Author Topic: Attention 44 mag reloaders (Read 973 times)

Varminter · « **on:** June 04, 2005, 07:12:16 PM »

I found these searching the web and i am definately gonna order a box. They seem like they would be a pretty good bullet. Guess its just something unusuall and different compared to all the other 44 mag bullets.

http://missoula.bigsky.net/western/cbip/b429303.html

Nuttinbutchunks · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2005, 04:44:15 PM »

Let us know how they shoot Drew.

Nebraska Kelly · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2005, 07:20:54 PM »

Hello. I would like to know how these interesting looking slugs shoot for you. What speeds can you shoot these without leading up your barrel?
Kelly

Longcruise · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2005, 03:14:19 AM »

:eek: Looks like an answer looking for a question. :-D :-D

MtJerry · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2005, 03:48:12 AM »

I order quite a bit from that fella ... lives a few hours from me in Missoula.

HOWEVER, he does not do custom sizing. Those are .429 dia. and my 44 mag barrel slugges out at .432. I'd love to give them a try, but not gonna happen in my barrel.

Varminter · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2005, 05:53:54 AM »

I havent ordered them yet will do so by the end of the week. what powder would you recommend. I'm just now havin time to start reloading for my 44.

MtJerry · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2005, 05:58:03 AM »

I have spent the last few months using 2400. I have some pretty good loads worked up with that and Hiornady's 300gr. XTP bullet.

I just recently ordered a a few of these from Beartooth - they are cast, 265gr. Have a meplat of .340 and I ordered them sized to .432. I'm gonna try H110 with these.

2400 is a good powder, but it seems most folks are using H110 for heavy loads. Thought I would give it a try too.

Varminter · « **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2005, 06:06:43 AM »

You said that you slugged the bore of your 44. How did you do this

MtJerry · « **Reply #8 on:** June 06, 2005, 06:32:48 AM »

I took a soft (emphasis on soft!) round ball, generously lubed the barrel well with rem oil, took a dowel rod of the appropriate sixe, and gently hammered the ball thru.

Used calipers to measure the outside dia of the ball after being pushed thru.

There are kits you can buy to do this from midway and other outlets. I just had the round-balls handy.

MtJerry · « **Reply #9 on:** June 06, 2005, 06:43:03 AM »

Varminter,

I just noticed you are in E Tenn. You need to talk to JPH45 on this forum. he's in Mentone, Alabama (just south of you) , and knows A LOT more than I do about cast bullets in general, and more about this particular Handi Rifle in 44mag. He's spend a good bit of time working to get his shooting well. Apparently his bore slugged out at .432 like mine.

Drop him a PM, I'm sure you be pleased with the info he'll give you.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprized if he pops in on this thread soon.

Varminter · « **Reply #10 on:** June 06, 2005, 06:51:44 AM »

Thanks i'll wait and see if he pops in. If the bore is oversized i dont want to waste my money on these bullets. I've heard alot of people talkin about sluggin the bore but i never knew the process of how you do it. Was it very complicated?

MtJerry · « **Reply #11 on:** June 06, 2005, 06:54:39 AM »

It takes about 5 minutes in all ... I sluged mine becuase the 44mag Handi's are notorious for being a bit large in the bore. I did try and shoot some cast .240gr'ers that I bought locally (sized .429) and they keyholed at 50 yards. :eek:

Varminter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2005, 07:00:01 AM »

How did you do it? I had saw some posts about the oversized bore of the 44 mag awhile back but never really payed attention to them, but now since i'm gonna start reloading the 44 i would really like to know everything i can. It might save me a bit of money and a whole lot of time.

MtJerry · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2005, 07:02:55 AM »

Quote from: MtJerry

I took a soft (emphasis on soft!) round ball, generously lubed the barrel well with rem oil, took a dowel rod of the appropriate sixe, and gently hammered the ball thru.

Used calipers to measure the outside dia of the ball after being pushed thru.

There are kits you can buy to do this from midway and other outlets. I just had the round-balls handy.

Did you miss this post?

Varminter · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2005, 07:14:53 AM »

Yea, i sure did miss it sorry about that. For the round ball would a 44 caliber black powder revolver ball work?

MtJerry · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2005, 07:57:30 AM »

Sure, as long as it LARGER than i'd say 450 dia. I think I used 457 dia.

Longcruise · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:02:27 AM »

I have a mold that throws LBT WLNGC 320 grainers at about .432 if you want to try them. They have been tried in a Handi but did not work very well. Too long for their 1/38 twist I think.

I ordered these for a superblackhawk pistol that slugged at about .4315. It shot as good as anything out of that revolver but nothing shot as well as I wanted it too so it's sold but I still got the mold! :lol:

I thought I might get another .44 some day. It will be a Handi if they ever get their twist right. Anybody know what the Rossi twist is?

Varminter · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:11:59 AM »

I think they are .454. So all i have to do is lube up the barrel and push the ball through? Then use my caliper to measure the ball. Sounds quite simple. Guess i better hunt those round balls up and do it tonite before i order these bullets. How hard is it gonna be to push it through the barrel considerin it the ball is quite larger than the bore of the barrel. .454-?.429?

Longcruise · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:28:58 AM »

I had to use a hard rubber mallet to start the balls I used. Once the muzzle shaved the ball, the mallet and dowel go down real easy.

Try measuring starting at both ends to give you a measurement at both the breech and muzzle.

Varminter · « **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:34:35 AM »

As soon as i find the round balls i'm gonna do this so a .454 will be ok to do this with?

Longcruise · « **Reply #20 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:49:30 AM »

Quote

so a .454 will be ok to do this with?

That should work. Smallest I had was .490 and that worked! :shock:

Varminter · « **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2005, 11:53:11 AM »

Cool now all i have to do is find the lead balls. As soon as i get it slugged i'll post the results. Thnaks for all your help.

Varminter · « **Reply #22 on:** June 06, 2005, 02:12:17 PM »

I just slugged the bore of my 44. It's .430. Would it be ok to get these bullets to shoot in it or not? I hope they are i would really like to try these in a 445 supermag when i get it reamed out.

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #23 on:** June 06, 2005, 03:15:02 PM »

a really great cast bullet for the 44 is the lyman 429421. give it a try, i got hooked on keith style semiwadcutters a long time ago and not much out performs them.

they work out nice because you dont need a gas check and the driving bands are big enough for some pretty stout loads.

heat treated wheel weights will work in almost any load, but have lousy terminal ballistics, for stronger hand-cannon loads use magnum shot or a mix of 4 pounds wheel weights and 1 pound 50/50 solder.

i use alox or beeswax for lube.

sg