Tested some big 44spl hollow points

[Shadow9mm]

Got my new Henry 44 today. Tested some of my friends home cast bullets in my clear ballistics gel block.

I believe my friend was using unique, not sure of the charge weight, but pretty sure he was over max a touch. Out of a 44spl case he had these going about 1100fps out of a 20in barrel.

Average weight as cast, sample of 10, 254.2g
After going through the block 249.8g
Weight loss 4.4g
Retained weight 98.3%

Expansion
Min 0.798
Max 0.850
Avg 0.824

He gave me a few of these bullets to play with. I will probably cast myself a batch next time I get down to his place with his mold. I think they were around 12bhn.

I'm planning to build a load up to right around 1000fps to see if I can limit expansion and get a little more penetration. At 1100fps they made it about 12in in. I would like to be a touch closer to 14in. I also have gas checks on the way to play with. Gotta see how they feed in 44 mag, but they feed fine in 44spl so far, and 44spl is legal for deer here.

 

[44 AMP]

If you want more penetration and less expansion, you can use the same load just cast the bullets from a harder alloy.

 

[Shadow9mm]

True. I'm gonna tinker with slower and faster first though. Gonna have to buy some tin. My buddy is using the same alloy but he softened his a bit. Started at 13bhn, he added pure lead to get it around 11. If I keep mine at 13 I may be in good shape.

 

[Unclenick]

When you get to some actual hunting, you can alternate hollow points with flat meplat solids of the same weight in your magazine. That way you have expansion for a deer, but the higher penetration of the solid for a follow-up shot if the first round fails or if you need one for a charging boar.