Years ago, in the 1970's I had acquired a .44 Ruger Superblackhawk. I recall buying it from a True Value hardware store for $159.50 incl tax. No forms to fill out, no background check...cash & carry. I had never previously fired or even handled a .44 Mag revolver, but I had a few years of experience with a .357 Magnum, so I figured I was ready to step up to the bigger caliber. Instead of buying factory ammo…I cast my own bullets and loaded my own. I had no mentor so I had to learn on my own. I used a Lee 255 SWC bullet and 24.0 grains of WW296. I sized to .429” with an old Lee bullet sizing kit…you punched bullets through a die with a plastic mallet after you pan lubed with Alox, cutting bullets out with a cookie cutter tool included with it. Of course I got severe barrel leading and accuracy was not to be had. It kicked like a mule and banged up my hands. I bought a replacement rubber like stock/grip for the pistol. But that made it even worse as the grip would not slide and would tear out chunks of skin with each use. Then I’d get rapped in the pointer finger knuckle from the Ruger’s square trigger guard. I was disillusioned; this was no fun! So, I decided to load .44 Specials using a then available Lee 172 rain RN cast bullet. I noticed when lubing and sizing that the bullet was quite loose is the push through .429 sizer die; at the time I thought that was great as the bullet wasn’t hardly sized at all and that should make it more accurate. So I loaded up a batch using a moderate charge of Bullseye and Unique: I was all set for nirvana. However, two things soon showed me that I was delusional. Accuracy was absolutely positively horrible and the barrel quickly leaded up on me. I also recall seeing a load for a 180 grain lead bullet that had quite an impressive velocity using Unique powder…of course I tried it. The load was pleasingly comfortable to shoot, but accuracy was non-existent and the barrel quickly leaded up rather severely. I gave up on that bullet mold and git rid of it, but kept one cast bullet. Years later I measured it, as I had a precision electronic caliper…as cast it measured .427”. I now know that my Ruger Superblackhawk requires .430” cast bullets and that cast bullets under that dimension just will not shoot well.
My old Lee .44 Cal 180 RN bullet mold and the Ruger Superblackhawk
- Thread starter Wallyl
- Start date
I found the old reloading manual from Lyman----
for the .44 Spl pistol/180 grain cast bullet 11.5 Unique---1,351 FPS!!!
When I saw that and I thought...WOW!!! This is the "perfect" load. So I loaded up a batch and was all set for good times.....WRONG!!!!!
I did shoot some one gallon plastic water filled milk jugs with it (at a fairtly closde range)...it was quite a delightful sight.
for the .44 Spl pistol/180 grain cast bullet 11.5 Unique---1,351 FPS!!!
When I saw that and I thought...WOW!!! This is the "perfect" load. So I loaded up a batch and was all set for good times.....WRONG!!!!!
I did shoot some one gallon plastic water filled milk jugs with it (at a fairtly closde range)...it was quite a delightful sight.