White Eagle, I've used cast hollow points since the 60's but making them was always a pain in the Pelosi! The old Lyman moulds made good bullets but it was a very slow process & results on game was sometimes marginal because of the alloy used.
As I gained experience they worked better but were still very labor intensive to make 100 bullets or so.
I've been ask this question quite a bit lately for some reason but what I came up with back then for good HP results was an alloy of 50% WW & 50% lead for velocities of 800 fps, when I bumped up to 900 fps I went 60% WW & 40% lead, at 1000 fps I went 70% WW & 30% lead, 1100 fps was 80-20 & 1200 fps was 90-10 WW & lead.
This seemed to work very well, if the bullets were sized correctly there was seldom any leading & they worked great on game.
Back in the 60's there were few big handguns that could exceed 1200 fps & after shooting big game with sixguns for 45 years I've found that anything over 1200 fps is (almost) always wasted velocity & unnecessary recoil.
Using any proper bullet on game recquires 2 things.... bullet placement & PENETRATION, if you have those 2 things you will always be successful. Some will argue that more velocity helps you shoot flatter... and it will, but how far are we shooting big game with a sixgun?
Making a HP with a sofnose cast will work but its really unnecessary, that pure lead nose is going to expand even down to 600 fps & still work its magic.
Having said all this I have started working with 2 different HP moulds that are made in Solvenia (Russia) they are Cramer style moulds that make 2 HP's at a time & are just as fast as a conventional mould, both have a hexagon pin for the cavity & are very fragile, cast from the 50-50 alloy mentioned above they will warp the lips on a badger or rock chuck at 800 fps from my 44 specials & if I want to smoke a whitetail in Montana I'll go 90% WW & 10% lead at 1200 fps & get expansion & complete penetration. Hope I answered your questions.

Dick

Dick

You're a good man Dick! I have some 275 gr. WFN Cast Performance bullets that I'm shooting at the present time. They seem to be very accurate as I am not trying to hot rod them.Glad that you're here.

Thanks, Dick, for the great information on how you make you're soft nose lead bullets.

Dick
yes indeed my questions were answered
funny you should mention Slovenia I have a mold coming from the very same spot

I'm excited for hunting season, I'll get a chance to whack something with the 5 shot 480 that Alan Harton built for me, after the failure on the bear this spring I have to give it another chance. I'll use a 370 gr softnose.
Leaving for Boise tomorrow for 4 days, a friend is having cancer surgery, I'll get to visit with Elmer at Cabelas again & spend a little time with another old friend, see everyone is a few days.

Dick

Dick
I made some of those soft points you mentioned
love them
I had pure (soft)up front and isotope in the rear
man what great expansion
thanks for the tip I can't wait to try them

White Eagle, sounds exciting, let us know how they work out for you.
I can't take the credit for them, there are many others who probably started using them long before I did. I think I started with them in about 2004 & if there's anything better for a sixgunner I've never seen it. Good luck!

Dick

Dick. I do not cast bullets and try to buy good quality bullets from several bullet companies like Leadheads, LaserCast, and have an order in now for bullets from Penn Bullets. 90% of my bullet use is in IPSC, Bullseye and Cowboy. For hunting purposes I will reload with Hornady XTPs, and Leadheads. I have also used Garrett's .44s with good success.

Your comment about not needing to exceed 1200 fps is similar to the same comment I received from John Taffin some years back.

Good to see you on line.....an aside...what was the name of the wood you used on those Seville grips?

Bill, Don't forget Mt Baldy bullets & also I think Cast Performance just might be the very best of all, I used them in Africa in my handguns & they were great. Kelly at Cast Performance was very kind to supply them for my hunt.
The wood I used on your Seville was Amboyna Burl, it really is a beautiful wood for sixguns.
The reason I shoot most of my big revolvers at 1100-1200 fps is that in 40 yrs of handgunning I've yet to recover my first cast bullet from game & I've taken a lot of game bigger than deer. Elk, moose, bear, african game, etc. Its easier to shoot accurately at a somewhat reduced velocity, its also easier on the gun if you are doing high volume shooting.
I can shoot the monster loads & did when I was a young rooster but its not necessary for cleanly taking game, just hit them right & get penetration & its over.
Here' another set of Amboya Burl that I built for my 8 shot 327 maggie.



This is a set of Holly stocks I sent to a saddle maker in Texas.



Dick

Dick....I looked at the cast performance site and their bullets are a bit pricey for my everyday shooting needs.

But for a hunting bullet they look to be just great.

Which bullet did you use in .44......did you also use any in .45? Based on your experience do you have a favorite load for either one or both?

Bill, my long time load (40 yrs) has been the Keith #429421 & 21 grs of 2400, I've used it on whitetails, muleys, elk & bear. Its never failed me.
In the Ruger 45's I use (mostly) 18.5 grs of 2400 & the 260 gr Keith, I also use a 320 gr LBT slug with 21.5 H110, this load has taken several deer & 3 elk.
I've taken 2 elk with the 41 maggie, using the 230 gr Keith slug & 17 grs of 2400, not maximum but it shot clear through them! Also took an elk last fall with a 250 gr LBT & 9.2 grs of Unique, again, not maximum but complete penetration through both front shoulders at 74 yds.
Heavy loads aren't necessary, heavy bullets are!
Hollow point cast slugs can be a little iffy depending on distance & velocity, with softnose cast you always have a pure lead nose & a water quenched rear portion so you always get expansion & you always get penetration.
Here's a large cow elk taken with the Bisley 41 maggie & the 250 gr LBT slug.



This is what the insides looked like after complete penetration, this load was only doing about 1100 fps.



This elk was taken by a friend using one of my softnose cast slugs (250 gr Keith) out of a TLA 44 maggie.



Dick

Well, now I know where to buy my bullets.....Dick Thompson the Soda Springs bullet maker....

Leadheads offers a 250 gr Keith in .44 and the loadings I have had recommended for it was 21 grains of 2400; 10 grains of Unique, or 23 grains of H110. They may be a bit hot and I will try easing off a bit. Have not hunted with these.

In my 45 Colt I have loaded a 270 gr. Leadheads over 19.5 gr of 2400. Used this load on boars with good result.

How do you think the Cast Performance bullets would compare with the two Keith style
mentioned?

I will be putting an UltraDot on the .44 10.5" Ruger this week and will do some testing.....have a cow elk hunt in December and would like to use the .44 if I can get close enough.

Bill, the Cast Performance bullets are Premium cast bullets, they are heat treated & will withstand any velocity you care to push them in your 44's & 45's.
They are usually an LBT style as opposed to the Keith style slugs you mention, either will handle elk if you do your part. The LBT slugs usually have somewhat better accuracy at long distance over the Keiths.
For Rugers or Freedom Arms 83's the loads you mention are fine. The 10 grs of Unique is somewhat reduced but will still give around 1100 fps depending on barrel length, the H110 load is similar in velocity to the 21 grs of 2400 but with less pressure.
Let me know what you need & I'll give you some to try. I can send WW alloy, water quenched alloy, softnose cast or hollow points, you make the call.

Dick

quote:

Originally posted by Dick Thompson:
Bill, the Cast Performance bullets are Premium cast bullets, they are heat treated & will withstand any velocity you care to push them in your 44's & 45's.
They are usually an LBT style as opposed to the Keith style slugs you mention, either will handle elk if you do your part. The LBT slugs usually have somewhat better accuracy at long distance over the Keiths.
For Rugers or Freedom Arms 83's the loads you mention are fine. The 10 grs of Unique is somewhat reduced but will still give around 1100 fps depending on barrel length, the H110 load is similar in velocity to the 21 grs of 2400 but with less pressure.
Let me know what you need & I'll give you some to try. I can send WW alloy, water quenched alloy, softnose cast or hollow points, you make the call.

Dick

Dick, I appreciate and thank you for your generous offer. Maybe when we meet again next June at Shootists bring a few along and I will bring a few of my .44s...especially my 10.5" Blackhawk....in the meantime I may well order a few of Cast Performances 255 gr WFNPB for the .44 and also a sampling of their 265 gr for my .45 Colt. When I get them I will get in touch with you for a recommended load.

All the best.....and thanks for your help....