Cast bullet size for FA 44 mag?

[mray]

I touched on this briefly in another post, but what size cast bullet should I get for my FA 44 mag?  .429, .430, or .431?  I loaded up some Lasercast in .431, but haven't shot any yet.  There's no problem here, is there?

I figure that someone here has faced this decision before.

Thanks in advance.

[Bugflipper]

I've tried the .429 in lasercast, shot well. There would be no increased pressure with the .431. Might be a smidgen more fouling though.

[Graybeard]

I tend to use .429" or .430". With the FA you do not have to worry about over size throats or barrel. The .429" are likely to be the most perfect fit.

[Lloyd Smale]

like  bill said i doubt if you are going to get 431s to chamber in a fa. there usually cut on the tight side.

[mray]

Ok...  You guys are freaking me out a little bit.

I ran downstairs and loaded my FA.  No problem there.  They fell right in. 

I'm cool right...?  This isn't my last post ever, right?   

[Ken ONeill]

If it is, it won't be because of bullet diameter.

[Bugflipper]

Ok...  You guys are freaking me out a little bit.

I ran downstairs and loaded my FA.  No problem there.  They fell right in. 

I'm cool right...?  This isn't my last post ever, right?   

No worries you are safe. .002 difference is nothing on the pressure side. On leading, maybe maybe not.

[Graybeard]

Whether the bullet chambers in the cylinders of an FA has more to do with the shape of the bullet than the diameter it is sized to. If it is .431" far enough out toward the nose it won't chamber but it could be even more perhaps and still chamber if the diameter reduces out where it gets tight in the cylinder.

We once long ago had an ammo maker as a sponsor here who had only six products he made. They were .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt as I recall one each with a cast bullet and one with a jacketed in each cartridge. He sent me some of the .45 Colt and .44 magnum for a review. The cast bullets would not chamber at all in my FA83 but did just fine in my S&W 629. Ya just never know until you try.

I still say tho that with an FA83 the .429" will be the most appropriate fit to the chamber throats and barrel. That is not to say the others won't work.

[Lloyd Smale]

like bill said bullet shape can make a big differnce on what fits and dont allways take for granted that your 431 die is actually sizing to 431. Ive had dies that were .002 off from what they were marked and even the alloy you use can make a differnce in your final diameter. Harder alloys tend to spring back a little after being sized.

[Steve P]

To sum up the prior posts....you don't know until you measure or until you try.

A friend has the FA83 .44.  We have cast him bullets sized .430 and .431.  He cannot get the loaded ammo into the cylinder.  Appears he may have a ring in the front of his cylinder chambers that will not accept the size of the driving band on the front of our cast bullets.  We are going to try .429 next.  It that doesn't work, he will have to seat the bullet deeper and crimp over the outer band or onto the ogive of the bullet.  Either way, he will reduce case capacity and increase pressure by seating the bullet deeper. 

If you got your ammo to chamber, you are one step ahead of us.  Now see how it shoots and see if you get any lead splash at your forcing cone.  IF your FA tolerance at cylinder/barrel gap is same as ours, about 10 shots will let you know if your cylinder will start to gum up and become harder to rotate.  If it does, you may need to size down your bullet another .001 or two.

Good luck.  Hope that load works out for you.  Let the targets beware......

Steve