lee 44 mag carbide dies loading 225 gr Hornady FTX bullets

[Bullseye]

Simple question .... I have lee 44 mag carbide dies. Will I have any problem loading 225 gr Hornady FTX bullets?
Just need to know if the dies will work and do the job on the flex tip bullets.

 

[Anmut]

44mag carbide dies will load anything .44mag or 44 special. No worries on the FTX as long as they're .429 in size and you're using 44 mag dies to load 44.

 

[FROGO207]

You will probably have to adjust them a bit differently to fit the FTX bullet but they should work for you as mentioned above.

 

[mdi]

As with any different bullet, all ya gotta do is adjust the seating die...

 

[Bullseye]

I ordered a HORNADY Reloading Tools 44 Caliber (.430) Seating Die Item #044148 as per suggestion from Hornady Tech. I will simply find the adjustment that works best and use this one die specifically for 225 gr Hornady FTX bullets. I can use the other Lee dies for other type bullets.

 

[rcmodel]

You may have to trim your cases shorter then normal to use FTX bullets in a revolver.

But I'm not sure?

Several of the FTX factory loads use shorter cases to make up for the added length of the poly tip to retain SAMMI max OAL length to fit in a gun.

Best check further into that.

rc

 

[murf]

rcmodel is correct about case length. the hornady manual says to trim the cases to 1.255".

murf

p.s. the load data for this bullet is reduced a bunch (probably due to the shortened case and longer bullet). i would use hornady load data for your workup.

 

[rcmodel]

So, .020" shorter then standard Trim-Too' length of 1.275".
(max length is 1.285".)

Time to get out the case trimmer and adjust your dies!
And end up with a bunch of short cases afterward you have to keep separate from all your other cases.

For no performance gain at all.

rc

 

[murf]

yup! book velocity for the 240gn xtp is only 50 fps less.

murf

 

[buck460XVR]

yup! book velocity for the 240gn xtp is only 50 fps less.

murf

....and that may very well be attributed to the lighter bullet and not BC and/or the pretty red tip. Outta a carbine one may get a modest improvement in ballistic performance over the 240 gr XTP(or any other quality 240gr JHP/JSP) but outta a revolver, about all you are getting is the pretty red tips. With terminal performance on deer sized game, I prefer the 240s over lighter bullets, especially in my carbines. I too don't like the idea of shorter cases. I've a bunch of Hornady .44 brass I've picked up at the range which is shorter(and I assume was their FTX factory ammo). It is easy to keep separate from my other brass because it is the only Hornady brass I have. I'd be wary of shortening similar headstamped brass to my other loadings for fear they may get mixed up.

That said, I have heard of folks getting inconsistent seating with the FTXs unless a modified or Hornady's FTX specific seating die is used.

 

[Sunray]

Only the resizer is carbide. The rest are plain old steel. As mentioned, you might have some seater issues, but not likely.

 

[Bullseye]

I have two 44 mag firearms. One a S&W 629 8 3/4 barrel and a Henry Big Boy rifle with a 20" barrel. I also have a case trimmer and a lot of my empty brass are already spent Hornady 225 gr FTX. I will be successful and will post the results here. It may be quite some time til I report but I'll get around to it. I always do follow up. Thank you for the advice and specifics such as trim length 1.255 and suggesting Hornady load data. I am going to try to duplicate the factory load. My Lee dies are carbide I think the Hornady #044148 seating die is steel.

 

[rcmodel]

All seating dies are steel.

Only Sizing dies are carbide, from any manufacture.

rc

 

[savanahsdad]

I almost picked up some of those FXT a few months back , reading this I'm glad I didn't , I like the FXT in my 35rem. , but I don't have to trim them back .020 , sounds like a lot of work for nothing , I'm all for more work if I get some gain ,

 

[larryflew]

Exactly why i decided to stay with XTP since I load for Desert Eagle, revolver and Ruger carbine. To much PITA to keep cases seperate and adjust seating every time.