Plain base MP-432-640 in 44 special

[fm027]

Got myself a new mould to try with hollowpoints in my 44special. Gun's a custom flattop Colt, plenty of strength. Just am curious what you guys who shoot that bullet use for powders & velocities compared to historically good loads using a 429421.

I've got Longshot, Power Pistol, Unique & 2400... and I'm looking for a load in the 1050/1100fps range. I cast a batch with the pentapoints so far, they're still in the oven as I type this. Powdercoating.

I do see the 432-640 bullets look to have a little more bearing surface than the 429421 has, so wondering if you guys who shoot both change your powder charges by any great degree between the two bullets? And if so, what's the go-to load for these -640's in a 44 special?

I'm leaning toward Longshot myself, and probably going to dabble in the 9 & 9.5gr range to see where I find the speed I want & best accuracy. Anyone load Longshot and have a good load with the MP 640?

[bushog]

Load Data is your friend….

[bula]

Think Longshot will be your friend too. 

[iwsbull]

In my Flattop 44 special I really like the 640 hp with 8.1 grains of Longshot extremely accurate. Light recoiling and still ample velocity to make a good soft bullet expand.

[fm027]

Aug 5, 2024 20:51:36 GMT -5 iwsbull said:

In my Flattop 44 special I really like the 640 hp with 8.1 grains of Longshot extremely accurate. Light recoiling and still ample velocity to make a good soft bullet expand.

What are you getting for velocity over 8.1gr Longshot?

[sixshot]

I'm sure Longshot will work just fine because it always does. I've never done much load testing with the 44 special, the Skeeter Skelton load has always worked so well I've just stayed with it. I also use the #503 MP bullet, it drops around 244 grs using the penta HP pins, deer hate them, those & an Antelope is all I've shot with them.

Dick

[iwsbull]

Aug 5, 2024 23:33:26 GMT -5 fm027 said:

Aug 5, 2024 20:51:36 GMT -5 iwsbull said:

In my Flattop 44 special I really like the 640 hp with 8.1 grains of Longshot extremely accurate. Light recoiling and still ample velocity to make a good soft bullet expand.

What are you getting for velocity over 8.1gr Longshot?

I have not ran it over a chronograph but it should be in the 950 range give or take 25.

[dougader]

All four of those powders work well in the 44 Special.

[boolitdesigner]

MP 433-640 Light, 4 Cavity Solid Mold (Multi Choice)
Take a look at this. It’s a lighter version of what you posted about. I’ve found a 214 to 225 gr. bullet (in a hollow point) is a very good killer in a strong 44 Special loading. Unfortunately he seems to be out of the hollow point version presently.

[gregs]

I'm getting ready to cast some 433-640 Lights. GCHP this week for a 3" 629. Was gonna go PB but looked at making them soft and leaning on them.

[bigbore5]

I buy most of my molds in plain base. If I want to up the pressure then it's not a big deal to put a plain base gas check on.

I make my own checks from aluminum roofing flashing using a check making die from Mattesons Mini Machine. You can find them on eBay. The die set costs about the same as two boxes of regular checks, but I never have to worry about them being in stock. I've gotten a few of the die sets from them and they work great.

[fm027]

I finally had a chance to run some of these Penta's over a chrony and try a few down-range... 9.0gr Longshot prints a group @25 that the bottom of a spray-can of paint can cover up, pretty damn good. My 429421's are rhe only other bullets that seem to shoot that consistent. I'm calling it a load with 9.0gr Longshot and these 432-640's ... velocity goes about 1030fps average through my 5.5" barrel

Next chance I get I'm going to try that bullet 50-100yards, see what its like farther out, if accuracy holds. Going to put some through a winchester too, see how they print through a 24" barrel vs my 429421's. So far so good though.. really like what I seen today at 25.

[leftysixgun]

Try that same bullet with about 9.0gr of Power Pistol. It’s an awesome bullet! I run that bullet and a smidge more PP in a 45 colt in a few guns of mine and it doesn’t disappoint!!!

[edk]

Aug 13, 2024 3:15:29 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

I buy most of my molds in plain base. If I want to up the pressure then it's not a big deal to put a plain base gas check on.

I make my own checks from aluminum roofing flashing using a check making die from Mattesons Mini Machine. You can find them on eBay. The die set costs about the same as two boxes of regular checks, but I never have to worry about them being in stock. I've gotten a few of the die sets from them and they work great.

I do as well and with PC have found (as have many others) one can displace much of what used to be "gas check territory" in handguns with plain base. So with 454-640 & 432-640 molds in plain base a lot of ground is covered. Now the LBT LFN/WFN gas check molds only account for under 20-25% of the shots so am still using commercial gas checks but at a rate I'm not sure I can justify any tooling.

As to the plain base MP-432-640 in 44 special - why not? The 454-640 in a 45ACP or better yet 45 Cowboy case in a Ruger flattop convertible is another way to achieve the "deep seated" 45 Colt!

[fm027]

Aug 16, 2024 0:02:13 GMT -5 leftysixgun said:

Try that same bullet with about 9.0gr of Power Pistol. It’s an awesome bullet! I run that bullet and a smidge more PP in a 45 colt in a few guns of mine and it doesn’t disappoint!!!

9.0 grains Power Pistol in 44special cases? What velocity does that shoot, ever chronograph it?