First smelt and slugging barrel

[1917]

Read a lot here and wanting to buy a mold the guy asked me if had slugged the barrel. So back to reading up on slugging then decided would smelt the stick on WW to get soft lead slugs for my barrels. So here's what I found out.

45acp brass when half filled with lead makes pretty good slug for 44s. At the base it's about .438 to .44. If dip brass case in water first then lead the slug will release easily. If have any water left inside the brass it really does violently react.

Motor oil coated on cast iron makes for an easy release and works for flux as well.

My Ruger Vaqueros barrels both measured .428. The cylinders .429 to .430.

Read something about matching up the cylinders. Does anyone have info or a link for that?

What size bullet mold should I get?
thanks jim

[Buckshot]

...............Well if your Ruger's grooves are .428" and the chamber mouths run .429/.430" I'd for sure size the slugs to .430".

"What size bullet mold should I get?"

Maybe I'm missing the mark, but you really can't pick a mould by it's supposed, indicated, printed, hoped for OD. Or maybe said better, you really can't buy a mould with the idea it is going to drop a boolit of 'X" OD. That is unless the mould maker says this mould will drop a boolit of .430" with "this" alloy. If it doesn't then you can send it back.

However, you can fudge the OD that boolit's drop from a particular mould by using different alloys and gain perhaps a thou or a thou and a half. Conversely if too large you can also lose a similar amount of girth. Usually a mould with an alloy close to what the mould maker specs will net you a slug probably a thou over. The mould maker figuring it's easier to size one down a thousandth then it is to try and size one UP a thousandth :-) I'd simply buy a mould for a 44 Special or mag (whatever your revolver is chambered for) of a weight and design you want.

................Buckshot

[1917]

...............Well if your Ruger's grooves are .428" and the chamber mouths run .429/.430" I'd for sure size the slugs to .430".

"What size bullet mold should I get?"

Maybe I'm missing the mark, but you really can't pick a mould by it's supposed, indicated, printed, hoped for OD. Or maybe said better, you really can't buy a mould with the idea it is going to drop a boolit of 'X" OD. That is unless the mould maker says this mould will drop a boolit of .430" with "this" alloy. If it doesn't then you can send it back.

However, you can fudge the OD that boolit's drop from a particular mould by using different alloys and gain perhaps a thou or a thou and a half. Conversely if too large you can also lose a similar amount of girth. Usually a mould with an alloy close to what the mould maker specs will net you a slug probably a thou over. The mould maker figuring it's easier to size one down a thousandth then it is to try and size one UP a thousandth :-) I'd simply buy a mould for a 44 Special or mag (whatever your revolver is chambered for) of a weight and design you want.

................Buckshot


Buckshot thanks. Some 44 molds in discussion that is not quite ready for GB debate .434 vs .432 or so. From what I can tell it's 44-40 favors .434 mold and 44 favors .432 or so. Can .434 dropped boolit get sized down to .430? Is there an advantage to .432 mould with a 44 revolver?

[runfiverun]

some loading die sets won't allow you to use boolits much over 429 in a 44-40.
i'd go for the 429-30 size and play it from there.
my levergun won't chamber over 428 reliably so i use a softer alloy and it does fine with no accuracy issues.
the bbl is 429 btw.
sometimes i wonder where makers get their sizes from.

[Buckshot]

...........The only .44 I own is a .444 Marlin on a Martini action. I have exactly one 44 cal mould and that's the Lee C430-310F and from WW 'type' alloy they drop at .431". You can easily size down a boolit 4-5 thousandths. The best way to do it is to use a lube die first, as close to it's as cast diameter, and then send it through a Lee type push through die. Heck I've sized down the Lyman 8mm 323470 slug from .325" to .314" for use in an Argentine rifle and they worked just fine.

.............Buckshot

[dromia]

......Heck I've sized down the Lyman 8mm 323470 slug from .325" to .314" for use in an Argentine rifle and they worked just fine.

.............Buckshot

You aminal! :D

[krissgreeve]

Hello guys,
This is kriss I have a read a lot here and wanting to purchase a mold the guy asked me if had slugged the barrel. So back to reading up on slugging then decided would smelt the stick on WW to get soft lead slugs for my barrels. So here what I found out. 45acp brass when half filled with lead makes pretty good slug for 44s. At the base it's about .438 to .44. If dip brass case in water first then lead the slug will release easily. If have any water left inside the brass it really does violently react.
Motor oil coated on cast iron makes for an easy release and works for flux as well. And what size bullet mold should I get?

Thanks in advance

[243winxb]

For the 44-40 http://www.singleactions.com/4440Vaqueros.pdf Lyman makes moulds for this.
Pistol Bullet Mould: 44/40 - #427666

Bullet # : 427666

Grain: 200gr

Top Punch : 649

Double Cavity # : 2660666

Requires Double Cavity Handles

Four Cavity # 2670666

Requires Four Cavity Handles

Sizing Die: .427, .428

Designed for feeding and accuracy. Crimped in groove for rifles and pistols - Cowboy Action Or they also make this one.
Pistol Bullet Mould: 44/40 - #427098

Bullet # : 427098

Grain: 205gr

Top Punch : 43

Double Cavity # : 2660098

Requires Double Cavity Handles

Sizing Die: .427, .428

Old standard 44-40 rifle or pistol bullet I have cast/used the old #42798 , it drops from the mould at .4295" +/- .0005" using range scrap lead. http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/th_44mag.jpg (http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/44mag.jpg)

[1917]

Looks like I got it backwards. 44-40 favor smaller sizes closer to .429. Looks like Lee's tumble lube molds drops boolets allowing to load without going through a sizer.

Given my Vaqueros are 44s and their measurements I ordered Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold TL430-240-SWC (430 Diameter). Seems like a good mold to get my feet wet with casting boolets and may get away with not sizing.

what do you guys think?

[1917]

For the 44-40 http://www.singleactions.com/4440Vaqueros.pdf Lyman makes moulds for this.
Pistol Bullet Mould: 44/40 - #427666

Bullet # : 427666

Grain: 200gr

Top Punch : 649

Double Cavity # : 2660666

Requires Double Cavity Handles

Four Cavity # 2670666

Requires Four Cavity Handles

Sizing Die: .427, .428

Designed for feeding and accuracy. Crimped in groove for rifles and pistols - Cowboy Action Or they also make this one.
Pistol Bullet Mould: 44/40 - #427098

Bullet # : 427098

Grain: 205gr

Top Punch : 43

Double Cavity # : 2660098

Requires Double Cavity Handles

Sizing Die: .427, .428

Old standard 44-40 rifle or pistol bullet I have cast/used the old #42798 , it drops from the mould at .4295" +/- .0005" using range scrap lead. http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/th_44mag.jpg (http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/44mag.jpg)

Can use these in my 44 mags or only for 44-40?

[243winxb]

Can use these in my 44 mags or only for 44-40? Yes, i do, with a sized diameter of .430" they are Ok for the 44mag, but maybe not the best choice as i now use the Saeco in the photo above for 44 mag. . Note that the bullet has been redesigned compared to my #42798.