1481davidc
Member
- Location
- Vanderhoof B.C.
I'm trying to locate a mold for making my own .44 bullets. Where can I find one? I'd prefer something that would do say 6 bullets at a time. Any help wuld be great. preferably in the 240gr range.
Looking for a mold for .44 bullets
- Thread starter 1481davidc
- Start date
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
One of a number of questions to be answered first is what gun and/or caliber are you planning on using the bullets in? For example, there are a number of cast bullets that work well in my S&W model 29 .44 Mag but are not appropiate for use and won't function through my Marlin '94 in .44-40.
Most .44s like a .430" bullet and 240+grs. while the 44/40 likes .427" and 200grs, My choice of molds is anything but Lee, but don't forget you are going to need something to lube/size bullets as well as install gas checks if required. If you want top velocities in the .44mag. you may want to harden the alloy and use a gas check design.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
The sized bullet daimeter in relation to the bore daimeter is a critical component for accuracy. For 44 & 45 caliber bullets, my preference is to size 0.001" - 0.002" over the bore diameter. For bullets in the higher velocity ranges, the harder metallurgic composition is a definate asset, as are gas checks.
Back to specific bullet designs and configurations, for the 44 Mag handgun my all time favorite is a hard cast Lyman # 429421 PB, about 250grs. For the 44-40, I've found something along the lines of the Lyman # 42798 PB, 205grs works well.
In my Marlin 444 the two cast bullets I use I get from a guy locally. Both are a 'Keith' style, one is 250grs and the other 325grs, both with GC's. The 250 also works well in 44 Mag handgun and one of these days I'll try the 325 in the 44 Mag as well.
You mentioned possibly using a six cavity or gang mold. Unless you've done a fair amount of casting, I'd be tempted to leave that for consideration down the road. For the present, make a few at a time and concertrate on a quality effort rather than quantity.
Back to specific bullet designs and configurations, for the 44 Mag handgun my all time favorite is a hard cast Lyman # 429421 PB, about 250grs. For the 44-40, I've found something along the lines of the Lyman # 42798 PB, 205grs works well.
In my Marlin 444 the two cast bullets I use I get from a guy locally. Both are a 'Keith' style, one is 250grs and the other 325grs, both with GC's. The 250 also works well in 44 Mag handgun and one of these days I'll try the 325 in the 44 Mag as well.
You mentioned possibly using a six cavity or gang mold. Unless you've done a fair amount of casting, I'd be tempted to leave that for consideration down the road. For the present, make a few at a time and concertrate on a quality effort rather than quantity.
1481davidc
Member
- Location
- Vanderhoof B.C.
I'm loading for a 44 mag handgun. Thanks for the advise guys, this gives me somewhere to start.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Lyman makes a good 4 - cavity mould for the 44 Mag. SWC # 429421 (Keith)
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Good point Boomer.
Taking it a step further, if the throat diameter of a revolver cylinder the same size or especially if smaller in diameter than barrel, I would strongly recommend you get a gunsmith to rectify that.
A quick check of some of mine, 357 is 0.0025" over, 44's & 45's, 0.003" - 0.0035" over and actually the 500 is the closest to barrel diameter, 0.0015" over.
My stated 0.001" - 0.002" sizing over bore diameter is an ideal preference I have for rifle cast bullets. In a handgun I like about 1/2 of that amount of oversize, 0.0005" if possible or a maximum of 0.001" over bore diameter in 357 mag, 9mm, 44 mag, 45LC and 500 S&W. That's where I seem to do the best accuracy wise with the bullets I'm using.
