The .44 Magnum is arguably the cartridge most closely associated with cast bullet shooting. Elmer Keith developed the original Keith bullet design specifically for large-bore revolvers, and the .44 Magnum was conceived with heavy cast bullets in mind. Today it remains a favorite for hunters, outdoorsmen, and serious handgun shooters who cast their own ammunition.
Elmer Keith's semi-wadcutter design — with its wide, flat meplat, sharp shoulder, and deep grease groove — was designed for exactly this caliber. The 250 grain Keith SWC at 1,200–1,400 fps is still considered one of the most effective cast handgun hunting loads ever developed. If you cast .44 Magnum, the Keith SWC should be your first mold.
| Weight | Profile | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| 200 grain | SWC, RNFP | .44 Special target, light .44 Mag loads |
| 240 grain | SWC, Round Nose | All-purpose .44 Magnum load |
| 250 grain | Keith SWC | Classic hunting and defense load |
| 300 grain | Flat Point, Wide Flat Nose | Heavy hunting, bear defense |
| 320 grain | Wide Flat Nose | Maximum weight hunting loads |
The .44 Magnum pushes cast bullets to 1,200–1,600 fps in standard loads — requiring harder alloys than most pistol cartridges:
For .44 Special: The lower pressure of .44 Special means you can use softer alloys and still get excellent results. Wheel weight alloy at standard .44 Special velocities (700–900 fps) works perfectly and produces excellent accuracy.
The .44 Magnum with heavy cast bullets is a proven hunting round for deer, hogs, and black bear at handgun ranges. A hard-cast 300 grain flat-point at 1,300 fps delivers outstanding penetration — often superior to jacketed hollow points for heavy game where deep penetration matters more than expansion. Many experienced handgun hunters prefer hard cast bullets over jacketed for exactly this reason.
The M2R Automatic Casting Machine handles .44 Magnum and large-bore calibers efficiently. Consistent output, proven quality.
View the M2R MachineMost .44 Magnum revolvers have groove diameters of .429"–.431". Start at .430" and slug your barrel to verify. Sizing .001" over groove diameter is the standard recommendation.
Yes — they use identical bullet diameters. Use lighter powder charges for .44 Special and heavier charges for .44 Magnum with the same cast bullet.
With hard alloy (Lyman #2 or harder) and proper sizing, 1,400–1,500 fps is achievable without excessive leading. Beyond that, leading increases significantly. Some shooters push harder with heat-treated alloys and report acceptable results at 1,600+ fps.