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
10 grains Unique is an old tried and true load, should get you around 1000fps
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 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.
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.
The Old Skeeter Skelton load is 44 special, 240 cast & 7.5 Unique. Should handle anything lower 48.
The Speer website has 44 mag data for 4” barrels. There are some good midrange loads in that section.
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
Handloader 25 has your loads
Utah708, I bumped a thread that has a lot of links for online load data. Check out the .44 Special link.
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
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
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.
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.
Have you looked up Bryan Pearce's articl which is readily avaialbe on the Internet? It has 44 special + data.
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.
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.
What powder do you have to work with?
What powder do you have to work with?
Great point!
If 10gn of Unique is plenty in a .44 Magnum, why would you use it in a .44Special? Especially, if you are looking for limp-wrist loadings??
BTW, powder is measured in "gn", not "gr".
What powder do you have to work with?
Great point!
If 10gn of Unique is plenty in a .44 Magnum, why would you use it in a .44Special? Especially, if you are looking for limp-wrist loadings??
BTW, powder is measured in "gn", not "gr".
grains = gr,gn, gns
grams = gm,g
Depends on who made the scale . Which is unfortunate