44 spl and 44 mag bullet size

BondoBob · June 21, 2020, 06:52 PM

I'm sourcing some bullets for 44 cal. This will be my first batch. I had thought that lead bullets for 44 were 429 diam or 430. Are there other diameters that are acceptable? They show 427. And which diameters are better for plated/jacketed vs soft lead? The weights I'm looking for are 200 and 240.

Thanks

mikejonestkd · June 21, 2020, 07:08 PM

For 44 mag and44 special: in general jacketed bullets are .429," and lead are .430"

hammie · June 21, 2020, 08:02 PM

What "mikejones" said. The .427 bullets are used in the 44 Winchester Center Fire (.44-40), which typically had a groove diameter of .426/.427.

dahermit · June 22, 2020, 07:16 AM

You have no control of the bullets you buy...jacketed .44 bullets will usually be .430, commercially cast generally will be either .429 or .430. However, if you are casting your own, the conventional advice has been that it is acceptable to shoot cast lead bullets sized to match bore size or up to .003 over bore size. For the last several (or few decades) years the advice from casters in the know has been to slug your cylinders and size your cast bullets to cylinder size.

FrankenMauser · June 22, 2020, 02:14 PM

What firearm(s) are you using?
There are a lot of known bore/groove averages for various makes and models, and we can probably ballpark it.

---

Cast bullets should be a bit over groove diameter.
If you don't know your groove diameter, the best advice is to buy the largest diameter you can get. Usually, that's .432" from a good supplier. But, it's often only .430" from the idiots that just make bullets and don't actually care how they perform or understand the market.

BondoBob · June 22, 2020, 02:28 PM

It's for a S&W 429-6 4" barrel.

FrankenMauser · June 22, 2020, 02:31 PM

Try to get .432". If you can't, .430/.431 should be okay. There may be some leading, but probably acceptable levels.

zeke · June 22, 2020, 04:06 PM

Might help to know what gun/throat size. A lot of variation in earlier revolvers.

FrankenMauser · June 22, 2020, 07:01 PM

A 629-6/29-6 would not be early production, by any means.
At the oldest, you're looking at 1994.

buck460XVR · June 23, 2020, 06:39 AM

Since this is your first attempt at reloading for .44, I suggest a good jacketed. Those will be .429 or .430. Jacketed will give you the best chance for success as they are more forgiving with crimp and do not need to be sized to throat/bore like lead bullets.

zeke · June 23, 2020, 07:05 AM

FrankenMauser-sorry, didn't read through the whole string

black mamba · June 24, 2020, 12:15 PM

I've owned and shot a ton of ammo through three different Model 29s: a 1957 4-screw "pre-29" 6½" blue, a 1979 pinned and recessed 4" nickel, and a 1997 629-4 6½" Classic. I've never shot anything but .429-.430 jacketed or .430 cast in all three, and all loads have been superbly accurate. Unless you have a very unusual cylinder, the .430 bullets should be all you need.

June 21, 2020, 06:52 PM	#1
BondoBob Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2020 Posts: 163	44 spl and 44 mag bullet size I'm sourcing some bullets for 44 cal. This will be my first batch. I had thought that lead bullets for 44 were 429 diam or 430. Are there other diameters that are acceptable? They show 427. And which diameters are better for plated/jacketed vs soft lead? The weights I'm looking for are 200 and 240. Thanks Last edited by BondoBob; June 21, 2020 at 07:09 PM.

June 21, 2020, 07:08 PM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,759	For 44 mag and44 special: in general jacketed bullets are .429," and lead are .430" __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

June 22, 2020, 02:14 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,774	What firearm(s) are you using? There are a lot of known bore/groove averages for various makes and models, and we can probably ballpark it. --- Cast bullets should be a bit over groove diameter. If you don't know your groove diameter, the best advice is to buy the largest diameter you can get. Usually, that's .432" from a good supplier. But, it's often only .430" from the idiots that just make bullets and don't actually care how they perform or understand the market. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

June 22, 2020, 02:31 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,774	Try to get .432". If you can't, .430/.431 should be okay. There may be some leading, but probably acceptable levels. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

June 22, 2020, 07:01 PM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,774	A 629-6/29-6 would not be early production, by any means. At the oldest, you're looking at 1994. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

June 21, 2020, 08:02 PM	#3
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 979	What "mikejones" said. The .427 bullets are used in the 44 Winchester Center Fire (.44-40), which typically had a groove diameter of .426/.427.

June 22, 2020, 07:16 AM	#4
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	You have no control of the bullets you buy...jacketed .44 bullets will usually be .430, commercially cast generally will be either .429 or .430. However, if you are casting your own, the conventional advice has been that it is acceptable to shoot cast lead bullets sized to match bore size or up to .003 over bore size. For the last several (or few decades) years the advice from casters in the know has been to slug your cylinders and size your cast bullets to cylinder size.

June 22, 2020, 02:28 PM	#6
BondoBob Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2020 Posts: 163	It's for a S&W 429-6 4" barrel.

June 22, 2020, 04:06 PM	#8
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,759	Might help to know what gun/throat size. A lot of variation in earlier revolvers.

June 23, 2020, 06:39 AM	#10
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Since this is your first attempt at reloading for .44, I suggest a good jacketed. Those will be .429 or .430. Jacketed will give you the best chance for success as they are more forgiving with crimp and do not need to be sized to throat/bore like lead bullets.

June 23, 2020, 07:05 AM	#11
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,759	FrankenMauser-sorry, didn't read through the whole string

June 24, 2020, 12:15 PM	#12
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 909	I've owned and shot a ton of ammo through three different Model 29s: a 1957 4-screw "pre-29" 6½" blue, a 1979 pinned and recessed 4" nickel, and a 1997 629-4 6½" Classic. I've never shot anything but .429-.430 jacketed or .430 cast in all three, and all loads have been superbly accurate. Unless you have a very unusual cylinder, the .430 bullets should be all you need.