Seating .44mag 225 gr FTX

[Bull Nutria]

Would it be unsafe to seat these FTX bullets just passed the crimping groove(ie a little deeper into the case) for use in .44mag marlin rifle?

I am using 11g of Unique for starters , will try some blue dot later.

I really don't want to trim my brass.020 for this FTX bullet as per Hornady

pyak

 

[Steve Koski]

Pyak,

In general, you can seat bullets to any depth you want provided that you reduce your charge and work up to a safe load. As you know, seating bullets deeper raises pressure and your new max safe charge will probably be less than the listed max in the manual(s).

You'll also loose the benefit of crimping in the bullet cannelure, which will make it easier for your bullets to move in the case under recoil when in the mag tube. Use a heavy roll crimp in your new location.

If you want to do follow through with your idea, you'll need to test fire and see if the COL of the rounds in the mag tube is changing. If the COL's are constant, then you are fine.

Koski

 

[rcmodel]

It appears to me "just past the crimping groove" on that bullet is the beginning of the ogive taper.

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ftx_load_data/45ColtFTXRifle.pdf

Not so sure there will be anything there to crimp too if you seat them short enough to feed through a lever-action.

I would be very concerned about bullet setback from mag spring pressure & recoil.

rc

 

[Steve Koski]

I'm with rcmodel. There's nowhere to crimp past the top cannelure.

Follow the instructions.

Koski

 

[Walkalong]

You could use a heavy taper crimp.

 

[millertyme]

Maybe that's what he's trying to accomplish, to put the crimp on the ogive? That take away pretty much anything but your powder that would prevent back-setting from recoil.

 

[CraigC]

It really needs to be crimped in the cannelure. Why did you seat them deeper?

 

[rcmodel]

The pointy point bullet is too long to work through the action or fit some revolver cylinders when crimped in the cannelure in standard length cases.

Thats why Hornady uses those short cases with them in order to keep the MAX OAL within spec. so they will work in all guns.

IMO: Crimping over the ogive is not an option with your 11 grain Unique load as the powder would not fill the case and prevent bullet setback.

rc

 

[CraigC]

I forgot about that little tidbit.

You could always load them in .44Spl cases and adjust your powder charge accordingly. I would suggest something other than Unique for your velocity range though. Perhaps a starting charge of 16.0gr of 2400? Perhaps work up to 18.0gr. I'd much rather keep track of .44Spl loads that were over SAAMI-spec than .44Mag cases with funky short lengths.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Very good idea on using the .44 Spl brass!!!

rc

 

[CraigC]

Never tried the FTX but the old Speer half jacket 225gr runs ~1200fps when charged with 17.0gr 2400 out of a sixgun. Add 400fps to that for a rifle barrel, along with the higher BC and you've got a pretty potent load. Damn, now I wanna try it.

 

[Bull Nutria]

The reason i want to seat them deeper is because Hornady says to . Now i plan to shoot these bullets only in a marlin 44 rifle. will the OAL of .020 longer than normal be a problem if i seat them in the crimping groove? I would prefer to do that as i don't want to shorten my 44 mag brass.

 

[CraigC]

Try a couple dummies and see if it works.

 

[Asherdan]

You get the OAL much past 1.61" in the Marlin and you will prolly have feed issues, depending on your particular rifle.

If I was committed to not trimming I'd build a dummy with no crimp and start at the bottom of the cannelure and see what your OAL is, check it for engagement with rifling by dropping it in the chamber and then try it for feed from the magazine and check ejection. You may stick it at some point so go slow and be ready to back off and take things apart to free it. Seat the bullet small increments deeper until you find your max functional OAL. Save that dummy and write your specs on the case with a sharpie for future reference. For me, being on the ogive of the bullet would be a no-go because of the oft mentioned bullet set back potential. If you're not on the ogive but still not in the cannelure taper crimp that sucker, if you catch the cannelure all the better. Work up slow. Remember this is a post from a dummy on the internet, no warranty of your results.

Good luck!

 

[Steve Koski]

Paul,

Only you can find out. Make some at the longer/untrimmed COL (crimping in the groove) and see if they cycle. If they do, then you're golden.

Koski

 

[Bull Nutria]

Seating .44 mag 22gr FTX

Thanks fellas ,

making up a dummy round really makes a lot of sense. I'll just see how they cycle at the different lengths, hopefully seating in the cannulure will work out??? we will see.

pyak

 

[steveno]

I was looking at a new Hornady (#8) manual today and in every instance where there was the loading data for a flextip bullet a shorter trim to length was mentioned. this was for 357 mag, 44 mag & 45 Colt

 

[rcmodel]

I'll just see how they cycle at the different lengths,

Be aware if they are too long for the cartrige lifter in the Marlin, they will be a bull bear to get out of there!
The rim will be stopped by the lifter and the bullet nose will still be inside the hole in the receiver for the magazine tube.
You will most likely have to take the bolt out to get it out.

rc

 

[Asherdan]

Yeah, RC is on point about sticking it, you prolly will the first try or three. But it's a Marlin, so one screw to pull the lever and bolt and free the dummy isn't a big price to pay.

Pull screw, lever and bolt, take a small screw driver and stick it in the empty primer pocket and slide the case head off the back side of the lifter, let the follower and mag spring shove it out into the receiver. Dump the dummy on the table and reassemble. 3 minutes, 2 after you do it a few times...