24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,578
U
utah708 Offline OP
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
U
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,578
I really don't like shooting 44 mag loads any more. Maybe when I was 20, but no longer.

What I would like to load up is jacketed 240 gr loads that are intermediate between .44spl and .44 mag, using .44 Mag cases. I can always guess what the powder charge should be, of course. For example, an old Sierra manual shows max 44 spl load with 16.3 gr getting 1100 fps, and the starting load for 44 Mag being 19.5 gr and 1250 fps, both for a 240 gr jacketed bullet. So clearly I could muddle about between the two.

But I was wondering if anybody knew a better source of data.

TIA


Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 20,824
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 20,824
10 grains Unique is an old tried and true load, should get you around 1000fps


Originally Posted by Judman
PS, if you think Trump is “good” you’re way stupider than I thought! Haha

Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit.
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
H
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
H
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Originally Posted by utah708
I really don't like shooting 44 mag loads any more. Maybe when I was 20, but no longer.

What I would like to load up is jacketed 240 gr loads that are intermediate between .44spl and .44 mag, using .44 Mag cases. I can always guess what the powder charge should be, of course. For example, an old Sierra manual shows max 44 spl load with 16.3 gr getting 1100 fps, and the starting load for 44 Mag being 19.5 gr and 1250 fps, both for a 240 gr jacketed bullet. So clearly I could muddle about between the two.

But I was wondering if anybody knew a better source of data.

TIA

It's best to pick a bullet, pick a velocity, then pick a powder. What velocity do you want to shoot these bullets, and what powders do you have in the medium handgun burn rate?


I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,029
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,029
I shoot 1,100 fps loads in my S&W 329PD using 8.2 grains of Universal under a 240 grain hard lead SWC with a gas check. I started at 7.5 grains of Universal and worked up from there. It is a comfortable load to shoot in the lightweight 329PD and using .44 MAG cases instead of .44 Special cases eliminates the carbon buildup in front of the case.

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,883
H
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
H
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,883
My anti-personnel load is a .44 Special case with a coated cast lead SWC over 7.7 gr. of Universal. This gives me 961 FPS from a 4.25" barrel. Same bullet with 7.5 gr. Universal 929 FPS, and same bullet with 7.5 gr. Unique 944 FPS. All loads using Winchester primers.

You had asked for a special load using magnum cases. My loads with the same gun for .44 Magnum loadings are:

240 gr. CCL SWC - 10.2 gr. Universal - 1132 FPS
240 gr. CCL SWC - 10.1 gr. Universal - 1125 FPS
240 gr. CCL SWC - 10.0 gr. Universal - 1117 FPS
240 gr. CCL SWC - 10.0 gr. Unique - 1110 FPS

240 gr. JSP - 18 gr. 2400 - 1095 FPS
240 gr. JSP - 21 gr. 2400 - 1188 FPS
240 gr. JSP - 24 gr. H-110 - 1199 FPS
All above loads were with Winchester LP Primers
240 gr. JSP - 10 gr. Titegroup - 1267 FPS - Remington LP Primer

Hope this info helps.

Last edited by Henryseale; 01/18/21. Reason: correction

"...why, land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for,... because it is the only thing that lasts."
IC B2

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 209
B
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
B
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 209
The Old Skeeter Skelton load is 44 special, 240 cast & 7.5 Unique. Should handle anything lower 48.

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 739
O
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
O
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 739
The Speer website has 44 mag data for 4” barrels. There are some good midrange loads in that section.


Politicians and Diapers both need to be changed often, and for the same reason!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,667
O
Campfire Regular
Online Content
Campfire Regular
O
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,667
I have the same handgun. I also have a Smith no dash 29 that I've had since 1967. For reduced recoil loads in the 329, I simply started with maximum, or near maximum loads i the 44 Spl. and a faster, not slower, burning powder and headed up. You need to use the faster powders, not 2400, or 4227, etc. because they have less recoil for the same velocities. Keep in mind that heavier bullets designed to expand at typical .44 Magnum velocities may not expand well at .44 Special velocities.
If you really need speeds of say 1200 fps with those bullets, keep in mind that you'll need to use medium to slower burning powders. With a 4 inch barrel, to get to that area of velocity, you are pretty much into the .44 Magnum performance level.
I shoot 200 gr. bullets in 329, BTW. The Barnes TAC-X for the .44 Special is designed to open at .44 Special velocities. E

Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,310
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,310
Handloader 25 has your loads


I prefer classic.
Semper Fi
I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,008
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,008
Utah708, I bumped a thread that has a lot of links for online load data. Check out the .44 Special link.


Wade

"Let's Roll!" - Todd Beamer 9/11/01.
IC B3

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 563
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 563
10 unique + 1


If you're not having fun; you're not doing it right!
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,069
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,069


God, Family, and Country.
NRA Endowment Member


Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,908
K
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
K
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,908
Originally Posted by Barbarosa
The Old Skeeter Skelton load is 44 special, 240 cast & 7.5 Unique. Should handle anything lower 48.


That was my load in a S&W 3" 624 44 Special for many years


kk alaska

Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,368
D
dla Offline
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
D
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,368
I run Missouri Bullet Company 240gr "Keith" with 6.5gr of Hodgdon's Clays for 930fps from my S&W329pd. I just happen to have a lot of Clays on hand and it is easy to spot in the case. I would never use 44spl cases unless I had a 44spl.

I tried Longshot, Autocomp, and silhouette - they all top out at ~1100fps.

https://sites.google.com/site/hobbyhintstricksideas/Home/s-w-329pd-info

Last edited by dla; 01/26/21. Reason: Added reference material
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,517
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,517
Originally Posted by Barbarosa
The Old Skeeter Skelton load is 44 special, 240 cast & 7.5 Unique. Should handle anything lower 48.



That is Skeeter’s load, but he loaded and shot in 44 Special brass and in 44 Special Guns. The OP wants a load in 44 mag brass. To replicate Skeeter’s load in 44 magnum brass, he would need to increase his Unique to 8.0/8.2 grains. I personally like 8.5 gr of Unique or Universal in Magnum brass for Right at 975 to 1000 fps with a 250 gr. cast bullet. It’ll do about all I need to do with my 4 inch 44 magnum Redhawks.


If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.

Doug
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,099
E
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
E
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,099
My 329 load is 8.0 Unique under an Oregon Trail 240 SWC in a magnum case.

I’m at 10.0 Unique/Universal in various other 29’s/629’s with the same bullet or a Leadhead 250 Keith.

My Specials like 7.5 Unique with the Oregon Trail 240.

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
E
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
E
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
Have you looked up Bryan Pearce's articl which is readily avaialbe on the Internet? It has 44 special + data.

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,914
H
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
H
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,914
I run 8 grs CFE Pistol w a 275 Keith in 44 Special guns and brass and 8.5 of the same in 44 Magnum guns and brass.

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,680
z1r Online Content
Campfire Regular
Online Content
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,680
My version is a 240 over 10.0 gr of Power Pistol. Used to be 10 to 10.5 gr of Unique but PP works quite nicely.

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 528
S
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
S
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 528
What powder do you have to work with?

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
674 members (1Akshooter, 1beaver_shooter, 10gaugemag, 17CalFan, 12344mag, 75 invisible), 2,930 guests, and 1,425 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,672
Posts18,399,514
Members73,817
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.132s Queries: 15 (0.005s) Memory: 0.8943 MB (Peak: 1.0456 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 20:44:05 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS