Bisley Handloading

[genzer]

Iv'e recently aquired a Bisley S.S> 5.5  & would like to start handloading for hard cast bullets, I've reloaded for my other BH's but never HC bullets. Any info ie: loads, brands, maybe where to buy etc. to get me started  would be much appreciated.

[tacklebury]

Is this for .45 Colt?  .357?  .44 Special?  .44 Magnum?  I use a lot of Dardas bullets and have very good results with low powered loads.  I use the same 200 gr. RNFP bullets in my .45 Colt and .45 ACP.  With plain or bevel base you typically want to keep velocities in the sub 1400 fps range or less, especially with softer alloys.  Hard cast means from 12 BHN to 25 BHN typically with most HC mass manufactured bullets being in the middle.  If you want higher performance loads, you will need some with gas checks to keep from leading and some use em all the time.  Here's a couple links to casters sites, but there are many more:
 
http://www.dardascastbullets.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=dardas&Category_Code=45RNFP
http://www.montanabulletworks.com/45_Colt.html
http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/store/index.php?app=ecom&ns=catshow&ref=cp45cal
http://westernbullet.com/45pica.html
 
***edit***
ps Lyman Cast bullet Book is good starter:
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/publications/cast-bullet4.php

[Graybeard]

Since he said it is both stainless and a Bisley with 5.5" barrel I'm thinking he has the Williams limited edition model. I've got one supposedly on order but Williams told my dealer it would likely be mid year before anymore shipped.

If it is the gun I think it is it should weigh a bit over 4 pounds and is a big hunk of steel. It is suitable for any .45 Colt load listed in any reputable loading manual and any of the magazine article loads other than those listed for five shot conversions only.

Depending on what your goals are for it you could get a Keith type bullet of around 250-270 grains from several commercial casters that will serve you well. I load several such bullets as well as RNFP 250 grain cast bullets over both Unique and 2400. My loads are targeted to a velocity of around 1000 fps plus or minus 50 fps or so. They are fun to shoot and very accurate.

I have some RCBS 45-270-SAA bullets from Leadheads that while they shoot well are not of that high a quality. A large percentage have missing lube some never had any to begin with. They were sized .454" rather than my requested size of .452" and have very visible flaws in around 99% of the bullets. I dunno if I'll go with Leadheads again or not. Still they do shoot accurately in spite of the flaws.

I can also recommend highly the Toney, Alabama firm of Magnus. They have a semi clone of the Keith bullet but with a bevel base (which I really don't like) but so far they are shooting very accurately in my guns at 25 yards which is as far as I've shot them so far. I love their Lyman 429421 Keith style for my .44 Special Bisley flat top. It is a true Keith bullet with flat base not BB and are really accurate. Magnus bullets seem to have all their lube in place when you get them and have far fewer visible flaws and are very accurate.

Western Bullet Co. is super slow in delivering your order but the bullets are of high quality and prices are reasonable. I have a couple of different .45 bullets from them I'm working with and both are doing very well in my .45s.

[Lloyd Smale]

I cast my own but have used samples from several of the comercial bullet casters. My pick would be MT Baldy bullets. I wont recomend any loads for two reasons. First im not sure what you have. If it is the large framed bisley or one of the new medium framed ones. That and i just dont believe in giving out load info anymore. Id feel bad if someone got hurt with my load and no two guns shoot the same load the same anyway so the only way your going to find a load that works in your gun is to start shooting. As to loads though any load that safe with a jacketed bullet will usually be safe with a cast of the same weight.

[genzer]

Duh my bad for not posting cal. .44 mag. Ok, I purchased the gun used & I think it's an Accusport Bisley, the enclosed fired case is dated 2002, if it is fine, if not that's fine as well it's the gun I wanted for woods carry. I wasn't aware there's different frame sizes, is this new? Lloyd, I completely understand.

[timothy]

I've always had good luck with ruger 44's you might just try whatever 240gr hardcast you can find locally first, mine seem to do well with anything.

[cwlongshot]

I agree, I have found all 240gead slugs I have used to work very well. That's a target or small game load... For big game my #1 bullet is the 270g Speer Gold Dot, over a stiff charge of 296/H110

CW

[Graybeard]

Since we now know it's an older gun and in 44 magnum rather than the only currently made stainless Bisley 45 Colt I'll change my recommendation to you.

These days I'm shooting a lot of the Keith bullet as cast from Lyman 429421 mould. They weigh nominally 250 grains from most commercial casters and that was the weight Elmer designed it for.

I'm shooting it mostly in my Bisley flat top 44 Special over either Unique or 2400 to a targeted velocity of 950-1000 fps. That's a fun velocity range even with the magnum and both powders can easily duplicate that with the magnum case. Check load manuals for the correct powder charge. If you wanna push it to book max then most all agree that mean's 24.0 grains of W296/H10 and with modern 2400 more like 20.0 grains NOT the 22.0 grains Keith used to use as the burn rate of 2400 is faster now than it was then. Unique can also give you basically the same velocities if you wish as can lots of other but those three powders are what I use in my .357, .44 and .45 guns primarily these days.

[Lloyd Smale]

its definatley a accusport as they were the only stainless bisley 44mags. I have one and its a great gun. One of the best shooting out of the box rugers ive owned. If you cast  bullets pick yourself up a rcbs 240 swcgc mold or a lyman 429244 both area excellent shooting bullets. If you want something heavier both ballistic cast and lbt make nice lfn molds between 280 and 320 grain. For real heavy work ballistic cast makes a 340 lfngc that actually casts around 330 out of most alloys. I used that bullet in the exact same gun at one linebaugh seminar penetration test and it beat out Every other 44 and 45 colt load and just about every rifle load and even a good number of 475 and 500 linebaugh loads when it came to penetration. As to buying bullets if you are looking for swcs check out Mt Baldy bullets if its lfns you are interested in Cast Performance bullet company makes a good bullet.

[genzer]

Much thanks to everyone, this site is hands down the best for info & genuine good people bar none! Lloyd, Mt. Baldy's web page shows N/A after all lbt bullets, out of stock or not selling anymore? I'll call Mon. I really like Veral Smiths bullets, now there's someone I'd like to sit an talk to for awhile!

[Lloyd Smale]

genzer frank my not have the exact bullet you think you need but will steer you to the bullet you really need for the job and hes one of the only casters that will even insure the alloy is proper for the job too. Frank like me is a bit predudice toward keith style bullets. Him even more then me  If you absolutely must have a lfn or wfn Cast Performance specializes in those.

[dpe.ahoy]

Dave over at montanabulletworks.com has excellent bullets at good prices.  If you can't find what you are looking for with him, you will need to have a mold made.  DP

[painted horse]

Much thanks to everyone, this site is hands down the best for info & genuine good people bar none! Lloyd, Mt. Baldy's web page shows N/A after all lbt bullets, out of stock or not selling anymore? I'll call Mon. I really like Veral Smiths bullets, now there's someone I'd like to sit an talk to for awhile!

Veral Smith would probably be good to sit and talk to, but, I'd rather hang out with Lloyd for awhile.  He sounds to me like I sound to me....

[genzer]

I agree 100% & I wanna include Graybeard, some good people here.

[painted horse]

I'll tend to agree with ya on that. However Graybeard is a Southern boy and some of em' just don't care much for us Yankee's.  Fortunatly I missed out on that particular fray, I was just under the draft age at the time....

[Graybeard]

I'll tend to agree with ya on that. However Graybeard is a Southern boy and some of em' just don't care much for us Yankee's.  Fortunatly I missed out on that particular fray, I was just under the draft age at the time....

Well you iz jist a darn young whippersnapper then.

I have a friend in PA I swap e-mails with daily. I pay more attention to how a fellar behaves than I do whar he's frum.

[irold]

I'll give ya some more hay to chew ..........I've gone to Oregon Trail cast bullets.  Not sure how they compare in price to the other casters....but they don't lead  or at least very little in my guns.  I've been using their .45 cal , 200 gr SWC in my .45 acps , very little leading, and their 240gr, 44 cal ,SWCs  in my 44 mags again , very little leading.  Also using several of their .38 cal bullets ....like them all.  If ya go to their web site , they only list lots of 500 and up , however if you call , they'll send ya bags of 100 to test with.  Thats what I did before commiting to large numbers. 
 
regards , irold

[Lloyd Smale]

Ah heck even i have to admit that some of you souther boys are still good old boys. Believe me if Bill wanted to clash with yankees ive given him the oportunity on many occasions to clash with me.