original 44-40 bullets

[Tater Pickens]

I know the big lube bullets are very popular but does anyone cast the original 44-40 bullet as used back in the BP days

Thanks,

Tater Pickens

[Gripmaker]

Tater,  Yup, I sure do.  Used large groove bullets for a long time. Even used them in longrange testing of 44 wcf but have switched over to casting Lyman's 427098 bullet which is duplicate of original. Friend gave me the mold a few weeks ago. I am also duplicating (as close as possible) the BP load/performance/velocities. So far it is working just great even though I haven't been able to test any more longrange due to schedule. Posted on another site and checked with Buffalo Arms today concerning the proper crimp used but no real answer as yet.  Will post here also.

[Cliff Fendley]

Gripmaker, what size does the 427098 bullet cast? Can that bullet be sized 429?

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[Tater Pickens]

Know anyone making them commercially, preferably lubed with SPG?

Tater

[Colt Fanning]

Howdy,
Hunters Supply makes a similar bullet with less taper resulting in a slightly larger flat spot on the nose.  It is 200 Grns
with a hardness of about Lyman #2.  They will supply them unsized and unlubed on special order.  They are about .430-.431
dia when received.  I size them to .428 and lube with spg.
Regards
Colt

[w44wcf]

Tater Pickens,
Montana Bullet Works offers the 427098  lubed with a black powder lube (see "placing orders").
It's the 1st bullet shown. Diameters can be had from .427" to .429".
http://www.montanabulletworks.com/44_40.html

Buffalo Arms offers the same bullet but the max diameter they offer is .428" and they are quite a bit more expensive unless the "per 50" is really "per hundred".
http://www.buffaloarms.com/Hand_Cast_Bullets_it-157239.aspx?CAT=4135
 

w44wcf

[Gripmaker]

I have as yet to measure bullets dropped from my mold but they must be about .430 since I size them to both .429 and .427 which takes metal from the sides on both.  If all you can get are .428, just request that they be pure lead so they will "bump" up upon ignition and fill the rifleing. Even a pure lead .427 will expand to fill .430 under the right load and it doesn't have to be a warthog load.

[Coal Creek Griff]

My mold with wheel weights drops bullets at .427. I was able to "Beagle" my mold to get .429 for my rifle.

To clarify, that's my Lyman 427098.  I'm having great success with my Accurate Molds 43-215C, which maintains the same profile, but has a larger lube groove and a crimp groove.  Once the round is loaded, it appears identical to the 427098.

CC Griff