.44 Magnum cast bullets.

S

Scribe

New member
Hi Chaps, I Have curious problem.

I am handloading .44 Magnum, target loads only for a Chiappa 1892 rifle with a 20 inch barrel. The bore has been miked at .430. Any suggestions as to why a 300 grain .430 truncated cone bullet is keyholing? Three out five at twenty yards, less so at 50. Accuracy is poor. The powder is Alliant 2400 and a three shot sample chronographed an average velocity of 1477 feet per second. The cases are IMI Magnum, Federal primers and no sign of primer flow.
I have had no problems and acceptable accuracy with .429 cast and jacketed bullets at 240 grains, or with .430 200 and 240 grain cast and 210 and 255 grain cast gas checked semi wad cutters.
All replies gratefully received.
 
I'm guessing those are the LaserCast. They shoot just fine out of my Browning 92. I put a Douglas barrel on it that I cut octagon. I don't recall the twist.

But I think bullet weight/length and twist are your issue.Longer/heavier bullets require more RPM to stabilize.

You can't change your twist,but you can gain RPM via velocity.

I loaded full performance H-110 loads.
 
I agree. The twist is likely too slow for the longer to stabilize at all but the highest velocities obtainable, perhaps not even then. Try some 300 grainers at full Magnum velocity. If they will then stabilize, good; if not, you must abandon heavy bullets in that rifle. Hornady makes a 265 grain jacketed bullet and Speer makes a nice 270 grain bullet that will likely work well. The 44 Magnum made its reputation with 240 grain bullets so fret not. If you have microgroove rifling it can also be a bit tricky with cast bullets.
 
For some reason every rifle I have seen for .44 mag has a 1:38 twist rate, whereas most revolvers have a 1:20 twist. So the rifles are limited to 265 gr, maybe 270 gr bullets, but the revolvers can shoot the 300+gr ones.
 
Puma has a 1-30" twist, and SAAMI the rifle groove diameter is .431" vs .429" for handguns. I'd try a larger bullet, perhaps .432"+.

I have loaded everything from 123 gr. .432" balls to 300 gr kegs and both jacketed and cast in my 5, 44 Magnums. The best overall bullet is an RD design 265 gr RNFP, especially my Puma which feeds and shoots them pretty accuratly...
 
If you believe this chart...
https://www.shootersforum.com/rifle...mon-cartridge-rifle-twist-rate-reference.html
Chaippa's 1:20 twist should be perfect.
(I've seen 1:20/Chiappa several cites)

I'm going to feed the philistines if you're shooting anything as hard as LaserCast. In that case either
- Up the charge (to something close to max), or
- Soften the bullet to no more that Lym#2


As far as 44Mag in a rifle, it is the ideal medium range carbine/caliber/cartridge
 
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Yeah, larger boolit. It's not engaging the rifling in the barrel. Get a boolit about 0.001" bigger and see if that helps. If you use a softer boolit, get one 0.002" bigger.

--Wag--
 
Many thanks to all who replied. I will up the velocity and see what happens. Alliant tables showed 19 grains, but for this load I used 17 so there is a little room for manoeuvre. If I can’t make 300 grain lead perform that’s no big deal because I only bought 100. I’ll keep you posted if anyone is interested.
 
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