44 Russian bore size?

[JohnBz]

I would like to shoot my newly acquired 3rd model Russian using black powder, but I need some advice.

When I slug the bore I get a low reading of .423 and a high of .427 on the lead slug, depending on where I position the mike. Did it twice and got the same results both times.

Is this normal for these guns? Should I be using the .429 lead bullets as most of the reloading data suggests?

My slugging results would seem a bit small for using .429 bullets.


Any ideas on this?

John

 

[29aholic]

With BP and soft cast bullets you should be fine. Several companies offer bullets in varying degrees of hardness. I would stick with cowboy load level

Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk

 

[mrcvs]

As already stated, .429" cast bullet, and black powder (FFFg or FFg) should be fine.

 

[Drm50]

Yes, you could probably get away with pure lead bullets. I'm shooting Colt NS in 455 at 600fps with Unique. Plain lead 20:1 Tin. Tin just fills out grease grooves with square edges better than pure lead.

 

[Oyeboteb]

I would like to shoot my newly acquired 3rd model Russian using black powder, but I need some advice.

When I slug the bore I get a low reading of .423 and a high of .427 on the lead slug, depending on where I position the mike. Did it twice and got the same results both times.

Is this normal for these guns? Should I be using the .429 lead bullets as most of the reloading data suggests?

My slugging results would seem a bit small for using .429 bullets.


Any ideas on this?

John

Hi John,

Yes, Lead Bullets should be a little larger than the Barrel's 'Groove-to-Groove' diameter.

So, .429 ought to be just fine.

Pure Lead, or Lead with a very little Tin, would be best..no 'Hard-Cast'...and no Jacketed of course.

Post us some pictures of the old Model 3?

 

[JohnBz]

I do have some Hornady .427 205gr cowboy bullets I could use.

Not sure if they are pure lead or not. Would they be a safe possibility? They are the ones that have a knurled surface instead of lube grooves. Weren't they designed for Lee liquid alox?

Could I coat them with a black powder lube instead?

 

[McShooty]

Cowboy bullets are soft and made for low velocity. They should be fine - you might find more info on Hornady's web site. I think black powder lube would be OK for low velocity.

 

[Oyeboteb]

I do have some Hornady .427 205gr cowboy bullets I could use.

Not sure if they are pure lead or not. Would they be a safe possibility? They are the ones that have a knurled surface instead of lube grooves. Weren't they designed for Lee liquid alox?

Could I coat them with a black powder lube instead?

.427 is for .44-40 / .44 WCF...

Too small for .44 Russian.

If you are wanting to be Loading but do not have any Molds yet, "Matts Bullets" has a nice selection of .430s which work nicely for .44 Russian.

Before I had the Molds I wanted, I got my Bullets there, and I just boiled off the 'smokeless' Lube they come with, and used my Beeswax 'wafers' or 'discs' for the Black Powder Cartridges.

Of course, one can use a Bullet Sizing Lube Press to lube them in the Lube Grooves, or one can do the 'Cake Cutter' way.

I just use a little Beeswax disc between Powder and Bullet, and it works just dandy...no fouling, everything stays clean, may even be cleaner than "Unique"...you can shoot for ever with no cleaning and no cylinder binding.

44 Caliber : Matts Bullets