Aren't these some nice bullets?

[Wyatt Earp]

We have a local bullet maker, L&M Supply in Piqua, that sells through Olde English Outfitters in Tipp City/Ginghamsburg. I stopped by OE today and found what looks like a true Keith-style .44 caliber SWC. I didn't know L&M made this style.

It's a .430", 250 grain semi wadcutter with a flat base, a longer than usual nose, and a nice, sharp shoulder.

On top of that, a box of 500 was $53 out the door from the fun store.

Here's a shot of it loaded in a dummy .44 Magnum cartridge (what I use for die set up) next to my previous .44 Magnum load (200 grain Oregon Trail RNFP) and the SWC itself.

The bullet itself:

A couple of different angles highlighting the shoulder and base:

And here's the money shot with the dummy loaded in my 629 MG. That sure looks like a bad ass load, dontcha think?

I plan on filling this up with 6.5 grains of W231 for about 850 fps for a nice target and plinking load, but I might set aside 20 or 30 of them and load them up with some 2400 for some good ol' fashion Elmer-style whoopin'

 

[Wyatt Earp]

We have a local bullet maker, L&M Supply in Piqua, that sells through Olde English Outfitters in Tipp City/Ginghamsburg. I stopped by OE today and found what looks like a true Keith-style .44 caliber SWC. I didn't know L&M made this style.

It's a .430", 250 grain semi wadcutter with a flat base, a longer than usual nose, and a nice, sharp shoulder.

On top of that, a box of 500 was $53 out the door from the fun store.

Here's a shot of it loaded in a dummy .44 Magnum cartridge (what I use for die set up) next to my previous .44 Magnum load (200 grain Oregon Trail RNFP) and the SWC itself.

The bullet itself:

A couple of different angles highlighting the shoulder and base:

And here's the money shot with the dummy loaded in my 629 MG. That sure looks like a bad ass load, dontcha think?

I plan on filling this up with 6.5 grains of W231 for about 850 fps for a nice target and plinking load, but I might set aside 20 or 30 of them and load them up with some 2400 for some good ol' fashion Elmer-style whoopin'

 

[jwlloyd257]

Stopped at OE around Thanksgiving. Traded for a 25-3 at Jaqua's so I was badly in need of some 255g. 45 Colt bullets. Nice place!

 

[Snapping Twig]

That is a handsome boolit!

I'd love to have that mould.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Can I mail order these? I have been wanting to try some Keith style bullets in my .44s. This is the best price i have seen so far.

WG840

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by Wheelgunner840:
Can I mail order these? I have been wanting to try some Keith style bullets in my .44s. This is the best price i have seen so far.

WG840

Let me make some inquiries.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Here is a whole squad of those!

I cast my own though. The only other thing you need to do is pull some of that lube out of there and see if it has a square grease groove. If it does, then it pretty well matches what EK designed.
Mine is from an H&G #503 mold.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Skip, those are beautiful!

As my current loads are depleted, they will start looking like yours.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Skip, what do you think of the amount of crimp I've put on that load?

 

[Skip Sackett]

The round you displayed is a nice looking one to be sure. I don't think that heavy of a crimp is needed with the powder/load you are using. Mine on the other hand do need it. Both to keep the bullet in place under fire in a revolver or to help get the powder burning like it should.


Thanks for the kudos, too by the way!

FWIW

 

[AzShooter]

Fantastic pictures and a great looking bullet.
They are a little frosted which means the temps were a little hot but that's a good thing. That's the way I like mine to look.

Great price too. Seems that last year everyone raised their prices when the cost of lead went up but very few have reduce their prices with lead now way down on the market.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Please don't forget to let us know if they can be ordered.

 

[Spotteddog]

Your basic one size kills everything, we don't need no stinkin' high tech, put 'em where they belong type .44 bullets, Wyatt. Your shot of the front of the cylinder looks like the business end of my night stand gun. I think you'll be pleased at how well they act! Nice bullets!

 

[VonFatman]

Wyatt Earp,
Very nice looking bullets...I load mine up about the same...W231, TightGroup...nice easy going range loads.

I save a few back for warmer loads myself.

Bob

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by smith crazy:
I don't think that heavy of a crimp is needed with the powder/load you are using.

Yesterday I reset my seater to crimp about half as much.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Yesterday I reset my seater to crimp about half as much.

I feel I need to clarify myself a little here lest someone think I am speaking out of both sides of my mouth. In one thread I ask a fellow reloader to add more crimp and in this one I say you don't need as much. WAZZUPWITDAT?

Let me explain. With the W231 load you are using Wyatt a super firm crimp isn't needed to aid ignition of the powder, it lights off real easy, nor to prevent bullet jump during recoil, 'cause there ain't gonna be much of that either.

The other load was using a standard primer, on a light bullet, with 2400. While 2400 is easy to get going too it doesn't perform well when the pressure isn't forced to "build" so to speak.

I hope that is clear.

For an example here is a picture of some target loads in 38spl. I use Bullseye so there is no need for it to "build" pressure to work well. Now, before some purist jumps on my comments, there is need for every powder to build pressure before it works. I am speaking of difference in fast powders versus slow ones, thus speaking metaphorically, not exactly.

(sorry about the quality of the picture)

 

[gwalchmai]

You can't be too rich, too thin, or have too much crimp.

Sure, it works the brass a wee bit more, but you're probably talking a difference of four or five loadings, right?

So it's all good, and that crimp looks mondo cool.

 

[Dale53]

gwalchmai;
I'm going to have to gently disagree with you regarding crimp. First of all, for proper burn with slow burning powders for, as an example, H110 in a .44 MAgnum, BULLET PULL or CASE NECK TENSION is far more important than crimp for burning properly. In fact, no amount of crimp will make up for lack of case neck tension.

Crimp + case neck tension is needed to stop heavy recoil from moving the bullets (in subsequent chambers) forward out of the case.

However, using too much roll crimp OR too much taper crimp on a lighter target load can seriously reduce accuracy. I have proven this in actual tests, with a number of revolvers and autos from a Ransom Rest. In addition, as you mention, over working the case mouth by using more crimp than is necessary reduces case life (most revolver cases fail by splitting the case mouth).

As a matter of interest, I have found that a light to medium taper crimp for both autos and revolvers leads to excellent accuracy with TARGET loads. Many target loads use soft bullets (think HBWC's as an example) that are easily damaged by too much crimp whether taper OR roll crimp.

Using too much taper crimp on .45 Auto cast bullets can actually damage the carefully cast and sized bullets before they are even fired.

I equate proper crimp for the particular load in question as "Horses for courses".

FWIW

Dale53

 

[gwalchmai]

So you wouldn't use any roll at all for that load?

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Skip, I know what you meant as far as the differences in powder burn rate. That's why I took your advice and backed off the die a bit.

FWIW, Dale also hit it right on.