.44 Cal Bullets

[Matt304]

I was flipping through the Cabelas shooting book today and realized that there are sabots for muzzleloaders using .429 (or .430) diameter bullets. Knowing that the sabots exist, I know there are probably more than a few muzzleloader bullets that exist in .44 cal. My book didn't list most of the bullet diameters, just the sabot diameters.

Now, here is the interesting part for me. Quite a few have complained that Hornady hasn't released the Leverevolution bullets for reloaders, including me. But I think I may have just found the answer, at least for 444 Marlin.

Can you guys possibly point out any "ballistic tip" muzzleloader bullets in .44 cal? I would really appreciate any because if they are .429 they will work, and will be the end of my troubles. I do need them to be copper jacketed as they are engaging the rifling.

Again, my whole concern here is for an aerodynamic 44 cal bullet, defeating the other blunt flat-nose bullets with poor coefficients.

Thanks.

 

[DixieTexian]

The leverevolution rounds have a rubber tip so it won't set off the other bullets. Plastic ballistic tips aren't exactly safe. If they were, they would have had them in lever action ammo a long time ago.

 

[Matt304]

I'm not using them in lever guns. I would never think about that. I just wanted an aerodynamic bullet for my 444 Marlin pistol. I believe I found them, they are in T/C Shockwave sabots at 250gr, if I am correct in my assumption of the diameter they use for that one.

 

[.44walkersabot]

U.S. Marine Corps Rule # 1--There are very few problems in this world which cannot be solved with a well placed rifle shot...okay...

 

[alsaqr]

"I believe I found them, they are in T/C Shockwave sabots at 250gr, if I am correct in my assumption of the diameter they use for that one."

The TC Shockwave is a Hornady SST bullet. It is a .45 caliber bullet. This is my favorite deer and hog zapper bullet for my .50 caliber Encore muzzleloader.


https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_se...&category_id=fb73b4b3a3f422cdff2546992d2a2166

 

[Matt304]

The TC Shockwave is a Hornady SST bullet. It is a .45 caliber bullet. This is my favorite deer and hog zapper bullet for my .50 caliber Encore muzzleloader.

I was in Bass Pro tonight holding the boxes side by side and comparing. The T/C Shockwave bullets are yellow and blue. Sure, color change is no problem, so I won't assume they aren't the same as matching Hornady SST. But for some reason, my eyes seemed to think that the 250gr Shockwave bullet had a smaller diameter than the 300gr. Maybe optical illusion? Also, the 200gr appeared to have yet an even smaller diameter. Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Or is it possible the 200gr is a 44 cal? Note, there is no listing at that Hornady link for 200gr. I think it just may well be a .44.

I think this is the perfect bullet for 444 if it exists. Just because they aren't out doesn't mean they aren't completely useful. There's no magic line you cross where a pointed bullet isn't useful. It's just what's been hammered in by tradition in cowboy loads. It's also the simple fact that most guns out are chambered for 444 in a lever gun. Thus, using a hard pointed bullet would be a reliability issue and hazard, so it is not done in retail loadings.

 

[Sixgunjeff]

The 200 grain bullets are .40 cal..