.44 Mould Between 250 gr. -300 gr.

[insanelupus]

I've been doing some thinking and looking around lately for a .44 caliber gas check mould around the 280 grain mark. The idea is to look into using it for both revolvers chambered in .44 Magnum around 1000-1100 fps and .444 Marlin at around 2000 fps. The main use would be for hunting deer, black bear, and elk. Planned alloy would be wheel weights with some tin thrown in if needed, AC for the revolver, WQ for the rifle. I want to try and balance penetration with expansion, with penetration slightly more important to me.

I know LBT makes one in this range. Also Saeco has the 265 grain #430. Are there any other designs out there (past or present) that someone could refer me to for what I'm looking to use it for?

Thanks.

[fredj338]

I have a Lyman Dev. mold that I had a new pin made for. The original GC design throws a 265gr bullet from 25-1 alloy, lubed & gc. It fragments badly above 1000fps. The modified pin is really now a cup point & weighs 272gr+ ready to load. It expands nicely @ 1225fps & still weighs 245gr after 17" of wetpack.

[Lloyd Smale]

the lbt 280 lfngc is a good one.

[Calamity Jake]

I have a Saeco #433 a 300gr rnfp gc 2 cav LNIB for sale if you want it. I've ran about 300 boolets thru it in 15+ years.
Shoot me a PM if your interested, we'll talk $'s.

[EDK]

Look at RANCH DOG's link at the bottom of the page. His 265 has worked well in my 1894 MARLINs. He has a 300 grainer and a 350 in the works that might be better for the 444. At his prices, get one of all of them!

Another option is the possible group buy for LYMAN 429640 clone in either gas check or plain base or both.

LYMAN and RCBS both have 300 grain semi wadcutter moulds...don't know how they would feed in your 444.

Go to lasc.us web site and look up Glenn Fryxell's article on 1894 MARLINS. You might also find something on the 444 there.

"One size fits all" will work, but you would be better served with two specific moulds for rifle and pistol. Plain base for pistol...gas checks are an unnecessary expense; and gas check for rifle where you want heavier weight, depending on rifling twist rate, and higher velocity than your revolvers. Been there, done that...got a bunch of moulds I don't use very often!

:cbpour::redneck::Fire:

[Randall]

I have a Lyman 429640 2 cavity I would be willing to sell. PM me if interested.
Randall

[beagle]

I took the Lyman Devestator and reduced the pin diameter to .140" diameter. At the same time, I had a"plug" made for it so that I can make solids by adding the plug attachment.

Works great in my .444 Marlin and shoots well in my SBHs as well except that I normally use 429421s in it./beagle

[denul]

I have a 280 LFN by Veral Smith at LBT that works very well, near and far, in the Redhawk, M29, and lever rifles; too long for my Automag magazine, but that's just nit picking.

By the way,does any one know anything about the "TLC 430-265 RF" 2 cavity on the Lee closeout site? I'm guessing its tumble lube, but "RF" can mean a lot of things in the Lee world, and they don't supply an illustration. Lately, their 125gr .357 RF has apparently changed significantly, without notice.

[Boomer Mikey]

The 429640 mold is a good one... like beagle said, getting another pin made for it to produce full nose bullets will result in 280 - 285 grain bullets that are perfect for the 444; however, the lube capacity of the bullet makes it necessary to use a premium bullet lube like LBT BLUE for use in the 444. The hollow point bullet is very stable for long range use and at 250 grains will go 2000 fps easily.

If these Group Buys happen, the bullets are exactly what you're looking for: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=45939

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5777&d=1199004396

The problem with many 444's and some 44 Magnum revolvers is finding bullets to fit 0.433" - 0.434" groove diameter barrels. Most of the factory molds drop bullets at 0.431" or smaller.

Boomer :Fire:

[59sharps]

I use a RcbS 429- 240 sil. in my 44-40 henry weight is 253 pure lead. its a gas check bullet
i use it w/o a gas check gives an extra grease ring.

[arcticbreeze]

By the way,does any one know anything about the "TLC 430-265 RF" 2 cavity on the Lee closeout site? I'm guessing its tumble lube, but "RF" can mean a lot of things in the Lee world, and they don't supply an illustration. Lately, their 125gr .357 RF has apparently changed significantly, without notice.

The "TL" = tumblelube
The "C" = gas check
The 430 = nominal diameter with there alloy
The 265 = nominal weight with there alloy
The RF = Round nose Flat point

[Blammer]

I would recommend the 429640 Lyman on the far right of this pic. Wt's about 275gr.

good wt and should have a good enough nose for feedingin the lever gun.

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

[Slow Elk 45/70]

EDK is right on with the RD boolit, if your 444 is a marlin, the boolit is made to fit the rifle bore, which makes it a lot easier to get good accuracy[smilie=1:

[azrednek]

By the way,does any one know anything about the "TLC 430-265 RF" 2 cavity on the Lee closeout site? I'm guessing its tumble lube, but "RF" can mean a lot of things in the Lee world, and they don't supply an illustration.

Here is what it looks like, got mine a couple of days ago. Better hurry and get it, they only show 20 left.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dnisbet/AA-lee-mold.gif

Don't know the story behind them. My guess it is an order for Ranch Dog or a group buy that went wrong. I haven't had a chance to cast anything with it yet but for $20.50 and a few bucks for shipping I can't complain if it is not perfect.

[insanelupus]

Is the Lee TLC 430-265 RF the one that was an undersized group buy mould?

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Yes, that mold throws a .430 boolit like it says, RD's were to be .432, so they were sent back and replace with the larger boolit. Lee must have put them in their close out site.

Nothing else wrong with them just .430 vs .432[smilie=1:

[Lead melter]

Over on the Ranch Dog forum, Michael states that the molds are actually cut at .427". WAY undersize. Buyer beware!

[Ranch Dog]

I rejected the order because the cavities were cut at .428" vs. the .433" specified in my cavity drawings. If you are going to shoot this bullet out of a Marlin, good luck. Expect to see a cast bullet diameter, depending on the alloy, of .427" to .428".

[hedgehorn]

That 310 Lee is a great boolit. My Redhawks love them.

[Lloyd Smale]

with the 444 you have to watch nose lenght. Alot of designs dont work well crimped in the crimp grove. As to swcs the only one ive found that will run in mine is the 240 rcbs swcgc which by the way is a very accurate bullet but probably a bit light for what your trying to do. My go to bullet in the 444 is a 340 ballistic cast lfngc that has two crimp groves but then that may be a bit heavy for you. If i didnt allready have a couple differnt lfns in the 280 range id definately be contacting ranch dog and buying his mold to try. I need to anyway to try in my finiky 44p but that gun is on the back burner for now. to many others to fool with right now.

[Lloyd Smale]

Ranch Dog can you email me when you get a chance. lws43@hotmail.com. thanks pal.