Well, back in from the first range trip, and I literally had a blast. 'Didn't set up the chrony due to testing was a bit "rushed" in between rain down pours and the odd whitetail deer crossing the range... All I can say is WOW! Quite the recoil for such a large hand canon.
I ran two loads. 23gr and 23.5gr of H110 under a 240 XTP. Extraction and grouping was much better with 23.5. Had a couple stove pipes, but I chocked it up to possible user error. All magazines functioned and loaded well (full count). Charging was heavy but quite doable with hammer cocked (no charging tool). Can't wait to get back out, and blast some more. 😁
Went to the range today, to try out some more cast bullet loads, and try out some new steel targets that I built. The latest load is a 215gr cast round nose, over a load of 22grs of H110. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb-QmeXFXJ8
A guy is selling 3/4 of a 44 AMP reloading die set on eBay with a hilariously low price:
it’s missing the sizing die. However, a 270 or 308 Winchester sizing die works perfectly, so this would be a cheap way to get into reloading the 44 AMP.
Looks like he pulled it.
@pete-hoffert Can you suggest where I can buy a bullet mold with a somewhat rounded head for my 44 Automag?
Or does the regular 44 bullet mold work just fine.
Thanks,
Frank
Pete and others,
have you tested your cast bullet loads for resiliency against bullet travel and/or deformation?
I had ambitions of shooting cast bullets in my Auto Mags and tried three different 240gr bullets, and all were dismal failures. The Starline brass provided insufficient neck tension to hold the bullet in place. When the round was chambered from the magazine, inertia would pull the bullet slightly forward and out of the case. When the gun recoiled, the rounds in the magazine got hammered back into the case. The latter is potentially dangerous because it could lead to compressed loads and excess pressure.
Try measuring the overall length of one of your cast loaded rounds, then insert it into the magazine, and chamber it by dropping the boot. Then eject the unfired round and measure it again?
I found that with Hornady JHP bullets there was little or no movement, but cast bullets were all over the place.
Also, the nose of the bullets got hammered by the front of the magazine under recoil, and by the chambering process, so they were seriously distorted and deformed by the time they were ready to travel down the barrel. I have to assume this would have a detrimental effect on accuracy also?
@pantera-mike Have not had any deformation or tension problems so far, but I am using a very hard alloy that the brass can grip better. The 215gr bullets due group lower though, and I will be moving up to a 240gr bullet in the near future. I have also increased my powder charge to 22gr of 110. Was at the range for a short session earlier in the weed, and all rounds cycled flawlessly.
@pete-hoffert Thanks, I found a rounded head bullet Lee mold that I think will cycle nicely.
What diameter cast bullet are you all using? I would think that the .431 diameter bullet would have sufficient neck tension to stay put. That's what I use in all my 44 magnums. The lead bullets swage down quite easily in the .429 bore.
I am still waiting for my Automag. I was promised very soon, as of my call of last week. I was told there was about 30 ahead of me. We shall see. I have about half a dozen different 44 caliber molds on hand, along with a bunch of cut down rifle cases, and 200 new Starline cases. The cut down brass is reamed to .428, and after sizing is .426. That should hold about anything tight. I even purchased a .431 reamer, in case the fit was too tight for the cast bullets. If you make your own cases, you can regulate how deep you ream the case, leaving an internal shoulder, preventing bullet setback.
Here are the consolidated chronograph results from my 8.5 inch Classic Edition. I now much prefer the 240 grain bullets to the lighter 180 grain and 200 grain slugs - they generate more muzzle blast and recoil. All these loads functioned 100% - I think my pistol just needed some break-in rounds (and lots of lube!) For Science!
Bullet: Sierra 180 gr. JHC
Powder: Winchester 296 29.1 grs.
Primer: Winchester Large Pistol
Case: Starline
OAL: 1.608
Average Velocity: 1700 fps
ES: 24
SD: 9
Bullet: Sierra 180 gr. JHC
Powder: Winchester 296 30.1 grs.
Primer: Winchester Large Pistol
Case: Starline
OAL: 1.610
Average Velocity: 1766 fps
ES: 27
SD: 9
Bullet: Hornady 200 gr. XTP-HP
Powder: Winchester 296 26.0 grs.
Primer: CCI-350
Case: Starline
OAL: 1.600
Average Velocity: 1723 fps
ES: 40
SD: 16
Comment: More velocity with lesser charge when using Magnum Primer.
Bullet: Hornady 200 gr. XTP-HP
Powder: Winchester 296 27.0 grs.
Primer: Winchester Large Pistol
Case: Starline
OAL: 1.598
Average Velocity: 1659 fps
ES: 29
SD: 11
Bullet: Hornady 240 gr. XTP-HP
Powder: Winchester 296 23.5 grs.
Primer: Winchester Large Pistol
Case: Starline
OAL: 1.596
ES: 29
SD: 10
I missed posting the velocity on the last load...
Bullet: Hornady 240 gr. XTP-HP
Powder: Winchester 296 23.5 grs.
Primer: Winchester Large Pistol
Case: Starline
OAL: 1.596
Average velocity: 1506 fps
ES: 29
SD: 10
Now that I have cast the 44 mag 240 grain bullets, what wax lube do you recommend using for the automag? I was going to melt it an do the pan pour method.
Also, if someone has 100-200 44 automag brass they want to sell, I am open to it.
Thanks,
Frank
Also, if someone has 100-200 44 automag brass they want to sell, I am open to it.
Thanks,
Frank
This guy has two sets of 50 for sale on Gunbroker:
https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/948861104
I have no connection, I’m just the messenger…..
