Register
Log In
Home
July 21, 2009
Offline
Hope you folks have had a good year, I think it has been that long since I was around much. Work and grad school are kickin' my posterior and I've had little time to shoot and no funds to yield to DWAS. . . . but I got a little time, so I'm loading.
I went to cast some bullets for the DW44 and couldn't find my moulds (which gives a good clue how long it has been since I fired up the lead furnace!). I managed to borrow a Lee 240 gr. 2 cavity from a friend. I'm not a big fan of the design, the meplat has those rounded corners, but I'm just casting for plinking so figured it would be OK. Got all the details* worked out with the mould and cast up a small batch for testing.
I made up two loads, a plinker at about 1050fps (using WW231) and a heavy load at around 1500fps (using AA#9) (both velocities are from past data, I've not chrono'd this revolver). Off to "test" loads. (OK, OK, maybe it wasn't a real "test" as I just drove out to a friend's field and leaned across the roof of my car.)
The light load gave "acceptable" accuracy (most stayed on a file card at 50 yards). The "heavy" load was a bit better, averaging about 4" for 10 shots at 100 yards.
Not bad, but if I can find the time I think the DW will do better--and that brings me to the questions.
First, what moulds are everyone using for their 44 cal DWs? Should I look at a heavier bullet?
Loads: any suggested loads, particularly on the "hotter" end? I suspect this will be my deer pistol this year, and while it doesn't take much to take a whitetail, accuracy builds confidence.
What kind of groups should I be working towards? My last big-bore DW was a .41, and as I recall it shot a bit better. Of course, I also worked up loads and shot it near-daily for more than a year. . . .
Thanks!
Jim
*Casting details: lead (20# wheel weight alloy with 4 oz of tin) at 850 degrees according to my RCBS pot, held there for 30 mins, flux'd with Marvelux. Fill the mould, pre-heat by dipping one corner in the lead for 30 seconds. Cast, cool for 15 seconds before pressing the sprue cutter off to the side. Weights are generally ranging over a 1.2 grain spread.
October 1, 2009
Offline
FOR .44 mags, my current favorite mold is an RCBS 240 grain swc gc.
pet Loading for the 240 grain cast bullet for me is 19.5 grains of 2400. I have
gone as high as 21.5 grains for some guns, but approch with caution, some guns out there just can't handle that load. Check your loading manuals for loads and
work up the perfect load for you & your gun.
1 Guest(s)
