While looking for a die set Comrade SwihartMark wanted, I found my NEI double cavity 44 mold that drops 320 grainers made from straight linotype.
I'm a big fan of Elmer Keith and read with interest his theories relating to heavy bullets. He spoke of sizing down 45-70 bullets for use in 45 Colt. He felt mass and momentum would kill better at long range. I haven't anything to validate that theory, but a slow bullet will certainly damage less meat.
So I tried the bullets in 44 special as shown here. Fired with my 4 3/4" Ruger single action flat top revolver.
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On the left is a standard 240 grain load. The right hand case is marked to show how deep the bullet sits. There weren't any loads listed for this bullet so I looked up the heaviest bullet data in Lyman #49. They show a starting load of 4.0 grains Titegroup with a 255 grain cast bullet. I went with 3.0 grains of that powder here & no signs of pressure at all. It was comfortable to shoot and accurate.
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I managed this group @ 50 yards & am happy with it. Of course I forgot my chronograph but will take it when I go back out this Thursday. I'll try for a better group pic, too. I had a couple better groups, but they were messed up by flyers from other cartridges.
I recently got a 10" 41 mag barrel for my Contender & tried it, too. 210 grain JHP over 18.0 grains of 296 w/magnum primer. Primers showed pressure but extracted easily. The load came from IHMSA's accurate handload book. Back in the day if you shot a perfect score, you mailed in your load & got a hat pin or something similar. That load was the consistent winner for 41 mag.
Way happy with the group!
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Also took the M1 clone I recently scored and... not much luck with a 50 yard group. I had visions of murdering pasture poodles with it, but I think it will just be my beer can killer.
Overall it was a fun couple of hours! I'll be sure to take a tripod & chronograph Thurs & have solid data to post.
Life is good!
SW
Which I'm hoping is related to using it under a covered range and doesn't mean I need to buy a new chronograph.