44 swag bullets

[RED333]

So being the self sufficient (cheap) SOB I am, I have an older Ruger carbine rifle I picked up. I cast and reload for my Ruger SBH, however I load it on the lite side. The lite loads wont cycle the action and I have read that unjacked lead will foul the gas action on the rifle. So I swagged me some jacked bullets.

Took some 40 S&W brass, annealed it so it is soft, stuffed in a 180 gr lead I cast for my pistols, mashed it into a 280 sizing die, put on a cannelure, and loaded up some hot rounds. They cycle the rifle great, no sign of over pressure and hit where I aim. Shot a few from my pistol at night, nice fire ball. LOL The bullets came out at 255 gr and just over .430, I did run them through a .430 size die.

 

[bersaguy]

11 hours ago, RED333 said:

So being the self sufficient (cheap) SOB I am, I have an older Ruger carbine rifle I picked up. I cast and reload for my Ruger SBH, however I load it on the lite side. The lite loads wont cycle the action and I have read that unjacked lead will foul the gas action on the rifle. So I swagged me some jacked bullets.

Took some 40 S&W brass, annealed it so it is soft, stuffed in a 180 gr lead I cast for my pistols, mashed it into a 280 sizing die, put on a cannelure, and loaded up some hot rounds. They cycle the rifle great, no sign of over pressure and hit where I aim. Shot a few from my pistol at night, nice fire ball. LOL The bullets came out at 255 gr and just over .430, I did run them through a .430 size die.

 

"So being the self sufficient (cheap) SOB I am." There is a big difference between being a Cheap SOB and a Smart Self controlled Conservative thinker!!!!..............jmho 

Edited June 11, 2017 by bersaguy

[RED333]

1 hour ago, bersaguy said:

"So being the self sufficient (cheap) SOB I am." There is a big difference between being a Cheap SOB and a Smart Self controlled Conservative thinker!!!!..............jmho 

You give me way to much credit. If you can do with what you have on hand why spend money.

[bersaguy]

24 minutes ago, RED333 said:

You give me way to much credit. If you can do with what you have on hand why spend money.

I agree 100%..............

[leroy]

I'm proud of ya brother...!  Great thinkin...

admirin leroy...

[Omega]

I like it, can you tell me how you stuffed the lead into the case?  Also, if its not to much trouble what mold did you use for the bullets.  I have a SBH that can use this technique, I have all I need to swage some of my other calibers too but just haven't gotten that far.  But I figure it is good to know HOW to do it just in case.

Also, have you tried powder coating?  If done right there is no leading from cast bullets, I've tried a few different types of powder, some from harbor freight, it's ok, some from Powder by the Pound (good stuff and local) and some from a guy on another site, good stuff as well. 

Not mine, this is to show the many color options

 

There is also a myriad of good lubes that either reduce or eliminate leading.  I have used Lee's alox, it works but too sticky but then I found a mix called BLL (Ben's Liquid Lube) that has done good for me so far, all it is is 60% Lee Alox and 40% Johnson's One Step Floor wax.  A little goes a long way so I would mix small batches (unless you shoot hundreds), I used the original instructions which started with an empty picnic condiment bottle, darn thing evaporated the majority of the contents when I left it in my shed, yea I know should of kept it in the house.  The hard part is getting the floor wax, it seems they have discontinued it but it is still available here and there mainly at smaller stores.  Ebay had a bottle for about $65...yea right, I found mine at home depot but they have since sold out. 

 

[Ray Z]

I,to, was told that lead bullets in the Ruger 44 mag auto rifle is a no no. When I contacted Ruger they told me that when the gas check fouled the rifle would have to be returned to them or to a very competent gun smith to have the system cleaned out.