Light .44 mag loads compared to .44 special

[jdg30]

I just received a shipment of 1000 pieces of brass from Starline today. It was supposed to be .44 special but instead is .44 mag brass. I previously loaded some light .44 mag rounds with other brass and used W231 powder with large pistol primers. The gun I'm shooting the rounds through is a S&W 629 PC revolver with a 2.6" barrel (snubnose).

The light .44mag loads I made were 6.5gr of W231 with a 240gr bullet and LPP and 8.1gr W231 with a 240gr bullet and LPP. The 6.5gr loads are rather pleasant to shoot out of the gun but the 8.1gr loads have a little more recoil then I would like for regular range practice. I also loaded some rounds with 7.1gr of W231 and a 200 gr bullet with LPP. Those loads were similar to the 6.5gr/240gr rounds.

Needless to say I'm not interested in shooting full power .44mag loads out of this gun because it would be punishing, that's why I ordered the .44 special cases because I've read that .44special is more pleasant to shoot with standard velocities, especially out of a snubnose revolver.

There was an order mix up and I have 1000 .44 mag cases so I'm wondering if I should try and return them in exchange for .44 special cases or just keep them.

I was wondering if anyone can answer this question: Will loading light .44mag rounds give the same performance and feel of shooting standard .44 special rounds?

In the reloading manuals I have, W231 is a standard powder used for many .44special loads but is only listed in a few slower .44mag loads but isn't common. What I'm looking for is a round that is comfortable to shoot out of my gun and has decent performance (.44special performance). I'm not interested in high power loads, so I would appreciate any advice for if I should return the .44mag brass or can it be loaded to mimic .44 special loads.

Thanks

[CGT80]

I don't see why you couldn't use the mag brass. I ran a 240 lswc bullet in mag brass over win 231 for a single action ruger(not a snub nose). Full 44 mag factory loads were painful to shoot, but my loads were soft and accurate at 7 and 30 yards. I think I used somewhere around 6.5 grains of powder as well, but I am not completely sure. I did a hotter load too, but it wasn't any more accurate, and it had more recoil. Just load some test loads, maybe two cylinders of each, and try them. I had borrowed the 44 mag pistol, so I don't shoot it any more.

I now own a 8 3/8" 460 S&W. Some of my favorite loads so far are in 460 starline brass over trail boss powder. I have used from 200-250 grain bullets and they all run great, granted it is in a 73 ounce pistol. I would use 231 for the 460 if there were loads published for it. I do use 231 in my 45LC cases for the 460, and am very happy with it.

My hot loads in 460 are with win 296. I think it is also used in 45LC and 44mag. It is a real magnum powder. It will provide very high velocities. The win 231 is not used for the hot loads, so you know that it is more suited to what you want to do.

Trail boss is for light to very light loads. It is very bulky. The max load it when it is filled to the bottom of your bullet as it is seated in the case. Just don't compress it. TB is supposed to work in any cartridge with any bullet, according to IMR. Trail boss seems like it may be a little more dirty than 231 and may have some unburned powder, but it is fun to shoot.

The other advantage to longer brass is that the bullet will be closer to the end of the cylinder for firing, and you will not build up carbon/crud in the space of the chamber that a 44 mag case would take up. I keep a brush with my pistol just in case I run a bunch of 45lc and need to clean up before the big stuff.

[jdg30]

Thanks for the advice CGT80. I've been using W231 almost exclusively since it performs well for me in all the calibers I load and it makes it easy if I want to empty the powder from another reloading setup into the one I'm currently using without worrying about mixing powders.

I was doing some reading about my topic on other forums and it seems that a lot of people recommend using .44special loads in .44mag cases to create pleasant shooting loads as well as eliminating the carbon buildup issue caused by shooting shorter rounds through longer .44mag chambers.

I would appreciate more advice and information that anyone has about the subject. I'm thinking it would probably be the best choice to keep the .44mag cases and load them with .44special loads.

[kmca]

You could always trim them to special our even Russian lengths. I've never had a problem with carbon shooting Russian in my magnum. Mine is cut for moonclips and Russian loads much smoother.

[Bill Steele]

Just load them between 6,5gr and 8,1gr of W231 (my favorite target powder for 240gr LSWC, I shoot out of my Model 29), depending on your velocity (recoil) preference.

I shot a couple hundred of these exact rounds a week ago loaded with 8,1grs of W231. My Model 29 is a 6" barrel so the recoil was still very mild. Just knock a grain off and you should feel the same with your shorter barrel.

The mag cases will shield some of the cylinder that the special cases would leave exposed, so clean up is easier with the magnum cases. Your gun will not know the difference from a performance standpoint.

Have fun, good luck.

[sargenv]

If you are worried about a double charge, you could always load them with a max charge of Trail Boss (which is like 5 gr) and the velocity isn't all that much.. you will not double charge trail boss.

[wtkaiser]

+1 on the light loads in maggie cases. I've been doing that for years and years. Never a problem as long as I paid attention. But that barrel length - 2+ inches? In a .44 magnum? You have a first rate flame thrower!

[RogueSniper]

I load 8.0gr W231 on 240gr JHP (Berry's) on Winchester LPP in 44Mag Starline brass. My 629-1 is a 4" barrel and the recoil is stout but very controllable and gives me just enough "umph" to remind me it's a magnum. My loads are considered gallery load. Velocity doesn't really peak too much, IMO. The indoor range I go to for our Second Saturday Shoot doesn't allow magnum rounds - too much punishment on the backstop.

I would keep the Magnum cases and load light loads, < 8.0gr of W231 or HP38 (same stuff more or less). You want just enough powder in the case to get a good even, consistent burn. How are the grouping and felt recoil when you were shooting 6.5gr - 8.0gr? Keep a log. I'm always writing notes when I'm testing rounds. I write the loading specs on the brass with a sharpie so I know what did what.

[Cowboy T]

Yep, you're perfectly fine loading Special-type loads in Magnum cases. The one thing I'd suggest is maybe bump up your "Special" powder charge by half a grain due to the slightly increased volume of the Mag case. But yep, go for it. Lots of people do this, and I'd do it myself if I didn't already have a bunch of Special brass to use.

[TKM]

As long as you aren't being charged more for what you received than what you wanted, you are good to go.

Enjoy.

[HKMadness]

You're G2G!

[Whiterabbit]

way old thread, but check out Trailboss. GREAT powder for this kind of application. Cheapest bullet you can find, and have at it.

Why would you want to use special brass and etch your cylinder chambers anyways? Best to use what it was designed for.