44 mag cast load

[bja105]

I have been happy enough with the way my wife's 44 mag Handi youth is shooting.  I have a max load of h110 with a 240 grain jacketed hollow point that  shoots ok.  I'll be picking up a Ruger Redhawk in 44 this week, so in preparation, I loaded some light cast loads with the only ither appropriate powder I have, blue dot.
A local shop has 240 g SWC moly coated cast lead for 5/100.  I don't know how hard they are, but he said he has shot full H110 loads ok, so I'd think they are pretty hard.  My load is 10.2 grains Blue dot with a heavy crimp.

I don't own a cronograph, so I have no idea how fast they're moving.  Out of the handi, they shoot about 2 inches at 50 yards, with very light recoil.  She fired about 25 rounds tonight, offhand at 50 yards.  she hit the 8*12 plate almost every time, even with a very strong wind.

Can anybody guess how fast this load is going?  Inside 50 yards, is deer performance going to be much different betweem a slow hard lead bullet and a fast hollowpoint (Hornady xtp 240)?  Any reason to hunt with one over the other.  I can let her practice with the light load and hunt with the heavy load.  I just like the way she shoots with a load she knows won't hurt her.

[quickdtoo]

The Lyman 48th shows a 240gr cast bullet #429667 with 13.9gr Blue dot(start load) at 1447fps and 15.5gr(max) at 1589fps out of a 20" barrel....if that helps any.

[Ranger J]

Glad you like your .44.  What size cast bullets did you get?  You might check the bore size of your gun, as many, mine including, are oversize.  Mine is between 431 & 432.  I fought accuracy problems for three years as it shot jacketed bullets erratically and would pattern rather than group.  When I changed to some .431 laser cast 240-grain bullets suddenly I was shooting ragged holes at 50 yards.  If you want a low recoil target load the Lee manual lists one for AA#2 of 9 G. that gives 1126 fps.  This is a very gentle on the shoulder and at least in my rifle a very accurate one.  It also lists one for 16.6 G of Blue Dot that gives 1475 fps.  I find this one also to be very accurate and also easy on the shoulder and at that speed I also plan to shoot it at deer.  A max load of H110 with a jacketed bullet will give you only 50 or so more fps.  Is the poi of your  max H110 load and the light Blue Dot the same, probably not and will this throw your wife's aim off?
RJ

[bja105]

Thanks for the help so far.  That data is just what I was looking for.  At 50 yards, the blue dot/lead and H110/copper hit within 2 inches, I haven't shot the lead farther, yet.  These lead bullets measure .429.

Let me refine my question.  Interpolating from quickwrongtarget's Data, 10.2g Blue dot is giving me near 1200 fps with a lead, semi wad cutter bullet.  The Jacketed hollow point load is probably giving me near 1800 fps.

For close range whitetails, is a jacketed hp at 1800 fps much much better than a lead swc at 1200 fps?  If so, if I push the lead bullet over 1400 fps, will it be closer, or will a jacketed hollow point always kill, fly, or penetrate better than a lead bullet?

I've never loaded a handgun cartridge, lead bullets, or hollow points before This rifle.

[JPH45]

I shot gobs of Blue Dot through my 44 and over my chronograph (before I shot it :cry: ), 11.3 grains at a time under 265 grain cast bullets, gave me a very even 1275 fps and brought home 2 deer for me, shot at about 30-40 yards or so.

Most definately check your bore, mine was .432 and went from 1 1/2 to 2" groups to 10 shots under a quarter at 50 yards. Friend has the rifle now, last load I was working with was 24 grains of 1680 under a 265 grian bullet, gave 1430-1470 fps, shot like a house afire (3 shot cloverleafs at 100 on demand) and was a gentle as one could want on the shoulder. Powder really liked Federal LP Mag primers. Load will bring home any deer you point it at out to 125 yards or so, and she won't feel beat up.

[bja105]

jhp45, I was hoping you would respond, thanks.

How do cast bullets perform on game?  Expansion?  Penetration?  Big holes?


I'm glad I tried these cast bullets.  So much better than the .243 barrel.  The Handi went from the dog of the safe to the rifle we fight to shoot!

[JPH45]

I'm glad I tried these cast bullets.  So much better than the .243 barrel.  The Handi went from the dog of the safe to the rifle we fight to shoot!

I can believe that :grin:

I din't see any thing more than a caliber size hole in and out. One doe I shot a tad far back and high, and the bullet hit the liver, rending it into two peices :eek: I was surprised to say the least. Other shots were pretty much heart/lung shots. Big holes, lots of blood, dead deer. Unfortunately soft cast bullets are likely the perview of the home caster. I'm gonna make some 10 BHN stuff (My other was running at least 18 BHN) to experiment with, but it will be next year. After my experiences with this hardness/alloy in my 357 Max, I believe it would be a much better alloy than the hard stuff for the 44 and would solve some bullet/bore size problems as well.

Edit: removed smilie I didn't want.