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Loading .44 Magnum - UPDATE
Bubba Jr.
Member Posts: 8,304 ✭✭✭✭
Hi guys,
This past weekend I purchased a .44 Magnum carbine, Lee 4 die set, bullets, brass, primers, and powder. As soon as the defective parts come back from Lee [:(!], I'll be ready to load some. I'll be using H-110 with 240gr Hornady SP's.
Are there any pitfalls that a new loader to this cartridge can fall into? I'm aware of the need to not deviate from the recipes posted in the Hornady manual (from the other thread on .44 Magnum). But as I found out with the other calibers that I load, there are always some dos and don'ts that aren't covered in the books.
Thanks again guys,
Joe
UPDATE: I got my new decapping pin from Lee today finally. I also told them to polish or replace my floating crimp sleeve. Well it looks like they gave it to the new kid to try out his luck with it. It's a little better that it was, but that's not saying much, especially since it took them a week after they got mine before they shipped it back. They did send me a check to cover my shipping costs though. I'm going to load some rounds soon, so I'll see how it works.
As I said before, "you get what you pay for".
This past weekend I purchased a .44 Magnum carbine, Lee 4 die set, bullets, brass, primers, and powder. As soon as the defective parts come back from Lee [:(!], I'll be ready to load some. I'll be using H-110 with 240gr Hornady SP's.
Are there any pitfalls that a new loader to this cartridge can fall into? I'm aware of the need to not deviate from the recipes posted in the Hornady manual (from the other thread on .44 Magnum). But as I found out with the other calibers that I load, there are always some dos and don'ts that aren't covered in the books.
Thanks again guys,
Joe
UPDATE: I got my new decapping pin from Lee today finally. I also told them to polish or replace my floating crimp sleeve. Well it looks like they gave it to the new kid to try out his luck with it. It's a little better that it was, but that's not saying much, especially since it took them a week after they got mine before they shipped it back. They did send me a check to cover my shipping costs though. I'm going to load some rounds soon, so I'll see how it works.
As I said before, "you get what you pay for".
Comments
What was the problem with the Lee dies, if ya don't mind me asking.
I don't mind at all. The tip was broken off the decapper pin leaving a jagged point instead of a normal pin, and the floating crimper in the Factory Crimp Die had a very rough surface inside the sleeve where it would make contact with the case mouth. It looked like threads were cut into it rather than a smooth surface.
I had this same problem with both of my other Lee die sets in 9mm and .40 S&W. Those I just ground out, and polished until I got a smooth surface. But this time with the broken pin and the 3rd straight screwed up FCD, I just sent it back and hopefully they will send me a good one.
The result of the thread like surface inside the floating crimp sleeve is that it will shave particles of brass off the outer surface of the case mouth, and deposit all that crud on the lip of the case mouth, which will of course wind up in your gun. It's obvious that they have the feed set too high in the machine that surfaces the crimp sleeve. Hopefully they have taken my previous advice and corrected the issue. There's no way to tell when this .44 die set was made, so I don't know if they have made any adjustments to their procedure or not.
Sorry for the long rant, but it kind of upsets me when you buy 3 similar things and they all share a common but avoidable problem.
Other than that, my Lee turret press and dies have performed very well and I'm happy with them.
I hope you have better luck than I have.[:)]
2 lee dies- a 41 mag
and a 45 colt-and I don't like them
at all -no locking ring,tough to
adjust-all my other dies are
redding and RCBS
I just bought
2 lee dies- a 41 mag
and a 45 colt-and I don't like them
at all -no locking ring,tough to
adjust-all my other dies are
redding and RCBS
The locking ring is actually the rubber O'ring under the nut. It works pretty good after the rubber settles in. Until that happens you might want to check your settings on occasion. I've only had Lee dies, so I can't compare them to other brands. But as usually happens, you get what you pay for. [:D]
That's fer sure
Everything except the powder scale worked very well. So I got a little elec scale-fast and easy to read.
The Dies using the Lee case lube are tough as granite and worked every damn time. Just clean up everything before you put it away-Just like Mom said.
Also anything new needs tightening and some dry lube to get it going.
If you are used to Rcbs etc. another brand will not feel right?
I did have trouble with a new Lee 264 size die with a bad edge and they fixed it.
Try to remember all the ammo and die co.s are working several shifts with new people trying to keep up with the quadruple demand since the panic in Nov. They did not cause the problem, We did.
what carbine did you get?
I got the Rossi model 92. Kind of a replica of the Winchester 92. I like it a lot, but that butt plate was not very comfortable on my bad shoulder. I ordered a small slip-on Limbsaver butt pad that fits it pretty good. Hopefully I can go try it out this afternoon. I just made a brass catcher that I can mount on one of my tripods. I want to see how that works out too. So many toys, so little time. [:D]
I loaded 200 gr HP's with H110 up to a little over the printed max, (Check for high pressures now, son) and was able to change effective range from 100 yds to 200 (yes, double)by increasing velocity and therefore extending the place where the bullet falls out of the target.
Factory 240 gr loads would drop 16" at 180 yds. My 200 HP's dropped 3" at 180 yds. I was smiling while filing down my rear sight stop.
Buffalo does the same sort of high pressure loads, but uses a much bigger bullet. They also seat the bullets a little long, and they strongly advise using these loads Only in a Few, New, Tough guns like Marlin rifles or Ruger revolvers. Italian? Good luck.
Most 44 mag loads are stuck in the heavy hard hitting slow bullet idea. If you are putting it in a long gun, lighter and faster means longer range. And yes, The trick is to find a lighter bullet of that big around, that is longer than it is wide so that it can stablize. Otherwise you may as well be using a lead ball. So, More copper, less lead, hollow or plastic pt. You know a 180 gr slug ain't small...
To me putting a 300 gr slug in a hunting rifle to hit hard misses the idea, unless you intend to use it at 50 feet.
Uhg--Long gun for long range; short gun for short range.
A big hard hitting bullet is irrelevant if it can't get to the target.
Anyway, have fun tromping around the woods with your new gun.
As for Lee, give them a little break; they are working long hours to keep up with the quadrupled demand caused by our panic.