So I'm gettting ready to buy another run of components for my 44mag. Lead cast bullets are what I'm wanting. Are there any brands to stay away from? Using 240gr Hornady HPSWC right now. I'm happy enough with 'em. The lack of lube ring sure did scare me when I first opened the box though. But would like to try a more traditional style. I've looked at Beartooth, meister, lasercast and the such. Any recommendations? I'm staying with a 240-260gr bullet.

Also, has anyone had bad luck with 4227. Heard it wasn't a very accurate/consitent. Don't have a chrono so I don't know how its behaving in my gun. (Alot cleaner than blue-dot...that's about all I know)

Lastly, nickel casing wears on dies and chambers. This shouldn't be a concern for someone with the carbide dies and who shoots a revolver should it? The number of reloads is about the same, correct?

Thanks

I cast all my own .
But this guy produces great looking and proforming bullets .
A good freind got some the hardness and size he wanted at a nice price
http://bullshop.gunloads.com/

Johnch

For middle of the road loads 4227 is not the powder .
But it is great for top end or close to top end loads

Unique , HS-6 , AA 7 ect are good middle of the road powders


Not in your lifetime due you have to worry about wearing out dies or chambers
I load lots of nickle cases and have never seen any wear

But nickle cases tend to split before brass cases
It all depends on how hot you load them and how big your chambers are .
Big chambers cause the sizer die to work the case more , leading to work hardening / split case mouths

But I normaly still get lots of reloads out of nickle cases

Johnch

I've been shooting 4227 in my 44 Mag for several years and like it O.K.
I just got a new chrony and haven't run it thru it to see vel. and spread, but will get it done when I can.

another bullet source, i used to work for this guy, Terry labbe, great guy, he is on the springfield pistol teamand will do whatever it takes to make you happy....


http://www.magnusbullets.com/

Soil,
[/align]
[/align]Probably the "standard" cast bullet most widely used is the Lyman #429421 plainbased SWC. RCBS's version is very good also, and both are considered "Keith" style by most. I have them both, as well as many other's, but for general shooting up to 1000-1200fps. they work fine. I've never bought cast bullets, as I've cast them since I was very young, (probably over 35yrs.), but I do know good cast bullets can be had if you know where to go.
[/align]
[/align]I normally cast them from straight WW's, air cooled to a 9BHN hardness level. Pure lead is 5BHN, and will shoot fine up to about 800-900fps., but lube and sizing is very important regarding cast.
[/align]When you buy your bullets, such as you mentioned, your kind of at the mercy of the maker's sizing & alloy parameters. The correct sizing for your gun would be a bullet that you can push through your cylinder with your thumb, and would push through "snuggly". Not dropping through, or sticking, but a good snug fit that will just push through.
[/align]
[/align]Most custom bullets are cast hard to cover a wide range of uses. Most up around mid to high teens (14-18BHN), but there area some who cast them from an alloy that's similar to linotype at 21-22BHN,and is really toohard & brittle for most cast bullet usage. Unnecessary really.
[/align]
[/align][/align][/align]As far as loads go....
[/align]With plainbased bullets that I'll be shooting at 1000-1200fps, like I mentioned, I'll use wheelweight alloy that I allow to air cool to 9BHN. I'll size them to fit the cylinder in my gun and lube them with a good 50/50 alox-beeswax mix which works well for that recipe.
[/align]I normally use 8.5-9grs. of Unique which gives me 1000fps. out of my 7.5" Rugers.
[/align]
[/align]Now, if I want a hunting load, I'll cast a Lyman #429244, which is a Thompson style SWC hollowpoint that has a gaschecked base, or a Lyman Devastator, which is also gaschecked.
[/align]I'll cast these out of wheelweights also, but I'll drop them into water (water quenching)directly from the mould. After sitting for about 12-24hours, these bullets stabilize at approx. 14BHN. Being harder, plus the addition of the gascheck allows me to push them at velocities of 1400-1500 without leading. Any gaschecked bullet will work in this manner.
[/align]Plainbased bullets will work also, but the hotter gases from the "magnum" charge has a tendency to melt the bases somewhat, and push the molten lead out onto the walls of the bore, where it waits for the next round being fired. The leadinggets progressively worse with each round. Gaschecks prevent this, and 90% of all leading anyway.
[/align]
[/align]My magnum load is usually 21.0grs. of 2400, and with those bullets mentioned, I get 1430fps average out of my Redhawk and Super Blackhawk Hunter. I've always known that 4227 is another powder comparable to 2400 when it comes to cast bullets. Both powders have a burn rate that has a "smoother" curve when it comes to cast bullets, and performs much better with them. AA#9 is another powder I plan on trying in the near future as it appears to be very close to 2400 in burn rate and grain weight.
[/align]I've tried H110, W296, and other's over the years, but they've never surpassed 2400 in accuracy with cast bullets. 4227 was very good in comparison to 2400, but I got better velocities with 2400, and slightly better accuracy. But again, they were very close.
[/align]
[/align]Hope this helps.......
[/align]Bob
[/align]
[/align]

I cast all of my own 44 bullets too, and i mostly use a RCBS 44-250KT mould. I cast the bullets useing wheel weights that i add in a bit of pure tin to get the hardness to where my thumb will just scratch the finished bullet... I make up "lots" of this alloy useing an old castiron dutch oven on an oldpropane burner.I then cast 2 lb ingotsto beused in my RCBS lead pot. I lube the bullets with ALOX and size them to .430 and i have no leading at all.

Useing the above bullet over 23.0 of H110, over the years i've won more long range pistol matches than i can remember and i also use the same load for big game hunting. I just don't have a need to push my bullets faster than that in my 44's.. (aprox 1300 fps)

This certainly isn't asecret recipe as i've seen many others post on the net that they are useing the same load and are also haveingexcelent accuracy in their revolvers too... I have tried 2400, 296, 4227 and several other powders but always came back to H110. It shoots so good ino longer even try anything different.


For light loads i use unique...

DM

My 44's,

Thank you guys.

DM, what weight bullet are you using? for that 23.0gr H110 @1300FPS recipe? I'm surprised because hodgdens sight as 24gr with 240gr bullet @1500+FPS (8.75" barrel). I've always known H110 was a fallback standard for full throttle loads but that it also didn't really behave for some others at anything less than "full-throttle" BUUUUTTT 240gr at 1300fps is a solid load and was actually about what I was shooting for. I have a 7.5" SBH I don't have a chrono but I'm sure I was there or beyond with Blue-Dot. I like Blued Dot but would like to find something cleaner....and preferably spherical/rod.

DM & Soilarch,


[/align]The old silhoutte load using 23.5grs. of H110 was a standard back when I shot silhouette in the early to mid-80's.
Soil....yes, you were right the recommended loads with it were maximum loads to get the best accuracy and consistency. Several other "silhouette-r's" I still talk to on other forums still use that load quite often & recommend it highly. Recently, just for old time's sake, I did a comparison test with it and 2400. I started with a load of 22.5grs. of H110, and my usual load of 21.0grs. of 2400. Needless to say, out of my Super BH Hunter, I cut a clean hole with 5 out of the 6 rounds I shot, (experimented with gun butt on rest for 6th round dropping it low)and although the H110 load was okay, it was nowhere near the 2400 loadin my gun.


[/align]I know the velocity was 1430fps. with 2400, and I'm sure I was at, or beyond it, with H110.


[/align]DM.....not knowing what barrel length you're using, but assuming that it's 6" or better based on your statement of long range shooting, 1300fps sounds awful slow for that powder charge. Based on Hodgdon's load data (as Soil stated) it showed a 240gr. "jacketed" bullet at 1500fps. using 24.0grs. of H110. All else being equal, a cast bullet in that same situation would produce more velocity based on far lesser friction due to the obvious difference in composition.
I was getting at least 1400+ with that 22.5 H110 load, using the same bullet that I used in the 2400gr. load. I knew what the 2400 load was doing as it was shot over my chrono, and based on the recoil difference, I knew that the H110 load was at least that or better.


[/align]I can always load up a batch toshootover the chrono,and get a more accurate figure out of my 7 1/2 " barrel,then correlate it to lesser lengths


[/align]I've scanned the different targets into my hard drive, and I can post them here if I can get them ona anothersite on the internet ( or if anyone's interested).


[/align]Take care,
Bob


[/align]

Cast Performance LBT designs are good. I use them in my 454 Casull. I cast my own for the .44 Mag., using the Lyman Keith-design 240 grain SWC.