Cast Lead Hand Load for .44mag Win92 Clone Beyond RNFP

[roo_ster]

Howdy:

Which cast lead bullet shapes beyond typical round nose flat point RNFP cycle well in lever guns in general and/or Win92 clones in particular?

I am looking for something with a bit more meplat than the typical RNFP which has a pretty stingy flat point. Prefer to stay near 240gr as my .44mags tend to like that weight better than the others. WFN? LFN? Any specific bullets?

Loaded up the last of my 240gr LSWC commercial cast bullets for mild .44mag loads using Trail Boss and am looking for new projectiles. These loads worked flawlessly in my SW629, but would be a but chunky when cycling in my wife's old Rossi Win92 clone. Still cycles, but the wadcutter portion of the SWC was getting swaged a bit going from mag tube to chamber. The load is pretty accurate in both guns, but I think I am losing accuracy with the lever gun. Wife & I would like to use the Rossi 92 to hunt, but the rather tiny meplat on the usual RNFP we see is not filling me with confidence.

I intend to develop mid-power (W231) and full magnum (2400) loads beyond Trail Boss, too. Might need powder coated to handle the full spectrum, but I would be OK if I had to run with different bullets for the different applications.

Any experience y'all can share or pointers you can give would be appreciated.

 

[Charlie98]

Good cycling in a lever has more to do with the OAL than the shape of the bullet, in my experience.

I run commercial cast SWC bullets in my Marlin 1894 .41MAG in the 1500fps range, I don't have any problems with leading or anything, but my bullets are sized for my bore. If you really want to push them, I would find a bullet with a gas check.

I would also not use W231 for a carbine/rifle... I wouldn't go any faster than Unique, but that's my opinion. Besides 2400, you could consider IMR4227, and even W296/H110, which I have had excellent results with in my Marlin.

 

[Project355]

I made some "zombie loads" for .45 Colt (pistol) but tried cycling them in my new Win/Moroku '92. The loads are simply two round balls stacked. The front ball is just under half exposed, so it looks like a round dome sticking from the end of the case. They cycle just fine in my rifle, though I'd not shoot 'em in the rifle. I suspect that almost any .44 bullet will cycle ok in your rifle.
As far as bullet deformation, shorter rounds may pickup a nicked edge on a lead bullet. Again, in 45 Colt, the 170's I shoot in 45acp were loaded into 45 Colt cases, and cycled in the rifle. They did get a little nick on the edge of the meplat, but nothing note worrying about in a '92. We're not talking minute of angle sort of thing in those rifles. Maybe minute of racoon....

 

[Riomouse911]

A plated 240 gr SWC over 10.0 Unique makes a great plinking load in my 1894 Trapper. And my 629 6.5”. And the Mountain Gun...

I, too find the RNFP bullet easier to load through the gate and feed into the chamber, but I agree the SWC design is a better hunting bullet IMHO.

Stay safe.

 

[Charlie98]

What I meant my OAL...

In this photo, those bullets are a 220grn Keith SWC bullet... they are juuuuuuust at max OAL for the .41... and they gave me fits in the Marlin. I had to muzzle up when I cycled the lever, and often had to give the lever a little 'love jiggle' to get the cartridge all the way back on the carrier. I have a video of me shooting a dueling tree with it, and I look like a monkey having relations with a football. However, the 215grn RCBS (typical commercial cast bullet,) which is a hair shorter but the same basic profile, cycles 100%

 

[mdi]

I have two Ranch Dog design molds one 44 240 RF and one 265 RF. These feed quite well in my Puma and are very accurate (designed as an accurate hunting bullet). I believe Arsenal Molds makes a mold for a "Ranch Dog Clone". I tried the classic 429421 in my Puma but could not get 100% feeding reliability. I tried Magnum brass, Special brass, deep seating in Mag. brass, "long" seating in 44 Special brass and everything in-between. Some worked pretty good, but none 100% for me. With the Ranch Dog bullets they all fed, any length, cycling fast or slow...

Didn't see a 44 RD clone with a quick scan of Arsenal's website, but pretty sure they make one...

 

[roo_ster]

OK, I looked up the Ranch Dog design and it looks like a good option. In particular, the TLC432-265-RF.







I do not cast, so I will have to find someone who does and purchase some, or something like them. Gas-checked or powder coated so they can be pushed up to magnum velocities.

 

[Charlie98]

Take a look at Montana Bullet Works... they have a FP 265grn gas check bullet that is similar. Just looking at the photos, I would say the ogive is a little longer on the MBW bullet. Cast Performance offers the same (or very nearly the same) bullet as well. It looks like you give up a lube groove as well.

 

[mdi]

FWIW I have been dip lubing my RD bullets in 45-45-10 and they work quite well in my 5, 44 Magnums (as long as the bullet fits the bbl.).

 

[dh1633pm]

I have good luck with SWC in 45 Colt loads for my lever guns. Especially since my dad has a couple zillion of them. Free is always better than the shape.