44 Mag 240 Grain Hard Cast

[n2omike]

Hello, new guy to the forum... so you've been warned. lol

I've been reloading rifles sporadically for a long time... more off than on... and with my son showing interest, have recently gotten back into it.

Anyway, We've got a 44 Mag Anaconda that we have been having fun with. I've got a box of 500 240 grain Hard Cast bullets that was acquired inexpensively in the 90's. Pictures are below.

I was loading them ahead of 20.0 grains of 2400 and after digesting 60 rounds, the gun looked filthy. The Lee manual shows 21.0 grains of 2400 being max with a jacketed bullet... and 20.0 max with a 250 grain cast bullet. I've shot jacketed bullets in the past, but with the shortage decided to sling these hardcast units. Are cast just 'dirtier' than jacketed, or have I just forgotten how filthy 60 rounds of 44 mag can look against a stainless background? lol The other powder I have used for 44 Mag and have on hand is W296/H110.

Thanks!

 

[mdi]

Couple of thoughts; the diameter on the box is too small for 99% of the revolvers produced today. "Normally" a cast bullet diameter of .432" is a good starting place. Many commercial casters use lubes that are better suited for shipping than performance in your gun, one reason for "dirty". I would suggest another manual, as Lee manuals are sometimes sketchy and use dated data from others' testing. My Lyman 49th shows 18.5-20.6 for a plain based 240 gr cast bullet, and the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbooks are often considered the "Bible" for cast bullet info/data. Shooting cast bullets is a little more involved than jacketed, plated or PCed, but not difficult to overcome the minor differences...

I have been reloading cast in my 5, 44 Magnums for quite a while (ain't nuttin' than firing a big revolver with hefty loads!). My cast loads with proven lube, around 12 BHN, and sized to fit the gun (I size the bullets to the same size as the cylinder throats for all 9 of my revolvers) are nearly as clean shooting as my jacketed loads and don't lead the barrels...

Check out this site for tons of good info on all aspects of lead bullet making and shooting; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

 

[black mamba]

Even if your barrels don't lead up, jacketed bullets usually shoot cleaner (less soot) than cast or swaged lead bullets do. That's why coated and plated bullets are so much more popular now . . . they handle, load and shoot cleaner.