Author Topic: Gas Checks in .44 Mag? (Read 988 times)

Advocate · « **on:** February 06, 2003, 03:26:34 PM »

To what extent, if any, do I need to use gas checked cast bullets in .44 mag cast bullet loads for M-94?

Sixgun · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2003, 06:50:11 AM »

I shoot a 44 mag in a Rossie for Cowboy silhouette. I get much better accuracy with gas checked bullets. Dido with my 44 mag SBH. I am still trying to cast a good plain base bullet because it gauls me to have to pay 2 cents for a gas check, but for the time being i haven't got a good group form a plain base bullet.

If you get a good idea, let me know.

Sixgun

w30wcf · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2003, 02:50:44 AM »

Advocate,

You should find that gas checks are really not needed until velocities exceed 1500 fps. That has been kind of a general rule of thumb for many years and, I have found that to be true, for the most part, in my experience. BUT...... bullet strength, diameter and sectional density all have a roll to play, as well as the condition of the barrel, and the burning rate of the powder.

In the .44, I will say that a plain based bullet weighing 250 grains made of 10-12 b.h.n. alloy (wheelweights) using a slow burning powder such as 4227, one should easily attain 1,500 f.p.s. and beyond, in a rifle barrel with no leading or accuracy problems. As the bullet weight increases, so does the pressure to maintain the velocity, and at some point, probably around 20,000-25,000 p.s.i., accuracy will begin to suffer and some leading may start to appear. Then the gas checked bullet would come into it's own.

Sixgun,
Sounds like your alloy may be too hard. Try running a softer alloy. You may find that will help.

w30wcf

Sixgun · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2003, 04:21:50 AM »

I would like to find a way to get plain based bullets to shoot good in my Rossie but I still haven't got the recipie right. I am shooting range lead from an indoor range where most of the bullets are 22 long rifle or jacketed bullets. Yes some of the hard cast stuff gets fired in there but 90% of the bullets are 22LR. I doubt that the problem is too hard of an alloy but I may be mistaken.

Like I said in my last post, I can only get shotgun groups with the plain base bullets but when I switch to a gas check design it dosen't matter what I do, the groups shrink to 1 or 2 inches. I haven't tried pure lead yet but I could. Maybe that would work. Volicities are in the 900 to 1000fps range and I have tried 200gr rnfp and a 250gr swc, both from lee.

Sixgun

Chuck from arkansaw · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2003, 06:55:16 PM »

I have shot tons of plain base bullets in every Ruger .44 model made. I shoot the Lee swc 240 gr. bullet at about 1100 fps for my all around load. I am sure it could be pushed faster, I just don't need it to. I cast from wheel weight with no problem. I shoot a 310 gr. gascheck from Lee, only because it is the only 310 they have. I load the 240 with blue dot, and the 310 with H110 to about 1400 fps. (HOT).

Graycg · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2003, 06:51:10 PM »

Sir,
Maybe the problem isn't gas check or not gascheck, maybe your Lube is failing you? Generally in all my guns, gas checks shoot better, some much better, others not that much better. But maybe you need to vary the lube and see how the plain base shoots then. I find Plain based bullets much more finicky about the lube you use than gas checked bullets. I've pretty much gotten down to using only LBT blue on the bullets that like it, the few that don't get alox.

Just a shot in the dark,
Graycg

MONGO · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2003, 05:06:04 PM »

I don't cast my own, but I use Redline & Ardvark both hardcast. in .44 mag, 240 grain and sometimes 300 grain, RNFP. For powder, Acc#9 and gonna try Unique just to try it. Anyway no gas checks, no major leading problems, cycles my Ruger SBHs and my Marlin 1894 and I hit what I aim at. Anyway thats my 2 cents, Remember: "Happiness is a large gut pile"