280gr .44 Mag Cast Bullet Loads?

[mmattockx]

I have some 280gr. cast bullets to try out in my 5.5" Redhawk in .44 Mag. I cannot find any load data for cast bullets in this weight, but have found several places with data for jacketed bullets. Any reason I cannot use the jacketed bullet data exactly as is with the cast bullets?

My understanding is that pressures will always be lower with cast bullets (assuming the same weight, of course), due to the lower resistance in the bore. I just want to be certain of that before I do something stupid.

BTW, the data I have found so far is (all for H110 powder):

Hodgdon, 280gr JSP, starting load of 18.5 gr, max load of 20.5gr

Hornady 7th Ed., 300gr JHP, starting load of 17.5gr, max load of 20.1gr

I am loading with 280gr cast flat nose bullets, both gas checked and plain base as produced by Ben Hunchak. If anybody has anything to offer in terms of experiences with this bullet weight and/or these bullets specifically, speak up.

Thanks
Mark

 

[sunray]

"...reason I cannot..." Yep. Jacketed velocities are too high for cast bullets. High velocity with cast bullets causes leading.
This came from G&A Handguns magazine for a 7.5" Ruger. Reduce by 10%. 280 grain Berry's bullet(plated data is good for cast bullets). 20.6 of H4227.
Ben likely has data too.

 

[mmattockx]

"...reason I cannot..." Yep. Jacketed velocities are too high for cast bullets. High velocity with cast bullets causes leading.
This came from G&A Handguns magazine for a 7.5" Ruger. Reduce by 10%. 280 grain Berry's bullet(plated data is good for cast bullets). 20.6 of H4227.
Ben likely has data too.

I have had no leading problems to date with the 245gr SWC, up to running max loads of H110. No chrony at the moment, but those should be over 1300fps out of my Redhawk. I am more concerned with dangerous pressure problems than a dirty barrel at this point.

Mark

 

[ben hunchak]

Those bullets sure are sweet eh! Esp. the GC one.......I used 21grs of H-110 and WW cases for both the GC and the PB, fed beautifully in the levergun, hit very hard, eviscerated a huge beaver end to end!

 

[tjhaile]

"...reason I cannot..." Yep. Jacketed velocities are too high for cast bullets. High velocity with cast bullets causes leading.
This came from G&A Handguns magazine for a 7.5" Ruger. Reduce by 10%. 280 grain Berry's bullet(plated data is good for cast bullets). 20.6 of H4227.
Ben likely has data too.

Leading is usually caused by undersized bullets and/or inappropriate lube. Cast bullets can be driven at least as fast as jacketed bullets in handguns.

Even the hardest lead alloys are much softer than copper jackets and will provide less resistance going down the bore compared with jacketed bullets. Jacketed bullet data will make a safe starting point for cast bullet reloading.

 

[pilon]

Leading is usually caused by undersized bullets and/or inappropriate lube. Cast bullets can be driven at least as fast as jacketed bullets in handguns.

Even the hardest lead alloys are much softer than copper jackets and will provide less resistance going down the bore compared with jacketed bullets. Jacketed bullet data will make a safe starting point for cast bullet reloading.

I agree with this post. Maximum loads for jacketed bullets seem quite docile with a properly lubed lead bullet.
You can drive properly lubed lead alloy faster too.

 

[ben hunchak]

Further to my post, i use 21grs. with the 280 LFN GC and the PB, as well as the 290gr.LFN pb....for the 325gr. WFN Gc I use 19.5grs. It is this last bullet that doesn't feed as well in the leverguns due to the large meplat, it may feed well in others but mine balked. The 280gr. mentioned in the orig. post feeds very slick and is a very nice bullet, like the others, mold designed and made by Veral Smith of LBT.

 

[pilon]

Further to my post, i use 21grs. with the 280 LFN GC and the PB, as well as the 290gr.LFN pb....for the 325gr. WFN Gc I use 19.5grs. It is this last bullet that doesn't feed as well in the leverguns due to the large meplat, it may feed well in others but mine balked. The 280gr. mentioned in the orig. post feeds very slick and is a very nice bullet, like the others, mold designed and made by Veral Smith of LBT.

Sheesh... After reading this I wish we could hunt with a revolver again. Not that I ever have but know some that did.
280 grain with a big front plate would be great for whitetail.
I tried to feed WC through my Marlin but it just would not feed.
How did S&W get a WC to feed through the model 52??