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Posted: 9/29/2011 6:35:02 AM EDT
[#1]
Make sure you do everything you can to keep the diameter of the bullet from getting swaged down by the seating and crimping process.
44 mag brass is tough stuff and needs to be belled big time. A guy can also get carried away with the roll crimp to keep the bullet from moving during recoil, another reason I don't load hard cast lead bullets to the same face burning velocity as jacketed. I also sort and/or trim 44mag brass to make sure all the crimps are the same. Don't use a Lee Factory Crimp on lead bullets in straight walled cases like 44 mag. Here's my baby. 
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Posted: 9/29/2011 6:58:30 AM EDT
[#2]
thanks for the info. yeah i noticed the toughness of the brass and thought it was just me. nice to know that the brass and i dont need to hit the gym thats a great pic. i will try and post pics of my toy soon.
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Posted: 9/29/2011 7:34:16 AM EDT
[#3]
I use w231 for bunny fart loads.
UNIQUE for mid range loads, and W296/H110 for magnum loads. mild loads don't need a gas check. I use wheel weights and water quench them when I cast. 240gr SWC and UNIQUE is a pretty good all around load. Here's a pic of my 310gr flat point gas checked LEE monsters. ( note the piece of 45ACP brass, for size comparison) 
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Posted: 9/29/2011 7:42:45 AM EDT
[#4]
Concerns about shooting lead in your 44? Yes. A big one. Make sure you have a good supply of lead! Those 250 and 300 grain slugs empty the lead pot pretty quick.
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Posted: 9/29/2011 11:49:49 AM EDT
[#5]
I use Unique for my 240 grain lead bullets.
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Posted: 9/29/2011 11:52:00 AM EDT
[#6]
I use 200 grains with titegroup for a nice light fun load. I use 320s with a full load of H110 for a knock the hell out of just about anything load. It it my whitetail load and would knock down something much bigger than an IL deer.
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Posted: 9/29/2011 11:55:28 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Concerns about shooting lead in your 44? Yes. A big one. Make sure you have a good supply of lead! Those 250 and 300 grain slugs empty the lead pot pretty quick.  RIGHT ON
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Posted: 9/29/2011 12:56:48 PM EDT
[#8]
I used to have a 44mag revolver I reloaded mid power loads with unique and hard cast bullets without checks and worked pretty well with only light leading of the barrel.
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Posted: 9/29/2011 4:59:50 PM EDT
[#9]
I find Accurate No.5 is more effective than Unique in my Taurus. I always load Special rather than Magnum, as the Taurus didn't handle full-powered loads well, or accurately.
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Posted: 9/29/2011 6:43:46 PM EDT
[#10]
I cast 305 gr LBT (1 part w/w, 1 part lino by volume) for my Redhawks.
I hunt here in Alaska with a .44 revolver (have done so for 40+ years) The heavy cast bullets revolutionized the .44 for hunting large game. The 300gr+ loads will penetrate side to side thru a moose, and length wise thru a bear. |
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Posted: 9/29/2011 6:48:06 PM EDT
[#11]
Do a google search on LBT, Lead Bullet Technologies, Veral Smith!!
He is a wealth of knowledge on casting, and has a great little book on the subject!! |
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Posted: 9/29/2011 7:01:09 PM EDT
[#12]
I trim my cases also on the first loading. Helps make the crimps all come out the same. For loads less than 1000 fps soft bullets will work fine. I always used Bullseye for my 800 fps plinker 240 gr cast loads. Don't see why Clays wouldn't work as well. As the velocity increases so should bullet hardness and for full power loads a gas check. Very important is bullet size, should be .430 to start. Depending on your revolver you may have match bullet diameter to the cylinder throat for best results. |
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Posted: 9/29/2011 7:10:34 PM EDT
[#13]
I've never had much luck using WW296 or H110 with pain base case bullets. 2400 is Elmer Keith's classic powder, and still works well today.
I used Universal Clays instead of Unique for my mid range loads, burns cleaner. |
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Posted: 9/30/2011 3:27:29 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
2400 is Elmer Keith's classic powder, and still works well today. And let the people say, AMEN! 
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Posted: 9/30/2011 7:46:32 PM EDT
[#15]
I use Blue Dot for all of my .44 magnum cast lead loads. In the .44 I'm not too worried about Blue Dot's tendency to be flashy.
Unlike others I really like the Lee FCD, as I have had bullets walk free when using a standard crimp die. |
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Posted: 10/1/2011 6:41:01 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
I use Blue Dot for all of my .44 magnum cast lead loads. In the .44 I'm not too worried about Blue Dot's tendency to be flashy. Unlike others I really like the Lee FCD, as I have had bullets walk free when using a standard crimp die. 
You are not the only one using a FCD. |
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Posted: 10/1/2011 8:04:18 AM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Concerns about shooting lead in your 44? Yes. A big one. Make sure you have a good supply of lead! Those 250 and 300 grain slugs empty the lead pot pretty quick. RIGHT ON What gun are you shooting these in derek? I have a 4 inch 629 and a 7.5 Super Blackhawk. I was thinking about getting the Lee heavy mold for a hunting bullet, and maybe one of there 200 or 240s for a plinking round in the S&W. Not casting yet, just thinking about it. Brett |
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Posted: 10/1/2011 8:14:51 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Concerns about shooting lead in your 44? Yes. A big one. Make sure you have a good supply of lead! Those 250 and 300 grain slugs empty the lead pot pretty quick. RIGHT ON What gun are you shooting these in derek? I have a 4 inch 629 and a 7.5 Super Blackhawk. I was thinking about getting the Lee heavy mold for a hunting bullet, and maybe one of there 200 or 240s for a plinking round in the S&W. Not casting yet, just thinking about it. Brett Ruger blackhawk. years ago, S&W told me not to run heavier than 240gr in the M29 / 629. I was surprised to hear it. you really don't need 300+ hardcast for deer. 240 works fine. 240gr SPEER GOLD-DOT HP with a max load of w296/H110 is my favorite deer load 
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Posted: 10/1/2011 10:00:21 AM EDT
[#19]
I was't planning on running 300 grain through a 4 inch gun, I haven't done anything to deserve that type of punishment. The S&Ws unlocking, rotating backwards is an interesting mechanical phenomena, but not something I want happening to my handgun. I suppose a guy could keep the velocity low, and it would be mechanically fine to do that, but you'd probably be set up for a low six o'clock hold at about 250 yards
I know you don't need that much bullet weight for deer. I know a guy that uses 185 Gold Dots in a 45 Colt Super Blackhawk. Standard pressure load or + p, I don't load for the colt, but it is a long way from a Ruger only load, around 1100 or 1200 FPS. A little short and squatty for my tastes, but he has put several deer in freezer and he says he has yet to have one stay in the deer on a broadside shot. Thanks, Brett Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Concerns about shooting lead in your 44? Yes. A big one. Make sure you have a good supply of lead! Those 250 and 300 grain slugs empty the lead pot pretty quick. RIGHT ON What gun are you shooting these in derek? I have a 4 inch 629 and a 7.5 Super Blackhawk. I was thinking about getting the Lee heavy mold for a hunting bullet, and maybe one of there 200 or 240s for a plinking round in the S&W. Not casting yet, just thinking about it. Brett Ruger blackhawk. years ago, S&W told me not to run heavier than 240gr in the M29 / 629. I was surprised to hear it. you really don't need 300+ hardcast for deer. 240 works fine. 240gr SPEER GOLD-DOT HP with a max load of w296/H110 is my favorite deer load http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/derek45/iphonePictures201.jpg |
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Posted: 10/1/2011 11:16:42 AM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
Quoted:
2400 is Elmer Keith's classic powder, and still works well today. And let the people say, AMEN! +1 |
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Posted: 10/1/2011 11:26:37 AM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I use Blue Dot for all of my .44 magnum cast lead loads. In the .44 I'm not too worried about Blue Dot's tendency to be flashy. Unlike others I really like the Lee FCD, as I have had bullets walk free when using a standard crimp die. http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Dies/P2130728.jpg You are not the only one using a FCD. I use the Lee FCD too. |
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Posted: 10/1/2011 2:37:55 PM EDT
[#22]
I have 3 44's and haven't fired a jacketed bullet in any of them in over a year.
The Lee 200 gr RNFP makes a nice mild load with 10 grains of Unique. The Ranch Dog 265 makes a nice full power load with 22-23 grains of H110. These are my two main loads for my guns (Ruger Alaskan/Ruger 7.5" redhawk/Marlin 1894), but I do play around with other loads. |
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