Good heeled bullet for original .44 Frank Wesson?

[Tim Lyne]

Picked up a good F. Wesson .44 with a very good bore. Not wanting to waste an opportunity to completely frustrate myself as well as spend lots 'n lots of money on something I'll eventually reline anway, I'm wondering if anybody has a suggestion that might get this working.

I turned a sizing die and sized a handful of cut .303's that will work fine for brass, though they're a might thick walled. Groove dia. mic's to .432, chamber mic's to .448.

The closest I've found that I think might reasonably work in this is the ".44 S&W American" listed on the Buffalo Arms website. Dia. is good at .434, but It's light at 218 gr. and a tad short for the twist methinks...I'm going to order 50 or so to try out before I buy a mould.

Anybody in N-SSA land got a solve/suggestion/SWAG, let me know!

Much obliged,
Tim Lyne
Knap's Batt.
#2952V

[Edwin Flint, 8427]

I believe the 44-40 round works well in the Wesson. If you use a .430 soft lead bullet in 240 grains, it should fill the groves well. John Holland does this I believe without any chamber or breech mods at all.