I�ve been following this board for sometime and have gotten some good tips/ideas from here. Finally decided to register and see if maybe ya�ll can help me with this one.

I�ve been playing with my S&W 29-3 (44 Mag) all summer, trying to get some accuracy with 200g D&J Hardcast L-RNFP. I�ve tried various powders (W231, Unique, BlueDot, AA#7, H110) at all different velocities (chrono�d from 600 to 1500 fps). Best groups appear around 1,100 to 1,200 fps, but they ain�t nothing to write home to mama about (4+ inches at 25 yds). Even in the best groups I seem to get fliers. There doesn�t seem to be much leading, even at the higher velocities.

I was reading a recent article about gas cutting and Hardcast bullets when a little light went on. I took a random sample of these bullets to work and got the guys in the machine shop to mic them for me (I just ordered a mic for myself). There supposed to be .429 but mic�d at 4.280 to 4.285. Next, I took a rough measurement of my cylinder throats using calipers, and got .430. When my mic come in, I plan to slug the throats and barrel to get a more accurate reading. It�s my understanding that cast bullets s/b .001 �oversized� to the throats. I�m a stubborn SOB and I�m determined to find some way to load these bullets to some relative level of accurately in this revolver.

Any advice ???

The aforementioned article mentioned using �soft gas checks� cut from milk cartons. I�ve found a few references to this on this and other boards, but very little detail on how to do it and/or why it works. I can see why fillers in general would help smooth out velocity fluctuations by eliminating powder position differences, by how do they help with gas cutting?

Or maybe I just barkin' up the wrong tree. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

gdyankee
I have been shooting the 44Mag for about 33 years. For best accuracy try some 240 Kieth SWC.
Even with loads as low as 3.8gr. of Bullesye 240gr. SWC bullets have always given excellent accuracy. 7.5gr of Unique always seemed to shoot good in every revolver I shot it in. 10grains of Unique always shoot good, as did any charge of 2400 [old lots of Hercules] from 20gr to 21.5gr.
I recommend you try some 240gr SWC's and see if your accuracy improves.

Sounds like you are buying bullets for a 44-40 which has a nominal diameter of .427 and not .429 like a 44 special or magnum. 200 grain bullets are the standard for 44-40. Advice above is good, get some bullets for the mag, generally 240 grainers.

regards,
Graycg

Try a 240 grain LSWC sized to 0.429 to 0.430", I think they will do much better. My 29-3 likes 8.0gr Unique, R-P cases, Win LP primers with a 0.429" 240 grain cast LSWC.

Try Cast Performance or Creekers. They have cast bullets from 240-250 grains up to 325 grains. But try a true 250 Keith bullet first. Hope this helps.

Oops, by the way, go the Sixgunner and Handloaders sites as they mention all kinds of 44 Mag cast bullets and loads.

Mic your buillets & see what diameter they are. It sounds like they are a bit undersize. You should be able to get sub 2" groups @ 25yds w/ any of the powders you mentioned.

Lots of good advice has already been given but here's my method; slug all six cylinder throats, slug the end of the bore, slug the throat area just in front of the forcing cone. This last area is usually the worst (tightest) due to constriction where the barrel is screwed in to the frame. Almost all factory revolvers have this tight spot. This will swage down your bullets to whatever the amount of constriction is. As a result your bullet travels the remainder of the bore as an undersized bullet.

This condition is normally cured by fire-lapping or having it Taylor Throated, which is a process of removing the rifling from in front of the forcing cone for a couple bullet diameters or thereabouts.

Undersized cylinder throats can be opened up by a gunsmith or machinist with a Sunnen hone. Some say optimum cylinder throat diameter is achieved when you can just push your bullets through with a small dowel or pen.

Best of luck and let us know how it works out.
Ben H