Advice on .44 mag boolit and load for hunting

[ghh3rd]

I am getting a serious itch for a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 7 1/2" Hunter revolver to hunt hogs and deer.

Naturally, I will want to use cast boolits.

Although I load my .40 cal with light loads for general plinking, I'd like to load the .44 mag rounds at full power, as I want full power practice loads.

Are gas checks necessary?

I currently tumble lube my .40 and .38 in Alox -- would the .44 require another type of lube? I don't have a lubri-sizer (yet anyway) -- if Allox wouldn't work, would pan lubing suffice?

Can someone tell me their favorite .44 boolit (Brand & mold#) and load for hunting these types of game (hog, deer)? Hollow point, etc.?

Thanks,


Randy

[geargnasher]

44man, looks like you're wanted!

Quit wasting your time over at that other site and give some tips to someone who genuinely wants them!

Gear

[fredj338]

For deer & hogs, I think a solid SWC or FP a bit tough. I like the Lyman dev. Cast soft, they go about 260gr. Mine has a modifed pin to make a shallower cup point, the go about 270gr cast 25-1 & expand well from 1050fps-1250fps. They are GC so you need some type of sizer. YOu could use the Lee die set & pan lube.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/44-272.jpg

[O.S.O.K.]

Lee 310 wfn gas check boolit cast of wheel weights + 2% tin, lubed with LLA over 21.0 grains of H110 or W296 for 1500 fps out of a carbine or about 1250 fps from the revolver. A thumper.

[Blammer]

Gas checks are not necessary.

I used a 250gr boolit at 1350fps 19gr of 2400 with no leading out of my SRH 44mag with 7.5" brl to kill a deer with last year. Pleanty of oomph! It penetrated the deer lengthwise. :)

This is a pic of the boolit I used, it was from a GB here.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/DSCN6457.jpg

any of these boolits would be a good choice for deer or hogs.

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

as far as lube goes, I've had absolutely NO luck with LLA, and no experience with pan lubing.

I use speed green.

[runfiverun]

dj forgot to tell you about the 19 grs of 2400 part.
the rcbs 245 swc is a good one too,and glides through a levergun.
i had to modify my 92 a bit to feed the 429421 reliably but it was worth it.

[44man]

A lot of great boolits shown but I would steer towards a heavy one. The Lee 310 is great.
I use the Fed 150 primer, 21.5 gr of 296 with it. It can be cast very hard with no ill effect on killing power, you need no expansion at the velocity it shoots, it destroys lungs. Mine is doing around 1335 fps from my 10" barrel. My boolits run about 22 BHN.
A good PB will work just fine too.
I make mine .432" for Ruger's.
Another great boolit is the RD 265 if you can find one. Lubed with Felix, the darn thing will do 1-1/4" at 100 yards. I use 22 gr of 296 with it.
The SRH I had (My friend talked me out of it when I needed money for a BFR.) would do 1/2" at 50 and pop can accurate at 200 yards. But I have to confess to using my silhouette load of 23 gr of 296, Fed 150 primer and the 240 XTP----OOOH bad word! [smilie=l:

[ghh3rd]

Thanks for all of the info.

Although I don't have this gun yet, I was hoping that someone could steer me toward a good scope for the Ruger Blackhawk... one that would work fairly well without breaking the bank.

This way, I'll have a solid "target" to "shoot for" as I scrounge up funds for the gun and scope (mold, dies, etc. will have to wait just a little longer)

Randy

[dualsport]

I have shot the Lee 310 in my SBH .44 with good results, accuracy wise. The expert on that bullet is Dale 53, if you have questions. My Ruger is scoped with a Bushnell 2x6 that has given me no trouble.

[44man]

If hunting, go to Ultra Dot West and look. A scope is hard to use off hand and they are all dark in the AM and PM so you will not see a deer or the cross hairs.
I just get the 30mm red dot with the 4 minute dot, cheaper, but you will need Ruger 30mm rings. The 25mm is OK but I like the larger picture.
A scope is great for target or if hunting in full daylight. Even 2X will jiggle so much you almost need a rest. 4X and up will drive you nuts.
As much as I shoot I can't hold a gun still and sure don't want cross hairs bouncing all over the landscape. I can shoot better with open sights then with a scope but the red dot makes it as easy without needing super vision.
You can shoot very small groups with the big dot too.
Look at my avitar, those are Ultra Dots.

[snowwolfe]

As a long time lurker to this forum who has slowly been gathering all the materials over the years needed to start casting I also have a couple of questions about the .44.
Seems most people here like the GC Lee 310 mold so I might give it a go as well for my S&W 629. But like the rest of you I am thrifty as well.

Any other ideas for a non gas checked boolit in the 260-300 grain range that will not lead? Or should I stay with a gc design?

I have a good supply of wheel weight alloy and Lyman #2 to cast with. For those of you who shoot S&W's what size should I size the boolit to?

[JesterGrin_1]

Did someone say Ultra Dot :). This is a Match Dot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/SHAKERATTLEROLL/IMAG0069.jpg

But I have to say you should just go with the Ultra Dot like 44 Man has with the 4 Dot as you will be able to use factory scope mounts for a Ruger with the 30 MM Rings. As I found with mine when shooting the heavy Lee 310Gr it was hard to keep the scope from getting loose. I did it but it was a pain lol. But I have gone down in weight to the Ranch Dog 265 and am now going to try out a new Keith Design Boolit.

[Blammer]

Yep forgot about the 19gr of 2400, it's dandy!

as far as scope goes I have a simmons 2x6 pro hunter, I love it! I have 2 of them. The one on the SRH you see has had at least 500 plus rounds through it on that gun, never lost zero or any other bad stuff. I like it! I usually hunt with it on 2x and target with 6x.

Here's a pic of my NC 11 point! :)


http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/2008%20Deer/DSCN7394.jpg

Here is the line of travel for the boolit, entering in the shoulder exit the ham. Now that's some penetration.

Distance away when shot? about 12 yards, I was sitting on the ground.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/2008%20Deer/bulletpath.jpg

[375JDJ]

Blammer,

What load did you use on the deer?

How far did it run after being shot?

Steve

[fredj338]

As a long time lurker to this forum who has slowly been gathering all the materials over the years needed to start casting I also have a couple of questions about the .44.
Seems most people here like the GC Lee 310 mold so I might give it a go as well for my S&W 629. But like the rest of you I am thrifty as well.

Any other ideas for a non gas checked boolit in the 260-300 grain range that will not lead? Or should I stay with a gc design?

I have a good supply of wheel weight alloy and Lyman #2 to cast with. For those of you who shoot S&W's what size should I size the boolit to?

You don't need a GC to shoot w/ little leadign upto 1400fps. I use 50/50 ww/lead mix & run 250grLSWC @ 1100fps from a 4" M29. Plenty of gas for deer or hogs to 50yds (about as far as I go w/ open sights). I prefer te slightly heavier LHP for faster kills, but I do not have as many handgun hunts under my belt as 44man.

[yondering]

Thanks for all of the info.

Although I don't have this gun yet, I was hoping that someone could steer me toward a good scope for the Ruger Blackhawk... one that would work fairly well without breaking the bank.

This way, I'll have a solid "target" to "shoot for" as I scrounge up funds for the gun and scope (mold, dies, etc. will have to wait just a little longer)

Randy

Randy, if you want it, I have a set of stainless Leupold rings and scope base for a Ruger Blackhawk (non-hunter model). I was going to post in swappin&sellin but saw your post and thought I'd offer you first chance at it. How about $35 shipped? It's this base and these rings, together in one package. Package is opened but the parts are new.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=687067 (Leupold 1-Piece Dual-Dovetail Pistol Scope Base Ruger Blackhawk Silver)

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=634935 (Leupold 1" Dual-Dovetail Rings Silver )

[44man]

Randy, if you want it, I have a set of stainless Leupold rings and scope base for a Ruger Blackhawk (non-hunter model). I was going to post in swappin&sellin but saw your post and thought I'd offer you first chance at it. How about $35 shipped? It's this base and these rings, together in one package. Package is opened but the parts are new.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=687067 (http://Leupold%201-Piece%20Dual-Dovetail%20Pistol%20Scope%20Base%20Ruger%20Blackha wk%20Silver)

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=634935 (http://Leupold%201%22%20Dual-Dovetail%20Rings%20Silver)
It is a good deal but the fella said he has a Hunter model. I have the leupold on my SBH but needs an extended ring to fit most red dots. It also needs the gun drilled and tapped.
It is a great base and ring set but has limitations for the turret size on red dots. Rings are too close.
It is a super deal for anyone that uses a scope on a regular SBH.
I have issues with Ruger making the rings so close together. The Weigand base to the rescue! More money spent of course, but now anything can be fit.

[yondering]

It is a good deal but the fella said he has a Hunter model.

Ah, missed that. :veryconfu It'll show up in Swappin&Sellin shortly then.

Back on topic...

[Blammer]

375JDJ, I used the above boolit (see post #5 the single boolit pic) and 19gr of 2400

Deer ran about 30 yds stopped, and then ran in a tight circle and then flopped over dead.

[radar5000]

I'm trying to figure out what size to make my .44 boolits to shoot out of a '92 and a Super black hawk. .429 works in the black hawk but not in the '92. does anyone have an idea on what size to make the boolit?

[runfiverun]

radar, i use mostly 430 in my 92's
and a softer boolit with a plain base.
just a tad over 19 grs of 2400 goes over 1500 depending on the brass
with the 429,and the rcbs swc-g/c, i have used 3 different lubes so far and they have all held up just fine.
some while ago the rossi's had a bit of an issue with their bbls being a bit oversized.
but none of mine have had an issue so far.
you might even find 431 to be a bit better but 430 has done fine so far for me.
and welcome.

[44man]

I'm trying to figure out what size to make my .44 boolits to shoot out of a '92 and a Super black hawk. .429 works in the black hawk but not in the '92. does anyone have an idea on what size to make the boolit?
.429 is small for the BH with cast. Just go to .432" and see what happens. That might be too small yet for the rifle. You need to slug the bore.

[Onty]

The fellow who is casting and shooting at least 30 years told me that when he loads for more than one firearm in same calibre, he always goes with the largest dia that will go in all firearms.

Not confirmed, but another fellow apparently has made on lathe from bronze exact copy of loaded round (simulating loaded 429421) with dias ranging from .429" to .432", and using them as a gauge before first round is even assembled. I like this idea if you have several handguns in 44...

[geargnasher]

The fellow who is casting and shooting at least 30 years told me that when he loads for more than one firearm in same calibre, he always goes with the largest dia that will go in all firearms.

Not confirmed, but another fellow apparently has made on lathe from bronze exact copy of loaded round (simulating loaded 429421) with dias ranging from .429" to .432", and using them as a gauge before first round is even assembled. I like this idea if you have several handguns in 44...


...or if you have a lathe!

I cast and load for eight different .357 magnum revolvers and one carbine belonging to five different people, so to keep it simple I size .358 (largest groove diameter is .3575", smallest is one thou. smaller) and use powder and charge that works best in the best dimensioned gun. All will feed and shoot the round with good accuracy, although I'm sure it could be improved plenty in any one of the guns in question on an individual basis. I, of course, have a pet load for my revolver that I keep separate:wink:

Gear

[Bret4207]

Welcome Radar! For best shooting you will often need to size for the individual gun. For good shooting you can usually get away with "ball park" sizing. .430 is iffy and as you've seen already .429 is too small for your rifle. I'd measure the mouths of cases fired with full bore loads from both guns (using the same loads/brass) and see if they are close. Then go with the larger size of the two. I've about given up on slugging since Felix passed this method on. I don't slug anymore unless I have troubles. Hopefully your mould will throw a large enough boolit to use in the Rossi. Normally you'll find better shooting with "fat" boolits. Some guns need a slightly smaller boolit, but it's always easier to size down than try and find a fatter mould.

[radar5000]

Ok I'll try going with .431 or .432

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

[Bucks Owin]

As a long time lurker to this forum who has slowly been gathering all the materials over the years needed to start casting I also have a couple of questions about the .44.
Seems most people here like the GC Lee 310 mold so I might give it a go as well for my S&W 629. But like the rest of you I am thrifty as well.

Any other ideas for a non gas checked boolit in the 260-300 grain range that will not lead? Or should I stay with a gc design?

I have a good supply of wheel weight alloy and Lyman #2 to cast with. For those of you who shoot S&W's what size should I size the boolit to?

I assume that by "thrifty" that you are looking to cast something lighter than 310 grs to save lead? If so, I found the 225 gr RCBS bullet to be extremely accurate in my 10" Ruger FT. It is a GC design though.....Dennis (BTW, it also shot very well in a 8 3/8" M 29-2)

[O.S.O.K.]

Here is a pic of some Lee 310 grain stompers:

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/medium/Lee310-431.jpg

and here's one next to a loaded round:

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/medium/Picture_0142.jpg

Again - 21 grains of H110/W296 gives all of the velocity you need.

I will also recommend a good 250 Keith boolit with H110/296 - here's a Lyman that I cast (on left):

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/medium/HPIM2189.JPG

[JesterGrin_1]

O.S.O.K. Showing off again I see lol. And why not show some BOOLITS without the round indention on the top of the BOOLIT lol. That is why I made that thing lol.

But he is very correct on the LEE 310Gr and the load. :)