Cimarron Bad Boy 44

[wilkup]

I’ve been searching the interwebs to find and read everything I can about these little Italian guns and am planning to order my own 6” version this week.
From what I’ve read, it appears, most guys aren’t too keen on running full house 44 Mag loads through this lighter than Blackhawk framed revolver and have opted for “spicy” 44 Special loads.
Is anyone pushing 300s around 1200-1250’ in their Bad Boys? I’ve saw some load data for a hardcast 300gr WFNGC and 16.7gr of 4100 showing just over 29k PSI. That puts it 20% over Brian Pearce +P data but a significant ways under true top shelf 44 Mag loads. I think it’s a decent compromise for bear backup but am curious what y’all might think.
I’ve also read in several places that ~1200fps is sort of the magic spot for devastating penetration in this big bore rounds. With rifles I’ve always been in the Weatherby camp of, “Speed Kills,” but am always open to learning something new.

[z1r]

My 2 cents, they're fine for factory loads, but I wouldn't hotrod mine. That's what I have my Rugers for.

[wilkup]

Jul 28, 2024 22:31:56 GMT -5 z1r said:

My 2 cents, they're fine for factory loads, but I wouldn't hotrod mine. That's what I have my Rugers for.

Zero plans to ever hotrod any 44 mag stuff.
Once I get this one dialed I’ll be on the hunt for a Blackhawk and recommendations for a smith to get me setup with a 475 to take care of any “needs” to hotrod my stuff.

[CraigC]

The biggest limitation is cylinder length. Just isn't enough room for anything very heavy.

[wilkup]

Jul 28, 2024 23:49:42 GMT -5 CraigC said:

The biggest limitation is cylinder length. Just isn't enough room for anything very heavy.

I’ve got some 300gr Cast Performance from years ago when I owned a Marlin 1894 I found in my reloading room loaded to 1.59” and likely filled with H110. Looks like these might no longer be getting made but Montana Bullets has a 300gr WFN that appears very similar - a bit wider meplate and slightly lengthened nose to crimp groove dimension.
From what I can tell, I could load them to 1.66” and use the newer Accurate 4100 to send them on their way. If I need to go any heavier than 300gr, I’ll just have to wait on my next revolver purchase and build to materialize, because as many have already suggested in my other thread - “Buy them all.”

[CraigC]

Yeah, Cast Performance is no longer selling bullets as components, which is a real shame. I see that Montana is filling the void for both them and Beartooth. Oregon Trail also has a real nice 300gr with a really big meplat. Though I haven't tried it in the Uberti.

[wilkup]

Here’s a photo of the round I found and the bullet used beside. Not a bad looking cartridge. I killed all sorts of things with this in my old levergun.

[x101airborne]

I was thinking of another bullet company. Please disregard. 

[hounddogman]

Someone gave me a box of the HSM Bear loads that have a 305 grain wfp . I shot a cylinder full in a old vaquero and thought they weren't too bad. Then tried a couple in my bad boy , felt like the gun was trying to break my middle finger . No thank you. My favorite loads are 7.5 grains of unique in 44 special brass or 10 grains of unique in magnum brass with a 240 to 250 grain bullets.

[wilkup]

Jul 30, 2024 23:18:37 GMT -5 hounddogman said:

Someone gave me a box of the HSM Bear loads that have a 305 grain wfp . I shot a cylinder full in an old vaquero and thought they weren't too bad. Then tried a couple in my bad boy , felt like the gun was trying to break my middle finger . No thank you. My favorite loads are 7.5 grains of unique in 44 special brass or 10 grains of unique in magnum brass with a 240 to 250 grain bullets.

Roger that. Just looked up specs on that HSM load - 305gr at 1260’ puts it right in there. I’d be curious to know what powder and pressure they’re getting though cuz 4100 shows a lot lower pressure than many others for the same velocity. I guess I’ll just have to mess around with it and see how things go. 🤪

[wilkup]

Been doing more poking around and discovered Matt’s 325gr WFN and was reading through Brian Pierce’s article on loading 44 Special +P and saw loads with the 305gr Rimrock combined with 15.5gr H110 for a 1059’ in a 6.5” S&W 24-6 (I’m assuming N frame).
Now I’m thinking I’ll order some of those 325 grainers, Starline 44 Mag brass and start using all the H110 I’ve been storing the past decade. I think that big hunk of lead moving ~1100’ could be an awesome all around killer for me this fall and hopefully not terriibly punishing on my end. Bonus is it’ll be subsonic! That supersonic CRACK is something I dread when I don’t have a chance for ear pro.

[bigbore5]

I like the Walker earbuds. You can still hear normal or amplified, but they reduce the noise when you fire.

[wilkup]

Aug 1, 2024 19:45:41 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

I like the Walker earbuds. You can still hear normal or amplified, but they reduce the noise when you fire.

I’ll have to check them out! Thanks.

[wilkup]

I picked up some super heavies - 370gr Montana Bullets - to try in this Bad Boy! Figured at 1,000fps there’s nothing in NA that bullet won’t be able to get through. They’re not GC’ed, but I plan on powdercoating them.
I’m gonna have to play around with H110 loads and plan to start around 12gr, use my chronograph and see how my wrist and fingers feel to see where I go from there.

[lar4570]

That looks like a very interesting bullet.
A plain base lubed bullet should be fine at 1000fps.
If they are already lubed and you try to powder coat them, I think it will just cause a big mess.
I would imagine that the lube will melt out of the lube grooves and run down the sides of the bullet where it will mix with the powder coating powder. I think it will end up with a blob of powder coat paint mixed with lube at the base of the bullets.

Do you have the bullets in hand yet? What is the length of the bullet? I looked at MBW website and it showed the nose to crimp length was .380"