.44Mag BBB Range Results with Lead Cast Bullets

[DAVIDF]

David, Thanks for sending me the link to Marshall Stanton's article io Bear Tooth's 250 grain hard lead bullet. When I start to run low on Accurate #9 powder I'll buy a pound of H100. He range results with that powder are amazing both in velocity and accuracy.

You are welcome. Let us know your results with it.

I missed it before, but I see you mention that you might save the hard cast for southern hogs. Where are you going to be hunting the hogs? Are you going to be in the Central Florida area?

[Pitchman1968]

Hello Steve, Thank you for sharing the input from the Lyman handbook. Does the handbook include any velocity data for the 17 - 18 grains AA9 loads on the 250 gr cast bullets in a 20" barrel?
Like you, I also load and shoot .45-70. Mine is the Marlin 1895 CB with the 26" barrel. After 2 years of frustrating testing with various cast and jacketed hand loads, I sent the rifle back to Marlin and they re-barreled it. It was better but not up to reasonable accuracy performance. So, I put a Leupold VX 2 scope on it and began installing gas checks on Oregon Trail 350 and 405 grain laser cast bullets. I also switched from Winchester 5744 powder to IMR 4198. About 6 months ago I began shooting 2-3" groups at 100 yards with 35 grains of 4198 and the 405 gr gc OT bullet. My next step will be to test that load at 150 yards. Before I have to cease hunting because of my advancing age, I want to take a moose in either Maine or New Hampshire. My research indicates that in those 2 states, most moose are taken between 75 and 150 yards. I will also determine if on the Leupold scope there are enough clicks to raise the point of impact from 100 to 150 yards.

[Steve51]

Hello Steve, Thank you for sharing the input from the Lyman handbook. Does the handbook include any velocity data for the 17 - 18 grains AA9 loads on the 250 gr cast bullets in a 20" barrel?
Like you, I also load and shoot .45-70. Mine is the Marlin 1895 CB with the 26" barrel. After 2 years of frustrating testing with various cast and jacketed hand loads, I sent the rifle back to Marlin and they re-barreled it. It was better but not up to reasonable accuracy performance. So, I put a Leupold VX 2 scope on it and began installing gas checks on Oregon Trail 350 and 405 grain laser cast bullets. I also switched from Winchester 5744 powder to IMR 4198. About 6 months ago I began shooting 2-3" groups at 100 yards with 35 grains of 4198 and the 405 gr gc OT bullet. My next step will be to test that load at 150 yards. Before I have to cease hunting because of my advancing age, I want to take a moose in either Maine or New Hampshire. My research indicates that in those 2 states, most moose are taken between 75 and 150 yards. I will also determine if on the Leupold scope there are enough clicks to raise the point of impact from 100 to 150 yards.

Mine is the 4th Edition Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook
For .44 magnum rifle loads they used a Winchester 94AE with a 20" barrel length

With a 250 grain #2 alloy lead bullet and 16.8 grains of AA#9 velocity was 1390fps
With a 250 grain #2 alloy lead bullet and 18.5 grains of AA#9 velocity was 1499fps

Hope that helps.