44 Mag and cast bullets

[sevt_chevelle]

Starting to load 44 mag for the first time and interested in cast bullets for the first time as well. I bought some Missouri bullet company pills from a local shop, they are 240 grain RNFP, their cowboy #13.
So my question is, all I can find info wise is for Keith style wad cutters, would the info cross reference? My main concern is I don't have a 240 grain Keith bullet to compare too and that the seating depth might be different.

I'm planning on using Trail boss, 231 and maybe AA#5 for nice easy shooting round. The gun is an Uberti Cattleman with a 6" barrel.

Thanks...Eric

 

[zxcvbob]

You can use RNFP and SWC bullet pretty-much interchangeably. They might have different seating depth, but unless you are pushing the envelope it won't matter in that long cartridge.

 

[savanahsdad]

I shoot Oregon-trail 240gr RNFP they are hard cast , and work great, I Think they are harder than what you useing, but with trail boss I don't think you will get them hot enough to give you any leading,

check the web for Oregon Trail "Lasser-cast" , and start with there START LOADS,

NOTE: Keith Style= SWC not round nose or RNFP

 

[ssyoumans]

Seat to the crimp groove. With light loads, such as with your trail boss, just put a light roll crimp into the groove.

Any 44 special load should be good with that 12 BHN bullet. I load mild 44 Mag with 6 - 7.5gr W231/HP38.

 

[jack44]

I use 2400 under a BTB 300gr.I seat the bullet to the crimp groves and crimp with the Lee FC best crimper out there IMO

 

[jgh4445]

I use a Keith 255K cast bullet with 7.5 gr of 231 like mentioned above. Light, pleasant, accurate to shoot and at 35 yds will go slam thru a 300 lb hog.

 

[41 Mag]

Just keep in mind that Trail Boss should not be compressed, so you might mark the outside of a case with your bullet laying next to it where it will be seated to, then check your powder charge to see if it is higher. I personally have two jugs of it sitting here and haven't done anything with it other than look at it. I picked it up to load some reduced rounds for my 454, but then found a Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt I couldn't pass up.

My hunting pardner is using AA-5 with his 44 and cast bullets and getting great groups and mild recoil. He isn't much into the recoil thing due to past injuries. I think his top end loads with the 240 - 265'ish grain bullets are only up to around 1100fps. Still more room to go, but hard to argue with his ragged one hole groups at 25 and 50yds.

 

[zxcvbob]

Try Red Dot powder if you want light loads. Maybe about 5 or 6 grains? I use 7.5 in a .45 Colt, but that's not a light load.

 

[mdi]

For any lead bullet shooting/loading data the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook is my go-to. As stated above, lead SWC and lead RNFP bullets are close enough to interchange load data, but as usual for smart reloading; start at the listed starting load.

One thought about loading/shooting lead bullets; measure the cylinder throats of your gun and size/purchase the same size lead bullets (my .44 Magnums measure .430" and .431" cylinder throats so I size my lead bullets to .431"). This will give you a good starting point for shooting accurate, low/no leading bullets.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Guys, thanks for the information. Being new to cast bullets and 44 Mag its nice to check with people whom have more knowledge then me.

I haven't yet slugged the barrel but the cylinder throats measure at .430, I just need to sit down and slug the darn thing.

Loaded up some rounds with various charges of 231, shot nice and had a very mild recoil, a tad smokey though. Also did some Trail boss but could only load up to 6.5 grains as the powder measure on my Dillon was maxed out. Trail boss was very pleasant to shot, not as much smoke as 231 and less recoil then my MP 9mm.

I plan on ordering some 240gr Keith wad cutters and throwing some 2400 powder behind them. Thanks...Eric

 

[Rule3]

You do not even need "published" test data for Trail Boss, just follow the instructions in the top section of this PDF.

https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail Boss Reduced Loads R&P.pdf

Just seat to the cannelure and you are good to go.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

240 GR. LSWC CAST IMR Trail Boss .430" 1.620" 6.0 828 19,100 PSI 7.3 917 21,600 PSI