Author Topic: .44 bullets from .40 S&W cases (Read 17574 times)

Hank08 · « **Reply #90 on:** June 26, 2009, 04:00:42 AM »

Pure lead or hard alloy all shot at 1200 fps.
H08

S.B. · « **Reply #91 on:** June 26, 2009, 04:47:34 AM »

jhalcott, you sure list a ton of information but, what are you talking(refering) to? Isn't this a discussion on the use of .40 caliber cases to make .44 caliber bullets, anymore? What are you talking about here or what's this info in reference to?
Steve

45-70.gov · « **Reply #92 on:** June 26, 2009, 05:01:08 AM »

looks like i will be doing some dumpster diveing next trip to the rance

the 357 sig sounds good maybe drill a hollow point, especially in a handi rifle

how about aluminum casings ??

Tom W. · « **Reply #93 on:** June 26, 2009, 09:09:14 AM »

I suppose they'll do. I have a Free Chex II that makes gas checks from aluminum...

But as lead won't stick to aluminum, you'd have to crimp them some kind of serious...

Hank08 · « **Reply #94 on:** June 26, 2009, 02:57:45 PM »

I've thought about it but haven't tried any yet but Win. uses aluminum for their Silvertips so I'd expect them to work well maybe expand a little more than the brass.
H08

deerwhacker444 · « **Reply #95 on:** March 15, 2010, 04:41:13 PM »

So I saw this thread a few months ago and thought I'd give it a try.

Here is what my progress looks like. I start with a fired case and fill it with lead. Using a lathe, I remove the lead back to the rim of the case. Then I drill a 1/4 hole approx .2" deep in the bullet to allow for some "squish" when I form the nose. The finished product is last.

I made me a steel die to use to form the nose. An 82 degree countersink provided the needed angle, it seems to be pretty consistent and works well. It really crimps the lead in place and gives me a nice hollow point.

Here's the finished product. There seems to be some variables like case manufacture that I haven't taken into account, but all the bullets weigh from 262 gr. to 272 gr. I'm happy with my first try.

Now, I ask you. What powder charge do I use to load these up and try em. I realize this is uncharted territory, but at one time everything was uncharted territory.

I've got some BlueDot and I've read that it can be downloaded a bit without any of the problems associated with powders like H-110. I was thinking along the lines of 11.0 gr. of BlueDot. Although I don't have any Unique, I've heard it's a very friendly powder.

Anybody have any ideas. I don't want to hot rod, just shoot em to see how well they hold together.

deerwhacker444 · « **Reply #96 on:** March 15, 2010, 05:17:33 PM »

Well, after searching around the web and reading a bunch, I settled on 11.0 gr. of Bluedot. Here's what they look like loaded up.

The feed and eject in my Marlin 1894. I wasn't sure they'd feed, but they load no problems.

They look kinda "Hammer of Thor'ish", we'll see how well they shoot,...that is if I don't blow up my rifle in the process.....

Tom W. · « **Reply #97 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:29:15 AM »

The 11 grains of blue dot did well with the heavier bullet in my .44 SRH, so it should do well in your rifle.. Those are some really pretty bullets that you have there... Way unlike my redneck prototype.....

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #98 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:38:40 AM »

Very nice job on those. I have some 40 cases here but haven't gotten around to loading them yet. I think you've breathed some new life into this project.

shot1 · « **Reply #99 on:** March 16, 2010, 02:51:17 AM »

This was a reply to what someone said about loading just the empty 40 case by itself with the primer end being the nose of the bullet. Making it look like a big air rifle pellet. It would probably blow the primer out of the case and you would really loose velocity as much of your pressure would escape out of the now empty primer pocket.

Hank08 · « **Reply #100 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:46:30 AM »

Shot1, If you wanted to shoot just the case, seat a gascheck in the bottom of the case, crimp in the extractor groove. Haven't tried this but that should keep the gas from blowing the primer out. Velocity would probably reach 2000.
Deerwhacker, good looking bullets. I did the same thing for crimping over the nose but used
a steel powder dispensing die that had that same inside shape. If you wanted to get max velocity use the H110, 2400, or AA#9, most load books will have loads for 300 gr. bullets
H08

Scibaer · « **Reply #101 on:** March 16, 2010, 08:50:17 AM »

i have been following this thread and trying this for myself.
my problem so far is inconsistant weight slugs. the brass, i weigh and get consistant cases but when i fill them, the are alll ove the place for weight..
how are you guys getting consistant weights ?

Hank08 · « **Reply #102 on:** March 19, 2010, 06:26:46 AM »

If your cases are consistent is weight and you put in the same weight lead they should weight the same. Are you pouring in the lead? rather than seating a cast slug in the case?
H08

jimone · « **Reply #103 on:** March 19, 2010, 07:10:20 PM »

This looks interesting. How about filling case with shot, or shot mixed with epoxy?Then crimp a gascheck over it. Might be a single shot only frangible.

Scibaer · « **Reply #104 on:** March 21, 2010, 12:15:43 PM »

hank08,
yes i am pouring lead ( wheel weights )
and i sort my cases by headstamp.
and that whats driving me nutz, they should be consistant, but they are not.
they very by a few( up to 6 ) grains , i have been sorting them by finished weight, by i need to make a whole heap of them to get 100 of the same grain weight

blhof · « **Reply #105 on:** March 21, 2010, 12:51:22 PM »

You might be getting pockets between the case and lead, try preheating the case by dipping a corner in the lead just before pouring and see if they are more consistant.

Scibaer · « **Reply #106 on:** March 22, 2010, 09:43:42 AM »

ok i'll try that .
i am guessing, but it wont hurt heating up the case to keep a air pocket out of it, if the case gets to annealing heat levels.

Rusty~Gunn · « **Reply #107 on:** March 22, 2010, 09:46:25 PM »

This is a neat idea. What is the outside diameter of the .40 cases? thanks.

gypsyman · « **Reply #108 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:07:00 PM »

Interesting. But, I think I'll stick to loading my .40 case's for my .40's, and casting for my .44 with gas checks if I want velocity that high. gypsyman

jhalcott · « **Reply #109 on:** March 25, 2010, 09:11:03 AM »

I've weighed a bunch of brass with the same headstamp and gotten wider variances than 6 grains! Maybe your cases aren't really that close in weight.I am STILL considering trying this. Don't have a lathe OR drill press, so I'm not sure how to form the noses??

Tom W. · « **Reply #110 on:** March 27, 2010, 01:12:43 AM »

It isn't really necessary to form the noses, unless you're looking for pretty. A good file and a bit of care can make then look o.k.

DanChamberlain · « **Reply #111 on:** March 27, 2010, 01:58:37 AM »

I would think it would be easier to hard crimp the brass first, and then fill it with lead much like one does when you pour lead into the mold. Hold the brass with a tongs or something similar. It would be a lot easier to dress the top of the lead then, as there wouldn't be much exposed.

Dan

uncyboo · « **Reply #112 on:** March 27, 2010, 06:28:32 AM »

Is there any way to swage in a cannelure?

jhalcott · « **Reply #113 on:** March 27, 2010, 04:03:36 PM »

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,5515.html
IS a cannelure needed?

uncyboo · « **Reply #114 on:** March 27, 2010, 06:44:53 PM »

Quote from: jhalcott on March 27, 2010, 04:03:36 PM

IS a cannelure needed?

I may feel better having one if I decide to use H110. I think I'd get a better crimp.

Mtn Jack · « **Reply #115 on:** March 29, 2010, 03:37:15 PM »

The guy on the castbullet forum is making tools to do different nose profiles. He is getting a group buy going looks like nice work. About the price of a good mould.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #116 on:** March 29, 2010, 06:21:15 PM »

Quote from: Mtn Jack on March 29, 2010, 03:37:15 PM

The guy on the castbullet forum is making tools to do different nose profiles. He is getting a group buy going looks like nice work. About the price of a good mould.

GOT A LINK ??

deerwhacker444 · « **Reply #117 on:** March 31, 2010, 05:39:04 AM »

Finally got some time to go shooting. Among other things to shoot, I had 6 loaded rounds using my homemade bullets.

Turns out, the 11.0 gr. of BlueDot that I used was just enough my Winchester 94 go bang..!

My chrony gave results of:

Average: 1111 fps
SD: 10.07 fps
ES: 20 fps

I think I could safely add a couple more grains and gain some velocity.

However, despite the low velocity, they really thumped the dirt berm, leaving a large wound channel. I managed to dig a couple out of the bank. I didn't weigh them since they didn't come apart. The bullets started to expand, but didn't quite make it. However, the diameter of mushroomed part on the smaller of the 2 measures .510", the other is considerably larger. I don't know what they're good for, but as they are; 270 gr. @ 1100 fps with an expanded dia of .510" should make most critters have a bad day. The only problem I've found so far is that these homemade bullets don't engage the rifling very much. They might be a tad undersized. If I look carefully, I can see rifling all the way around the bullet, but it isn't much. Just a few mils at best. Not sure what I can do to fix that.

That pretty much concluded my day. It sure was nice to get out..!

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #118 on:** March 31, 2010, 12:33:47 PM »

That looks promising, If we can get some accurate loads that will be a great round.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #119 on:** March 31, 2010, 12:42:31 PM »

got me thinking about getting a 444 handi to play with