Henry Rifle Forums

Just finished a small casting session.
Earlier I loaded the last of some 320+ gr pills fot the triple 4's.
Decided I would cast a few, well I couldn't find the mold at first, but while searching.
I found a Lee mold that I don't remember buying. it's a .430 310 gr 44. So I thought what the heck I'll just break it in as I like it's look much better, with the wider meplat.
So I cast up 100 to try, and the best part is the lead I used was free, giving to me back a couple years ago, so win, win.
Should be a dandy venison getter.
I did have to put few back in the pot, inconsistent temp of the mold. Like I said it was over a year and a half since the ladt time I cast anything.
I may even try a few in the Henry 44.
These may cycle all the way through and back out fo the 444, we'll see.

RP

Looking good! I have never used that bullet for hunting but would imagine the big flat meplat with that much freight train behind it would create a lot of havoc on impact. If the alloy is finger nail scratching soft you'd probably get some serious expansion from the .444 too.

I had that mold but in a 6 cavity. I liked the bullet but the mold was causing my vocabulary to go downhill fast. In my opinion you're a lot better off with large bullets like that with your two cavity than a 6 cavity.

Keep us posted on their accuracy.

Will do, I may get them sized and coated this afternoon. We'll see.

RP

I have never done any casting. Have always bought my cast bullets for reloading. The bullet in the 2nd picture looks like it has to be fitted with a gas check, is that correct. I have shot very few gas checked bullets.

Steve51 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 25, 2023 5:25 pm

I have never done any casting. Have always bought my cast bullets for reloading. The bullet in the 2nd picture looks like it has to be fitted with a gas check, is that correct. I have shot very few gas checked bullets.

Yes, it's a gc'd bullet. So is the Lee mold I used the other day.
Got them all coated this afternoon and half are sized and checked. I also buy some, actually more that I cast.
Just nice knowing how, and I have molds for some that aren't really available commercially. Like a 270 gr wfn for the 41 mags.

RP

Just because a bullet is a gas check design doesn't mean that can't be loaded and shot without one.

Travlin wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 25, 2023 11:06 pm

Just because a bullet is a gas check design doesn't mean that can't be loaded and shot without one.

Exactly, I've pushed the Lyman pretty darn fast and "never" gc'd them.

I gc'd half of these today and the others probably won't see any so I will trying and test a few to see if I see much difference.
Generally I don't push them to hard anyway, so we'll see.

RP

I have an RCBS mould for a 225 grain GC bullet for the .44 Spcl/Mag and I only put the GC's on when I plan to speed it up with some 2400. Other times I use the little disks for over powder and over shot wads for revolver shot shells. I had a machinist friend make me a die with a cone shaped interior that will put a good roll crimp on anything from a .32 S&W Long to a 45-70. So I use it to finish off my shot loads.