Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 44 MAG cast performance lbt 260 wfngc load data

I am new at loading cast bullets and am trying to locate information for the 260 gr wfngc LBT by cast performance bullets bullets for 44 magnum to be shot in a 6.5" 29 s&w for bear hunting. I have been told to use jacketed data to start but was looking for someone who has used these bullets and their info. have h110, lilgun, and enforcer powders
thanks
using starline brass and federal primers

Greetings freind, and WELCOME to 24hrcf. We have a guy on here, JJhack, who had to shoot over 900 bears during his carreer as a bear control guy for a forestry co and guide both in WA and Alaska. Many were shot with 44 Magnum revolvers and his opinion is that a 240gr HP of good design is far superior to a hard csst bullet, though the hard cast pills certainly do work.

I loaded those bullets for my 329PD for a while but only to about 1,000 fps so I cannot be of much help.

Hope you find your load, and your bear!

Welcome...

Give Cast Performance a call..

Telephone: 503-556-3006

Try 21 gr of IMR 4227. Not a maximum load, ~1200 fps or so, but surely all you will need with that bullet. And it will not pound your Smith.

I shot up a box of their 275 grainers with H110 out of my 6" 629. I don't have my data in front of me, but I really liked it. I'll edit my post and put the grains of powder this evening.

Edit to add I loaded 20 grains of H110 in Federal brass and Winchester Large Pistol Primers. Don't know what the velocity was though.

thanks for all the replies

I just ordered some 265 WFN (LBT design). The load data I got was AA #5 at about 1100 ft/sec with 11 or 12 grains.

They can also be run up to ~ 1350 with 24 gr H 110 as per Brian Pierce's article on the 44 (Handloader 241, June/July 2006). Might try a search - I got it online for free.

Good luck.

Here is some load data you can leverage - you can use the 270gr load data safely (but your velocities will be higher).
Load Data

Lyman used to offer a 270 gr mould for 44 mag, and loading data for that bullet can be found in their manuals.

Well, I use a 280 grain WFNGC from Beartooth Bullets in a 5" 629.

22.2 grains of H110
WLP primer
WW Brass
1235 FPS

NO pressure signs in MY gun but work up slowly.

My favorite powders for the cast bullets in the 44 Mag or 44 Spl is 2400 and Unique.

hornady manual lists18.7 gr starting load and 23.3 gr max load. hodgdon manual says to not load less than 10% below max with h110 powder. if that is so then you shouldn't load below 21 gr. anyone have any info on this?

You're reading it wrong is all:

Sorry, no data for that bullet but I do have one for that critter on the far right, 22grs 296, 155 Primers, Rem. brass.

what bullet is that?

loaded up some 22.0 grains h110 with WLP primers and starline brass will try them on monday if it clears up.

I'm guessing the T-Rex special

IVE DONE A GREAT DEAL OF TESTING WITH HARD CAST 44 BULLETS,you might want to keep in mind that the 44 mag case capacity and current powders require about a 6" or LONGER barrel to get any bullet of 280-300 grains to max velocity ,obviously cylinder length, barrel diam, etc play as factors here. because in most revolvers max cylinder length dictates cartridge length, and that dictates the seat depth to some extent and at some point your forced to start seating bullets much deeper as bullet weight is increased and once you get into the 300 plus grain weight bullets,in most revolvers its almost mandatory to use the longer barrels to allow the full burn on the slower powders required to shove those heavier bullets to max velocity, but slower powders generally require larger powder capacity.
Ive found the 240-300 grain weights to be about the best range, if your intent on faster velocitys the 445 dwsm with a 10" barrel has a big advantage over the S$W 10 5/8"
either revolver or cartridge shoots clear thru most deer or hogs and bullets still embed deeply in trees beyond when loaded with 300 grain hard cast, so both are potentially lethal to much larger game
http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html

short versions the 44 mag longer case is 445 dwsm

example

heres a 330 grain design

heres a 295 grain design
youll have a hard time pushing the heavier bullet to velocities that allow it to out penetrate the lighter weight bullet because the heavier bullet takes up too much case capacity, yet either is easily able to kill elk or large game in skilled hands as both penetrate deeply with the correct loads and shot placement is more critical than velocity

That above is tripe. My 5 1/2" Texas Longhorn Arms #5 very safely throws the 325 gr LBT WLN under 22 grs of H110 at 1325 fps and shoots little groups too. Any Ruger will digest this load forever, if using a Smith I would only use it when really needed which about never.

so you honestly believe that if you swapped to a 7.5"-10" barrel length on your current revolver it would not increase bullet velocity or the sight radias enough to make any measurable difference at all in either velocity measured or your ability to hit targets at longer ranges?
because thats all thats been suggested in the post above, longer barrels tend to allow higher velocity's and are easier to use at longer ranges