Favorite cast 44

[bigbore5]

What size are the bear where you hunt?

[fm027]

Jun 13, 2024 3:44:16 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

What size are the bear where you hunt?

If you are referring to me ... on the high end, they run right up into Boone & Crockett sizes.. most of the problem ones are 3-4 yr olds though, which I'd guess weigh somplace between three & 400lbs. Me & the guys have killed a small handful over 7-feet with heads like pumkins & bellys draggin on the ground, but those generally mind their own business and run few & far inbetween. It's the younger ones those granddaddy bears push around between their turfs, looking for someplace they aren't getting their asses whipped that tend to get into trouble and need to be dealt with across the pastures to-which I'd refer to as average.

We do hunt, but more so are forced to deal with the problem-bears/trouble makers and various predation issues across our pastures (inbetween cattle) than anything else. The bigger volume of my own experiences have been based around that, than anything.

[bigbore5]

We run dogs. When they're in the fight on a bayed bear, I will most often use a 357mag loaded with the large hp pin MP 359-640 bullet cast 11bhn on a full load of H-110 maximum damage while limiting over penetration to minimize the risk of hitting a hound. Broadside on a bear the size you are talking about, it will still exit broadside. I usually try to put it into the offside shoulder blade to lessen that. That's from the 30ft to 40yds range.

The 44mag version of the 640hp will still often exit the off shoulder. That's why I don't use it with hounds, but it's awesome out to about 70yds through the lungs. Same alloy, gas checked, lbt soft Blu lube, heavy H-110 load.

[shorty500]

Lyman 429421 with “square cut” grease groove as Elmer always referred to it(yes I and most all of us know it’s not truly square but has draft angle) is my GO TO.
Have a similar design NEI mold that drops @270g that’s a close 2nd and easier/quicker to produce because it’s a 4cavity mold. The Lee C430-310RF is a great design in an economical mold. My 4th pick has its detractors and I’ll say it’s not the best heavy out there but I’ve always had great accuracy and penetration from the old JDJ/SSK .430-325TC with dual crimp grooves

[fm027]

Jun 13, 2024 17:25:50 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

We run dogs. When they're in the fight on a bayed bear, I will most often use a 357mag loaded with the large hp pin MP 359-640 bullet cast 11bhn on a full load of H-110 maximum damage while limiting over penetration to minimize the risk of hitting a hound. Broadside on a bear the size you are talking about, it will still exit broadside. I usually try to put it into the offside shoulder blade to lessen that. That's from the 30ft to 40yds range.

The 44mag version of the 640hp will still often exit the off shoulder. That's why I don't use it with hounds, but it's awesome out to about 70yds through the lungs. Same alloy, gas checked, lbt soft Blu lube, heavy H-110 load.

That's good to know. Thanks.

No dogs involved here, just horses and cowboys so exits are a non-issue.. preferred actually. Maybe I'll order myself a new mould, give them a try on that note.

[rjm52]

Was in this situation just a couple of years ago when I bought a Ruger 3-Screw Flat Top with a shortened 4 5/8" barrel...hadn't cast for .44s in 40+ years and sold the molds a long time ago...

So I just went with the MP Keith 260 grain mold with pins...classic bullet for a classic gun. Only load is 10.0 grains of Unique for 1150+- fps from the short tube.

Since then a friend who sold off his .44s gave me a LBT 280 WFP and an Accurate 43-235V. The 235V has a .39 meplat and cuts wadcutter size holes. Will probably just be used for 900 fps target loads.

[sixshot]

Three things you can do with those fine Miha moulds. You can change the weight just by changing the pins. You can change the hardness just by adjusting your alloy, and you can change the velocity by adjusting your powder charge. When it's all said & done that 10.0 grs of Unique that Bob mentions will handle just about anything out there, just by changing pins. A bear sure isn't a problem.

Dick

[z1r]

I'm looking forward to this one I just picked up:



In a hollow point, should drop at around 300 grains.

These days, my every day projectile is an MP 432-250 RF solid. 

[lah]

Plenty of choices these days. Either of these would work fine for me.

The Lyman 429421


Or the MiHec 432-258-K