.429 Speer bullets.

[bobjoe]

I have been looking for the past year for 200gr Speer bullets in .429. I want to get some to try in my 44-40 and I have read they are the only ones that have the crimping groove in the right place for the 44-40. So far I can not find any. Does anyone bring them in?

I currently use cast bullets and they shoot ok. Issue being that if I try to drive the cast over about 1100-1150 fps they don't seem to grab the rifling. Sayin that my rifle is a model 1892 made in 1901 by the serial number. There is all the rifling in the barrel but it is thin in most of it. I was told jacketed bullets would shoot better. Thoughts?

 

[dan belisle]

Almost all 44 bullets designed for the 44 Special/44 Mag will be .429". Have you tried 44 mag cast bullets in your rifle? Cast are usually easier on an old bore then jacketed. - dan

 

[Norlander]

The .44-40 uses a .427 bullet. I'm not sure I'd use .429 diameter bullets in my 1894 Marlin. I know it's only .002 difference, but it would probably increase pressure.

Jerry

 

[dan belisle]

It would, and push further into the rifling grooves. I thought that was the OP's intent. I have an old original 92 in 44-40 that I only use cast .427" bullets in for that reason. - dan

 

[bobjoe]

My bore is worn to .429 I know cast will be gentel on the bore compared to jacketed but I think the bullets are too soft to grab the rifling once there moving faster. I was at a shoot this weekend and I was given some harder cast bullets to try. I will see how they do.

 

[dan belisle]

The other issue can be the velocity of cast bullets in a rifle. You may have to start using gas checks to ensure that the bullets have a chance to engage the rifling fully without stripping the bullet. - dan

 

[bobjoe]

So after a trip to the range I found that it liked the bullet barn bullets better, they were harder. I managed to get 10.0gr of unique behind it and that should put me at around 1200 fps. The groups were not great but there were also not bad. It was about a 6" group at 100 yards with one flyer.

I will just have to keep my shots on moose under 50 yards

 

[y2k]

I`ve been using Bullet Barn .429 for about 6 years now, everything shoots well with it.