I used the search function with no results, so forgive me if this is a beat'n subject.

The last few years I have been getting more involved with cast bullets and pretty much from a hunting standpoint. My recent purchase of a 445 SM barrel for my T/C Encore has really sparked my interest, so much that I'm on the verge of jumping in with both feet and purchasing a lube/sizer press, furnace pot, molds the whole sha`bang! I know that there are alot of variables to a specific bullets BHN for it's intended use, but what would you say a .44 caliber .431" 280gr. to 320gr. GC bullet traveling 1650/1750 fps for med./med. lrg. (deer/blk bear/caribou/hogs) game should come in at? All the bullets I have used in hardcast have been commercially made with a BHN of 20 to 22 and in the four cartridges I shoot them out of they zip right on through WHATEVER they come in contact with! Thankfully I have yet to loose a shot critter, so I shouldn't complain about or question the BHN of those bullets. In my extensive reading, I have found that alot of hunters feel a BHN of 20/22 is to hard for a hunting bullet in .44 to .45 caliber, that something in the neighborhood of 14 to 18 BHN is ideal for the size game I speak of. I found a formula that Missouri Bullet Company put out and it seems a bit out of whack to me. It goes like this; OPTIMUM BHN = PSI (1422X.90) or PSI / 1279.8 = BHN needed. Well, most all my cartridges that I load cast bullets to are measured in CUP and those numbers don't interchange with PSI. Now my .45ACP does list PSI numbers for a load close to mine and using this formula it suggests a bullet of 16.25 BHN! ? ! ? That seems a littl high to me for a target/self defense load. . .even +P loads. I have also read where guys are using a softer lead in the nose section of the bullet and then pouring the harder lead on top of that. How are they doing that with any consistency? It sounds pretty cool though.

For you guys that cast your own bullets for hunting med./med. lrg. game what is your BHN of your bullets and what is your recipe and method for making them?

Sorry for the long post, but I'm stuck in the house due to bad weather and I've got cabin fever. . .so I've got alot on my mind and questions to ask - LOL!