Gun show buy for $40, I found 2 boxes (250 each) of 320 gr cast lead bullets made by Penn Bullets in the SSK style. This is a very heavy bullet and I can not find any load data.To get their load data you have to buy their bullets direct. Does anyone have data on this bullet.

First what gun will you be firing them out of? That makes a bit of a difference in top end loads.

In a Ruger Blackhawk and Redhawk you can go up to 22.5 grains of H-110/296 (same powder) very safely.

In a 29/629 I would start at 19 and work up to 21.5 which was the go to load that most of the gun writers/hunters used when that bullet was first gaining popularity back in the mid to late '80's. I have used as high as 23.5 grains of 296 in a Ruger Redhawk with no problems, and cases tapped right out with light finger pressure on the ejector rod. The bullets I used (and still have some of) were those sold by Cor-Bon back when they were still in Metro detroit. I bought them directly from Peter Pi who, at least at that time, had the exclusive rights to that bullet style after making a deal with JD Jones (the guy who invented it). the 21.5/296 load was one he gave me as well. Said it was safe in any sound .44 mag handgun including the 29/629. Like I said, start low a couple grains, and work up carefully in your gun watching for any telltale signs of excess pressure.

Edited to ad- these loads require the use of the lower crimp groove on the SSK bullet.

There was an excellent article in Handloader magazine a few months back on 44 Mag +P loads for the Redhawk. Lots of good info on heavy bullet loads for the 44 mag, if you can get your hands on a copy.

Dragon88-

I didn't mention that article (which is awesome) nor the one Pearce did on the 29 specifically, since there is no load data for that exact bullet in either one. There is data on the Cast Perforance 320 WFN GC though. Just be careful when using data developed for a cast bullet that uses a gas check since they can, and usually do, create higher pressure that a plain base bullet with the same data. Too, the two different bullets (SSK vs CPBC) are two different profiles and have different seating depths and bearing surfaces.

BTW- you can order the issue of Handloader with the +P data article by Brian Pearce directly from Wolfe Publishing Co. Issue # 265 April 2010.

The only 44mag that I own is a Ruger Redhawk with 5" barrel. The SSK has a double crimp ring. I will work up a load and see what they do. I don't think I have shot a full box of 44 mag thru the Red Hawk since I got it back in '82. I always shoot 44 Spl in it. Appreciate the info, I was at a loss as to how to proceed. Good info, thanks guys.

The Redhawk has a very long cylinder and chambers, so it'll work best with the bullets seated out and crimped in the lower groove (closest to the base of the bullet), which gives more room for powder and allows for slightly heavier charges for higher velocity while staying at safe pressure levels. Plus the bullet doesn't have to jump as far to the forcing cone/rifling, so accuracy should be a bit better, but you'll have to determine what is working best in your gun. The loads I listed are for the lower crimp groove BTW, and I should have mentioned that, so I'll edit my post above to reflect that.

Thanks G4F, that is good info. This will cause me to find that old Red Hawk somewhere in the back of my safe and dust her off. She was my carry gun for the 8 years I traveled the outback in Alaska. This ought to be fun.

I just remembered I have a Browning B92 is 44mag that I used for CAS shooting deploying the 44Spl. Have you tried these loads in a lever gun. The B92 has a strong action and the long barrel should enhance the vel. Any thoughts?

I heaviest bullet I have ever loaded for the .44 MAG was Oregon Bullets Laser Cast 310 grn. LWNFP w/ gascheck. I used both 2400 and AA#9 powders. I prefered the AA#9 powder to push these slugs at 1300fps. I would guess that you wouldn't want to push the 320s that fast. These particular loads are used in the SRH exclusively, and don't go any where near my model 29. It might handle them, but I won't chance it. Very heavy recoil.

I would like to try loading some of those 320s. I will research where to get them. Thanks.


WG840

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Wheelgunner-
Try Cor-Bon. Last time I looked they still sold them.

delta-419-
No sir. I haven't ever tried them in a lever gun, so I can't give any data or results regarding how they would work other than to say that some lever rifles are rifled with too slow a twist to stabilize those long bullets properly.

Not long ago I loaded some of these for a friend who has a Super Redhawk. There is no way I was going to shoot them out of my Mountain Gun at ANY velocity. I know I used 2400, only because I didn't have any more 296. By the way, these were the ugliest looking cast bullets I have ever seen. They were full of wrinkles and the bases were very uneven. I cast better bullets than these on my worst days. And the small meplat of the SSK design leaves much to be desired.

Dave Sinko

I don't think anyone has mentioned the issue of sight regulation. Several years ago, I loaded up some 300 gr. loads for my Mountain Gun to take along with me to bear country. With the rear sight bottomed out, it still shot about about 4" high at 25 yards. When you go heavier than 300 grains, you stand a good chance of running out of sight adjustment in most any handgun, especially with longer barrels.

if you try these bullets in a Browning M-92 watch the oal carefully. I was using this bullet in a Redhawk and they were too long for the M-92 which I should have checked before I loaded up the magazine but didn't. I also launched the magazine spring and cap across the range parking lot unloading the magazine. it wasn't a very fun day at the range. I had the best luck with WW-680 powder but that isn't available anymore.

Groo here
JD said AA1680 can be used in place of WW680.
Also this bullet was intended to shoot out to 200 yd rams
and drive deep in the largest game.
The nose flat is the same size as Keith's 245 gr 44 SWC.

Taffin load was a 310 grain SST cast bullet 21.5 grains of WW-296 for 1312 fps. I can pick some up and do a little test myself.

I had a B-92 in 44 mag several years ago and a few 1894 Marlins. I found the B-92 was a very handy little gun; but that with the small sized butt plate, seemed to kick like a mule compared to the 1894's. I have that mold and cast several thousand of them at a time. I have sold many of them unsized to muzzle loaders to use in sabots. I also use these unsized bullets as a means to store hard alloy, I don't confuse it with anything else.

Ivan

Thank goodness this 6 year old thread came back!

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