Who casts for the .500 and .44's?

[Snowwolfe]

In the process of collecting everything I need to start casting again and just ordered the last pieces yesterday.

Just curious, who here casts for the .500's and the .44 mags? What molds and alloys are you using?

 

[canoe on the yukon]

I cast but not as much now as I used to.I've cast a great many designs in past years but more recently haven't done any except the Lyman 429421.

I've horsed around with all sorts of alloys.For handgun use,I've gotten very good results with one part Linotype per two parts of Wheelweights which I make into ingots(seperately).

 

[HUMONGO]

Where do you get the linotype?

 

[canoe on the yukon]

Where do you get the linotype?

Metal salvage yards.You may have to check several.It's getting harder and harder to find.I once had several hundred pounds of it.

 

[fredj338]

I cast for several calibers including heavy 44 & 45s. I like straight clip-on ww for bullets to 1300fps or so. Beyond that, mixing ww 2-1 w/ lino works better or just water drop the straight ww. For llow pressure loads, you can mix clip-on w/ tape wts (near pure lead) 50/50 & get very good results to 1000fps. For LHP, I use 50/50 mix or lead & tin @ 25-1.
For the 44, the RCBS 250grKeith or 245grSWC are great molds as well as the Lyman 429421 (245gr+/-). My 44mag hunting bullet is a 270grLHPGC. It's the Lyman Dev. mold w/ a shallower pin.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Got rid of my 500.

Of the two calibers you mention, I only cast for the 44Mag. For handgun use, I like my H&G #503 bullet. It casts a Keith 250gr bullet and there is none better for handguns, in my opinion.

I too use pure clip on wheel weights to high velocities, 1300fps range. Like canoe and fred, I mix Linotype with the wheel weights @ 10 to 1 ratio.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jellybean]

In .44s I have two Lee SWC moulds in 215 and 255 gr. I also have a Lyman 429215 hollowpoint mould that I haven't had a chance to use yet. Since I don't shoot hot loads anymore I use straight clip-on wheel weights for all my bullets.

Almost forgot, I also have a Lee .429 roundball mould.

 

[Snowwolfe]

My .44 is a 629 and I purchased a .430 sizer for my RCBS Lubesizer and a .501 for the 500. Bought the Lee 310 gc and the Lee 440 gc molds to start with.
Alloys on hand are wheelweights and a fair amount of Lyman #2 bought from Buffalo Arms back when the price was cheap.

 

[Sven]

I cast for .44s -- Lyman 429215, RCBS 245K and a 250 gr full wadcutter from a Cast Boolits group buy. Usually use either water dropped WW or home made #2.

 

[Satoken]

310gr might be too heavy for 629 if you look for accuracy. All of my .44s are S&Ws and after trying several different designs and shot tens of thousands through them, I wouldn't push over 280gr@1200fps any more and 250gr@1300fps is about what I want/need from these guns.
I also tried several different designs/weight bullets for .500s and 500gr@1200fps is about ideal for my use.

 

[ILLWIND]

I have several .44 molds. Lyman/Ideal 245gr HP, 245SWC-gc, 215SWC-gc and a Lee 255gr SWC. I need a 429421 mold if gas checks get too pricey.
All of these throw nice bullets, the Lee gets the most use because of the number of bullets per hour I can cast.

 

[03gringo]

For .44 caliber I use the Lyman 429421 (Keith type) and 429244 (with gas check) cast of wheel weights with some 63/37 bar solder added. I have some linotype stashed away too but haven't cast any .44 caliber bullets with it yet

 

[Dale53]

I have cast thousands of .44 magnum bullets (nearly all shot in revolvers). They were either the Lyman 429421 or my favorite, the H&G #503 (MiHec from the Cast Boolit Forum is running a Six cavity #503 on the cast bullet forum). Mihec had a few problems with the original run but has solved that. Any moulds ordered now (he took care of the bad ones for the people) will be at a very high quality.

This is Elmer Keith's original design with a flat bottomed grease groove and each band the same diameter.

I have shot these to 1400 fps without ANY problems at all. I have taken several deer with this design and it is still my choice for hunting.

I get match bullet accuracy out of these to and including 200 yards.

My powder of choice for full loads is H110, 296, or WC 820 (surplus carbine ball).

FWIW

Dale53

 

[Smithhound]

Where to get Linotype. Watch for specials from Rotometals, they offer free shipping for orders over $100, that is roughly 40-45lbs of Lino, you'll have a tough time finding it elsewhere these days, that amount should last you a long time when alloyed with lead or WW.
I really like the #429421 as well and also have a GC mould (can't recall # off the top of my head) that I use to play around with. GC's are a pain, but worth the time if you want them.
RD

 

[kritter]

casting

Hi I cast for both the .44 and the .500 mostly with Lyman molds
for the .44 210 grain # 429215 for specials
245 grain # 429241 for mags
the .500 375 grain #501680 for general use.plinking,target,hunting
and..... a custom 500 grain slug from a mold from mountian molds.. this one is for giggles..... or just if anything really needs a big hole in it..

I've found out that the 375 even with the light loads will go through a five inch tree at 50 yards easely....and will take just about anything i wish to hunt with a handgun

all casting materals are a mix of wheelweights that have been quenched in water ( open the mold and drop the still hot slug into a bucket of water, it adds hardness) or a mixture of wheelweights and linotype..

I try to keep the velocities around 1200/1400 fps.....