CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I'd rather tote a whoopin' than cast bullets. IMHO, casting is for those who enjoy it. I'd rather buy bullets and spend my extra time doing something else.I'm with @CraigC, casting sucks. Plenty of hard cast bullets on the market to choose from.
Exactly. Match your diameter to the gun (often way over-complicated by some folks) and the hardness to the pressure/velocity and you're good. I'm actually baffled to see the old myths surrounding cast bullets still abound. As if they're dainty little things only good for tin cans and paper targets. That only jacketed bullets are appropriate for serious use. These cast bullets traversed an 1800lb bull and survived the trip pretty well.@WrongHanded - recall above when I said all lead bullets are not created equal? The SNS bullets are a "mid-cast" bullet, with hardness of 16-17BHN, right in the sweet spot for 44mag at ~1300fps. They're remarkably cheap when bought in bulk, but still $12 more per 500 than a guy could get lead 210grn from MBC, with a lower alloy (12BHN, basically WW). If a guy just buys based on price, odds are he's not going to end up with a "hot 44mag compatible" bullet. Guys can run hardcast bullets in rifle cartridges up over 2,000fps - it's all about matching your pressure, velocity, and hardness. Scores of books written on the subject... but details like that are likely NOT readily recognized by the 29yr old new reloader with a "look at me" complex... Note, he's looking at Berry's bullets, discussing 240grn bullets, and focused on hot loads - which would put a 240 somewhere around 1500-1650fps, aka, 300fps over the rating for Berry's bullets... Details which come second nature to the experienced are still alien to the rookie...
At this point it is an unnecessary detail. A beginning handloader can easily be overloaded with minute details to obsess about. This particular detail represents an unnecessary complication.Maybe a diameter range is okay for lead, some working better than others, but presents a valid question for those jacketed soft points pictured or referenced.
No, it's a suggestion to actually learn the process of handloading before venturing into maximum loads with unforgiving powders. I wouldn't suggest a new handloader learn with maximum loads any more than I'd hand the keys for a brand new Stingray to a 16yr old....a midrange Unique load with middle weight bullets would not be at all what the OP was pursuing. I agree that it is a good shooter, but it isn't very "magnum", and may be a powder he doesn't really need for his priorities. Bringing him down to a milder load range is a well meaning attempt to change the premise.