Favorite cast bullets in 44 Mag?

[cleveland48]

Hey guys I just bought a 50th anniversary ruger flattop in 44 mag and was looking for a good cast bullet.  What are some of your favorites manufactures and grain sizes.  I had read were Jim Wilson's favorite  44 load was a 300gr. keith bullet with H110.  I will be using this for deer some this year and probably a hog hunt. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

[Graybeard]

Ain't no sich critter as a 300 grain Keith bullet. Elmer designed one only for each diameter and his .429" ain't that heavy. If ya modify it to be that heavy then it's no longer a Keith design.

My favorite is the Thompson designed Lyman 429244 GC bullet. The Keith is an excellent choice as well if ya want to go bare base. Lyman 429421 is supposedly the original but most say they disagree. It has gone thru some changes over time. RCBS makes one they claim to be true to the Keith design but as far off as it is from the Lyman I kinda doubt it. Since I never shot with Elmer I guess I can't properly say which is most closely his bullet.

Veral makes some excellent shooting designs as well. Too many commercial casters use Magma designed bevel base moulds to make casting easier on their machines. I don't consider those fit for shooting beyond about 50 yards. Stick to proven non BB bullet designs.

[BCB]

I use the Lyman 429650 that weighs in at 320 grains.  It is a gas check boolit.  From a 9.5 incher SRH and with 19.5 grains of H-110 I am getting 1277 fps and with 16.0 grains of WC-820, I am getting 1355 fps.  NOTE:  These are heavy duty loads and may be over maximum depending on which handgun is used—use caution.  I have a groundhog-sized steel target and they will rattle it most every time at 150 yards from a good rest.  The SRH is topped with a 2x-7x Burris ‘scope.

I also use the Keith-STYLE RCBS 44-250-K boolit.  I really never got great accuracy with it, but using Green Dot or W-230 at velocities of around a grand per second, it would hold 2” groups at 50 yards.  As the distance increased, the groups got proportionally much bigger than should be expected.  As the distance was decreased, the opposite was true—go figure.

I really think the heavier boolit is the way to go for accuracy in the 44 Magnum.  Elmer would disagree!  But then, I ain’t never shot an elk at 600 yards either!!!

Good-luck…BCB

[Graybeard]

Are you sure about that mould number and bullet weight?

I'm just going on memory here and CRS is a problem but I think the Lyman 429650 is a 325 grain mould or so says Lyman. I can't recall if I've used mine or not but I seem to recall I have not so have not weighted any bullets from it. The 429640 was a favorite of mine and it dropped them around 280 grains but it has some how magically disappeared. Me thinks someone borrowed and failed to return it.

[COR]

I gotta go with the boss...429650 is a 300grainer, just ask Lyman...But it is a heavy "Keith style" which may address the origial post anyway.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-details.php?entryID=25

[BCB]

Yes, that is an absolute typo on my part.  That heavy boolit is definately 315+ at it's lightest!!!  And a dang good shooter also.

I will edit the original post...BCB

[Drilling Man]

  My all time fav bullet for my 44's, for moose on down is...  RCBS mould number 44-250KT, sized to .430", lubed with ALOX, and seated over 22.5 to 23.0 grains of H-110, CCI mag primer.  With the alloy of lead i use, it ends up weighing very close to 250 grains...

  I've taken moose on down with this load, and also won a heck of a lot of long range pistol matches, out to 200 plus yards, all with one or the other of my two S&W M-29's...

  DM

[Scibaer]

Bill,
you said that you didnt like BB bullets, that they are not any good past 50 yards ?
did i read you right ? if so,  can you explain that ( to me so i can understand ) whats wrong with 'em ?
glenn

[Graybeard]

BB or Bevel based bullets tend to lead more than flat base or GC bullets but more importantly they just do not shoot accurately passed about 50 yards. If your requirements are for accuracy further than that you'd do well to find flat base or GC bullets.

They might do 1.5" at 25 and 3.5" at 50 then do 24" at 75 to 100 yards. They just go crazy out there beyond 50. Many folks are perfectly happy with them but generally they are close range shooters. I don't think I've ever seen or heard anyone claim they got good accuracy from them at 100 yards and over.

[Lloyd Smale]

the lyman swc is advertised at 300 but casts out at about 320. Its a great heavy bullet in the 44s the rcbs 300 swcgc is another good one. My favorite 44 bullets are for a midrange weight bullet the rcbs 240 swcgc and if you dont want to fool with gas checks the 250k rcbs. Other good ones are the 429421 and the 429244. the 429215 is another good one if you want a slightly lighter bullet. they cast out at about 220 grain. For heavys my favorite is the ballistic cast 300grain lfngc and the previously mentioned lyman 320swcgc. One good compromise bullet is the lbt 280lfngc. As to favorite manufacture that would go to Mount Baldy Bullets. Frank is a friend and i know he takes pride in his product. He mostly does true kieth style bullets but then theres nothing wrong with that.

[Graybeard]

At one time Lyman had three heavies a 280, 300 and 325 according to their charts. I recall the lighter of them as 429640 going on memory only. I have or at least had them all at one time but haven't looked for them in a good long while.

[BCB]

This is a group I shot today with the Lyman 429650 from my Ruger Super Redhawk...

It is an honest 50-yard group and it measures 0.570" center to center...

This is one of the better groups that this handgun will shoot.  Most are at the 1.0 inch mark with 2.5" groups at 100 yards fairly common...

I think the heavier boolits are the way to go in some 44 Magnums...

BCB

[Flash]

Mine is a #429421 for mags and specials

[45-70.gov]

280  WFN  from LBT

about  all  i shot last 20 years

no  need for anything else  for  me......44 special too  and 44 russian

will  get  a 444m  some day too in a handi