New to reloading: .44 magnum

[CraigC]

I'm with @CraigC, casting sucks. Plenty of hard cast bullets on the market to choose from.

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.

@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...

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.

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.

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.

...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.

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.

 

[Catpop]

I personally do not shoot any factory jacketed pistol bullets anymore preferring to shoot only what I can personally make myself.
Leading is not an issue if boolit is properly sized to your bore.
Problem is most factory lead boolits are only .001 over bore. It takes .002 to .003 over bore to shoot lead with out leading bore. And throat must match boolit size!
With 44 mag I’m pushing 265 grs at 1235 with no gas checks and almost no leading
Jmho, but it works for me with .357, .44 mag, and 45 acp.
Good luck

 

[SamT1]

I personally do not shoot any factory jacketed pistol bullets anymore preferring to shoot only what I can personally make myself.
Leading is not an issue if boolit is properly sized to your bore.
Problem is most factory lead boolits are only .001 over bore. It takes .002 to .003 over bore to shoot lead with out leading bore. And throat must match boolit size!
With 44 mag I’m pushing 265 grs at 1235 with no gas checks and almost no leading
Jmho, but it works for me with .357, .44 mag, and 45 acp.
Good luck

Yes sir that’s why you see factory cast bullets are all so dang hard. The only thing I cast that I add Lino to is some .308 win bullets that run about 2200. My 460 Rowland shoots clip on wheel weights 1400fps with no gas check.

I also don’t like the hard lube, Lyman moly is nasty stuff, but once you send a few down range without leading you bore is coated. I don’t mind the smoke and don’t want to heat my sizer either. Before I had my tire shop connections I would harvest lead from the backstop at a local range. It’s crazy how many of those factory cast bullets still had 1/4 or more of the lube on them. Super hard too because even with all the lead from jacketed bullets mixed in it was at least as hard as wheel weights.

 

[Catpop]

SamT1
Oops I forgot, my boolits are clip on wheel weights 10-12. I use soft lube.
I agree that’s why most people use hard cast boolits, they’re too small for bore! It’s their way of trying to reduce leading.

 

[SamT1]

I will admit that I cheat Some. I have some really old wheel weight ingots from the 80’s that I use from time to time.

 

[CraigC]

Hardness doesn't save you from undersized bullets. It has the opposite effect. If you're running small, you're better off softer.