Henry Rifle Forums

Want to try some 300 gr. Hammer loads in my 44 Mag BBS Carbine but using the Missouri Bullets hammer head style they are
1.710 in COL and will not cycle or chamber thru the action being too long.
So came up with a plan to load them in a .44 Special case which gives me a 1.550 COL compared to 240 gr. 44 Mag which is 1.600.
The measurement from bullet base to crimp groove is the same as the MB 240 gr. bullet.

Made up a dummy round and it cycles and chambers fine. Just need to work on the load data which I found using Alliant 2400 powder.
1000 FPS out of the rifle would be a modest goal if pressure stays within reason.
Of course I had one spare MB 300 gr. Hammer bullet left to make the test round so will order up some.

Will be an interesting test!

as long as the COL is right you shouldn't have any problems with the cycling as you stated. you might have problems with accuracy with the 300g., the ROT in the BBS 44mag. is 1-38. IMO, that's not a "fast" enough ROT for that weight bullet. 1-20 ROT would be better. as I mentioned prior this is just my opinion. keep us informed with your results. lastly, cycling issues might develope after multiple firings when things start to heat up and swell. Good Luck.

interesting .... can you seat the bullet deeper and crimp just over the edge of the top ridge (for lack of a better term)

JEBar wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:23 pm

interesting .... can you seat the bullet deeper and crimp just over the edge of the top ridge (for lack of a better term)

Yes you can. However, you are reducing powder space, might want to start with low 44 spec. loads and work up.

wingnut wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2019 11:16 pm

Yes you can. However, you are reducing powder space, might want to start with low 44 spec. loads and work up.

absolutely, that must be taken into consideration .... the manufactures of the bullets we use that provide crimp rings locate them so the loaded round will meet SAAMI specs .... hopefully the bullet manufacture provides tested load data

Don't run them too fast either. I ran some hard cast 260gr at 1300fps and they were going sideways through the paper. I suspect they were to fast and the low twist rate wasn't stabilising them.

Here a pic 50m two rifles, Henry BBS and Winchester Miruko same bullets. Interesting findings.

Omegaspeedy wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 08, 2019 2:38 am

Don't run them too fast either. I ran some hard cast 260gr at 1300fps and they were going sideways through the paper. I suspect they were to fast and the low twist rate wasn't stabilising them.

Here a pic 50m two rifles, Henry BBS and Winchester Miruko same bullets. Interesting findings.

I bet those would be Hell on game though.
Say a 300 gr piece of lead traveling saying 1000 fps, and slap something sideways. WOW
I cast a 300+ gr 44, but I shoot 'em in the T-4's.

RP

I am interested in your findings though.
I also have a 44 BBB

RP

I'm going to try the .44 Special brass with normal crimp location. As a reference the 300 gr. bullets have same crimp location from bullet base
as my 240 gr. bullets with both being coated from MB.
Have load data showing Alliant 2400 powder with 210 and 255 gr. cast lead bullets in .44 Special and Magnum loads so I have a good
basis to figure a starting load. 10 gr. of 2400 should be within the higher end of .44 Special and at most just a tick below .44 Mag level.
In .44 Special in Lyman book a 210 gr. cast bullet is 13 -14.5 gr. with a max 14,000 CUP. .44 Special with 255 gr cast bullet is shown
10.5 gr. to 12.3 with max CUP at a low 12,700.
300 gr. cast bullet load in .44 Mag is shown as 14.0-15.7 with a max CUP of 37,200

I was thinking of a 10 gr. load of same 2400 powder given the .120 shorter Special case.
Have seen someone else loading 300 gr. cast in .44 Special with 9.0 gr. of 2400 for use in .44 special revolver with good results.
I have shot the MB 300 gr. bullet over 14.0 gr. of 2400 in .44 Mag case thru my Ruger SBH with 7.5 barrel and got 960-1000 FPS.

Will load a few and try in Ruger SBH and then in the Henry Carbine and see how they shoot from 50 yds.

Hey forty four, today I was looking through the ammo safe and I stumbled across a box of of Cor Bon 320 gr 44's that my son n law gave me last year.
Had forgotten about them.
Wonder what bullet they use?
Gotta try them out in the BBB.

RP

Most likely there is more bullet in the case which I have seen with some other 300 gr. bullets.
Give them a shot!
I just wanted to try these MB bullets and see how they work. Going to find out tomorrow with some chrony and target results!!
Have some loaded at 10 gr. and some at 11 gr. of 2400 powder.

Howdy, Friends.

I'm new to lever action, and this forum. I'm considering about buying a new HRC Big Boy blued in .44 Rem Mag.

My question, will this gun cycle cast bullet reloads of Lyman #429421 (240 gr Keith style) moderate to maximum power, COL 1.610 inches (Lyman manual), heavy crimp?

I intend to use it for plinking, target and as a whitetail gun to sneak around the PA woods with open sights.

I'm a fan of a big slow moving bullet for woods hunting and pretty much everything else. I'd appreciate any bullet recommendations if you have favorites, cast or jacketed.

You're welcome to private message me.

Thanks a million.

Welcome to the forum from CT, Elmer. I'm sure you'll get some support from our members who own that rifle. Glad you joined the conversation. Let us know when you get your new Henry.

Elmer wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:45 pm

Howdy, Friends.
I'm new to lever action, and this forum. I'm considering about buying a new HRC Big Boy blued in .44 Rem Mag.

Elmer wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:45 pm

Howdy, Friends.

I'm new to lever action, and this forum. I'm considering about buying a new HRC Big Boy blued in .44 Rem Mag.

My question, will this gun cycle cast bullet reloads of Lyman #429421 (240 gr Keith style) moderate to maximum power, COL 1.610 inches (Lyman manual), heavy crimp?

I intend to use it for plinking, target and as a whitetail gun to sneak around the PA woods with open sights.

first, welcome to our forum, delighted to have you join us ... I'm a huge fan of Henry's BBS 44 Mag rifles .... ours has literally fired tens of thousands of rounds .... as one who has taken black bear, boar, and deer with a 44 Mag, I well know that its an extremely capable big game cartridge .... ours thrives on both jacketed and cast 240 gr bullets .... its recoil from firing hunting level ammo is mild, its truly a fun rifle to shoot .... after you get your Henry, please take a look at our How Many ? thread (link below) and add it to our community's total ....


http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 15#p106215

Howdy, Friends.

Thank you for your nice replies. I picked my moniker since I'm a fan of EK, and have payed homage at his grave in Salmon, ID. I shoot his reloads in my 7.5 inch blued Redhawk and would like to do similar in a Henry which I want to use for plinking and wtd hunting under 75 yds with open sights. I'll be going to a local CAS shoot in a week and hope to find a Henry shooter to talk to.

Being electronically challenged, I'd appreciate suggestions about bullets, propellants and primers which would be suitable for reloads (published data), having used #429421 and Nosler 240 gr jacketed in front of 2400, H110, W296, Blue Dot, Unique, Universal and Triple Seven and std pistol primers. I'm not sure if you use pistol or rifle primers in lever guns.

I'll be getting some 240 gr Keith type .44 Hi-Tek coated bullets from Steel Valley Casting, New Brighton, PA for trial and will post handgun results. (My apologies to administrator if not allowed to post manufacturer).

You are welcome to private message me. I'll post a new email address soon.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

Yrs trly, Elmer

Just for perspective, prior to switching from jacketed to hard cast lead bullets for my .44 Mag BB, I called Henry's technical service desk to inquire what was the largest HC lead bulled I could use. The Service Rep told me not to exceed 250 gr bullet weight because the twist rate of the .44 Mag BB would not properly stabilize any hard cast lead bullet larger than 250 grs. I shoot 250 gr gas checked Bear Tooth bullets above 16.5 grs of Accurate #9 powder. From a bench rest, I shoot 2.5" groups at 75 yards.

I have no problem believing it .... I tried some 300 gr that actually tumbled

Using the Special brass is one way to do it...or you could trim your 44 brass enough to be able to seat and crimp the bullet at around 1.65"... giving you more room for powder.

1.65" may not feed... but it wouldn't hurt to try... no need to limit powder capacity any more than you have to.

My new Henry is a 41 Mag... I'm an old Marlin hack from way back but I'm brand new to Henry so I'm not sure exactly how long they will feed which bullet profile yet... but I'm gonna learn.

That 300gr is a good looking boolit.

Bet it will make a nice permanent wound cavity!