Trying to order an LBT mold.

[Dusty Miller]

I'm wanting to order a 240 gr. WFN for my Anaconda .44 mag.  My cylinder bores were recently standardized at .430 and my barrel is .429.  Should I order the .430 or the .429 mold?  Also, I'm confused as to what "crimp length" means. Is that the length of the case with a crimp or the length of the entire cartridge.  As soon as I get answers to these two questions I can put this order form and money order in the mail.

[dakotashooter2]

You'd want to go with the .430. You want the bullet to be a slip fit in the cylinder and tighter fit (.001 over bore) in the barrel for best performance. If the cylinder is tighter than the barrel the bullet will be squeezed down too much and can"bounce around" the barrel and the seal will be less than perfect likely resulting in leading. If the bullet is smaller than the chamber it can "bounce around" before it gets to the forcing cone  of the barrel and start in the barrel off center hurting accuracy. I'm not sure about crimp length. OAL (overall length) is usually the reference for length of the finished cartridge. Since different guns have different lenth cylinders I'm speculating crimp length refers to an option of bullet design that accomodates a longer or shorter cylinder. Someone more familiar with your gun can probably tell you what you need.

[Lewis50]

Crimp length refers to the distance from the mouth of the case to the end of the cylinder. Veral's catalog states - " to determine the proper nose length (crimp length), hold a CRIMPED empty case firmly in the cylinder, then, with the depth guage on a caliper, measure inside the cylinder throat from the front down to the crimp. Our closest offering Under the measurement is the correct nose length for your gun." His offerings are .35, .40, .45, and .50 for revolvers larger than 41 caliber. My two S&W 29's took a .45, it's a simple job to measure and determine the correct nose length.  
           Good Luck

[Lewis50]

One other thing, you might want to consider a slightly heavier bullet, say a 280 or 300 grain, to increase the overall length which helps accuracy by aligning the cylinder with the forcing cone while firing. If there is a bit of play/misalighnment these longer bullets will force things into alignment when fired. The extra weight of a 280 doesn't increase recoil noticeably, but will help in penetration on game, just something else to think about.

[Dusty Miller]

Hey guys, thanks for the input.  Its very helpful.

[Dusty Miller]

My measurement is .781 from the end of the crimped case to the outside of the cylinder.  So I guess I go with the .50 and have an extra .281.  I'm ordering a 240 gr. bullet mold because I already have a 340, but its a .429 diameter and I suppose that is not good for accuracy.  I'll see how the 240 gr. bullets shoot and maybe have to replace the other mold if it appears that the .430 is a straighter shooter.

[Veral]

All the above is correct.  The object of selecting a crimp lenght (nose length) which fills the gap between case mouth and end of cylinder is threefold.  1. To reduce bullet jump to the rifling. 2. To get the nose of the bullet aligned in the chamber perfectly before it starts moving.  If possible LBT bullets have a heavy driving band forward of the crimp and bullets MUST be sized to as close a fit as possible to the cylinder throat for optimum performance and to assure they are not oversize, so rounds will chamber easily. 3. To allow maximum powder space, which reduces pressure with a given charge, allowing heavier charges than with other bullets, at lower chamber pressure/higher velocity.

The ultimate bullet for American game in the 44, in my opinion, is the 280 gr WFN, with the 300 gr a good heavier choice.