44 mag question

[mb4859]

I shoot a G2 10 44 mag and want to buy a mold.  I want to hunt Arkansas deer, hogs and just practice.  I'm thinking a LBT 280 WFN plain base.  Is this good enough or do I need gas checks.  I'm cheap and don't want to buy gas checks unless it is necessary. 

[Terbltim]

I'd wait to see what Veral says in his answer, (since by posting here you've technically asked him,) but I'll say this about that;
You can load any plain-base bullet to any speed you like as long as you also like cleaning lots of lead out of your barrel and only shooting a dozen rounds per shooting session (to control the accumulation of lead.)
If you don't like the lead-cleaning requirements but are still going after hogs (a much tougher beast than deer) and still don't want to use gas-checks I'd point you in the direction of heavier bullets.
I'm talking about 310gr, 320gr or more, all that your gun's action will allow, over-all-length wise. Let over-all-length be the deciding factor.
Be sure to have a BIG meplat too.
You can get heavier bullets, big meplat and the best nose-to-crimp length for your gun from LBT.
There is quite a learning-curve when you start using longer than industry-spec loads as might be needed to get the performance you desire.
Heavier is better if you insist on not using a gas-check and want to go for hogs. At around 1000 to 1100 fps (MV) you should be able to hit 'em hard and keep a handle on the lead accumulation thing when using the heavier bullets.
Heavy bullets shoot really nicely at lower velocities too and you can enjoy some really good plinking with them.
They will hit to notably different points of impact at different speeds so you've got to choose your poison.
I have a buddy that hunts with a 45 Colt using 325gr WFN bullets (big .36" meplat) at around 900-fps and knocks holes through deer like so much cardboard.
Low velocity makes it easier to acheive that all-important shot placement which is even more important if you're using sub-sonic velocities.
If I knew what a G2 10 44 mag was I could prob'ly advise in greater detail.
Still, see what Veral says before committing.

[Bigeasy]

The 280 grn. WFN should be an excellent choice.  Since you are not as limited in OAL as you would be in a revolver,  a heavier bullet is also an option, though not required.  Leading is usually a result of several issues, such as undersize bullets that allow gas cutting around the bullet to cause leading, too soft a bullet mix, and poor lube (usually to hard).  A gas check can help in reducing leading, especially at top velocities, but a proper load should not lead badly at all.  Slug your barrel - if its say .429, then a .430 / .431 bullet should be fine.  Wheel weight mix works for me, and I like a softer lube.  With a decent, smooth bore, a load like this should shoot 1600 / 1700 fps. or so without significant leading.

Larry

[mb4859]

It's a thompson G2 new version contender 44 Magnum with a 10" barrel.  Thanks for all the advice

[Veral]

  A plain base bullet will work very well, with no leading whatsoever, at speeds up to at least 1400 fps in temperatures which are too hot to have fun shooting, or in cooler weather, at considerably higher speeds, if you fit the bullet properly and if you use any one of the LBT bullet lubricants.  Either the commercial which is a hard lube, or the blue, which is softer, or the Blue soft which is softest.  Lube hardness has not one thing to do with controling leading.  Lube quality is what does it.  But barrel smoothness, and straightness, along with bullet hardness are also factors.  For best results from you new contender, lap the barrel, using our LBT lap kit, ESPECIALLY of you want to use pb bullets.  Gas checked bullets will forgive quite a bit of bore roughness, and allow trashy wax that some call bullet lube to work acceptably.

  Please remember, guys, I'm a nasty customer when it comes to people jumping answers ahead of me, and delete most who do it.  When a question is asked of me, on my forum, I'm to get the first answer.  Comments after that are fine, as long as they don't contain old wives tales and folklore tricks on making lead work.  Cast bullets are a mechinical thing and all information about making them work MUST be solid fact or I'll delete it.  I've made an exception above but salted it down good with my answer on lube hardness.

[Bigeasy]

Veral

I apoligize if I stepped on your toes.  I misunderstood the concept of this forum, that it was NOT open in concept as are the rest on the GBO site.  Feel free to delete my earlier response.

Larry

[Veral]

  Appology accepted, thank you, and your post will remain.  You are probably more of a gentleman than I am!
  Getting old makes people hard headed during the period I'm going through.  That's my excuse anyhow!

[Terbltim]

I'm with BigEasy.
Certainly didn't mean to cut any corners.
No need to clutter up the board with remarks until after the question has been answered by the addressee.
I appreciate not being scratched even though I was leaning into the wives' tales department a little.
I'll curb my enthusiasm hereafter.

[Veral]

  The problem with all you bullet casters is, you are so doggone nice and try to be helpful, which makes it hard to be hardnosed about my policy for the forum.  Thank you for the appology also.

[sixshot]

  Veral, quit being so darn grumpy or I'm going to drive up to northern Idaho and............buy another mould   Thought I'd let you know I popped a very large cow elk last weekend using your 250 gr WFN in my 41 Bisley, 9.2 grs of Unique & the slug took out both shoulders & exited at 74 yds. She didn't take a single step.



The previous 4 elk were taken with a Ruger 45, 3 of them with your 325 gr LBT mould & one with the 260 gr Keith.

Dick

[Terbltim]

Very good photo!
And a really nice looking holster-rig too.
Where did you get that rig? (all the normal Q&As about it too, please.)
It seems that a good bullet and good shot placement is always reliable.
Good on you.

[sixshot]

  Hello Tim, that holster rig is called the Northwest Hunter, its the signature series & its made by Mike Barranti of Barranti custom leather, most likey the premier holster maker in the country, still does all his stitching by hand, superb quality & fully adjustable. Even with a big sixgun it never moves, I have several & wear them hard perhaps 150 days a year, ya, I'm retired!!





This is my 10" model with a buck taken in Wyoming last year.



Dick

[Veral]

  Call ME grumpy.  What do you think all those critters would say about both of us if they could talk!  Thanks for the report.  I never tire of hearing them!

  Just this week I got a report about two guys who used 10 MM auto ammo made by Double Tap Ammo, on bison!  The load was the LBT 200 gr WFN loaded to 1300 fps, and they said it would break the shoulder and have enough steam left to get into the vitals and provide a quick kill!  I wouldn't have promised that to anybody!  The story was told by the owner of Double Tap, so I sure don't discredit it!

[mb4859]

I ordered a 280 grain lfn 2 cavity mold.  Just waiting now.