Anyone casting for/shooting one?
Is it worth the lead, GCs, or time to cast this bullet for hunting loads if one already has 429421?
I plink and play with the 429421s and 429215s so it would take just a little more omph in my loads to make a hunter out of them.

LouisB

I am using both the bullets you mention and a Lee 429-310-RF that I machined off the top .110" of the mold block to remove the gas check shank to make the bullet short so it would stabilize in the 1 in 38 twist of my Handi rifle as well. My Ruger Super Blackhawk shoots the unmodified version just fine.

I like the 429-310 nose better than that of the Lyman 429421, though both are only a few thousandths different in the nose diameter, which is where it counts. Veral Smith of LBT fame, after much testing, decided the shoulder on the 429421 didn't do any cutting at all in the wound channel, thus his wide flat nose design which the Lee 429-310 borrows heavily from.

I shot two deer this year with my modified version of the 429-310, both from about 25 yards with a load driving the bullet at 1250 fps. The modified bullet weighs 256 grains , quite comparable in weight to the 429421. Both deer were completely penetrated, dying quickly about 50 yards from where they were shot.

Would I trade a plain base design for a gas check design? For plinking and playing, no. Is the extra bullet weight of the 310 an assest over the lighter 250 or so grain bullets. Maybe, but I doubt that the trade off in velocity adds up to a better hunting round.

Saeco makes a 265 grain mold the the 44. When all the velocities, energies and point blank ranges are added up, this bullet weight is by far the best compromise. The mold is available in either gas check or plain base designs so you can have your preference that way.

The cost of the Lee 310 mold is such that a fellow can get one, play with it, and if it doesn't meet the hoped for "Nirvana of 44 Hunting Bullets", not much is lost, but for my money, I would invest in the Saeco.

I occasionally shoot the Lee 429-310 that has been modified to remove the gas check shank. The boolits weigh 310 to 315g cast from ww+1% tin alloy. I have yet to shoot any big game with this boolit,(haven't had the opportunity,yet) but I have shot 8 or 9 whitetails with the 429421. Since none of the 429421's have ever been recovered, I seriously doubt that anything hit with the 310 Lee will be recovered either! I can say this...the recoil from maggie loads with the 310 is much more noticeable than 429421's.--Shuz

Could someone tell me what the metplat diameter on this bullet is? Thanks.
Greg

.340"

TC, I have been shooting this boolit for a long time and it has almost the same point of impact as the LBT's. I just grab whatever is in the box when I go out and have killed quite a few deer with it both boolits. I make them about 18 brinnel and do use the gas check. I have shot some fantastic groups with them. Very good boolit.

My MicroGroove 444S does a great job with it. We have a nine inch steel swinger at 250yds that is struck with boring regularity using same. Oomph?, you got it with this one...

Hi STP,
Have that same mould & it shoots great in my Marlin out to 50 yds. so far. I have the 1-38" twist. Hear conflicting reports about that twist being not able to stabilize a 300 grainer. I know it kills my shoulder!