0.431 for 44 Spl?

[D.B. Cooper]

So, I think may be doing something wrong. I'm loading 240 grain LSWC projectiled into once-fired Starline brass. I'm noticing a kind of bulge where the base of the bullet stops. The bass is wider where the bullet is and narrower below that.

The projectiles are "Laser Cast" brand. The box is marked "44 cal." and ".431" As I understood it (possibly incorrectly), one would use the slightly larger than .429 for cast lead and the spot-on .429 for copper jacket projectiles.

Is this normal case forming for .431 projectiles?

I'm running through all Lee dies. Full-length resizer/deprimer, then, through a belling and through powder die (am I belling it too much?) then into a bullet seater (COAL 1.455" - same as the 240 grn HSM cowboy load) and then through a crimper die.

I've loaded 15 rounds so far, and all but one dropped easily into the the cylinder of my Ruger Redhawk. The one that didn't go in all the way, I simply ran back through the bullet seater and crimper, and it dropped right in.

 

[Charlie98]

That's pretty normal, I use almost the same components you do to load .44SPC. Cast makes a bigger difference because they are bigger than the .429" jacketed bullets you would use otherwise.

I also have this problem with my .41Mag and .45Colt loads...

 

[WestKentucky]

Yep. Same for me when I was loading 44, same for all of my .357 as well.

 

[WrongHanded]

I get that bulge and taper with my reloads and had the same concern. But they have all worked just fine. Can't say I recall it happening with new brass though, so I'll have to watch for that.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

So, I think may be doing something wrong. I'm loading 240 grain LSWC projectiled into once-fired Starline brass. I'm noticing a kind of bulge where the base of the bullet stops. The bass is wider where the bullet is and narrower below that.

The projectiles are "Laser Cast" brand. The box is marked "44 cal." and ".431" As I understood it (possibly incorrectly), one would use the slightly larger than .429 for cast lead and the spot-on .429 for copper jacket projectiles.

Yes, they need to be a little larger than jacketed bullets to maximize accuracy and avoid leading.

It is not uncommon to see the bulge when you seat a lead bullet. I see it on nearly every .38 and .357 round I load. My mold drops them at .3585, so I don't even have to size them. Just lube em, load em and shoot em.
No worries.
If it drops freely into your cylinder, it will be fine.

 

[CraigC]

It's normal, you should have good case neck tension.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Okay. Well thanks, guys. I appreciate the input. I'll just carry on.

 

[RealGun]

I went to a pretty full set of RCBS Cowboy dies for almost all my lead loading and no longer get that bulge. The sizer is simply a grunt larger in diameter, as is the expander and crimp. Next best for what I have tried seems to be Lyman. Lee dies are simply not sized for lead bullet diameters but work great on nominal diameters of jacketed (preferably .429, not .431). The dies other than RCBS Cowboy can produce good ammo but not necessarily ammo that looks like factory new. Hornady "Cowboy" is near useless, or not an improvement, because the only thing different in the set I tried was the expander, on which cases galled, because the sizer was too small and didn't match the expander. The crimp die is less critical in size and remains useful.

On the bullets, I don't use any Lasercast anymore, because, contrary to advertising, they do actually lead pretty badly (for me), and because I had to resize and lube too many to be able to use them up. Mine were oversize. I now use softer bullets from other sources with much better results. YMMV.

 

[Walkalong]

because I had to resize and lube too many to be able to use them up. Mine were oversize

To big for the throats?

 

[RealGun]

To big for the throats?

Yes, but to preempt the next question, most of my guns that shoot lead have already had the throats reamed.

 

[Walkalong]

Interesting. Even stranger.

 

[RealGun]

Interesting. Even stranger.

What is strange, let alone stranger?

 

[Walkalong]

That commercial cast bullets would be too large for reamed throats. Undersized factory throats I understand, it happens.

 

[captain awesome]

just to throw it out there, 44 cal. barrels dont always measure right at .429. I have 44 mag Redhawk that slugs at .431. throats are at .432.
I size my cast bullets to .432 and it shoots nice tight little groups.

 

[joneb]

I've measured throats a couple different ways for a Ruger RedHawk 44 mag. they measure .4325" can't find a commercial cast bullet that won't lead. I guess Ruger thought a .4335" was a standard cast bullet size, I've yet to find them
The flame for the cylinder gap on the gun is extreme, I'm disappointed to say the least. I checked out a new GP 100 44spl the throats measured .432" I did not buy it for this reason.