44-40 cast bullets out 44 mag gun

R

Richard93

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2025
Messages
55
Reaction score
54
Location
Italy
I loaded and fired a few hundred rounds made with the Lee 0.429 mold. The gun is a 629 and I used a very soft load (700fps).
No leading and I had good accuracy.
The rule says that normally the diameter of the bullet must be 0.001 larger than the FMJ but I did not respect it and everything works perfectly. Do you think I should try to use a 0.430 caliber bullet?
 
Register to hide this ad
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. :)

There are different "rules of thumb" concerning lead bullet sizing. The one that has worked for me is that the bullet, when dropped into the revolver's chambers, should stick in the throat but be able to be pushed through the throat with the eraser end of a pencil.

I'm sure that others will be by to add their own rules of thumb. :)
 
Good accuracy and no leading....leave well enough alone.

All of my Italian replicas use a .427 bore....therefore I use .428 bullets with the same results as your getting.

I cast my own and size them to .428......using a .430 or larger can very easily crunch your casings.

Randy
 
Ihave guns that apparently have never read the rules. My pre 25 with oversized throats doesn't know it's not supposed to shoot .452 cast bullets well. Please don't tell it!!
 
I don't think .001 will make much difference.

Yup, what chuck said...if your bullets are a little sticky or snug through the throats, its good.

You could measure your chamber throat diameters, and....but if you're happy, why.
 
You might want to get some different bullets just for giggles to see if they work BETTER but if what you are using now works for you and you are happy with it you shouldn't lose any sleep over it. (Some people just like to tinker. I can relate.)
 
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If you have some desire to heat it up a bit and start running into issues at higher intensities, then yeah, switch up.
Till then, load pack and fire
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
32 wcf cast bullets
Replies
10
Views
972
Brooks
B
R
Squib load in 44 mag and no explosion
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
David Sinko
D
K
Where does the extra 0.001" come from in cast bullets?
Replies
14
Views
779
Alk8944
Alk8944
S
300 Grain Swift A-Frame & .44 Rem Mag
Replies
5
Views
510
Ivan the Butcher
I
H
44 Mag hunting load advice
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
HOGAN
H

Latest posts

Back
Top