.429 wad cutter, anyone use them?

[COYOTEHUNTER]

Found some 170 grain .429 lead wad cutters in my stash and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them? I have loaded a few to try tomorrow evening.

 

[Doubless]

I never shot a bunch, but for a while I was loading the H&G full wadcutter (#107, if memory serves) and shooting them in my 4" nickel 29. Loads of fun and huge perfectly round holes in the target!

 

[mikld]

I've used 250 gr. full wadcutters in some of my .44 Magnums. Most fairly accurate, nuttin' outstanding, either good or bad, but they do cut sharp round holes at 50 yards...

170 grains sounds pretty light to me and .429 is pretty small for .44 Magnums and Specials, perhaps 44-40?

 

[Neumann]

I don't see a need for .44 wadcutters. At 1300 fps, a round nosed bullet cuts a clean hole. I'll compromise, though, and use flat points for compatibility with a lever action rifle.

 

[KSCowboy]

Yep

I've got this old Lyman mold that is about that weight.

Loaded in the 624 they are a pretty lethal home defense and up close varmint load.

 

[horsemen61]

I love the idea of wadcutters in a 44 any ideas on where I can find a mold to cast my own

 

[Doubless]

I've got this old Lyman mold that is about that weight.

Loaded in the 624 they are a pretty lethal home defense and up close varmint load.

Looks like the Lyman 429348 mould; nominal was 180 grains using Lyman #2, which is 90/5/5, if memory serves. I try to use about 7# of wheel weights for every lb of lino. It makes a bullet that casts beautifully and drops like a dream, is hard enough to do what I want but not so hard as to be wasting tin.

I think I may have to drag out the WC moulds and do some more shooting with WCs. Between the H&G #107 for the 44 and the #155 for the .41, I can tear up a whole lot of backing boards!

 

[RobertJ.]

I recently purchased some 200 grain DEWC (sized at .430) from Rim Rock Bullet Company. I've been shooting those with 6.4 grains of IMR 800X, out of a 10" .44 Mag T/C Contender. This is just a 10 yard paper punching round, and at 10 yards, shooting offhand, my groups average 1" center to center. Recoil is like a .38 Special.

Casting my own bullets (and no, I will NOT call them "boolits"!) is going to be my next venture.

 

[COYOTEHUNTER]

Just got back from the range and the .429 wad cutters were great a 7 yards with 15 shots in a 1" group and then to 15 yards they opened up compared to my .430 SWC. I agree the .429 is a hair small for the 44 magnum. But any day at the range is a great day!!!

Thanks for the comments.

Regards

 

[pete950]

Mattsbullets.com has a 180 and a 250 grain

 

[roundgunner]

I got the one on the lower left years ago from Lee.

If I can find it I would let it go as I have not cast with it in years.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I have a 208 grain .429 wadcutter mold around here and would like to take it on a test run. Haven't had time for even a small casting project in ages.

 

[venomballistics]

I got the one on the lower left years ago from Lee.

If I can find it I would let it go as I have not cast with it in years.

I hear ya ... for as simple as it is, it's a bear to get it's shoulder to fill out properly,as is evident in your photo.
When I get the ambition to cast them,I run over 40 pounds of lead through it and spend a few hours picking out the 4 pounds that turned out.

 

[horsemen61]

Well if you find it let me know I am looking for one

 

[Doubless]

I hear ya ... for as simple as it is, it's a bear to get it's shoulder to fill out properly,as is evident in your photo.
When I get the ambition to cast them,I run over 40 pounds of lead through it and spend a few hours picking out the 4 pounds that turned out.

Welcome to Lee moulds... I am sorry, but you get what you pay for.

 

[roundgunner]

Horseman, I found the mold and box. Got anything to trade? It is a 208 gr single.

I have many Lee molds and quite a few hand made. I guess I'm not that picky, if I miss the target it is not because of the bullet. Reality is I hardly ever shoot a handgun over 35 yards, or a rifle over 100.