I started casting bullets about 3 mo ago i purchased the lee 240gr gas check mold . the question is can these bullets be loaded to hunting velocities. i have been using 10 gr unique.is there any info for h110 ? i also read i dont need the gas check they are for rifles ? thanks Bob

Bob, I take it that you are using the C429-240-SWC. I had a TL-430-240-SWC and had the Nose opened out to the same shape as the 45-70 457-340-F that gave me a 283gn bullet I cast in WW and HT it. Ran it over 22gn H110 in both a Super Blackhawk and a Rosi Mod 92. That was certainly hunting velocity and accurate. Took a few goat with it in the Mod 92.

Usual caveat. These were safe in my firearms and were worked up to. Very heavy loading.

Von Gruff

There is very little on the NA continent that you won't shoot completely through with 10 grains of Unique, assuming the bullet is sufficiently hard. What I am saying is that you are at hunting velocity. Just go kill something!

Listen to Von Gruff. If you have followed his learned post, you know he knows of what he speaks/posts.

thanks so far for the replies .yes i am using the c429-240-swc .

trying to push that g/c designed boolit at top spees may or may not work.
usually a g/c design will work without it at lower velocities.
you can push a plain base to top velocities in the 44 mag easy enough.
but yours now has the handicap of the step where the g/c goes.
i'd just stick to using the g/c on it at higher velocities.
if you want more than the 10 grs of unique.
just look in any reloading manual for 2400 or h-110.
i'd recommend 19 grs 2400 as a good all around load.
but it isn't much more than your unique load.

With lead bullets, it's always about fit. Measure the cyl throats & slug the bbl. You want to be at least 0.001" over groove dia or throat dia. If the throats are larger than the bbl, size for throat dia. If the throats are smaller, have them opened up to groove dia. GC designs shoot best w/ the GC installed, especially at higher vel. I easily run 250-310gr bullets @ hunting vel of 1200fps-1400fps w/ little or no leading.

H110 is my go to powder for the 44 mag and the 45 colt
probably burned 10# in the last six mths
for the 44 I use 20.5 gr behind a 300 gr boolit
it is a good accurate load in my gun
have fun be safe

quote:

Originally posted by BobReed:
thanks so far for the replies .yes i am using the c429-240-swc .

The GC'd cast bullet works very well for top end .44 magnum loads in both the revolver and rifle. If you plan on hitting what you're aiming at you'll use the GC on those bullets with top end loads. Use magnum LP primers, size the bullets as large as you can to fit the throats and use a solid crimp. I use Javelina lube. I've loaded many GC'd 250 gr cast bullets (fully dressed)of WWs + 2% tin over 24.5 gr H110. They push 1450 fps out of my 6 - 6 1/2" revolvers with better accuracy than I get with a comparable load using the Keith plain base cast bullet. In a rifle in particular the GC bullet always gives better accuracy with top end magnum loads, especialy when softer alloys for expansion are used.

When shooting, if you get a "click" but no bang, stop and check the barrel for a stuck bullet. Until you perfect the neck tension and crimp with the magnum LP primers you can have ignition problems. The force of the primer can drive the bullet into the forcing cone. You don't want to fire another round behind that stuck bullet

Larry Gibson

I used 19gr of 2400 for a vel of 1350 fps out of the RSRH. Needless to say it was enough. I'd not feel undergunned with 9 or 10gr of unique and this bullet.

I got complete DIAGONAL penetration on this deer with my 250gr cast bullet. (yes in through left shoulder out through right ham)



I would slug your cylinder and brl to see what dia will work well for you.

i have used 10 gr unuqueand it groups great 2 in at 50 yd. and have took 3 deerwith had only 1 move its feet after being hit and it only went
a few feet
i also like 19.8 2400 havent used it for hunting tho groups good
both loads in ruger sbhhunter with a 2 power scope i love that gun

I have shot several different gas checked designed bullets without a gas check. To include .22, 6mm, .30 and .38. I now question the usefullness of gas checks, I really found no difference.

I have been loading the 250 G. Keith sized to .429 + using 22 G,. of 2400 using linotype with a M.V. of 1250. I use this in my Keith #5 but would have no qualms using it in a M-29 Smith or Ruger Super blackhawk.I have done both,but not as a steady diet.



iuse