cast molds for 44 mag

[mb4859]

What's your opinion on the best bullet moulds?  What is the difference between a FWC and SWC.  If you had only one mould what weight bullet would you get?

[freedom475]

 if I had to choose one for the 44mag it would be an LBT style 320gr lfn or posible a wfn PB

[45-70.gov]

for  20  years  i have had 2  moulds
both  from  LBT
280  grain  WFN  plain base
280  grain  WFN  for   gas checks

the  gas checks  can  be run  faster
they  say  the gas chech  is  more forgiving  in  some  guns
i  rearly  use  the  gas  checks........i  am  cheap  and they  are  un-needed [check cost as much as a primer]

this  weight  is better  than  the   240
but  point  of  impact  will not move  so much  if  you  have  to shot  factory
not  so true  with  the 300  and over   [just  my speculation]

this  is what  i prefer to load  44 specials  with  too


280....WFN  .. PLAIN BASE...LBT......ALL  YOU WILL EVER  NEED

[Cheesehead]

Why is a 280 better than a 240?

Cheese

[45-70.gov]

Why is a 280 better than a 240?

Cheese

not  shot  a  240  in  so long  i forgot

actually  some one gave  me  100   240s  a few years  ago
less  recoil  but  more  blast....never  cronyd  them....they  did  shoot  good
i cant  speak  of the  killing  power  like  most of the guys  here
but  they  seem  to penetrate  on  inanmate  stuff  i shot  through  the years


i  have  just  got the  180 357  wfn   too  and  like  it a lot
like to just  go up a little  in weight  but  not  a lot

[S.B.]

I've always used my Lyman 429421(Keith's design) and it's done everything I wanted it to do, well?
Steve

[Tom W.]

My Lee 310 gr. gas check bullet shoots a bit to the left of where my 245 gr. RCBS plain base bullets impact, but pretty close to the same vertical impact. I was happy to see it.....

[mb4859]

Tom, have you killed lots of game with the Lee 310 cast and how hard do you cast the bullets?

[45-70.gov]

My Lee 310 gr. gas check bullet shoots a bit to the left of where my 245 gr. RCBS plain base bullets impact, but pretty close to the same vertical impact. I was happy to see it.....

have you  tried  the  lee 310  without  a check  on  that  mold??
lee  is  priced  right........it  looks  like a good designed  bullet

[sixshot]

  I've used the #429421 Keith mould since the 60's, I've taken an awful lot of game with that bullet, I've also used a 305 gr LBT & its also a great game bullet, still for most everything I use the 250 Keith, its taken deer, elk, bear, antelope, hogs & a truck load of badgers, rabbits, coyotes, foxes, turtles, snakes, raccoons, possums & a fair number of Texas bullfrogs. I cast them as soft as I can get away with & still maintain accuracy, the key is bullet fit, all of mine are sized .431" & lubed with LBT soft. I have many different moulds but prefer LBT & Ballasticast.

Dick

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a few favorite 44 molds. the rcbs 240swcgc. the ballistic cast 300 lfngc and the lyman 320 swcgc. these three bullets have consistantly shot well in every 44 ive tried them in. I use many more designs and some shoot well in some of my guns but these three are my measuring sticks. If a gun wont shoot them well it probably wont shoot well at least not with a ton of load developement.

[S.B.]

I bought one of the Lee 310s(my first aluminum mold) after using my Lyman 429421 for most of my life but, the added expense of the gas checks and problems with getting builets to fill out completely with the Lee keeps me going back to the Lyman mold? I've tried adding tin to my alloy, adjusting the temp on my furnace(both up and down) without much success. I get several out of a potfull that are just too small at the base to hold gas checks? I ended up buying a quantity commercially, to get enough good ones to test thouroughly? Yet, I haven't given up on the Lee RF mold completely, if I hold my tounge just right, now and then, I get enough to play with? I must say, I do like the Lee mold design(at least the commercial cast I bought from Montana Bullet Works), just something in my casting techniques that doesn't allow me to cast good ones?
Steve

[Old Fart]

The Lee C429-240-SWC has been a favorite of mine for years. Mostly because my 629 digest it so well. It hits where I aim. Add to that I'm a cheapo miser, most of my molds are Lee. I generally cast a hard bullet in this mold, can't remember how hard right now.
If I'm planning on cranking it up I'll add the gas check, otherwise I shoot them in the cast.

[mb4859]

I love reading your stories, but ya'll don't make it easy to decide.  I think getting your loading expenses down where you can afford to shoot and learn your effective range is probably more importand than which bullet design you shoot.

[Drilling Man]

What's your opinion on the best bullet moulds?  What is the difference between a FWC and SWC.  If you had only one mould what weight bullet would you get?

  FWC = full wadcutter  SWC = semi wadcutter

  What are you going to use the bullet for??  For most comperition and all hunting you want the SWC, and my most fav cast bullet in 44 is, RCBS 44-250KT.  I've taken everything from moose and deer on down with it, and i also won a lot of long range sillhouette matches using that bullet too.  I have a LOT of moulds, (including Lymans 429421) but the 44-250KT is by far my first choise in my 44 revolvers.

  DM

[bigoledude]

I've got a Marlin 1894 in .44mag.  My 5 1/2 inch Redhawk will arrive soon.  I've read everything concerning molds and cast bullets for weeks now.  It appears that a very important consideration should be to get a mold that drops bullets a couple-thousandths over-sized. 

Cast bullets, it seems, need a deeper bite into the grooves-n-lands to stabilize well.  In a month or so I will be able to give you some first-hand advice!       

[Tom W.]

Tom, have you killed lots of game with the Lee 310 cast and how hard do you cast the bullets?

No, I haven't killed a thing with it yet, but that's because I seldom take it alone. I usually have my rifle with me, and that gets the nod. Someone once said that if you're going to hunt with a handgun, leave the rifle at home....
I cast my bullets from straight w/w, with a little bit of Nickel Babbitt added for the tin. I don't have any problems with the gas checks, and just the other day I was bored and tried an aluminum gas check that I made on my FreeChex II for a .45 cal bullet on one of the Lee 310 gr bullets. It fit surprisingly well. Well enough that when I run out of my store bought gas checks, I'll use the same check for both my .45 and .44 cal bullets...

[45454]

I bought one of the Lee 310s(my first aluminum mold) after using my Lyman 429421 for most of my life but, the added expense of the gas checks and problems with getting builets to fill out completely with the Lee keeps me going back to the Lyman mold? I've tried adding tin to my alloy, adjusting the temp on my furnace(both up and down) without much success. I get several out of a potfull that are just too small at the base to hold gas checks? I ended up buying a quantity commercially, to get enough good ones to test thouroughly? Yet, I haven't given up on the Lee RF mold completely, if I hold my tounge just right, now and then, I get enough to play with? I must say, I do like the Lee mold design(at least the commercial cast I bought from Montana Bullet Works), just something in my casting techniques that doesn't allow me to cast good ones?
Steve

Hi S.B.  ,
It could be one thing or another.
#1 I suspect the mold isn't hot enough.
It shouldn't take too very long for the aluminum mold(s) to get hot.
I lay mine on the rim of the Lee lead pot,go in have a Pepsi,Dr Pepper,tea,and/or have a bad habit.
When ready,most of the time,bullets comes out pretty good.
I try to direct the lead as direct into the sprue hole as I can get.
My mold for the 44 mag,the first one I bought from SSK Industries,is aluminum.(320gr JDJ design)
That was back in the 80s.Made by NEI.
I do have the Lee 255gr,500gr.
My only other mold is iron.It's the 270gr SAA for my 45 Colt(s).
When I started,it was a hit-or-miss.No 'puters,no net.
I'd say,the tin can be discounted.
For the very last,Murphy's Law......
Don't give up on the Lee mold. I've cranked out quite a few good bullets.
My best to you.

[S.B.]

45454, I've even tried depositing the upper end of this mold directly into the alloy in the pot for several minutes, to heat it as much as possible. And still don't get every bullet base full?
Steve

[45-70.gov]

I bought one of the Lee 310s(my first aluminum mold) after using my Lyman 429421 for most of my life but, the added expense of the gas checks and problems with getting builets to fill out completely with the Lee keeps me going back to the Lyman mold? I've tried adding tin to my alloy, adjusting the temp on my furnace(both up and down) without much success. I get several out of a potfull that are just too small at the base to hold gas checks? I ended up buying a quantity commercially, to get enough good ones to test thouroughly? Yet, I haven't given up on the Lee RF mold completely, if I hold my tounge just right, now and then, I get enough to play with? I must say, I do like the Lee mold design(at least the commercial cast I bought from Montana Bullet Works), just something in my casting techniques that doesn't allow me to cast good ones?
Steve

get  all  your  old lead  out and  set it  aside

get  a small  wire brush  and  clean out your  pot

start  over  with  new  lead

i  had  that problem  with  a  known to be  good mold
this  fixed  it
sounds like we  both  had    zink contaminated  lead

make   sure  and  e-mail  me  if this  works

[S.B.]

I've used nothing but pure Wheel weights for years now?
Steve

[45-70.gov]

I've used nothing but pure Wheel weights for years now?
Steve

there  are  zink  WWs  out there  too

i  know  i had  a few  hundred rounds  not so  good
high  rate  of  rejects
used  a lot  of  them  just for  fire lapping


finally dumped the  pot into  ingots  and  marked  them

cleaned  the  pot  and  all  is  well
then  i dropped  in a few  ingots.....i tthink they  were  from that batch[not marked]
i  started  haveing to  dicard a few  because  of  rounded corners on the base

try  it  it cant  hurt

[S.B.]

.45/70, I'm not getting rounded corners on the bases, the bases just aren't big enough to hold the gas checks?
Steve`

[45454]

45454, I've even tried depositing the upper end of this mold directly into the alloy in the pot for several minutes, to heat it as much as possible. And still don't get every bullet base full?
Steve

Hi Steve.
That is a puzzle.
Might see if Veral can answer your question.

[45-70.gov]

45454, I've even tried depositing the upper end of this mold directly into the alloy in the pot for several minutes, to heat it as much as possible. And still don't get every bullet base full?
Steve

Hi Steve.
That is a puzzle.
Might see if Veral can answer your question.

yep

sorry  i missunderstood
veral  may  have a good trick  to enlarge  the gas check  shank

[45454]

OK,still more info from the previous postings.
My take is the shank base is too small for the gas checks.
From the Q+A at Lee Precision,might use the suggestion of mold the bullet with a rod of some sort.
A nail or whatever.Cut the head off is necessary.
When cooled,valve grinding compound,the finest you can get,on the shank.
Close the mold and sparingly rotate it with a drill motor.
This would enlarge the shank portion a tad.
Clean the mold thoroughly,cast, say 2 to 4. Then see if a gas check will be more solid in the base.
If not, then use valve grinding paste again.
Yep, could be a hit or miss on this one.
Or,send the mold back to Lee explaining the problem.
Murphy is too active sometimes.