44 Mag lever action and non-lead bullets

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks,

Anyone had any experience loading Barnes bullets into a .44 mag lever action for deer?

Thinking the 200 or 225gr XPB bullets.

I would guess H110 or Ramshot Enforcer is the powder to use but happy to take suggestions?

I'd be grateful for any real world experience.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

No one? Surely someone has loaded Barnes in 44 mag and shot them out of a lever action?!?

 

[B]

H-110 and Enforcer are both almost always the top performing powders for magnum pistol XPB bullets. There is data on Barnes' website.

 

[Scrumbag]

H-110 and Enforcer are both almost always the top performing powders for magnum pistol XPB bullets. There is data on Barnes' website.

Thanks!

Just wondering about ME / MV data if anyone had it.

Scrummy

 

[mbogo3]

I've used 200gr Gold Dots in a 44-40

 

[B]

Thanks!

Just wondering about ME / MV data if anyone had it.

Scrummy

Should be nearly identical to lead core bullets. I can't give you numbers for .44 but 200grn XPB from .45 Colt in a rifle are over 2000fps. That bullets has apparently been discontinued. I have been trying to find more for a few years now.

I've used 200gr Gold Dots in a 44-40

Gold-Dot bullets are lead core.

 

[mbogo3]

Misread........thought he meant cast vs non-cast.

 

[Ganderite]

Be careful of OAL. The round will not lift into position if it is too long. Copper bullets are longer, so would have to be seated deeper, a potential pressure issue. The 200gr would be the better choice.

 

[njc110381]

I just had a wade through my scribbles from when I was looking at getting one. I never did so this is internet extracted info, but I would have asked the same question to get the results. It looks like in a 20" rifle with 225gr bullets you can expect around 1850fps, 1710ft-lbs. It would have been clever to attach the data to the same document, I didn't! I'll see if I can find that and add it on.

 

[Scrumbag]

Be careful of OAL. The round will not lift into position if it is too long. Copper bullets are longer, so would have to be seated deeper, a potential pressure issue. The 200gr would be the better choice.

I think you are right. SAAMI max is 1.61" and COAL for Barnes is listed a touch under that

 

[todbartell]

I have a stack of 200gr X for my 44 mag Marlin 1894SBL but haven't gotten around to load any yet. When I do, I'll be using H110

 

[Scrumbag]

I have a stack of 200gr X for my 44 mag Marlin 1894SBL but haven't gotten around to load any yet. When I do, I'll be using H110

Sounds good!

 

[Scrumbag]

I just had a wade through my scribbles from when I was looking at getting one. I never did so this is internet extracted info, but I would have asked the same question to get the results. It looks like in a 20" rifle with 225gr bullets you can expect around 1850fps, 1710ft-lbs. It would have been clever to attach the data to the same document, I didn't! I'll see if I can find that and add it on.

That would be very helpful!

 

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks,

Well, through the wonders of the pandemic I finally have some non-lead bullets to try out in the .44 mag.

So, from the S African company Peregrine I have some

180gr Hog (left) and 205gr VRG (Right), Nosler 240gr JSP between for comparison.

I've even sources some N105 and Lil'gun to try them with...

Scrummy