realoading .44 Special: some thoughts and questions

[Daimler1989]

@ all
please excuse when I'm adressing to littlerocknroller in German language, we are both German. We are just figuring out when it's the best time for a phone call

@Rainer
sorry, das war nicht ich. Bei mir siehts zeitlich etwas eng aus diese Woche, melde mich vermutlich nächste Woche abends.

regards
Ulrich

 

[oddshooter]

I have had the same problem.

You may be reducing the diameter of every bullet you seat. I don't care what size it is.

Seating dies can all swage down the diameter when it pushes the lead boolit into the case. You spend time and money getting a correct size boolit only to shrink it during seating. Bad.

The answer is to get the M style cowboy dies from RCBS or Redding. Then call for a new stem sized correctly to .431. They will do it for free.

The M style creates a "nest" that will accept the boolit without swaging it down.


Prescut
Also, large rifle primers may not be helping the unburnt granules. Back off the powder a little and try using large pistol magnums. That will help. Slow powders like H110, 296, 4227 absolutely demand it.

 

[GCF]

I have had the same problem.

You may be reducing the diameter of every bullet you seat. I don't care what size it is.

Seating dies can all swage down the diameter when it pushes the lead boolit into the case. You spend time and money getting a correct size boolit only to shrink it during seating. Bad.

The answer is to get the M style cowboy dies from RCBS or Redding. Then call for a new stem sized correctly to .431. They will do it for free.

The M style creates a "nest" that will accept the boolit without swaging it down.

Good advice. Other's mileage may vary, but for my money, "M" dies are the ticket - for cast bullets.

I was not aware of them when I had my .44's, but use Lyman "M" expanders exclusively today, for cast (& even plated) .38's, .357's, & .45's. Requires an extra step in the "progressive" Dillon 550 process, but well worth it.

 

[Daimler1989]

UPDATE

Hi,

it took some time, but I followed all the valuable advice from the forum here and got .432 bullets. I found a German bullet caster who ordered a 215 grs SWC bullet mould from Magma with appropriate casting diameter to size to .432 diameter. He's casting for me now the first batch of bullets, 14 BNH. Got the first bullets yesterday and loaded some test cartridges. Results were very encouraging: No sooty shells, no leading, good accuracy.

I will keep you informed after some more test rounds.

best regards from Germany
Ulrich

 

[cowboy4evr]

Congratulations Daimler 1989 , thx for the update . You didn't give up , you didn't send it back to the factory demanding a new cylinder ( like some advised) . You took the proper measurements necessary to fire cast bullets in your firearm . It gave you the info you needed . It sounds like you learned a lot . This has been a lesson and an education you will never forget in the future . Regards, Paul