Correct Bullet Size on measured 44 mag barrel

[Billy Jack]

I finally got the cylinder and barrel of my SS Redhawk 44 mag measured. I used #8 soft lead egg shaped fishing sinkers and a quality set of micrometers. I was shocked at how hard it was to drive the lead sinkers through the throats and even more so through the barrel.

Cylinder throats are .4315 and the barrel is .4295.

I plan on loading hard cast WFN 260 gr bullets with about 20 gr of 2400, mainly for feral hogs....big ones.

Off hand I would think I should order bullets in .430 or .431, however, I already have access to some quality hardcast WFN bullets that measure exactly .432. The .432 would be down to .4315 coming out of the cylinder throat into the barrel, so the bullet would be exactly 2/1000's over the bore.
I usually hear that there should be about a thousand's interference fit between the bullet and the barrel, but lately have also heard that tighter fit makes better accuracy.

Is .432 too big or has someone had expeience with this large a difference between bullet and barrel and found it to be OK?

I would actually prefer not to "blow anything up"!

 

[rcmodel]

In a revolver, chamber throat size trumps bore size always, as long as the bore is smaller then the throats.

Chamber throat size bullets would be optimum.

But if .001" over throat dia will chamber, it won't hurt a thing as far as pressure.
The forcing cone takes care of making the bullet fit in the barrel.

It will be the right size to fit the bore as soon as it moves one bullet length into the forcing cone and bore.

rc

 

[Billy Jack]

It sounds like you are saying .432 should work OK.
It just seems to me like all that squeezing down of the hard lead bullet would take a lot of force thus creating higher than normal pressure.
BUT I am new to this line of thinking, not new to handloading just new to this idea of matching bullet size to revolver. In the past I just ordered "bullets for a 44 mag" and never considered actual sizing. Thanks for your response.

 

[41 Mag]

Hard lead is a relative term used to describe alloy which is usually around a 15BHN or higher. For what your looking to do anything from 22BHN down will work just fine. Even hard lead is softer than the jacket material on most bullets.

That said your probably going to get better accuracy sticking to the lower BHN bullets of around a 12-15, simply due to it being a bit more pliable and expanding to fit your bore more readily. Not that the harder alloy won't shoot good or even great, but depending on the lube and velocity your trying to drive them at, softer usually wins over harder in most cases.

I have shot tumble lubed plain based 12BHN bullets out of my 454 with no issues up to around 1350fps, that said throwing a GC on the same alloy I can drive them up to around the mid 1700fps range before I see leading. I don't like those though, LOL

With cast the coined phrase is fit is King and Lube is Queen, the rest will take care of it's self. Sounds like your ready to go have some fun. Work up slow and your probably gong to find your best accuracy with that powder somewhere around the 18-20gr area.

 

[918v]

In a revolver, chamber throat size trumps bore size always, as long as the bore is smaller then the throats.

Chamber throat trumps bore size in semi-autos as well.

 

[243winxb]

44 Mag.

.430" is standard for lead.

 

[918v]

There are no standards when it comes to lead.

 

[CraigC]

I handload for 15 different .44's and have never bothered with slugging them or oversized bullets. "Standard" .430's work in everything with excellent accuracy and no leading. Some folks just 'have' to overly complicate things.

.45Colt's are a different story.

 

[918v]

I have loaded for 4 different 44s. They had cylinder throats ranging from .430" to .433". If you load a .430" slug in a .433" throat, there will be leading. The 44 is not a magical caliber. It behaves like any other and requires the same attention.

 

[Billy Jack]

Yes, and it looks like I have fallen in to the "have to complicate everything" category. I used to just buy bullets and move on, however, discussion on this forum got me interested in a better more precise way.

Question right now is "do I go ahead (is it safe) and use the .432 WFN 260 gr bullets I have in my possession or would it be better to try to exchange those for .430's. If "throats trump barrel size" then the .432's in a .4315 cylinder throat may be a great fit. I am just still a little fearful about it all. I want to make a load that I can stick with over time. I don't want to set the gun up with a certain load for hunting then feel a need later to start over.

They say a "little knowledge can be dangerous".....well I agree and it applies to me at this point. Hopefully this forum can help get me from a little knowledge to some level of comfort. Thanks to all who participate.

 

[243winxb]

Lyman has said, lead has springback after sizing in the 450 sizer. Different alloys , different springback. Using lead to slug may be close, but not exact when trying to measure to .001" Pin gauges are said to be the correct method for checking a cylinder throat.

 

[CraigC]

The 44 is not a magical caliber. It behaves like any other and requires the same attention.

BS. Everybody with half a lick of sense that has spent any amount of time handloading for revolvers knows that guns chambered in some cartridges tend to have more variations than others. The .45Colt is notorious for chamber dimensions being all over the board. So much so that folks buy Ruger .45's and obsess about fixing the problem before ever even getting the gun in hand. Chamber mouths can be oversized or undersized. Colt has long been providing chamber mouths large enough to shoot .458's (that's sarcasm) and STILL has not corrected this. The .44Spl's and .44Mag's 'tend' to have proper dimensions and shoot well without gunsmith intervention or oversized bullets.

Typical of the way you try to over-complicate everything. Are these real issues or are you just justifying what you do???

 

[mdi]

Why guess? You now know what your gun measures, and you have some excellent answers (post #2 is what I'd go by). The barrels of my 5, .44 Magnums range from .429" to .433" and cylinder throats go from .430" to .432". If I was unaware of this, I would surely have problems and prolly hate lead bullets. Go ahead and shoot those .432" bullets, and don't overthink the process (.001" diameter of a lead bullet won't add any pressure). I believe "hard cast" is just a phrase used by commercial casters because new lead shooters think that's what is needed; "harder is better" thinking and casters give 'em what they want.

Personally, I don't think I over complicate anything when it comes to putting together information/knowledge about my guns. I'd much rather complicate matters than result to slovenly/haphazard/WAG reloading habits...

 

[Ifishsum]

Yes it is safe to load the .432 bullets in your Redhawk, .002 over bore is not going to create a pressure problem if they chamber easily. I like to physically test bullet fit in the chamber throats as well as check for leading before loading up a large number.

Hey I also like to "complicate everything". For some it's part of the passion of loading and shooting, being a student of the sport so to speak. Nothing wrong with that in my book.

 

[murf]

billy jack,

you are using the strongest da revolver ever made. you are loading up lead bullets that are only five ten thousandths over throat diameter. your powder charge is right in the middle of min and max.

don't worry! shoot a few and see if they are accurate and don't lead your throat, forcing cone, or barrel. if all is good, you have your load. if not, try something else.

and don't be afraid to come back here with any questions you may have.

good luck,

murf

 

[CraigC]

Personally, I don't think I over complicate anything when it comes to putting together information/knowledge about my guns. I'd much rather complicate matters than result to slovenly/haphazard/WAG reloading habits...

Agreed but only if it's necessary. If it ain't, you're just wasting your time and effort.

...slovenly/haphazard/WAG...

That depends entirely on the results.

 

[Maj Dad]

BillyJack, if you haven't snooped around on the Cast Boolits forum (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php ) check it out. Lot of good info on lead bullets, and good guys who are happy to share knowledge. Kind of like The High Road...

Cast Boolits
A place for the discussion of our favorite pb projectiles. Boolits= as God laid it into the soil,,grand old Galena, The Silver Stream graciously hand poured into molds for our consumption. . . Bullets= Machine made utilizing Full Length Gas Checks as to provide projectiles for the masses.

 

[blarby]

FWIW- In my experience, the harder your alloy, the more springback you will have.

PS. You don't need CB- All the vets here can help you just as much

Just listen to them

 

[mdi]

Agreed but only if it's necessary. If it ain't, you're just wasting your time and effort.



That depends entirely on the results.

What knowledge is unnecessary?

 

[918v]

BS. Everybody with half a lick of sense that has spent any amount of time handloading for revolvers knows that guns chambered in some cartridges tend to have more variations than others.

I never said anything to the contrary. 44s vary all over the place. Some have .433" throats while others have .430" throats and their bores vary from .427" to .430".

Typical of the way you try to over-complicate everything. Are these real issues or are you just justifying what you do???

I'm presenting facts based on my experience. You are oversimplifying the issue based on assumptions.