.44 Mag Lever Copper Bullets

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks,

Where I am it seems the requirement for non-lead is encroaching.

I'm looking at loading a non-lead bullet for my .44 mag Chiappa Alaskan Lever Action.

The obvious choices seem to be the Barnes XPB in 200/225gr variety or the 180gr Peregrine Hog bullet.

Now, in England to make the legal requirement, the load needs to have an ME of 1,700 ftlbs. To do this in a 44 mag with a 20" barrel, it seems difficult to do with bullet weights of 240gr and above.

This is the bullet weight / velocity "frontier" you need to work with with data from Hodgdon H110 for illustration of typical loads.



so, has anyone loaded all copper bullets in a .44 mag lever action? Any experience? I'm guessing H110 and Ramshot Enforcer are probably the powders to use.

Thanks in advance and help very gratefully received.

Scrummy

 

[FeMan]

I bought some Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetrators to try in my 44 mag revolver. I haven't shot them yet. The advertise 1600+ fps out of a 16 inch barrel with their .429 Xtreme Penetrator 220gr Bullet. I have heard great reports about these but have no personal experience. I have always shot the 320 grain WFN hard cast gas checks with W296. Those were unbeatable but I am now in a lead-free area.....

 

[JSH]

What twist is it? My Marlin won’t shoot some bullets because of the length, seems like it was 1-38”, 44-40 thoughts that never got changed up until recently.

 

[mongo chicago]

From an old Gun Digest I got a formula that used used 18.5 grs of Blue Dot with a magnum primer with Speer 240 gr jacketed magnum soft point. Listed at 1500 + fps in a handgun. Don't know what it would do in a rifle or what the ME would be.

 

[Scrumbag]

What twist is it? My Marlin won’t shoot some bullets because of the length, seems like it was 1-38”, 44-40 thoughts that never got changed up until recently.

It's a 1:20 so should be fine. I tried some 180gr PPU FPJ (Flat point jacketed) and it did not like those.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

Chiappa Alaskan, 20"bbl in .44" Mag

 

[Bill K]

Like that "Cocked and locked" just like a good .45acp should be.

 

[Scrumbag]

Like that "Cocked and locked" just like a good .45acp should be.

Well, no ammo kept in the garage

Was playing about with the butt cuff / cheek riser. Stock fits pretty well for iron sight use but needs a lift for scope as just a touch higher.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

Well, I think the only thing for it will be to get some of the Barnes bullets and see if I can give them a try. Wonder if I can borrow a Chronograph

 

[Scrumbag]

Well folks, next chapter in the .44 mag loading journey continues.

Not being able to get Barnes XPB here, I picked up some bullets from a South African company called Peregrine:

Left 180gr Hog (Check out that flying ashtray hollow-point)
Centre 240gr Nosler JSP (for comparison)
Right 205gr VR3 (has a plunger to initiate expansion)

Managed to source some Viht N105 and Hodgdon Lil'gun for the Hog and VR3 respectively (miracle some how) and will report back results.

Best wishes,

Scrummy

 

[Ray123]

Hi folks,

Where I am it seems the requirement for non-lead is encroaching.

I'm looking at loading a non-lead bullet for my .44 mag Chiappa Alaskan Lever Action.

The obvious choices seem to be the

Thanks in advance and help very gratefully received.

Scrummy

I don't shoot a 44 lever gun but I do shoot a 16" 454 Rossi that does 2300 fps and 2800 ft/lbs of energy with a 240 gr bullet...or a 300 gr at 2000 fps. Resize .458 Speer lead 400 gr bullets and Nosler 300 copper to .452. It's a very versatile little rifle if you can find one in Stainless Steel. You can use 45 Colt brass with high press loads if ya want to shoot really long bullets. 45 colt brass is thicker in the head than 44 mag in Winchester brand by .008 and 454 is another .008 thicker than 45 colt, 44 mag is .016 thinner in the head, I milled them into and checked. So the 454 has the performance of the 444 in 24" barrel but in a 16," light hand carbine. Get a 454 carbine lots of versatility and it will easily meet your energy needs...the resized 500 jacketed Hornady .458 does not stabilize in the 454 twist...just in case ya wanted to know ..but 400 Speer bullets are good to go. H110 or W296 are my powders of choice.

 

[AJC]

Do you cast because some people are trying zinc as an alternative.

 

[Charlie-NY]

FWIW - Hammer bullets just came out with a mono-metal, all copper bullet for the 44mag. They are always available.

 

[Scrumbag]

I don't shoot a 44 lever gun but I do shoot a 16" 454 Rossi that does 2300 fps and 2800 ft/lbs of energy with a 240 gr bullet...or a 300 gr at 2000 fps. Resize .458 Speer lead 400 gr bullets and Nosler 300 copper to .452. It's a very versatile little rifle if you can find one in Stainless Steel. You can use 45 Colt brass with high press loads if ya want to shoot really long bullets. 45 colt brass is thicker in the head than 44 mag in Winchester brand by .008 and 454 is another .008 thicker than 45 colt, 44 mag is .016 thinner in the head, I milled them into and checked. So the 454 has the performance of the 444 in 24" barrel but in a 16," light hand carbine. Get a 454 carbine lots of versatility and it will easily meet your energy needs...the resized 500 jacketed Hornady .458 does not stabilize in the 454 twist...just in case ya wanted to know ..but 400 Speer bullets are good to go. H110 or W296 are my powders of choice.

Sounds it!

 

[Scrumbag]

FWIW - Hammer bullets just came out with a mono-metal, all copper bullet for the 44mag. They are always available.

Sadly I'm not sure I can get them over here.

 

[C_Ackley]

I do shoot a 16" 454 Rossi.

Wish I could find one for a reasonable price. The only thing better would be a Big Horn Armory in 460S&W so I could shoot 45LC, 454 Casull, and 460S&W.

 

[Ray123]

Sadly I'm not sure I can get them over here.

Wish I could find one for a reasonable price. The only thing better would be a Big Horn Armory in 460S&W so I could shoot 45LC, 454 Casull, and 460S&W.

That 460 S&W lever would be a very versatile firearm, but the cost a lot...the cheap Rossi 454 doesn't come in stock very often...look around, on line, gun shows, etc.