Winchester Trapper in 44 Mag

[NickSS]

I have had this rifle for years and have shot it a fair amount using hard cast RNFP bullets bought from Sportsmans Wearhouse. I have been using mostly 10 gr of Unique or 6 gr of Red Dot for these 200 gr slugs. These loads do not produce stirling accuracy but have been OK for plinking. I want to find a mold for this rifle that can be used for both plinking and deer hunting. I am looking for some recomendations as well as load data that will give me better results than I have been getting.:confused:

[shootingbuff]

You are in luck. In the Group Buy section there is a 44K style 6-holer order that is going to be placed. Jump on in, I am. Sounds like it should work fine for you and your needs.

sb

[JDL]

I've had excellent resusts with the Lee C430-310 in my Marlin carbine using WC-820 @ 1350 fps, and H-110 @ 1538 fps. These produce groups of 1 7/8ths to 2" @ 100 yards. I've worked with IMR-4227, but the best it will do is about 2.5" and only with max loads.
I bummed a few of the RCBS 44-225 GC from a friend to try and 3 groups, averaged slightly over 2 MOA when using 18 grains of Hercules 2400 which definately shows promise. -JDL

[waksupi]

I've been shooting 240 gr. range bullets, and around 15.5 gr. 2400 have given me my best accuracy.

[crazy mark]

310 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check (GC)
1.600 5.7 Fed. 150 Red Dot 5.8 885 34,900
1.600 5.7 Fed. 150 Green Dot 6.2 895 34,600
1.600 5.7 Fed. 150 Unique 7.2 965 34,800
1.600 5.7 Fed. 150 Bullseye 6.8 975 35,000
1.600 5.7 Fed. 150 Herco 8.0 1,005 35,000
1.600 5.7 Fed. 150 Blue Dot 10.7 1,110 34,900
1.600 5.7 Fed. 150 2400 13.5 1,150 34,600


250 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check (GC)
Unique 8.7 gr. 925 fps
Clays 8.5 gr. 944
HP38 6.4 gr. 881
HS6 12.0 gr. 1,176 (use gas check)
HS7 13.0 gr. 1,237 (use gas check)

240 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check (GC)
Bullseye 9.8 gr. 1,175 FPS
Unique 11.8 gr. 1,255
2400 20.6 gr. 1,510
Universal 8.0 gr. 1,045 (no GC)
HP-38 7.0 gr. No chrono, mild target load
231 11.0 gr. 1,285

Here is some loading data I have found and use some of it in my 44 Trapper. Start at least 2 grs below what they show and work up. Mark

[9.3X62AL]

I am a real hidebound traditionalist when it comes to the 44 Magnum, and I think it does its best work with the 240-250 grain boolits--whether in rifle or revolver form. There is no reason on earth to NOT get decent deer-harvesting accuracy to 1800 FPS with this caliber and GC boolits of this weight-class. WW-296, H-110, Alliant 2400, or IMR-4227 should get you there. Remember--3 MOA is only 1.5" away from center-of-group at 100 yards, and is plenty good enough for deer to any range the 44 Magnum rifle is appropriate for deer harvesting work. Don't get hung up on minute of angle gunrag crapola--it's about venison, not mathematics.

[NickSS]

Thanks for the suggested loads. I think a 240 to 250 gr boollet with GC would be good for deer from what everyone is saying. How would the lee SWC GC be for a start I have a friend who has a mold he will sell me cheap.

[Bret4207]

The Lee should work. There is usually at least 1 Lyman 429421 (PB) or 429244 (GC) on Ebay. Haunt the local gun shops or even break down and order one, both are still in production I think. Those are the traditional 240-250 gr 44 mag boolit designs. Of course LBT, Saeco and RCBS have their own designs. I'm pretty sure any 250 gr boolit with some sort of decent metplat at 15-1800 fps will bring home the venison or bruin meat given good shot placement. Once you get the hang of casting and loading the 44 look back throough these pages for info on soft noses and hollow points if you're curious.

[Shuz]

I've found this to be an excellent boolit backed by 10g of Unique in my 94 Trapper. Velocity is only around 1300 fps, but seems to be real accurate and easy on the shoulder. Weight with ww+1%tin is around 250g. Large capacity grease groove is an added bonus,as is the fact that it is a non-gas check design. This boolit also feeds well thru the finicky Marlin carbines. OAL I use is 1.635.

[Bret4207]

Nice to see you're still around Shuz!

[Lloyd Smale]

a good bullet that functions and shoots real well in my 44 lever guns is the rcbs 240swcgc.

[Ranch Dog]

I took this hog with my Lee special order mold... the TLC-432-285-RF and a Winchester Trapper.

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/Hunting/Images/44 Trapper Kill 01B.jpg

The gun actually belongs to a friend of mine that wanted to set it up with cast boolits so I loaded a bunch of ammo for him. After sighting-in the rifle, my dog and I said "what the heck" and took it down into the creek bottom to see what we could rustle up. One nice little porker down and dead after a 60-yard shot.

Jeff223 just did a group buy on this mold. Lee re-cut the order twice; the first shipped was under diameter, the second was the correct diameter (.432") but had a Wide Flat Nose vs. the Round Flat nose we had ordered. The third shipment was correct. Lee has the second cut molds, that were returned, offered on their surplus page as the TLC430-285-RF (http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1160322704.2891=/html/catalog/surplus.html). I called Pat a couple of weeks ago to ask about these and they are the second cut (.432" & WFN). The first cut of undersized molds were scrapped (I wanted to buy all of them because I have/had a use for them). Some fellows kept the second cut with the larger nose profile and are very happy with them. This bullet is a gas checked design with the Lee Micro-Bands for tumble lubing. The boolits tend to drop around 275-grains (with gas check). I use a 1 to 1, linotype/WW alloy for 265-grains (I too prefer this weight of boolit in the 44 Mag and 444 Marlin).

In the Trapper, I used 21.5-grains of H110. This is the same load I use in my Marlin 336-44 for 1625 FPS.

Oh, I shot that fellow when he was running away from me. Shot him in the right hip and the bullet exited the left side of the front of his chest. He took about three steps.

[Poohgyrr]

:Fire: :drinks: :Fire:

[bobthenailer]

ive had good accuracy with a 200gr tc saeco with universal clays , i cant recall at this moment the powder charge as i worked up this load for my brother in laws winchester. bob

[calaverasslim]

There ate a number of molds made for this caliber but in 44 mag, I have found that the 225 gr SWC by RCBS w/check is probably the best. You mite think about it.