Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 44 magnum reloading question

Another vote for this load. Testing has already been done for you. It is the "sweet spot".


Use any primers you have, but the standards will have less leading using the lead based bullets. (slightly less)

Well if you run out of unique, dont fear, roll some ammo up with the 2400. That stuff shoots awesome accurate with 240 grain XTPs in my 9.5" SRH.

Great powder for the 44 mag for hotter loads. Not so much for reduced loads.

Find you some Trail Boss and load 8 grains under a 240 grain SWC bullet. Runs 850fps from my 4 inch 44 Mag and recoil is mild.

Jerry

Just one thing - why do you want to shoot 44Minimum? Why not shoot 44 mag loads?

I don't understand why guys buy a big, hairy, he-man 44 mag and then shooter poofter loads through it. I think you're better off either learning to shoot it at its potential or selling it and getting something with less buck and roar.

dla,

That's where I'm trying to build my self up to. Start off with mouse fart loads, then work my way up to the bigger stuff.

However many of the 44mag aficionado who have much more experience than me, advise that one doesn't need to run the 44mag full tilt to be effective.

I believe in essence this is due to bigger "cork" in the bottle type situation. But I can open to correction on that point.

However, yes. If I can't work myself up to larger, heavier recoiling load the 44mag will go down the road.

I don't always shoot max loads because I do not have to do so to have the revolver give me the performance I want in certain situations. Low power loads are sometimes more useful than max loads. I do have plenty of lower power handguns but would generally prefer to switch ammo than to switch handguns when situations change.

I had an old Mercedes back in the 1960's that would do over 140 MPH. I know that from personal experience. I did not, however, always drive 140 MPH in that car even though I knew I could.

dla,
The great thing about reloading is that you can customize your loads to satisfy your needs. I shoot reduced loads in my 44 magnums probably 90% of the time, but I have the option to shoot full power loads should the need or desire to do so arises. In all honesty, shooting is a fun sport, and I don't understand why anyone would want to shoot full power rounds at rabbits or tin cans. There is much value, however, to using the same handgun for both type of loads.

There are few critters that won't succumb to a properly placed 240-270 gr cast bullet under 10 gr of unique clocking ~1000 fps at the muzzle. They are not powder puff loads, just good solid accurate working loads.

Asked the same question a while back and got the trail boss recommendation so I tried it with 240 gr lead... It a good accurate load. And pretty mild recoil...

There is much truth to this.

once again DLA, your lack of handgun hunting experience shows. Thats the beauty of hardcast, you don't have to drive them to mach speed to kill game. I enjoy reading the posts to show what you really are, after all the chit you talk on here and else where.

I agree you, you don't understand.

You do have some options. Most have been stated here in the previous posts. The easy way is to just use 44 special loads and brass. There are many light loads for the 44 mag too, as well as trail boss loads. Practice with the easy stuff and work your way up to a comfortable level. It doesn't take 3000 fps in a handgun to effectively kill game. Find a good bullet, accurate load and put it in the right spot. Its really that easy.

Leo,

The beauty of the .44 magnum, as well as that of the .41 magnum and the 45 Colt, is this; what else could you shoot that gives you all the options that have been described on this thread? The option of shooting "poofter" loads as well as "big, hairy magnum" loads is yours, and yours alone. The other great thing is, no matter what load you choose, in most cases you will be shooting with some of the premier handguns ever made.

It is infinitely better use lighter loads to learn the basics and familiarize with the weapon than start with all the smoke, fire & jello and thus learn little but how to flinch with real distinction.

Yep. I have been using 8.5 grains of Unique behind a 245 grains cast bullet for years, both in my Ruger S.B.H and S&W 29. Easy on the wrist and hits plenty hard on targets.

L.W.

The new Unique seems to burn a little cleaner than the original.

Fantastic powder.

Where can I get load data for hard cast bullets?

Is lyman the better one for hard cast?

Seems like hodgdon, speer, etc are mostly for soft cast lead.

Also, are there any potential issues using hard cast at low/modest velocity?

For example, read don't push soft cast lead bullets over 1,000 fps.

What about the reverse, hard cast as under 1,000 fps?

Thanks for all the help!


Leo

I cast my own bullets, usually not too hard. Mostly wheelweights with a little tin added for about an 11 or 12 BHN. The more important thing with cast bullets is that their sizing be correct for your barrel and cylinder throats. You want your cast bullets, after leaving the case and the cylinder throats, to match or be about .001" larger than your barrel measures.

As far as reloading data, the Speer manual has a little; the Lyman manual has more. The info you have received on this thread is mostly spot on. If you decide that cast bullets are what you want to shoot (recommend same), then I would suggest also spending some time on the bullet casting section in the reloading portion here on the Campfire. Lots of good info there.