Less choice for lead bullets in 44 mag?

Ed Fowler

Member
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
1,171
Reaction score
1,579
Location
Central Wyoming
After a vacation from my 44 mags I just started loading lead bullets for them again. Lead is all I want to shoot, being an old National Match shooter. I find that my choice of lead bullets has been narrowed considerably. Those beautiful Midway 240 gr lead SWC are no longer available, same with Hornady - these bullets were great in my S&W mod 629 classics. Especially the Midway 240 and 190 grain. Anyone have any suggestions? My favorite load for all of them is 5.7 grains of Unique which is incredibly accurate for my 88 yard shooting.
 
Register to hide this ad
You might try some of Bayou bullets offerings, they are a coated lead bullet. I have been really happy with them for my 1911, have not tried them in a revolver. They have packages of 100. Brazos bullets have similar products as well. I think the Brazos bullets can be ordered either in .430 or .431 size as well.
 
Matt's , GT , Maplewood & Rimrock all make quality bullets with good lube . Unless you specify it they'll use a softer alloy than most also . Which is good in your case with the level of loads you're shooting . As long as bullets are sized to fit & a good lube one can push a Plain Based ( not bevel base ) to 1200fps or better with no leading . You don't need super hard bullets BHN 12 works fine .
 
After a vacation from my 44 mags I just started loading lead bullets for them again. Lead is all I want to shoot, being an old National Match shooter. I find that my choice of lead bullets has been narrowed considerably. Those beautiful Midway 240 gr lead SWC are no longer available, same with Hornady - these bullets were great in my S&W mod 629 classics. Especially the Midway 240 and 190 grain. Anyone have any suggestions? My favorite load for all of them is 5.7 grains of Unique which is incredibly accurate for my 88 yard shooting.
Just google lead bullets for sale. There are at least a dozen guys casting everything from 180gr WC to 300gr LHP.
 
I took up casting for my 44s mainly because I wanted to try something else, and now have about 5 molds of various sizes and shapes for my 44 Magnums. Most of the commercial casters will have a variety of bullets in 44 caliber, google "Cast Bullet Providers" and you'll get 10-12 hits...
 
Why order and shoot brand name lead bullets from Midway or any other big box type store?? (nothing against Midway) but there are so many great cast bullet companies out there


Missouri Bullets alone has around 30 or so varieties.
page 4 and 5 for 240 gr. You can also request softer lead BHN of 12 rather than 18.



Missouri Bullet Company
 
Oregon Trail 240 grain cast semi wad cutters over 8 grains of Unique. The load provides enough "thump" to let you know your revolver fired, and is very accurate.
 
Ed, check out Acme Bullets, they have both lubed and coated bullets in different weights. I really like their 200 grain .44s but they're out of stock at the present time but should be casting more in 3 or 4 weeks. I just received an order of 500 coated .38 SWCs and 500 coated round nose, flat tip .45 Colts.
 
I deer hunt with a contender in .44 magnum. I use as 50/50 mix of wheel weigts/pure lead. My boolits weigh 250 grains and are hollow points. 429244 mould. That bullet on top of 18.5 grains of 2400 drops Ohio deer in their tracks.
Ohio Rusty ><>
 
In my experience GT and Matts are very consistent.
 
Back
Top