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I just bought a S&W Model 69 .44 Mag and need a good hunting bullet. I have been casting bullets for my Sharps rifles for years and thought I would try it for my new pistol. I know I am looking at a wide weight difference but they both have the profile I like and the price is great! I am also looking at LBT molds in the same weight range but there is a BIG price difference. I am looking for an all around hunting bullet for deer and pigs in north Florida. Either weight should be fine and I figure 100 FPS would be good for either too. Anyone have experience with either of these bullets?


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Should be 1000 FPS


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I use the Lee 200 RF in my 629 for 'plinking' at 25-50 yds. It groups well with pure lead coming out at 215 gr. I shoot 9 gr. of HERCO. I just cast some with WW's (200 gr.) but, haven't tried them out yet.


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I have both molds you are asking about as well as a S&W M69. Personally I do not think Lee's 200gr RF should be considered as a true hunting bullet. In my experience and due to its relatively smaller and slightly rounded meplat, it tends to stretch the hide before piercing making for a pretty poor exit wound and lacking blood trail. This bullet does however make a GREAT practice bullet with a light charge of Red Dot or Trail Boss.

The 310gr bullet is in a completely different class with a fine 0.34" meplat with sharp edges. The problem you will run into with this bullet and the M69 is front sight height. S&W just didn't give this revolver enough front sight to bring POI down with the heavy bullets.

I don't have any experience with LBT molds simply because I have never had the scratch to purchase one...but one day.

Personally I recommend something in the 240 to 265gr -ish weight range. I ended up using RCBS's Keith copy, the 44-250K. Cast with wheel weights and lubed it weighs 265grs and has a 0.310" meplat. If you keep the speed to around 1000 to 1100FPS (I use 22gs of IMR 4227) the POI should be just right. With an improvised rest I can easily keep shots on 8" steel plates out to 50yds.

Here is a little doe I took a little earlier this season with my M69 and 44-250K bullets:

[Linked Image]

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Another vote for the 310 rf, I've shot it in many different 44's and it provides excellent accuracy.

I've had several LBT molds in the past but won't buy another. They are over priced for what you get and I've had ogival wadcutter designs made by Balisticast, NEI, Lee, Mountain Molds and Mihec that are every bit as accurate.

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Originally Posted by 458 Lott
Another vote for the 310 rf...


Normally I would agree but as I alluded to in my earlier post, the S&W M69 just doesn't have the front sight hieght to use this bullet effectively. With the factory front sight and the rear cranked all the way down it will hit WAY high if used at any kind of decent speed. This issue with this revolver has been discussed several times in the handgun forum. Unless the OP has installed (or plans to install) a taller front sight I doubt this bullet will work for him.

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I have had the 310 Lee for a while, and it is my bullet of choice for hunting. I just got the 200 Lee this year, to mimic some HSM's I bought in bulk. It works very, very well at modest speed for plinking, and mimics 44-40 ballistics, which worked fine for deer in a rifle 140 years ago. I see no reason why the 200 couldn't be loaded up to 44-40 rifle speed in a handgun, say to 1200 or 1250. My sedate plinking load produces 1250 in 1894 Marlin and about 1100 in handgun. I'd have no qualms with using the mild loaded 200 on game if it was what I had in gun, but the 310 is just about ideal for game. Big flat-nosed bullets don't need speed to kill, and work well at mild velocity. I had to fab another taller front sight though, otherwise, I had to aim 5 ft low at 100 when the muzzle velocity was about 1000.


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I would use the Lee 429 200gr RF,

or look at this one.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=621


Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.

When your ship comes in. ... make sure you are willing to unload it.

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[Linked Image]

I do like the 429667 and have killed several deer with it.


Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.

When your ship comes in. ... make sure you are willing to unload it.

PAYPAL, sucks and I will never use them again. I recommend you do the same.
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No on the 310 for a S&W. Best hunting boolit ever but too much recoil inertia on S&W parts. Stay with 240 to 265 gr boolits. 200 too light. Light is good at low speeds for plinking but they are not deer loads.
Get over the "poke a hole stuff", need energy. The 310 must run at 1300+.
Want to run heavy, get a Ruger.

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Originally Posted by bfrshooter

Get over the "poke a hole stuff", need energy. The 310 must run at 1300+.
Want to run heavy, get a Ruger.


There are many who would disagree with you. The point of the WFN design is that you don't need speed. Won't tunnel like a RN. Cavitates due to the sharp edge on the meplat, even at very pedestrian speed. Heavy enough to break bones and get all the way through, or run lengthwise the animal, once again while poking along. In fact, if penetration is the goal, then speed is not your friend. I know of guys shooting WFN in 45 Colts at 45 Colt pressure, getting 800 MV, and get their elk every year. It ain't energy.


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Originally Posted by bfrshooter
No on the 310 for a S&W. Best hunting boolit ever but too much recoil inertia on S&W parts. Stay with 240 to 265 gr boolits. 200 too light. Light is good at low speeds for plinking but they are not deer loads.
Get over the "poke a hole stuff", need energy. The 310 must run at 1300+.
Want to run heavy, get a Ruger.

i have read this a few times. I have been saving up milk jugs to run one of those lee 310 grainers at 1000fps through. Last time i did it, didn't work so good. I only pentetrated seven of them before the bullet took off for parts unknown.
Next time i am going to line up 14 or so of them and see if i can catch the bullet.


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I've always wanted a way to take my lee 310g mold and grind the pack of it off just enough to take off the part where the gas check crimps on. Then put it back together and see if it'll throw about a 280 grain or so flat point with no check. Loaded at about 1100 with water quenched WW it would do most of what I want to do.

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It can be done. Its just a matter of milling off the top of the mold and retapping the sprue plate bolt. A couple of people have done it over on Castboolits but i don't think there were too many that felt the end result was worth the effort.

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I have shot both bullets extensively...for me, the 310 is the only choice if hunting is one objective. ALL...of my guns just shoot the 310 better and if you use a fixed sight revolver, the 200 will shoot 6" low.

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I would go with a 240-250 with wide meplats. 300+ are heavier than needed and produces more recoil, wear and tear on your Smith. A 240 cast will give you plenty of penetration on a deer....think shooting a human size animal with a 240.

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If you're considering a gas checked bullet you may want to look at the Lyman 429244.

Off the shelf mold, doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Broader meplat than the true Keith, more like a LFN. (.300" vs. .270")

Sharp edged nose.


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Originally Posted by War_Eagle
It can be done. Its just a matter of milling off the top of the mold and retapping the sprue plate bolt. A couple of people have done it over on Castboolits but i don't think there were too many that felt the end result was worth the effort.


My buddy did that with the 45 version of the mold, actually he custom ordered it from Lee that way.

Can't say why, but it never shot that all well out of his various 45 colts.

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I have used a 200gr at modest velocity and never had a deer catch one yet.

Pass through at any angle.

Use the 200gr at regular velocity and go kill stuff.

the rest is academic.


Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.

When your ship comes in. ... make sure you are willing to unload it.

PAYPAL, sucks and I will never use them again. I recommend you do the same.

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