (most cases). You can get 2 or 4 cavities.
Lyman 429215, 215gr SWC, this is the only gas check bullet needed as 44s don't tend to lead. This one can be driven very fast with good accuracy. As stated, it will do everything.
I have two of the Lipsey's 44 Spcl on order, one in each length. The store has $600 of mine, so I hope they'll be here soon. I wish they had also made a 7 1/2" model, but that whould have gotten me in even more trouble! I'll probably shoot the 200gr Saeco mostley as I have a few 44 magnums to digest the Keith bullets.

[DanOH]

Gotta agree ..429421...
and the Lee 200 rf 6 cavity is an awesome investment. Cranks out lots of little bullets that , in my Dan Wesson, are the most accurate bullet I own. The meplat is kinda small but man does it shoot good.

[sundog]

RCBS 250 K and a Lee 6 banger in 200 RF. The Lee will let you make a mountain of half way decent boolits fast enough that you will have plenty to keep you shooting.