Has anyone had GOOD luck with a new 44 mag?

[Jeffery8mm]

I just bought a a new NEF 44 magnum yesterday.  I have read alot of the post here and see alot of negative stuff.  I was wondering if anyone had bought one that shoot good from the get go?  I plan on using the same load as I use in my Virginian Dragoon 6" SA revolver which is a mild load of unique under a Hornady Lead SWC sized at .430.
 I will want to hunt with this load here in Mississippi for whitetails so I may push the load up to 8gr of unique.
Just wanted to hear that it was not ALL bad!!!

Jeff

[Mac11700]

I just bought a a new NEF 44 magnum yesterday.  I have read alot of the post here and see alot of negative stuff.  I was wondering if anyone had bought one that shoot good from the get go?  I plan on using the same load as I use in my Virginian Dragoon 6" SA revolver which is a mild load of unique under a Hornady Lead SWC sized at .430.
 I will want to hunt with this load here in Mississippi for whitetails so I may push the load up to 8gr of unique.
Just wanted to hear that it was not ALL bad!!!

Jeff

Hey Bro...Haven't heard from you in a while...Congrtats on the new Handi...Lots of guys have had good luck with them...some not so good of luck...Quite a few have even rechambered them to 445 Super Mag..and like them a-lot...Take it out and shoot it...see how it does for ya...Let's us know how it groups...You might want to slug the bore and see what cast bullet will do the best for you..Hopefully you got one of the good ones..

Mac

[lefty red]

I haven't had any experiance with the 44mag.  But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

I would think a simple answer to these oversized bores is to first slug it and determine the actual "caliber" you are working with.  Then get a LEE double cavity mold closest to the diameter.  Have someone to "open up" the mold to .004"-.002" over that of the bore.  Cast and then size the bullets in a LEE sizer that has been open upped also.

Granted, the damn thing should need this.  But sometimes you got to work with whats been given to you.

Also, A LEE UNIVERSAL CASE EXPANDER helps in getting the larger and cast bullets into the cases.

I don't mean to sound like a LEE spokemans, but I haven't seen anything else match their products and price.

Lefty

[Ranger J]

What major manufacturer of ammunition loads their cartridge with a size .432 or larger bullet?  That is probably what it would take to get my .44 Handi to group.  I have reloaded beartooth .432 and they still don’t group on a paper plate at 50 yards.  NEF needs to get the size of their bore to within the specs that everyone else in the firearms business considers to be normal.  While they are at it put out a barrel with a faster twist.  My Deerfield will shoot 240G SP size .429 in clover leafs at fifty yards all day.  The twist rate on the Deerfield is 1 in 20..  Only thing I can’t shoot cast and I have to hunt for the empties.  I love the idea of a single shot .44; I just hate the accuracy I am getting with practically everything I shoot in the Handi.  This is not a new problem.  This is an ongoing problem that has been discussed here for several years.  Has NEF done anything to remedy it?  I love my other three Handi barrels and would like to love the .44 also….It should not be up to the buyer to go through forty or fifty different loads with different size bullets to find one that will shoot in three inch groups at fifty yards.  I shouldn’t have to bore it out to 445 SM to make it shoot.  If I didn’t have a great shooting 45/70 I might consider this one but…I feel like I’m flogging a dead mule!  Does anyone think NEF will ever do anything about it or will they just continue to put out this unsatisfactory product?  Sorry to be so negative. 
RJ 

[lefty red]

RJ

I am in complete agreement with you.  I think the ONLY way to solve the problem is to dump about 1000 44mag barrels on MARLIN's frontdoor with THE OUTDOOR CHANNEL watching!  Tell then to fix them or shove them!

Tell then, get ahold of some machinist friends.....

Lefty

[Jeffery8mm]

Hey Mac.  I have been here off and on.  Just havent had a ney toy in a while!!
Hope to shoot the 44 today.  I will give a follow up monday!!

Jeff

[Fred M]

This sounds like a broken gramaphone record. I had thought of a 44 mag Handi but the over bore size turned me off. Besides not every one likes to mess with cast bullets me included. Since then I found a used #3 Ruger in 375 Winchester that shoots like custom target rifle. Three shots into 4/10" at 100 with 200gr factory loads.

Perhaps the wish list will rattle their chain. Maybe? They don't know the size is 0.429"