I'm done with blackpowder subs for good!

[Master Bud II]

Ditto, Lee Reloading supplies makes an inexpensive BP Hollow base light bullet mold. I
" think " it's called the "Real" - Rifling Engraved At Loading- Bullet and it's Designed for conventional Muzzle loaders, been around since the early 80's.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I have both the 250 and 300 grain Real molds for my .50's. As long as your bullets drop at full diameter they work well. If any of them are undersized fuhgeddaboutit.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I should add that the T/C Maxi Bullet from a NOS mold is so far the best one I've tried. Its as accurate as anything else I've tried and I'm shocked at how easy they are to load. Lee Reals require a pretty hard smack to get started and even PRB requires some extra muscle after you fire a few shots.

 

[Master Bud II]

For Most People I Recommend Buying Certified Pure Lead, or Certified 99 to 1 Lead / Tin Alloy. That 1% tin helps it Flow Without Adding Any Notable Hardness. If You Can Find Real T/C Maxi Ball & Hunter Mold's In Good Shape @ A Fair Price I Do Recommend Them. The Ball offers Deeper Penetration, And The Hunter Offers Grater Expansion.

 

[Ronaldo]

If you are still interested in a BP substitute then American Pioneer Powder is great. I have some "Shockey's Gold and the regular APP powder (don't notice any difference) and have been using it for 20 some years. I have an inline, so no experience with it in a sidelock but my experience has been that it is very reliable and super clean shooting (and easy clean up).

 

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks. My best friend loves that stuff, however it is no see um around here. If I have to pay hazmat, may as well get the real stuff.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Well, I guess I'll be sticking with T7 in my inline at least. Turns out 70 grains works great with a 240 grain Hornady XTP in a green Harvester sabot. Its no special trick to keep them all within 2.5" at 100 yards off the hood of my truck with my Traditions Pursuit XLT/Leupold VX-3 1-5x20. In fact, that's about how good I do with a centerfire rifle on average without a benchrest.

I couldn't find any published data for 70 grains T7 ffg with the Hornady .44 240 in a sabot. According to Hodgdon, 80 grains of T7 with the Hornady .45 250 grain Monoflex in a sabot is getting 1797 fps at the muzzle. Moving the charge up to 100 grains increases the velocity to 1928. So, I would think my load is kicking out at least 1650 fps. Certainly enough to kill anything around here! Interestingly, Lucky Gunner tested Hornady's factory 240 grain XTP .44 Magnum load out of a Henry carbine and got 1751 fps, which is really cooking compared to a handgun.

.357 Magnum vs .44 Magnum Lever Actions - Lucky Gunner Lounge

A deep dive into .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum when fired from lever action rifles. We tested their useful range, ballistics, velocity, and more

www.luckygunner.com