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Post by babills on Sept 22, 2023 22:02:15 GMT -5
As you no I'm new to reloading. I am interested in 44magnum Hardcast bullets for deer. Is Keith style the way to go? I no I don't need that much penetrtration for deer, but I want to be ok if I hit shoulders and want to put them down fast. The post earlier here mentioned Missouri bullet company and I looked into them. They have coated 240 gr. Keith bullets. Now. Do I need to put lube in the lube ring? What powder and velocity works best for this style of load. I'm sorry for so many questions. But you guys are very knowledgeable on this board and I try to get the best info I can. Thanks Dennis
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Post by 38 WCF on Sept 22, 2023 23:23:41 GMT -5
That Keith Bullet will sail clear thru a Deer. Make sure of your shot placement. Edge hits are not much good.
You do not need any lube if the bullet is already powder coated.
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Post by bigbore5 on Sept 23, 2023 4:19:31 GMT -5
In a solid version, the Keith bullets work well on double lung shots. They will break both shoulders and exit usually.
I personally prefer the hollow point version cast about 15bhn. It is a quick killer with the double lung shots I prefer.
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,162
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Post by edk on Sept 23, 2023 7:55:00 GMT -5
As the previous two posts have suggested, 44 mag Keith SWC solid cast loads are definitely deer killers. There are no absolutes however with heart/lung shots the “dead” deer can still present quite the tracking challenge given even a 90 second run in the deep woods. If you can picture Elmer hunting where he could see for miles, it helps explain his success with it. For these reasons the WFN and even more so cast hollow points have become popular with handgunners.
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Post by bigbore5 on Sept 23, 2023 8:30:16 GMT -5
As the previous two posts have suggested, 44 mag Keith SWC solid cast loads are definitely deer killers. There are no absolutes however with heart/lung shots the “dead” deer can still present quite the tracking challenge given even a 90 second run in the deep woods. If you can picture Elmer hunting where he could see for miles, it helps explain his success with it. For these reasons the WFN and even more so cast hollow points have become popular with handgunners. Exactly. I use the MP 360-180 large hp pin more than the Keith bullets. Its wide meplat and large cavity really hits hard. In the larger diameters it is the 640 designs over any other, again with the large size pins. If you don't cast your own, then I think GT offers a 640hp in most diameters. |
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Post by giblett on Sept 23, 2023 10:09:42 GMT -5
Rimrock makes the deer gernade gas check hollow point. Haven't seen much info on them as a deer bullet. They are accurate though with unique in my stealth hunter.
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Odin
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,103
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Post by Odin on Sept 23, 2023 12:19:06 GMT -5
A couple thoughts... With cast solids, it is the combination of meplat diameter and velocity that determine the diameter of what has been called the permanent wound channel, or as I like to think of it, the diameter of the plumbing you are about to install on your intended target. Years ago, Marshall Stanton of Beartooth Bullets put together a chart (there was a calculator too) for determining these plumbing dimensions. You can find it in this article HERE. After looking at the chart it's interesting to note that the original Keith 44-caliber SWC had a meplat diameter in the neighborhood of 0.27 inches. By today's standards (think LFN, WFN, etc.) that's a rather anemic meplat. Yet the Keith design has been hailed as a fine killer of game, by not only Keith, but many, many hunters since his time. The meplat connection also explains why many who try the 35 caliber 180-grain flat nose designs (there have been versions made by most of the boutique mold shops), find it does very well on deer-sized game. As most of those designs have a meplat that is as large, or larger, than the vaunted Keith design. Add to that the fact that most guys using a 357 Magnum keep their shots to "reasonable" distances, and you've got a sure winner. As to penetration, I always remember this quote by John Linebaugh - Will your 240-grain SWC work well on Whitetail? Yes. Find an accurate load. Practice a ton. Put the bullet where it needs to go. It worked for Elmer and scores of hunters since. It'll work for you too. |
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Post by bushog on Sept 23, 2023 12:54:54 GMT -5
Even though the metaplat on the Keith bullet is smaller than some it’s the sharp step down that allows the entire bullet caliber to act as a full width metaplat in regard to the wound channel.
OP doesn’t need to know all that. The bullets you mention will do fine. I’d also think about some Hornady XTPs. That way you could use the Hornady loading manual. If you’re new to hand loading this approach would provide all the information you’ll need.
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Post by babills on Sept 23, 2023 13:40:35 GMT -5
Even though the metaplat on the Keith bullet is smaller than some it’s the sharp step down that allows the entire bullet caliber to act as a full width metaplat in regard to the wound channel. OP doesn’t need to know all that. The bullets you mention will do fine. I’d also think about some Hornady XTPs. That way you could use the Hornady loading manual. If you’re new to hand loading this approach would provide all the information you’ll need. I just loaded up 240gr xtp over 24gr h110. Just worried about shoulder performance. Figured hard cast would work better. There are other options other than Keith's. Missouri makes one called the hammer that also looks interesting. |
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Post by bushog on Sept 23, 2023 13:49:03 GMT -5
Even though the metaplat on the Keith bullet is smaller than some it’s the sharp step down that allows the entire bullet caliber to act as a full width metaplat in regard to the wound channel. OP doesn’t need to know all that. The bullets you mention will do fine. I’d also think about some Hornady XTPs. That way you could use the Hornady loading manual. If you’re new to hand loading this approach would provide all the information you’ll need. I just loaded up 240gr xtp over 24gr h110. Just worried about shoulder performance. Figured hard cast would work better. There are other options other than Keith's. Missouri makes one called the hammer that also looks interesting. Send jfs a message about the XTPs. James is a good one to ask. |
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