44 Rem magnum

[aussie]

Hi. I have a question regarding using lead projectiles in my 94 model.
I currently use 240gn jacketed projectiles, but would like to switch to 240gn hard cast lead.Firstly, will the micro groove lead up? Is the micro groove suitable for lead pills? And lastly, will I need gas checks?

cheers,
aussie.

[gundownunder]

Hey Aussie, try these, http://www.rpgfirearms.com.au/WESTCASTINGS.htm . I use them in my .357 and most of the blokes at the Perth leveraction club with guns over .30 cal use them as well and at about $80 per 1000 they make for cheap shootn and they are accurate as well.
Micro groove wont be a problem, and you wont need gaschecks.

[georgeky]

When you hot rod loads is when the gas checks are needed to prevent leading. At moderate velocity they usually work fine without the checks. The MG barrels not working with cast is a myth.

[D Harry]

Yes, all good, but I need to add my .02

Clean all the copper out of your barrel before shooting the lead.. I mean Clean It!

Slug the bore and see what size it is.

[Oz]

Gday Ausie, I've had mixed results with hardcast in my .44. I've had a box of 240gn swc pills for 20 years that I started playing with in the last year or so. They are from the "Hawksbury River Bullet Co" and measure .430".Some initial groups were quite good but were not consistent and started to keyhole at fifty yards. The load I used was 10gn of unique, around 1400fps and those pills which are real hard penetrated about 9inches of wattle and when i dug them out of the ground showed little damage with clear rifling marks and if you were desperate I reckon you could use them again. There was however no leading after 60 shots but they are obviously not big enough for the Marlin bore. I did contact "Hawksbury River" and the bloke told me they could size them to order which could be an option.
I'm still playing with paper patching these pills but haven't loaded any yet, when I do I'll post the results.

Cheers,
Mark.

[greyling22]

ditto what georgeky said. keep the lead hard and your velocities under 1500 or so and you should be fine without a gas check. I've run thousands of lead bullets through my microgroove barrel with no problems.