Cast Bullets for Bear

[steelheadnw]

I'm reloading for the 44 and have been using 240 Keith style bullets. I'm pretty happy with them in my SBH and they feed fairly smooth through my Marlin 1894. There are several points I'm looking to address in a 290-320 Gr. cast bullet. l'm looking for a bullet that will provide good penetration and feed through my 94 in the event that I run into a big bear (saw a black last week on one of my hikes). Does any one have a suggestion? I'll be using H-110 and CCI350's. I like the BTB and Montana Bullet Works offerings but am confused with all the design differences. I have read myself in circles.

Thanks
James

 

[contender]

I would think those Keith bullet in a hard allow will be just fine on Bear. It's something you already have,, and it is a proven design.

 

[sixshot]

Lets say you run into a bear on your next trip & you have both guns with you, to me its more important where they are than what bullet you're using, that is, will the 94 be in your hands as you're hiking & the revolver in your pack, etc. Having one close at hand can make a difference.
Your 44 cast slugs will work fine on bear, like contender said, use a good quality cast slug that feeds through your model 94, anything will feed through your revolver.
A year ago I took bear #6 using my Ruger SBH 44 & the Keith slug, load was 21 grs of 2400 & a standard primer, the shot was about 65 yds I think, might have been a little farther. The broadside shot flipped him over backwards, I gave him a second one but it wasn't needed. I never find a cast bullet, use yours with confidence.

Dick

 

[steelheadnw]

Good question on how it will be carried, most often I will have the SBH on my hip, the 94 will be carried to a much lesser extent, but I would like to have a load that worked well in both to simplify my reloading.

To me a gun in the pack is almost like carrying an unloaded weapon, not real useful... Better than not having anything at all ..

SixShot, Beautiful Bear you shot there with your SBH. I missed out on the series if that is #6. I have to say you get out and shoot more stuff than I can imagine, you have my envy and admiration. Could you share the rest of the series?

thanks, james

 

[volshooter]

My go-to bullet is a hard cast WFP or Keith style. I have had no problems with recovering game. (100% short walk)

"two leaking holes are better than one"

I get my hard cast lead from Tennessee Valley bullets in middle TN. Uncle Jessie produces hardcast that are pert near unstoppable. The bullets are so hard a fingernail will not scratch the point.

Tennessee Valley Bullets made me a convert to hard cast in my .44mag.

BTW I if I recall correctly, I use 22.5 gr of WW296 under the 290gr hardcast WFP ( If can recall from memory)to get close to 1500fps without any leading. I will have to check my data to be accurate. Not to mention this load is the most accurate I have ever used in my SBH.

I do not have my data handy but I will never go back to expanding bullets.

Time permitting I will attempt to research and report my past intensive exploration into this round this week.

I did come to the conclusion that hard cast not only shoot faster, harder and more accurate than jacketed.

 

[il Padrino]

Damn!! Looks like that bear was armed, good thing you took him down before he shot back.

 

[mike7mm08]

If you want a bullet that will feed without question check out the nosler partition 250 grain handgun. I know it is not a cast but they load to a shorter length and you have a nice taper to slide on the feed ramp. There are a very tough bullet as well. I put one through a bison cow about 800 pounds. Found the bullet just under the hide on the offside fully intact and only lost about ten grains yet opened up to a picture perfect mushroom. If you want to stick with cast I would go with cast performance 255 grain. Plenty enough and again the shape and length usually feed without issues. I have had good luck with them as well. Put a max charge of either H110 or 296 and they should be extremely accurate. They are for me. Another option I have not tried but if your looking for the end all in penetration check out these

http://www.beltmountain.com/punch.htm

They will go end to end through several bears.

 

[sixshot]

Hello James, don't want to pirate your post, I'll have to see about digging up my photo's before I post, I hate someone telling a story & no pictures.

Volshooter, not being rude here but a 290 gr slug at 1500 fps from a 44 is a whole lot of horsepower, hope that thing holds together.
I'm different than most I guess, I like to use a cast slug thats as soft as I can get away with, no more. That way some expansion is possible on game animals, plus it gives a better gas seal, even at lower velocities, just my thoughts.
The 44 slug I used on the above bear was cast soft, straight wheelweights & they were running 1600 fps from my 10" SBH, this with the grand old 250 gr Keith, still as good as ever. No leading, great accuracy & that bullet is probably still bouncing off rocks & wild onions! :wink: Forgot, that bear measured 6' 9", my best ever.

Dick

 

[volshooter]

You are right Sixshot. They are not pleasent to shoot many of. I had to install Houge oversized grips just to have on. I got the recipie for this round from the bullet maker. I tried adjusting the powder but this load produced the best group, and after all is that not what we all are after? From all my research and experience this load is within the SBH's range.
I do not enjoy punishment when shooting, well a little.
The mentioned load has surprised me with the penetration.
I was shooting at a old iron skillet hanging from a freezer right about 75 yards. When I checked my groups I found the hard cast had went through the skillet, the freezer and clean through a 4x4 treated post about 5 foot behind them.
At my age pre season practice is painful the next day. I have tried many a load with this SBH but it shoots best with the stiff stuff.
I do shoot quite a few other loads but none come close to the accuracy the heavy gives. Providing I am able to do my part this SBH with heavy loads.........I am being as truthful as possible, will hold up past 200 yards.
I cannot believe I said that!
I have witness's.
My cuz has 18 acres next to me. A few years ago, standing on my property, I asked if I could use a rock on his far field (bout the size of a 5 gallon bucket) to plink at with my 25-06. After the first shot chunks could be knocked off with boring regularity. I then aked for the others to spot for me as I drew my SBH, rested aim and fired. First shot was 20 feet short but inline. With spotters I walked the rounds in and on the 4th shot hit paydirt. I actally put a painted a white line on the front sight just for this.
I didn't mention yardage did I? Lasered 325.
I only tell the story as to the ability of the .44 holding up, are you hearing me Mr Keith?
Back in me younger days I made a many crow and ground hog kill at 200 yds. with hand loads from a 336 Marlin 30-30. I have old folk tremmors now so any kill shot is by the grace of God and uncle Ted.

Enough, allow me to say that the .44mag will siffice. I do advise you handload and search for that perfect combination of powder, bullet, and crimp that will give the best results. It can either be an art form, passion, or downright pain in the keester.
I chose not to accept factory loads, I knew I could do better.....however with modern factory loads I may be just a foolish old dude who loves to "roll his own"

 

[Chuckbuster]

Again not a Cast bullet story but a friend of mine shot lengthwise through a Chevy Suburban with a 350gr HAWK out of his .50AE Desert Eagle. That was Firewall, dashboard, Front seat, backseat and blew out the rear window. Bullet hit old school bus body about 15 yards further on leaving an approx. 1 inch diameter dent 3/8" deep in the bus. Found the bullet on the ground, .870 diameter mushroom, 338 gr remaining.

He is in Law Enforcement, He has talked about using this gun/load as "Entry Equipment" on Drug Houses...

 

[DGW1949]

I'm reloading for the 44 and have been using 240 Keith style bullets. I'm pretty happy with them in my SBH and they feed fairly smooth through my Marlin 1894. There are several points I'm looking to address in a 290-320 Gr. cast bullet. l'm looking for a bullet that will provide good penetration and feed through my 94 in the event that I run into a big bear (saw a black last week on one of my hikes). Does any one have a suggestion? I'll be using H-110 and CCI350's. I like the BTB and Montana Bullet Works offerings but am confused with all the design differences. I have read myself in circles.

Thanks
James

If you've got a rifle that feeds and functions well with a Keith-type SWC, the equipment-battle is mostly over. Meaning that in my experience, that sort of a bullet does more things well, than any other design that I know of.
About all that's left there, is to settle on a loading that hits hard and shoots straight.

I aint saying that a heavier/longer bullet might not do better for bears, but I am saying that pistol-caliber leverguns tend to be AOL sensative....and that not all leverguns will feed bullets that are longer than "normal".
If your's does, fine....if not, well, you've already got a good thing going with the Keith 240's. I wouldn't loose any sleep over the difference.

DGW

 

[steelheadnw]

Thanks again for the great replies. The Keith Bullets have worked a lot of years for many people including me.. I'll stick with a good thing.

james

 

[Bucks Owin]

22.5 grs of W-296 is a full 1.0 grain above John Taffin's recomendation for a max load with a cast bullet of around that weight (and he's not afraid to run near the redline). Hodgdon's site thinks 20.5 is max (300 gr) but that "may" be somewhat conservative for a stout Ruger. That said, I wouldn't "tee off" with 22.5 grs. And that extra few fps will make no difference at the recieving end but, depending on seating depth, primer, case etc, pressures can jump well above 40,000 easily. Why hammer your hogleg needlessly? (BTW, best accuracy isn't usually found at the "ragged edge" either.....) I'll also ride along with "sixshot" in regard to bullet hardness. Harder isn't always better...(well, except.... ) Just my two centavos FWIW :wink: Oh,almost forgot....CRIMP them suckers good too. Don't want to tie up your sixgun at a bad moment! (And your W-296 will be happiest too)

 

[flatgate]

the revolver in your pack
Dick

:shock: :shock:


What? Not in a belt holster or a shoulder rig?

Oh, my goodness! Dash the thought........



flatgate

 

[Big Bubba]

I use to keep a bear hunting friend supplied with 250 Keith SWC loads @ 1250fps. for his hunting load. He regularly shot bears in the 200-400pound range. He was completely satisfied with the load. Bullets existed on shoulder and head shots. He did find one slug, a hit behind the neck, that complelely penetrated the length of a bear, and was found under the skin after pentetrating a ham.

This is my only load for deer and other critters in the .44 mag. I aim for shoulders and bones.

Elmer Keith had it right!