I have been using Elmers loads for years, with no problems. Now the reloading books are telling me I blew my self up long ago. I think there is a problem in the woodpile, and I think it has something to do with Lawyers,Government, and companies putting out junk guns.
22 grains of 2400 works REAL WELL with a RCBS K-250 bullet sized 431, and lubed with bullet lube that has had lots of graphite put in it. Just like Elmer did.
God I miss him. He kept them all straight.

"An Ethiopian in the fuel supply, eh?"  -W.C. Fields

Gunsmith, You said it all.......

Not Elmer's load but I like a Hornady 200 XTP with 26.0 of 296.  I was talking to a guy who acted likee casting and reloading was voodo.  I just stay away from stupid people

Well, a lot of people think that people that get into this stuff are gun nuts. You and I might think that's a good thing, but THEY equate it to the folks wearing camo jammies and jerking off to soldier of fortune magazines.

Gunsmith
    I noticed that you use the RCBS 250K mold. Most of my molds are custom but I wanted an original Keith so I bought the Lyman 429421. I cast with pure WW and I cannot get that mold to give me anything bigger than a .429 bullet. I am looking into getting the RCBS mold. Do you think I will have better luck with that one? All my throats are .431 and I am looking at how to get there without going custom again.
                                Tom

My RCBS mold will not produce anything bigger than .429 and even then they are not particularly round, shoot OK though. I have thought of having Veral Smith of LBT molds cut me a .432 250gr Keith mold but I just have not done it yet. I know a guy who did and loves the mold and bullet. LBT molds are second to none.....

There is no doubt going to be differences in over the counter molds from one to the next , but I thought I'd ask what alloy and temp. you guys are are getting .429" with the RCBS .44 250K.
Mine come out .431" .432" With 16 to 1 @ 710 F.
My throats are .430"
Also if mine were not round I'n send them back for replacement.
Southern Man

I got a .432 260gr LGNPB molds here 6 months ago or so and it casts and shoots incredibly so I have not worried about the RCBS mold very much. I am going to send it and a 45-270-SAA mold that does not fill out consistently back with my case tumbler one of these days.

But for the record I cast all of my bullets from WW lead with about 2% tin added to get them to fill out better....

The RCBS mold is 431 432. I size mine to 431. No leading problems.
The problem with the heavier bullets is that they take up to much combustion space. Elmers bullet was balanced for the cylinder length of a Smith, and the front driving band trues up perfectly in the forcing cone, groove size of the cylinder. The bullet should go in with thumb pressure to seat it all the way. That way it is trued up in the cylinder to the barrel. About 1 thousanths to 2 thou. over the size of the throats will do the job nicely. Make sure you use a lot of graphite in the bullet lube. That is what stops leading, and makes cleanup no problem.
100 rounds straight, and no leading. Accuract enough to hit a small fire extinguisher at 175 yards off hand, after about 50 rounds fired. An aimed,called shot. Repeated 6 times before witnesses.

Afternoon, Gunsmith (well, morning still here, but whatever...) Heading off to the shoot this afternoon, when the ol' boys start showing up with their Colts and Rugers I'll be asking these questions for sure. Seems like 3 of the 4 that put lead on the 600 yard target last year were shooting cast, the fourth was shooting Rainier Ballistics, and we don't know who put the urecorded 5th mark on it. I'll get some pictures as well.

Shoot straight--
Al

I purchased 3 RCBS 44-250-K moulds before I received a good one. It took several calls to the factory and couple to the shop foreman. First mould had vent lines cut with a dull cutter meaning fins on the bullet. Second mould cast.428 with wheel weights. Third mould cast fine but weighed 262 grs. with 92-6-2 alloy.

Since I was casting to sell we purchased a matched set of four cavity moulds from Lyman. Both cast perfectly and drop just over .431 from wheel weights. The .431 Star sizing die just does touch the bullet all way round. I love it when a plan comes together.

I`ve Been using Elmers loads for well over a Quarter Century and found a long time ago get a good grip and go. For my long range load that works great in the 10-5/8 is 17.5 gr of 2400 with the Lyman 240 cast w/gc from wheel weights sized at .430 it`s light enough to shoot all day long and still grip a fork at dinner. 

My first post here.  Changing the hardness of the alloy changes the as cast diameter.  We all use WW plus tin now, but Elmer used I think, 1 part tin to 16 parts lead in the .44 magnum.  WW has arsenic and antimony in it, which is actually good.  That 1 to 16 mix is not a real hard bullets by today's standards.  Alliant 2400 has been changed in the last few years.  22 grains with a 240 grain cast bullets is too hot according to them.  The reason it was changed was because of possible use as a bomb making material.  If your mold is not big enough some manufactories will resize it for you.  You can also polish it out yourself.  Check out the The Cast Bullet Association site, Castpics, and Castboolits for information.

if they were concerned about someone making a bomb, they would have outlawed every pistol powder, especially Bullseye.
The change was made because of cuts in manufacturing, to make the powders more profitable. A change here, and there, and a lot of dollars can be had. Blame it on everything except greed.
I have some original 2400. Checked pressures with it, compared to the stuff made today. Yes the new stuff is higher pressures, but not enough to write home about. 22 grains of 2400 with Keiths 250 grain bullet (weighed) is still king. I may back it down to 21 grains, but the cases still fall out, with no sticky extraction with 22. If the recoil bothers you, go lighter, and learn how to hold a gun.
Most people do not know how to hold a sixgun. I know I did not until shown by a gentleman that was double distinguished, a master with the 45. Everyone who shoots needs to get lessons from someone like this. Until then shoot light loads, and close your eyes. You will go bang, and maybe hit something. The rest of us will clean up the mess.