44mag 300gr cast load help needed

[av-doctor]

my son has a marlin 1894 44mag. its a 1982 model with the larger rifle bore. I've talked with moyers cast bullets he can make me some .432 300gr with gas check. I'm currently using 2400 with cci mag primer. i cant find any start loads with this combo any help is appreciated.

[stimpylu32]

You may want to check Steve's page ( data )
 
http://stevespages.com/429_1_300.html
 
I've been using his data for years now , just remember to start low and work up .
 
stimpy
 

[anachronism]

First of all, don't use 2400 with magnum primers. Alliant only recommends use of std primers with 2400, due to the potential for pressure spikes. You can used jacketed bullet load data without issue for this caliber, so here's Alliants meager offering:

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=300&shellid=33&bulletid=58&bdid=172


Now, have you slugged the bore yet? Is .432 big enough?

[av-doctor]

i haven't slugged it.
   i have shot some 240gr .430 hndy xtp's they shot ok about 4 to 5in at 100yds,i have a handi in 44mag that loves the xtp's 1 to 2 at 100. so i figured larger dia. was in order.  is .432 big enough i hope so its the biggest he can make. i chose the 300gr because its the only one he makes with a gas check.
   my hndy manual says to use mag primers and fairly heavy crimp for reliable ignition

[anachronism]

According to the powders manufacturer, Hornady is wrong about using magnum primers with 2400.

As far as the cast bullets go, try them and see, I suppose. They might be the right size. Each barrel is a set of rules unto itself.

[av-doctor]

i apologize i rechecked my manual it calls for a WLP not a mag, but all the info i found when developing my original loads was to use a mag primer. i actually never tried it with a reg primer.

[anachronism]

No need to apologize. All data showing magnum primers for 2400 is incorrect and obsolete, and you were simply repeating what you read from a reputable loading manual, and comparing it to what some guy off the internet was saying.

[jackruff]

I've not had any success with 300 grain lead bullets in my 1894ss.  They seem to tumble, apparently not stabilizing.  And when I shoot them in my Ruger Super Blackhawk they do fine except they lead the barrel.  My loads are moderate loads using Unique.  I guess I'll have to try some lighter loads.  I have lots of the bullets and hate for them to be wasted.  (Given to me by a friend who didn't want to shoot them in his Ruger revolvers.)  I could also shoot them in my CVA Scout.

[Mikey]

jackruff:  I would hazard the guess that your bullets are not properly sized or moving fast enough and that tumbling is the result.  The twist in your Marlin barrel might require a faster load with a properly sized boolet.  Also, for both you and the av-doc, Marlin barrels are both oversized and possibly micro-grooved, which means they need to be slugged and fire lapped.
For this business I strongly suggest you visit Veral Smith's forum,  read what he says about fire lapping or barrel lapping and then purchase his lapping kit and instructions.  I believe that Veral Smith first developed the barrel lapping/fire lapping process and I do not recommend anyone else unless they follow his process. 
My Winchester M94AEs 444s wear Marlin Microgroove barrels and before I could even think about shooting cast slugs accurately I went the Veral Smith route and lemme tellya, it made all the difference.  For hog, Elk and me, there is nothing better than when I can spit a .432 300 gn gc fn slug from my 20" Winnie at 2300'/sec and a .433 335 gn gcfn from my 26" tube at better than that.  And all this in under one inch at 100 yd from either rifle.... 
There are others that sell gas-checked slugs for the 44/444  in varying diameters if you do not cast your own.  Lapping may also help reduce leading in your SBH barrel too.  HTH.

[jackruff]

Thanks, Mikey.  The Marlin has a Ballard rifled barrel and shoots jacketed bullets very well.  So it's not really necessary that it shoot the big lead bullets, I guess.

[anachronism]

Or you could slug the bore and find out what's going on. Lever action barrels have all sorts of dovetail cuts, screw holes and bands on them. It's pretty common for some of them to create irregular restrictions in the bore, which plays hell with cast bullet sizing.

[stimpylu32]

i apologize i rechecked my manual it calls for a WLP not a mag, but all the info i found when developing my original loads was to use a mag primer. i actually never tried it with a reg primer.

Your not total wrong , right off the package --- WLP primers " Large Pistol for Standard or Magnum pistol loads " I have used both these as well as CCI 350 Mag primers with 2400 and have not seen any pressure issues .
 
stimpy