I am thinking of taking an elk this season with my 6" Smith model 29. I have shot several deer with 245 grain Keith bullets and a .44 special. So I'm thinking the .44 mag at reasonable ranges, say 50-75 yds MAX would do OK.

Any thoughts on a good cast bullet in say the 275 to 300 grain weight range? Or just stick with the 245 grain Keith at 1200 or so??

Thanks,

FN

The Cast Performance LBT style of bullet is actually superior to the Keith style in terms of wound channels & tissue displacement/destruction. I use the 320 grainer quite a bit, but they are also available in 275 and 300 grain configurations. But don't overlook the 250 grain Partition, which offers a nice blend of penetration and expansion.

If you choose the Partition, I'd opt to wait for a broadside lung shot. Or, with the Cast Performance bullet, I'd also try for a lung shot in a line so that the opposite shoulder is impacted.

From your 6" barrel, you should have no problem propelling the 275 or 300 grain LBT bullet to 1300 fps, and that will certainly do well under the conditions you have described.

Be careful, though: those LBT bullets penetrate quite a bit more than conventional jacketed bullets, so being sure of a safe background becomes even more critical with these particular slugs. I've put them end-to-end on several large hogs, so an exit on a broadside elk is going to be more than likely.

Good luck...

I use two molds from ballistic cast for my .44s a 300 lfn gascheck with 21 grains of 110 and a 340 lfn gascheck with 19 grains of 110 both are very accurate in my guns and would give excellent penetration.

Just ordered up a box of the 275 gr LBT's.
I'm already aware of the penetration of a good cast slug. I've used the .44 Spcl before and they go in one end and out the other very easily.

FN