Hepl with dual purpose 44 mag loads

[Jeffery8mm]

I am in need of some guidance on my 44 revolver and NEF 44 mag.
I want a load that is OK for both so as to not have 2 loads to contend with. I can find a few jacketed loads in the 13 speer manual that would serve double duty.  But I can not find a load that utilizes a 240gr LEAD SWC for a rifle.  The revolver would  use X grains of Unique with the lead swc for around 900fps.  What would happen should I fire this "plinking" round though the NEF???
Are you not supposed to fire lead bullets though a rifle?? The SWC round is so economical to produce that I hope I can use it in both.  
Is that a decent hunting bullet for small game and possibly a MS whitetail??
Sorry for so many ??'s, but I trust you guys opinion!!

Jeff

[Flinch]

I think you might be better off building a rifle load that will also shoot well in the handgun.
I know this takes away some of the economy but I personally havent had much luck shooting plain base bullets at rifle velocities without contending with leading problems.  900 fps will do the job, but I would be more comfy throwing that lead a little faster for hunting.
I would try a 240-300 gr. gas check design and push it to around 1200 fps. That should make any deer good and dead.

[Questor]

You'll want to try SWC's anyway in your revolver. Just try some in your rifle and see how they feed. If they feed reliably and don't lead the bore, then you're OK.  When you get around 900-1100fps you may experience severe leading with lead SWCs because the hot gas cuts between the bullet and the bore. This can happen in any gun, not just rifles. If you experience it, either reduce the velocity or increase the velocity.  Generally I stay 900fps or lower, or 1200fps or higher with 240 grain SWCs.  I have a nice 1000fps load, but it relies on bullets that are softer than the typical commercially cast bullet.

[dscp]

:cb2: HOWDY. I DO NOT HAVE ALL THAT FIGURED OUT YET,  BUT KEN WATERS IN HIS BOOK 'PET LOADS' WRITES SEVERAL PAGES ON JUST THAT SUBJECT .I BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE AHEAD IF YOU READ IT. I THINK YOU CAN DOWN LOAD SECTIONS OF THE BOOK...BUT DON'T REMEMBER WHERE OR HOW SINCE I BOUGHT THE BOOK . IF YOU DON'T CAST( I DON'T) MARTY IN TEXAS HAS THE BEST I HAVE EVER FOUND ( MARTY@TEXASBULLETS.COM ) REAL HARD AND PLUM PRETTY (NO RANGE OR SCRAP LEAD).
HAPPY TRAILES TO YOU,
dscp

[Game_Stalker]

I've got a Win 94 in 44 mag and I use a lot more cast lead RNFP slugs. I was also worried about the possible leading problem so I searched around and found a guy who sells moly-coated slugs. I picked up 500 205gr (he's got bigger slugs but I elected for smaller ones) moly-coated RNFP slugs for $36 shipped. I've shot a hundred or so and haven't noticed any problem with leading what-so-ever. In my rifle, I use 23.2gr of H-110 and get a decent thump out of it.

You've also got to remember that with a rifle, you've got more barrel and therefore more oomph for the bullet since it has a longer amount of time to speed up. Your 900fps pistol round may well be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1050 - 1200 fps out of your rifle. Also, think about which one you'll be using more of. You may find a loading that will get you MOA at 100 yds from your rifle, but your pistol is lucky to get 4" groups at half that range. If you plan to use your rifle most of the time and keep the pistol as backup (that's my plan), then you'd obviously want to stick with the accurate rifle round; however, if you're looking for something that will go where you point in both, then you'll have to finesse the load data to your liking. Part of the fun of reloading is the experimetation process.

[dscp]

:cb2: HOWDY AGAIN.     THE RIFLE/PISTOL PAIR IS WHAT KEN WATERS HAS THAT ARTICLE ABOUT. NO SENCE RE-INVENTING THE WHEEL IF IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
I PROBABLY  GET TO DO MORE READING THAN SHOOTING (RETIRE IN ONE YEAR!!!) BUT THE RESOUNDING THEME ON 44MAGS (45 COLTS, ETC FOR MOST SHOOTERS IS H-110...IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE ABOUT THE ONLY PISTOL POWDER AVAILABLE IN   SURPLUS   . JUST GOT IN 4 JUGS...$59.00/8# PLUS SHIPPING(NO HAZMAT ON 4X8#) FROM HI-TECH. AT ABOUT 7,000GR/1# I SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIRE TIL THE LAST ONE STANDS(THE RAPTURE).      MY 44'S ARE VARIED. 10 ", 14" CONTENDERS
RUGER SBH , VIRG DRAGOON, MARLIN LR, ETC. I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH LEADING BUT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MOLY LEAD ANYWAY. IT MIGHT JUST BE THE BEE'S KNEE . (SHOWING MY AGE AGAIN)
keep your powder dry...
dscp

[warf73]

Jeffery8mm

First off you will need to slug your bore on the rifle. NEF’s are well known for there over sized bore.

With your rifle pistol combo you will have to have 2 different loads, unless you are lucky and have a small bore on the rifle.

Warf

[Lawful Larry]

If leading would be a problem with the higher velocities, go the gas check route.  Not sure if there is a gas check in the swc type bullet, but check it out.  

I have a Win 94 in .45 Colt and have two handguns in that caliber.  I use these guns for hunting and want the higher velocities.  I switched over to jacketed bullets and am very happy.  You may want to consider that route also.   :wink:

[PaulS]

I am in need of some guidance on my 44 revolver and NEF 44 mag.
I want a load that is OK for both so as to not have 2 loads to contend with. I can find a few jacketed loads in the 13 speer manual that would serve double duty.  But I can not find a load that utilizes a 240gr LEAD SWC for a rifle.  The revolver would  use X grains of Unique with the lead swc for around 900fps.  What would happen should I fire this "plinking" round though the NEF???
Are you not supposed to fire lead bullets though a rifle?? The SWC round is so economical to produce that I hope I can use it in both.  
Is that a decent hunting bullet for small game and possibly a MS whitetail??
Sorry for so many ??'s, but I trust you guys opinion!!

Jeff

Jeff,
Nobody bothered to ask if you are shooting cast or swaged lead bullets.
If you are shooting the Speer swaged lead bullets you definately don't want to shoot them faster than you plan to from your revolver. Those swaged bullets are not much good in rifles at all and from a NEF you are likely to have severe leading. You can try it by shooting a few rounds and then take a look at your accuracy and your bore. If you are leading with your"plinking" load through the rifle then you can clean out the lead from 5 or 10 rounds a lot easier than you can clean out the lead from a day of shooting a hundred rounds or so. The Speer manual uses a MAXIMUM load of 7.0 grains of Unique for 900 fps from a 7 1/2 inch barrel. This load is NOT maximum pressure for the 44 mag BUT it is a maximum velocity for this bullet.
If you are shooting hard cast bullets then shoot a few through your rifle to find out if they have enough lube and a tight enough fit on the bore to prevent leading. You won't get a lot more velocity from your rifle than you do from your pistol with Unique powder but with the right bullet, powder  and lube you can get a lot more velocity than you can from a swaged bullet in both the pistol and the rifle.