.44 mag lead bullet reloading question

cdncowboy

cdncowboy

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I am ready to start reloading .44 mag ammo. I have always reloaded jacketed bullets in the past but decided to go with lead 300grn FPBB from bulletbarn. On the reloading data from Hodgdon the only 300grn info it gives is for 300gr HDY XTP (which mine are not) and looking at the various data in the table all the lead bullets (LSWC) of other grains have a significantly lower amount of powder compared to jacketed bullets of the same weight.... so it seems that lead bullets require less powder then jacketed bullets of same weight. SO, my question is: should I go with the data for the 300gr HDY XTP?

Your help is appreciated.
 
The only data I could find in the 5 reloading books I have for 300gr lead 44 mag used Accurate #9, 5 and 2. Compared the data to the xtp data and is pretty much the same but OAL is a little more on the cast, but maybe due to the bullet itself. From Lee Manual.
Clint
 
Using jacketed bullet data for cast bullets is a safe starting point, since cast offers less resistance traveling down the bore.

The reason most data for cast bullets shows lower powder charges is they are keeping the velocities down to avoid leading problems. With the proper cast bullets, sizing and lube you can run full power loads without leading issues. If you want to load plinking rounds use the cast bullet data, if you want fire breathers, use the jacketed data.


Mark
 
I've have had nothing but bad experiences trying to push .44 mag cast bullets to jacketed velocities. You may want to try some .44 special load data (even for jacketed) and see how it goes. When pushing lead cast .44 bullets to .44 mag velocities I got horrendous leading.
 
As was mentioned before boolit fit is paramount! The comercial cast variety almost always are of the super deluxe type of extra hard cast alloy, more often than not are sized to .429 and are of a bevel base design. All of the things that you do not want!!! First things first. Have you slugged your bore and cylender throats? You want a cast boolit that is 1-2 thou over groove diameter. I have a Dan wesson that I drive full power 240 and 265 gr cast sized to .430" with a gas check out of at full magnum velocity with little to no leading!!! I also shoot cast from a 7 0/8 silouette pistol @ 2100 fps and again no leading. If you are serous about following the silver stream and casting your own, check out the Cast boolits website. There is an endless amount of info to be gleaned and all the guy's over there would like nothing more than to promote the art of cast shooting.
 
I'm shooting a Ruger Super Blackhawk and my bullets are 300grn FPBB from bulletbarn.com. I'm currently using Titegroup powder but plan to get H110 soon.
 
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