Winchester Lubaloy

[jfs]

I bought a full box of Winchester`s old .44 240gr Lubaloy gas check bullets I found on Gun Broker because I had used Winchester ammunition loaded with that bullet and a early 7 1/2" blue Redhawk to take my first boar... I also bought a box of Remington`s version of that load but chose Winchester`s because it ran a little faster. Photo shows recovered bullets that gave good expansion. That Redhawk had a mirror smooth bore with no leading... I pulled one of the loaded Remington bullets and weighed the charge that came to an even 22.0grs of what looked like 2400... I don`t think there is any need to say " that was back in the day".... Waiting on a full box of Winchester`s old 158gr LSWC ammo found on GB...That`s a boar`s tooth in top left shell

[bula]

Very neat pieces of 44 history. That Lubaloy looks quite similar to the old National Bullets here, marked "Copper-Ized". 

[bradshaw]

James.... Winchester and Remington 240 Lead SWC Gas Check factory ammo provided brass for my first reloads of .44 Mag in the early 1960’s. As you discovered in Meat & Bones, those rounds pack punch. I never had much leading problem from the .44’s, especially the Lubaloy. It’s a different story in .357 Mag. Winchester Lubaloy 158 Lead SWC GC wasn’t so bad, but Remington’s version virtually soldered the bore of my blackhawk before finishing one 50-round box. We cleaned out the lead with mercury.

And I think you’re right about the powder: Hercules 2400, or equivalent.
David Bradshaw

[jfs]

David, I once used 2400 handload data from one of the old "Club Auto Mag" journals for my 357 Auto Mag and found out the hard way that the new 2400 is not the same as the older version. I blew the primer along with stuck case, however I hit dead center bullseye..... Anyway JDJones asked if I chronographed the 240gr Lubaloy bullet and wondered how many grains of today`s 2400 would be equal to an old load using 22.0grs of 2400??? Picture of 357 Auto Mag...

[bradshaw]

James..... be curious to know how those early & stout .44 Mag loads do against water jugs. Tried Jeff “Tank” Hovver’s .44 cast, Powder Coat 262-grain SWC Plain Base, DEEP SEATED over 17/Hercules 2400, Federal 155 primer, Federal brass. From Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter 7-1/2”, the 262 SWC penetrated 10 plastic 1-gallon milk jugs. Blew-up the first 2 jugs. Bullet exited jug #10, bounced off #11. Penetration 61-inches. Meplat expansion .055”, with slight concavity.

The same load in the 4-inch S&W Model 29 also penetrated 10 jugs, poked a bullet hole in jug #11, yet ricocheted off, to land in the grass 51-inches @ 9 o’clock to jug #11. Bullet blew-up the first 2 jugs, split both sides of jug #3 and split open the entrance side of jug #4. Penetration 60-inches. Meplat expansion .026”, with barest hint of concavity.

Basically identical penetration. Twice the meplat expansion from the SBH suggests higher velocity from the 7-1/2” Ruger. Load from either gun penetrating 5-feet of water + 20 plastic “skins.".

If you have the chance to duplicate this water jug experiment with your Winchester load or bullet, line up about 14 1-gallon jugs----or, an equivalent length of other water filled jugs. I think those hot old Winchester (or Remington) lSWC's might rivet, as you found in hogs.

A 1-grain increase----from 21 to 22 grains----jumped pressure sensation with Hercules 2400 under the Sierra 240 JHC. The Sierra 240 JHC seated over 21/Hercules 2400 shares accuracy with same bullet over 23/4227, or 23-to-24/H110 @ 200 meters. At the upper end, 2400 shows its fangs more abruptly than 4227 or 296/H110.
David Bradshaw