I had a marvelous weekend casting first, and then loading up some 38-55 Win, 44-40, 41 Magnum, and 44 Magnum cartridges.
I started casting with the Lee 379-250-RF Mold for the 38-55 M94 rifle as well as the Uberti 1855 SS Rifle. This bullet works exceptionally well in either rifle. The M94 eats the 2.085" brass and the 1885 SS likes the 2.125" brass best. I have been using IMR-3031 for smokeless but the rifles really like BP best. This Lee bullet really shines in either rifle as well as the Super 14" barrel for the T/C Contender. Good bullet. Very happy with it.
Next up was the Lee 429-200-RF for the 44-40 revolvers and rifles. Again, a nice bullet with good grease grooves for either smokeless lube or BP lube. This mold works well enough so I don't need to get a BP bullet mold. I'll leave well enough alone and simply change lubes depending on the propellant. Lately, I have been using Paul Matthews Black Powder Premium + lube for smokeless and BP loads. Stuff works great! Now if one of you has an extra BP mold or wants to be shed of a BP mold for the 44-40, drop me a line.
Then......came the SSK molds for the 41 and the 44 Magnums. These are the heavyweight bullet molds made for SSK (J.D. Jones) by N.E.I. These molds cast bullets that are hog killing pills for sure. The 41 Magnum (275411-SSK) is a J.D. Jones designed bullet that casts out at 288 grains in Lyman #2 alloy. It will flat anchor a white tail deer and I have also used it on feral hogs. It drills and drills. I haven't cast these molds in almost 20 years since I have enough cartridges loaded up from before. With that supply getting low, I figured I would fire up these two molds again.
Up next was the 310429-SSK mold by N.E.I for SSK Industries. It casts a 325 grain bullet in Lyman #2 alloy. I have used this bullet in the 44 Magnum to take numerous feral hogs and a couple of larger Russian Boar. This bullet in the 44 Mag is a real powerhouse. With H110 powder, it is a handful. I am trying Shooters World Heavy Pistol powder in both the 41 and 44 Mag cartridges to evaluate it. No load data exists for the 41 Magnum so I had to use "The Force."
I also cast up some bullets for the 44 Magnum (Cowboy Load level) using the Lee 429-240-2R mold. It casts a real nice steel ringer bullet for the 44 Special or 44 Magnum. With Trail Boss at 800 fps, it's a pleasure to shoot.
Casting went real well. Got on a roll and nothing went belly up. I even did the whole session with a ladle pour and didn't use the bottom feed off the pot once. I was amazed it went so well. I just may become a ladle pour fan in the future. Bullets filled out well too. Hum. There may be something to it.
L-R: The Lee 379-250-RF, The SSK 275-411, The SSK 310-429
L-R: The 44-40 with the Lee bullet, 41 Magnum with SSK bullet, 44 Magnum with SSK bullet, and the 44 Magnum with the Lee 429-240 Bullet
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
