If you could have one mold for your .44, for everything from hunting big game to plinking from the Keith and slapping silhouettes from the back position, what mold would pick? And what alloy would you use? Same alloy for hunting and for silhouette?

Best all around bullet would be an LBT WFN or LFN somewhere between 265 and 300 grains. Super accurate, hard hitting and carry lots of energy and penetration. WFN if your ranges are shorter and LFN if your ranges tend to be longer. You will never look back from this choice.

regards,
graycg

OK, I take this "only bullet" question as a "what bullet can really do everything" question, not one of what's my favorite or what I prefer.

If I were dropped alone on a big desert island (complete with mule deer, bison, moose, carabou, large bears and big nasty wild hogs) I would pick the LEE 310 grain gas check RF meplat bearing slug as my "only" bullet.

My "only" powder to match it would be H110.

My "only" gun would be a lever action rifle to shoot it in.

I would survive just fine, I think.

Oldfeller

I am with Graycg, I have a DC/432/280gr LFNGC that is a great bullet in the 44s. Not to heavy or to light and still can hold a good dose of H110 to get it going. This is my #1 choice.

Jim

I'll chime in with that Oldfeller. This projectile is amazingly accurate out of my 9" SRH, at any speed, with every appropriate powder I've tried. I've read it does well with or without a GC, and lubed with Lee liquid alox. I wish Lee would produce it in a heavier plain base version.

Cheers, Cheeky.

As I recall(though I could easily be wrong) the stock number was 429421 from Lyman. derf

Many interesting replies here and about what I expected so I'll throw my $.02 in. I reckon there's probably 25 .44 moulds out in my mould cabinet in weights ranging from 180 grains to the gigantic Keith 320 grainer (yes, Elmer designed a 275 and a 320 grainer and H & G made them as Elmer was PO'd with Lyman at the time, #s 326 and #328).

I have a family of 4 to feed. Two SBHs, a M94 Legacy and a .444 Marlin with the fast twist.

The .44 Mags, both rifles and handguns feed mainly on the 429421 or 429421HPs. The .444 likes the Lyman 429640 "devestator" with a modified cavity pin for the hollow point. It also likes the 44-300-SWC RCBS.

I don't believe you'll beat a 429421 or a 44-250-KT RCBS as it's a clone for general purpose use.

I think there are half dozen or so 421s in my stash including several old Ideal square groove Keiths. If you can find one of these and can make it drop bullets easily, you have a jewel and need look no farther.

Pick up a second 300 grain mould and use them when you need bigger bullets.

The 421 shoots well in both the rifle and handguns with WC820 so I look no further./beagle