Light weight 44 wadcutter.

Dpmsman

Active Member
The last couple years I’ve been shooting Bullseye at the local indoor range during the winter. So far I’ve used a single seven, my 45 1911 and a officers model target. I have a very nice 624 that I’ve had for a while and would like to find a good WC mould for it. NOE Is currently having an anniversary sale with 25% off all in stock items. I see they have a 150 grain wadcutter mold that peaks my interest. Does anyone have experience with light for caliber wadcutters? Thanks for the input.
 

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fiver

Well-Known Member
that would be light.
I have a 165gr mold for the 45's it actually shoots well enough to head snipe grouse or bunny's out to about 50 yds.
I didn't think it would do as well as it does, and the recoil is on par with shooting lighter 38's.
 

stubshaft

New Member
I've shot some 156 gr. WC out of my 45LC Ruger. Low recoil and relatively accurate at close ranges. For my 44's I bought an LBT Ogival Wadcutter mold that is accurate out to 50 yds.
 

RedHawk357Mag

New Member
Stubshaft, is it possible to post a photo of this ogival wadcutter. SeemsI have seen possibly a black and white photo of one that had been photocopied too many times. Thank you.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Not with the 44 caliber, but I have shot a bunch of the Lyman #358101, a 75 grain WC for 38/357 revolvers. A 36 caliber RB (375") for the Colt 1851 cap & ball revolver weighed about as much as these #358101s do, and the 150 grain 44 caliber WC you mention is close in weight to the 140 grain RBs used in the Colt 44 caliber (.451") cap & ball revolvers. In short, these two wadcutters seem analogous to one another between the calibers.

One bullet seated flush shoots low at 25 yards with a load of 3.0 grains of WW-231, but form a half-decent group. 2 bullets seated atop one another in the case shoot close to where the sights are looking, and hit close to one another at 25 yards. (Same 3.0 x WW-231). I pranked one of our PPC mavens with 6 of these rounds in his Davis wadcutter gun; all 12 hit inside the 10-ring, and only 3 hit outside the X-ring of the B-27 (25 yards). It took a minute for the guy to figure out that He Had Been Put Together. He enjoyed the joke, and once told of the "doubled-up" WC bullets he was pretty impressed with how well the squatty little bullets shot. "You are an evil jerk, Allen!" was his conclusion. Perhaps so.

I have also sized down .375" and .440" RBs to .358" and .431" in my Lyman H&I dies--seated them into 38 and 44 cases with 3.0 (38) and 4.0 (44) grain weights of WW-231 just for grins. These also shot low to the sights, so for target purposes some adjustment for barrel time or recoil roll-up will need to be made. They grouped OK, and if the sights and impact could get on the same sheet of music these loads could have utility for small game and varmint applications. I haven't pursued the question in great depth or breadth, but I have done this much--and perhaps it answers a few preliminary questions about the practice.
 

Dale53

Active Member
I have a Group Buy (Lee Mould) 200 gr. dbl. ended W/C that shoots really well in my .44 Special revolvers (I have several). That is not really light for the caliber but IS lighter than my normally used bullets. It not only shoots under 1", on demand, at 25 yards off a rest with several of my revolvers, but when driven to near 1000 fps. would be an EXCELLENT bullet for self defense in the lighter revolvers. Huge meplat, less recoil than the 250 gr SWC's, etc.



Dale53
 
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KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
I like those! Be great in a Bulldog or a M296. The 240-250gr kick right hard in those even at 800 fps.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
those would be great in the Ruger black hawk's too.
the 240's are a bit rough when pushed even a little bit in them.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I rarely exceed 750 in the 624 with the HG 503 clone that runs 265. Does all I need it to do.
 

Rally

NC Minnesota
Stubshaft,
I'd shoot those bullets in my .44's, but if I showed up on the firing line with pink bullets, I wouldn't live long enough to hear the end of the teasing. Rough crowd (mostly family). LOL
 

stubshaft

New Member
I had a full wadcutter NEI mold and accuracy was falling off at 60 yards, so I called Veral and had him build one of these for me. Accuracy it great out to 75 yards+. It drops hogs as fast or faster than any hollowpoint mold. I couldn't tell you if it expands as I have never been able to recover a bullet from a hog or goat.

As far as the color, it makes it real easy to see what I am loading and when you consistently hit what your aiming at...the teasing STOPS!
 

RedHawk357Mag

New Member
Pink works very well for arrow fletching. I read somewhere about a guy who uses pink to increase his haul in range mining. Thanks for posting the photo of the waddcutter. I got a Decarlie mold that looks fairly similar if you dim the lights and take your glasses off. Thanks again.
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
The last couple years I’ve been shooting Bullseye at the local indoor range during the winter. So far I’ve used a single seven, my 45 1911 and a officers model target. I have a very nice 624 that I’ve had for a while and would like to find a good WC mould for it. NOE Is currently having an anniversary sale with 25% off all in stock items. I see they have a 150 grain wadcutter mold that peaks my interest. Does anyone have experience with light for caliber wadcutters? Thanks for the input.
How do you feel about 180 grains? I believe the Lyman 429348 came in 180 gr. and 245 gr. I think I have a 4 cavity version of each around here. I used to use the 180 grainers to cut playing cards when I wanted to show off. Squarest flat nose I've ever seen!
 

Dpmsman

Active Member
How do you feel about 180 grains? I believe the Lyman 429348 came in 180 gr. and 245 gr. I think I have a 4 cavity version of each around here. I used to use the 180 grainers to cut playing cards when I wanted to show off. Squarest flat nose I've ever seen!
180 would be great. If you’re interested in selling it let me know!
 

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
If you guys would like I have the tmt bullet drawing software and could sketch one up if someone could get me basic dimensions for the weight wanted or the target weight so I can set the oal.
I need oal, distance to crimp if there is one and what kind of lube groove layout.
1 large or multiple.
If we could find a few guys interested I would honcho a buy on the other site?
Not trying to step on toes just help out.
Please let me know if I am doing something wrong.
On a side note I gain no profit from this and I still have to buy my mold if I want one just trying to help out!
 

Ian

Notorious member
Another option to consider: Sketch a dimensional drawing on graph paper (or bar napkin) with a pencil and email it to Tom at Accurate to finalize a drawing. Once he catalogs it, anyone can order one made in any configuration, block material, and final size that they want. No minimum, not stuck with all one size, cavity count, etc., and it can go from concept to casting in a few weeks. I highly recommend spending the extra to have him make iron blocks if anyone decides to go that route.