44 Special With Lee Ranchdog 432-265-RF

[Bazoo]

I got lucky enough to snag a Lee Ranch Dog 432-265-RF a while back, and I've been using it in my 44 special Ruger Blackhawk. I've used it also in a 44 magnum Blackhawk, but primarily its my 44 special heavy bullet. Does anyone else like this bullet, or fancy those Ranchdog Lee moulds?

I get the best results by running the bullet through my Lyman 450 lubesizer. I was getting some uneven sizing when I'd use it to seat gas checks. I guess the amount of pressure used is just too much to overcome the self centering effect that I get with other bullets. I don't have this issue with the 31141. So, I began first push through sizing and using tumble lube, but I got leading. With that, I started push through sizing to add the gas check, and then lubing in the 450.

I find this to be a very accurate bullet with all the powders and loads I have tried, including 5.5 grains of unique in special cases, 4.6 grains of bullseye in special cases. I have run some full power 44 magnums using W296 powder too, but it isn't nearly as much for me. I'd love to hear any loads others use with the 432-265-RF, both magnum and special.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I find a commonality and casting these Lee tumble lube, bullet designs. That is the mold needs to be good and hot. What occurs if it's not is you don't get incomplete fill out through those ribs. And it's not immediately evident just looking at them. ( cause everything Is round) So when I size, I carefully size, one of the time and the ones that slide right through easy or easy "er" get set aside, as culls.
I'm assuming that's probably why you're not getting good gas check seating because the bullet is under diameter through those grease ribs.

Check it with your micrometer. You will see it will be slightly wasp wasted. If that's what's occurring.

CW

 

[Bazoo]

I had not thought of that CW, thanks. I will definitely check that on the next batches. If I size them in the 450 with a gas check it takes a fair amount of effort, and it is noticeably off at the top where the side of the nose gets sized. If I size them however with no gas check, they are consistent, and much easier to size. so push through sizing was my solution. I am always striving to perfect my techniques though.

I generally run that mould pretty hot, just below frost temperature. It actually casts very easy. I don't know what was done to it before I came into possession of it.

I have found that I do not have an expander that is long enough to handle the length of this bullet, but because it has a gas check, I don't have any issues with the base being swaged down.

 

[CZ93X62]

I have no experience with the Lee TL designs. What I do have some time-in-grade with are a number of Lyman Loverin designs--whick feature a somewhat similar microband design--especially the 22 and 24 caliber Loverins. Added heat is a definite help to fill-out, but so too is a few percentage points of tin in your alloy.

Taracorp/Hardball alloy (AKA 92/6/2) does better work if I add about 2% more tin into a 10 kilo melt in my RCBS old-series furnace--5 oz. or so. Another boon to Loverin fill-out is the use of Lyman #2 alloy (90/5/5). That old-school tin-rich Lyman stuff seems MADE for Loverin microband casting.

 

[fiver]

the T/L designs beg to be powder coated, then check-sized in a push through.

lapping them also works pretty good. if your not into the P/C thing.
i've just found they respond really well to being coated.

 

[Spindrift]

I have a very similar bullet, from NOE. My mould drops 2 GC and 2 PB bullets. I use mine with powder coat in a Rem 700 with a 44 Automag barrel, they shoot very well!

 

[Winelover]

I have the conventional lube groove version of that bullet. Was a group buy, honchoed by Sci-Fi Jim, IIRC. Made by NOE.

I have used it for deer hunting in my 1894 Marlin over 16 grains of 2400 (1470 fps) in Magnum brass........accurate without excessive velocity/recoil.

Have loaded it in my 44 Special Bulldog, using 2400 also. I don't recall the powder charge. Looked up the charge: 13.0 grains of 2400 did 828 fps in the 2 1/2" barrel.

 

[Thumbcocker]

I have the conventional groove version of this in an NOE mold. In .44 magnum it shoots very well over 22.0 of 296 with cci 300 primers. Chrono shows 1400 fps out of a 7.5" barrel. Does good on deer and good accuracy.

It has been replaced by the MP version of the Lyman Devestator. This boolit is just scary accurate with the same load in the same gun. It did very well for me in Africa. I have the plain base version. I have never shot anything with the hp version.

 

[Bazoo]

Some really good info here, thank you all for sharing. I actually got the idea to run it through my lubesizer from an old post of ranchdog's. He had mentioned a lot of his customers were doing it in a reply on a forum, though I forget which forum, maybe Rossi forum?

I haven't gotten into PC yet, but I am going to. I don't think i'll ever use it replace traditional lubed bullets, but it would be a great tool when I have bullets that are just a touch undersized. I have a lee 429-200-RF that meets that criteria. Though its so close, I'm thinking of lapping it. I've not hat a lot of luck lapping moulds for size yet. But I do have everything to PC, including a small amount of powder that I snagged out of one of the swap boxes. Looking back, I am reluctant to use it to learn with because it is unknown and since I don't have any experience in that area yet, I want the first foray to be uneventful.

 

[JonB]

similarly, I have two 6-cav Lee Ranchdog CTL411-255-RF
One mold have been plain-based.
I use 2400 for stiff loads and Unique for lighter loads.
Thanks to Lee, I needed to have special GCs made, due to a weird shank size...and the half dozen 'standard' 41 cal GCs didn't fit properly, LOL.

 

[fiver]

don't feel bad Jon i have to beat the GC's into submission to get them to fit my Lyman mold.
i've tried all three of the different ones i can find with no joy, including the ones that shouldn't fit, which also didn't,,, LOL

 

[Bazoo]

I have been lucky thus far, I've not really had any gas check issues. Just what I describe for this bullet. I am thinking about trying an RCBS lubesizer, to see if that alleviates the issue.

 

[Spindrift]

Bazoo, there might be different reasons for your uneven sizing when using only the lube-sizer.
It might be that the amount of sizing is simply a bit too much for the lube-sizer. In that case, you'll encounter the same problem, no matter what lube-sizer you use. The solution would be to keep doing what you already do.

Another possible issue is, the sizing die and top- punch might be slightly out of alignment.
You could try to size a bullet while the set screw for the top- punch (or size die) is slightly loosened. Allowing some "float" in the system might allow it to self- align under force. If the bullet comes out fine, you might do some careful shimming (or get a new lube-sizer that works in a concentric axis).

Good luck with learning the PC technique!
It is not particularly difficult. But there is a little learning curve involved, and some frustration is to be expected. PC is a very useful tool!

 

[Bazoo]

Thanks Spindrift. I did try the floating top punch, as well as a flat top punch and a good fitting one too. It takes a considerable amount of force to size them. I'd love it to be a 1 shot deal, but it doesn't add much time to run a batch through a push through sizer so it's not too bad.

I definitely want to add PC to my toolbox. I don't think I'll give up grease lubed bullets though.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I use a NOE tool for my gas check applications. Then a push thru sizer. (I PC most all)

I have a few videos highlighting the tool. It makes a single stage press like a light duty arbor utilizing a Lyman/ RCBS top punch. Very positive.
CW