.44 Magnum Questions

[facedown]

I have just begun to reload for this caliber and have run across some problems I've not encountered with lesser powered loads. I've had no problem with .44 Special loadings but when I tried to move up to the magnums, things went awry. The gun is a Smith 29 w/4" bbl.

I've been using Berry or Ranier 240 gr CPFP's and appear to be blowing the jackets off. I have several manuals which show loads in the 10-12 gr range of Unique so I tried 8, 10, and 12 gr charges. All showed "extra" holes in the paper along side the bullet hole.

In all cases, extraction was difficult as well although there were no other signs of overpressure (primer, recoil, etc.).

One thing I realised as I was working these up was that I have no real idea of how much to crimp to apply (Lee Factory) though I know it's important. I set the die at 3/4 of a turn in from the "touch point". I knocked down some unfired rounds and some of them have about a 16th inch "cannulure" where the crimp was. Too much? Possible cause of apparent overpressure?

I would appreciate any advice you folks might have.

 

[rbernie]

I have had this issue with Raniers in both 357 Mag and 44 Mag. I've always presumed that this was occuring due to the fact that pistol crimp weakened the plating; couple this with the faster rotational speed of the magnums, and the plating simply peels off.

To try and solve it, I've tried varying the seating depth of the bullet to alter the location of the crimp, and tried backing off the crimp to almost nothing. Neither approach would prevent the Raniers from throwing their jackets above 1200fps.

In the end, I solved the problem by simply using MagTech bullets for the magnum chamberings. They're not any more expensive than the Raniers, and they work quite well.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Berry's states on their literature that their bullets are intended for velocities at 1200 fps and below. The soft lead core and plating just won't stand up to faster velocities. A hard crimp will also cut the plating.

For hot loads, you're better off using jacketed bullets intended for the faster velocities and use the plated bullets for loads below 1200 fps.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Standing Wolf]

One thing I realised as I was working these up was that I have no real idea of how much to crimp to apply (Lee Factory) though I know it's important. I set the die at 3/4 of a turn in from the "touch point".

I think you'd be better off measuring a factory round, then duplicating the dimensions. Even eye-balling your rounds in comparison to factory rounds would probably deliver a better crimp than going by your dies.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Our first 2 posters hit it. Those plated bullets WILL NOT handle magnum velocities. They just weren't designed to.

 

[facedown]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I didn't think I'd be approaching 1200 fps through a 4" bbl especially with the 8 gr load but maybe I was! I think the high velocity and a bit heavy-handed crimp together may be the problem. I'll try MagTech's for these loads and use the plated bullets for spl loads only.

I still don't have a good idea how to judge crimp as even commercial loads seem to vary quite a bit. I guess I'll just have to experiment a bunch more which means shooting that gun a bunch more.

 

[birddog]

I'm with Standing Wolf on the crimp. I use the Lee FC dies in .44mag and .357mag and ended up doing just that: looking at a bunch of factory rounds, and eyeballing the setting until it was just right. Once set, the FC die won't have to be messed with again, unless you change components.

 

[Dave P]

Question: why do you use a FC die? Is there a concern about bullet setback?

The last die I use is the Lee seater, which also puts a roll crimp on, AFAIK. Works just fine for me with lead or jacketed bullets.

Dave

 

[JMusic]

You may have tried this but here is a way to judge crimp. Load your hottest load you anticipate using. Shoot two shots with some varied crimped bullets, heavy crimped to light. Measure the crimped bullets for movement, set your crimp at the lightest crimp that did not move. Load it up again with this crimp shoot all except for one. Measure that if it did not move you got it.
Jim

 

[Clark]

I get allot of extra holes in the target with Berry's bullets, hot loads, 200 gr, and 40sw or 10mm.


I would not want to depend on this bullet for hunting or self defense, but I can just laugh at the extra ragged tears in the paper.

 

[facedown]

JMusic

Dang guy, that's the most sensible crimp advice I've seen. Some folks tell you to mic it to the 1000th, etc., factory loads are all over the place, and I'd rather not find out that I've crimped too little by locking up the cyllinder.

Your way takes a little time but once you've got it, it's done. Besides, all that "research" won't hurt me none.

Thanks!

 

[JMusic]

It don't take as long as you think. Load everything up ahead of time and if you have some that move after your testing just recrimp.
Merry Xmas
Jim