Cast info for Charter Arms 44 Special

[Daryl]

I will be getting a Charter Arms 44 Special Pug in a few weeks. I'd like to start gathering casting stuff for it.

Anyone know about what this would slug at? Which Lee molds do you suggest? What size sizing dies?

Thanks

[NHlever]

While I haven't shot one, my guess is that you will want to stick with the lighter boolits in that gun. Recoil will be a big factor, and 200 grains will handle any defensive situation the Bulldog is suitable for. I would try the Lee 44-200 RNFP. I've just started shooting my Ruger .44 Special, and that boolit along with the Lyman 429215 are showing promise.

[dbldblu]

They are not all going to slug the same. Manufacturers use a reamer until it is worn out, whatever their definition of worn out is. So, what my Bulldog slugs at is not very helpful to you. That said, I have one of the original Bulldogs and it slugs at .431. It shoots to point of aim with 240 grain bullets and a little bit low with 200 grain. Recoil is fierce with the 240 grain and I use mostly the Lee 200 RNFP as mentioned above.

[mooman76]

I have a Rossi 44sp which seems similar and it shoots the Lee 220 RNFP fairly well like NHlever suggested. It also shoots the Lee 214gr SWC well and recently a Lee WC that Lee doesn't make anymore.

[Edubya]

Since you like gas checks, you might try to find an Ideal 431215. You can load that with 5.0 gr. of BE for 800 fps. You can also crank it up with 17 gr. of 2400 for 1050 fps. I wouldn't start at these loads but either load is within the SAAMI pressures.
EW

[Guesser]

The Lee 214 gr. SWC as mentioned already, would be my choice. I know from personal experience that it works well in a Taurus 431 short barrel and I use it in my 441, 6" stainless. Good bullet!!!!!

[Dale53]

If anyone has one of the Group Buy 200 gr Wadcutters, that should be absolutely perfect for the Charter Arms .44. Mine isn't for sale, so don't ask. However, there are nearly always someone who changes their mind.

In my Ruger .44 Lipsey Special, 5.0 grs of Red Dot chronographs at 878 fps. That would make a super, close quarter self defense round and would rival a .45 ACP.

You might list your wants on the Swap and Sell column.

FWIW
Dale53

[Thin Man]

Daryl,
Several years ago I ran samples of most of the boolits I cast through my Bulldog looking to see what it liked. Powder charges were modest but not light. My tightest group came from the Lee 200 RN (actually weighs 210 with my alloy). While I had been hoping to find a heavier boolit for routine carry, accuracy (substance) trumps appearance (style) for this job. The Lee RN grouped better than even the Lee 160 and 180 WC, and all of the SWK styles, including the Lyman 429215GC, which is about the same weight. All boolits were sized the same at .430, same lube, etc. This was surprising since the Lee 160WC has been extremely accurate in a S&W M-28 I converted to 44 SPL many years ago. As others have said, your revolver will tell you what it likes. Now my challenge is to locate a lighter WC or SWC that my pistol likes as well as the 200RN.
ThinMan

[45 2.1]

Have a look here: http://www.gunblast.com/Bulldog_Pug.htm

Since this is a fixed sight revolver, you will likely find it shoots low with boolits weighing much under 240 to 250 gr. unless you lower the front sight with a file. The early guns will shoot the Lyman 429383 245 gr. RN to point of aim with 4.0 gr. of Bullseye sized 0.431".