Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Need .44 Load Suggestions

If one can peruse this thread and come away not wanting a 44, well, they're just not right in the head.


https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2472146/1

I am still loading a 240 grain LSWC over 11 grains of SR4756

Waste of money. If your timing is off enough to be spitting lead, you aren't fixing anything by reaming the forcing cone.

I Have 8 lbs of H108 I wonder if anyone shoots this in 44 Special brass with a Lyman 429421 #2 alloy?
whelennut
I think this might make a good concealed carry load for a 4" Model 629 in winter.

I shot the ol 180 load Layne Simpson wrote about yrs ago
31.5 gr of WW296 w 180jhp.
Its a hoot.
But being light w ball powder.....proly faster on wearing out forcing cone.
Will put a line on topstrap pretty quick. Purely cosmetic....it only goes so far

I ran a 200 grain JHP with 11.0 of unique today in a new super blackhawk bisley, and they were moderate recoil. I carry that load in my SW 329NG to limit recoil. They felt a lot tamer in the heavy SBH even with the 3 3/4 barrel. The SBH is 44 ounces, and the 329 is 29 ounces.

I have been shooting Keith style #429421 Lyman
at 1200 fps for many years out of a 4 inch Model 629 Smith and Wesson with no problems.
I am ready to shoot 44 Special loads now that my son bought a Ruger Gp100. I think it would simplify things if we both shot the same ammo.

Put that 429421 on top of 7.5 grains of Unique. Skeeter told me.

I've taken quite a few deer with that old Skeeter load with my 44 specials.

Dick

As my supply of Unique was starting to run a bit low, on your advice I ordered some Hodgdon Universal. I haven't had opportunity to try it in the .44 yet, but I shot 50 rounds of .38s loaded with it earlier this afternoon (158 gr coated lead SWC over 4.5 gr Universal) and I was very pleased with how clean it shot. Much cleaner than the same bullet using 4.7 gr of Unique. I like it. Looking forward to trying it in the .44. Thanks for the advice!

I been running heavy hard cast LBT's for a long time here in Alaska out of a bushel basket full of .44 mags. of many different S&W revolvers. I lean towards the 260 to 280 grain LBT's out of my S&W Mountain Gun. I would search the internet for a clean burning powder that tosses the bullet weight you like with good results. Powders have changed since I started with 2400 long ago and then WW 296 ad H110. I quit using Unique as it is a dirty powder for my needs.

I gave up using .44 Special loads long ago, but did use them with 246 grain round nose lead bullets on our snow shoe hairs in the winter. The old rumor is hard cast lead bullets give faster velocities then jacketed bullets with equal powder charges.. I found this true when shooting 300 grain hard casts and 300 grain jacketed bullets years ago.

You could try e-mailing gun writer Brian Pierce, he does lots of .44 mag. shooting.

Just THINK how glorius it would be if you got rid of that monstrosity M69 and got yourself a 9MM. The world would lay at your feet. You would turn from a lump of coal into a shiney diamond finely cut showing many faceted sides glowing like the sun with everyone of your family, friends and pets swooning at your mere presence.

+1.

I gave up on Unique back during the Obama years when it became Unobtanium.

I like using trail boss for cast bullet loads under 1000 FPS. Because it is so bulky, it fills the case nicely which eliminates risk of double charges with light powder loads and it is clean burning.

I have been having good results with Blue Dot, clean barrels and good velocities. Currently running 14.0 grains of it under a 255 gr cast bullet. Could go higher but don't see a need.