Author Topic: If YOU were going to load .44 Automag practice rounds... (Read 8681 times)

HiVelSword · « **on:** July 22, 2011, 01:43:24 pm »

...what would be your bullet of choice? An FMJ with a rounded ogive like the .2 40 Hydra-shok (if a rounded tip .429 FMJ even exists) or something shaped like an XTP?

Remember, this cartridge is making a long jump from a .308 mag to the chamber. I'm not firing it from a .44 Automag pistol.

I guess basically what I'm asking is, what do you think would be the most reliable FMJ design for a .44 AMP practice load?

WeTheArmed.com

JesseL · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2011, 01:58:30 pm »

I think it depends too much on the feed geometry (which is unique to this particular rifle) for anyone you hasn't examined it closely to say.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:05:50 pm »

Rats. I'd like to send it to Joe WITH ammo.

I just ordered all the stuff I needed to load on my friends Dillon. Including case lube. He told me I needed that so I don't feel completely suckered. Lol

Now I just need bullets, primers and whatever powder(s) a loading manual recommends.

JesseL · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:09:15 pm »

Order a few different types to try out, whatever doesn't work sell off the remainder or save for revolver loads

HiVelSword · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:24:59 pm »

Quote from: JesseL on July 22, 2011, 02:09:15 pm

Order a few different types to try out, whatever doesn't work sell off the remainder or save for revolver loads

Yeah, I think I'll try two different ones. Maybe send 100-150 loaded rounds of one kind and 100-150 rounds of the other. I'm still hoping one of the magazines does indeed work as I was told. This way Joe could just make the 2nd like the 1st and I'll be hopefully GTG. But something tells me the 1st mag will need work too. I dunno. I'm just "lucky" like that.

only1asterisk · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:03:06 pm »

I'd use a jacketed soft point with ogival nose and modest meplat like the above.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2011, 12:57:02 am »

If you can find them in your area, and they're not too spendy, try the 265 grain hornady interlocks, like here- http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=605468

Tough bullet originally designed for use in the 444 Marlin. Should work well in your gun if it'll feed.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2011, 09:41:23 pm »

Trust me guys. I can't WAIT to get my feet wet with reloading. But for these first 500 rounds I just want an FMJ. I'm going to send my carbine plus two mags to Joe so that he can affirm that magazine 1 does indeed feed reliably (as was told to me) and then to get magazine 2 to work like magazine 1.

For all of those unaware of the situation, Marty who made my upper left to work overseas for a year+. He converted my magazines last minute. I believe instead of making one mag spot on and then rinsing and repeating with the second mag he tried to do both at once. He told me mag 2 had "issues".

I was originally just going to send my internals for slipstream-ification. But I figured the guys at Crusader would get a kick out of seeing firsthand the 1st and only AR-10 in .44 Automag on this planet. And get a chance to shoot it as well. That's why I need to get some reliable feeding FMJ's over to them. I figured to send 250 rounds. Maybe 300. And hopefully they retrieve most of the fired brass. Cuz these cases are hard to come by!

So hopefully when all is said and done Joe will know what it takes to convert these mags into reliable feeders so that as I order more mags I can send them to him. That is, if the process of getting them to work isn't a hair whitening-hair pulling, curse fest. Then he'll probably direct me to someone else for mags 3, 4, 5...

only1asterisk · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2011, 11:09:14 pm »

No FMJ that I know of. The bulk JSP in the pic above is $.16-18. and is the cheapest jacketed .44 I know of.

You might find a plated bullet around the same price, but it isn't going to feed any better.

Rainier and Berry's make plated bullets, but they are more of a truncated cone style nose. Cheap though, at $145/k+.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2011, 11:21:19 pm »

Hornady does a 240 grain CL-SIL slug. It's a FMJ, and will handle high velocities easily, but it's not cheap. FMJ in 44 caliber is a tough order. Plated for low velocity rounds is no biggie but a true FMJ is a rarity. Very little demand for such.

only1asterisk · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2011, 11:28:38 pm »

Quote from: THE NORSEMAN on July 24, 2011, 11:21:19 pm

Hornady does a 240 grain CL-SIL slug. It's a FMJ, and will handle high velocities easily, but it's not cheap. FMJ in 44 caliber is a tough order. Plated for low velocity rounds is no biggie but a true FMJ is a rarity. Very little demand for such.

You're right, I had forgotten about the Hornady offering. It may be expensive but I suspect it would be about as feed reliable as you could get.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2011, 01:04:26 am »

A was shooting with a couple of buddies last month. This new friend of mine had a Super Redhawk and an Anaconda. He had a bunch of .44 mag reloads and they were FMJ's so I guess it's a safe bet they were the Hornady's. Yeah, I'm going to have to place an order.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2011, 01:34:13 am »

Just an FYI, if you didn't know already: CL-SIL is an acronym for Crimp Lock- SILhouette. Tough bullet, designed for IHMSA use.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2011, 09:33:01 am »

Quote from: THE NORSEMAN on July 25, 2011, 01:34:13 am

Just an FYI, if you didn't know already: CL-SIL is an acronym for Crimp Lock- SILhouette. Tough bullet, designed for IHMSA use.

Nice!!! Yeah, I wasn't sure what the CL-SIL meant. I was more confused when I clicked on "more detail" and it showed a cutaway of a JHP. But I figured that probably was a website error.

I'll probably be ordering some today. The sooner I load up rounds the sooner I can send everything to Crusader.

only1asterisk · « **Reply #14 on:** July 25, 2011, 09:35:26 am »

Magtech lists a .44 Mag FMJ load, but doesn't seem to offer the bullet as a component.

only1asterisk · « **Reply #15 on:** July 25, 2011, 10:31:40 am »

Sierra has a 250 grain silhouette bullet they call the FPJ. The jacket curls around the edge of the meplat, but is not completely closed. They are a truncated cone style bullet and spendy.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2011, 12:03:52 am »

I've abused those CL-SIL slugs very hard out of my 44 mag Win 94. They're tough, and do not separate at all on a straight on impact, regardless of velocity.

If your project was mine, I'd be more excited to see those 265 slugs feed well. Make for a hell of a BANG!!!!.....Thump. rifle on a big game hunt in heavy cover.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2011, 09:01:47 am »

Quote from: THE NORSEMAN on July 26, 2011, 12:03:52 am

I've abused those CL-SIL slugs very hard out of my 44 mag Win 94. They're tough, and do not separate at all on a straight on impact, regardless of velocity.

If your project was mine, I'd be more excited to see those 265 slugs feed well. Make for a hell of a BANG!!!!.....Thump. rifle on a big game hunt in heavy cover.

Oh, believe me. I'll be trying those. And Barnes X. And Grizzly Punch bullets. Silvertips, XTP's, Winchester Platinum tip...

I know they won't all feed. That's why when I experiment down the road I'll only buy 100 at a time and load up 50 per. I plan on getting a .44 mag revolver either by the end of the year or early next. If I find out a particular bullet won't work in my carbine I'll just save the leftover bullets for when I start reloading for .44 mag.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2011, 12:54:03 am »

Just keep in mind that 90 percent of the bullets in this size are designed for speeds around 1500 max. You should exceed that easily(what this project is all about I expect), so keep the differences in terminal ballistics in mind, as a lot of big game bullets out of a pistol barrel will be varmint bullets out of the rifle barrel.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #19 on:** July 29, 2011, 10:27:45 am »

So my package from Dillon arrives today!

Aaaaaaand the not-so-great news. I ordered the 3-die set from Hornady on the same day as the Dillon order. I called up Hornady to inquire about the status.

"Backordered". Will ship in a week to a week and a half. A tad different from what the gentleman said on the 22nd. "Oh, hey. We DO have them!"

But that's my fault. I was too excited to ask, "Wait, do you mean you have a set there or were you surprised you offered them at all?"

Now I see it must've been the latter.

Yeah...

HiVelSword · « **Reply #20 on:** August 15, 2011, 05:28:52 pm »

WOOT! Hornady shipped my dies today!!!

Now I just gotta get some primers, powder and boolits.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #21 on:** September 01, 2011, 12:24:19 pm »

Okay, I'm just about ready to reload. Found that Rainier makes .430 plated bullets. And they are priced perfect. Now I just gotta call up some stores to see who has them. Might just drive the distance to Cabela's as I assume they have a ridiculous amount of stuff on the shelves.

Also saw that 240 XTP's are priced decent too. Just a few bucks more. So I've got options. I'm getting all giddy. I'm still going to allow Joe to fire Black Sunshine first. As I don't want to shoot it until the mags are right. Nothing worse than showing up at the range with a cool gun only to find it's not working properly. In front of a bunch of people....

only1asterisk · « **Reply #22 on:** September 01, 2011, 12:28:55 pm »

Quote from: HiVelSword on September 01, 2011, 12:24:19 pm

Found that Rainier makes .430 plated bullets. And they are priced perfect.

Somebody might have told you that on July 24th...

Quote

Might just drive the distance to Cabela's as I assume they have a ridiculous amount of stuff on the shelves.

Ridiculous is right, just not in a good way.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #23 on:** September 01, 2011, 12:39:00 pm »

Quote from: only1asterisk on September 01, 2011, 12:28:55 pm

Somebody might have told you that on July 24th...

Ridiculous is right, just not in a good way.

Missed that. Thanks.

Cabela's is bad juju on the wallet? I've never been so I don't know.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #24 on:** September 04, 2011, 02:02:45 pm »

Slugs and brass Cabelas is ok, but for powder and primers, I go to Sportsmans Wharehouse.