I know lead hardness is critical, but with a wheel weight lead bullet, how fast can you push it in a 44 mag before leading is a problem.
I am not looking for real high speed, but not super light loads either.
Thanks

The biggest contributor to leading is bullet size, in my estimation. Hardness is a factor, but typically the reason a bullet leads is because it is TOO hard, not too soft, although too soft a bullet CAN lead. The third factor is the wrong lube.

I have been casting since 1980, and have shot a lot of my own cast in the 44 mag. My recommendation would be to cast with the wheel weights, size to .430" and use Lyman #2 lube or similar. You should be able to load to the top of the load charts without a problem, assuming the bore diameter of your firearm is within specification.

As far as actual load data, for many years my go-to load was the Lyman 429421 in front of 18 grains of AA #9. I used standard LP primers and a fairly heavy roll crimp.

Thanks doubless

You may look into the powder coating of cast bullets.
It may be the solution.

Like mentioned, I would wager that you should be able to crank it up fairly well using straight air cooled WW alloy, if you experience leading up close to the forcing cone, you should look at the size first, if it is down towards the muzzle change your lube.

I have been using White Label Lube's Carnuba Red and find it will handle anything I put it to task on up into my 454 loads.

If you DO think you need a bit harder bullets though, it is real easy to simply stretch a towel across a bucket half filled with water and dump your bullets straight from the mold into the water. This should give you around a 14'ish BHN at the least, depending on the content of your alloy.

I run plain base bullets at 1600-1700 fps in rifles with no leading. For every day use in 44's and 45's I have always like a 240-250 gr. bullet at 1,000-1,100 fps. and have used those for decades with no leading. You should easily be able to reach 1,200 with no problems..and even higher if you wish. Doubless is most correct.

9,3,


check your PMs'.

Good lube and proper throat/barrel fit should get you to 1400-1600 with no leading with a plain base bullet.

no leading if you keep them under 1500 fps

quote:

no leading if you keep them under 1500 fps

That, sir, with all due respect is pure hogwash...

Many years ago I had a Daewoo nine with a barrel that was hugely over-sized. I didn't know it at the time, but half a box of cast at the range gave me ribbons of lead that literally hung out the end of the barrel. And I will guarantee you that those 124-grain TCs weren't running anywhere CLOSE to 1500 fps!

As has been said before: proper alloy, proper sizing, and proper lube "eliminate" leading, although any cast bullet is going to lead some.

I cast wheel weights, then size them to diameter (without lubing them). Then I heat treat them in an oven up to just before melting point. I then drop them in water to make them hard. After this I let them dry in the sun. Then I lube & size them with a 0.001" larger bullet sizer die. I use RCBS Rifle lube. No leading at all.

If it's a Marlin then slug your barrel!
They tend to be big, especially the older microgroove barrels.

My ½972 Marlin 94 44MAG eats @ 100 gaschecked bullets a week. I cast lead + 3% tin (BHN 9) and they are pushed to @ 1750fps. So far the rifle has shot @4500 shots in 4+ years and it sees a boresnake twice a year wether it needs it or not. So far no leading at all.

If you "need" to go faster than @ 1600fps then go for a gascheck design.

Remember that Elmer Keith said that a bullet cast with 7-8% tin was hardcast and all he used in the development of the 44MAG.

Sizing is the most important parameter. Preferably, the lead bullet should barely slip through the front of the cylinder (say not more than 0.001" smaller diameter) and 0.001" greater than groove diameter. If you get this right, you can use wheelwrights over a wide range of velocities, from 800 fps to at least 12-1300 fps.

If the bullet is 0.001-0.002" smaller than groove diameter, you'll get the mess the 9 mm shooter experienced. Bullet composition makes little difference in that case, unless it is soft enough to bump up (pure lead or nearly so), you'll have the same experience.

I shot some commercial cast bullets that miked 0.429"in my Redhawks and got terrible leading. With the RCBS Keith mould that casts ~0.432" and is sized to 0.431", it is finely accurate and does not lead, using an alloy of 4% antimony, 3% tin, and 93% lead, at all the velocities I care to shoot.

Clarence

I run tons of wheel weight Lyman 429421's as cast, water quenched, Lee liquid Alox in my Ruger SBH with great accuracy and no leading at loads exceeding book levels with 2400 and H-110. I only used them for hunting, most loads where much slower.
I used the same loads in my Marlin 1894 44 mag. Same thing Shoots great, no leading.
Leo