44cal plated plinking bullets

M

mxsailor803

New member
Anybody having a hard time find .429 240gr FP in bulk? Not having too good of luck with Midwayusa, Natchezss, and Midsouth. Got any other retailers ya'll can recommend? BTW, I know cast is cheaper. These are for my Ruger Deerfield that I can't use cast in.
 
S

Sevens

New member
I've never had the pleasure to shoot or even handle a Ruger Deerfield, but being that it is a semi-automatic rifle, I would ASSUME :eek::p that it takes a certain level of "OOMPH!" from your handloads to ensure that the rifle properly runs and feeds, yes? As such, you may be really pushing the limits of what a plated bullet can do (or should be asked to do?) given not only the typical velocities of .44 Magnum, but here again running .44 Magnum with increased velocity due to a much longer rifle barrel.

Berry's tends to suggest not exceeding 1,200 FPS with their plated bullets unless you purchase their TP (thick-plate) slugs, of which they do not currently produce in a .429" diameter. Xtreme makes a terrific plated slug and they recommend you don't exceed 1,500 FPS with their slugs, and only use a light taper crimp. .44 Magnum by it's very nature benefits from (and in many cases, requires) a solid roll crimp.

In my opinion, plated slugs aren't the best answer in your situation with a Ruger Deerfield carbine. With that said, the most cost-effective method I have yet found for true jacketed and high quality .429" slugs for use in the .44 Magnum has been the 250-ct "bulk" pack of Nosler 240 grain .429" JHP slugs. I haven't shopped for them in a while, but have in the past considered it a successful buy to find them under $60 for 250 slugs. Compared to single 100-count boxes of jacketed .429" bullets, these are a fine deal for a very good bullet.

And no compromises.
 
M

mxsailor803

New member
Sevens- Yea this is a rifle I've been experimenting with. I've used some Sierra Sports Master 240's under W231. Don't have my exact weights in front of me to say the charge. At the muzzle, it was running 1100-1125fps. It was little undergassed to cycle everytime. Haven't been lucky enough in my area to find much in powders either. Luckily got a gun show this weekend and hoping to score some powders as well. If you do get your hands on one of these rifles, you'll do what it takes to make it work. I love this little rifle.
 
M

mxsailor803

New member
Buck - I saw Xtreme earlier and wasn't sure if anyone has used them. And they have a Military/LEO discount!! WooHoo!! lol.
 
B

buck460XVR

New member
I've only used Xtreme's in my .45ACP. They are quality bullets and they work well. Their .429 bullets have a cannelure, so a roll crimp should be possible. Since these are for use in a carbine and not a revolver, bullet jump should not be an issue and even it's a tube feed Deerfield, a slight roll crimp in the cannelure should be all that's needed for setback. I would use minimal flare and rely mostly on neck tension. Years ago I too had a Ruger auto-loader, but for some foolish reason sold it. It was a mag feed and needed full power loads to cycle. Whether or not you can accurately push those plated bullets fast enough to cycle yours is a good question. Hornady shows starting loads of 240gr projectiles doing 1400 FPS and claims they still cycle the action of a auto-loading Ruger. My 77/44 likes IMR4227 and Hornady claimed in their test Ruger, that IMR4227 was the most uniform.
 
M

mxsailor803

New member
Buck - How could you sell yours? lol. I went in to the shop looking for a Mini and the owner knew I liked things that were a bit different and I walked out with a Deerfield. I'm on the prowl this weekend for some 4227 at the show. My powder selection sucks right now: 10# Trailboss, W231, W296, WST, W748. Hopefully something turns up.
 
S

Sevens

New member
Haha, you've got Win296 listed in there. That's a prime .44 Magnum powder, my friend. Make that work.
 
M

mxsailor803

New member
I need to quit saying what I don't/do have when I'm not home lol. Had some W296 just not enough for a decent batch. Luckily, I found some W296 and 4064 (not for the .44mag) at the show yesterday. Gotta wait for the rest of the bullets to come in and its time to do a little more experimenting.
 
B

black mamba

New member
While 296 is certainly an excellent powder for 44 mag FULL LOADS, I wouldn't use it for the plated 240s. You need to keep those at 1200 fps or less, and of the powders you list, W231 would be my choice. 8.5 - 9.0 grains should give you an accuracte, clean burning load of around 1100 to 1150 fps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top