.44 mag load for plinking

[stevec223]

I use 9.5grs of Unique with 200gr and 240gr bear creek moly coated lead bullets... Estimated 950 fps (book est) ... A nice middle of the road round with some kick,,, and a pleasure to shoot out of my 4 inch model 629.... Cheers...

[rmblaster]

7.0 gr unique for a 240 swc very mild in my redhawk

[357magnum]

Thanks for all the responses. I only shoot what I reload and I don't own .38, .357, or .44 special guns, brass, etc..

I'm gonna load up some using 8.0 gr. of Unique and compare.

Load special loads in magnum cases, I do this for .44 mag and .357 mag.
This way you only need magnum brass and don't get the powder burn ring of a short case.

[PSLguy]

.44 mag

Load special loads in magnum cases, I do this for .44 mag and .357 mag.
This way you only need magnum brass and don't get the powder burn ring of a short case.

That's essentially what I want to do. I don't hunt with these guns, so low power loads are perfect. Saves wear and tear and also makes the powder go further.

I'm gonna load up some more tonight using 8 grains of Unique and try them out alongside the ones I loaded with 10.1.

[bfoosh006]

Consider using coated lead bullets.... so much easier cleanup and barely any excess lube smoke.

http://www.bayoubullets.net/index.htm

I know the coating is flashy.... but they really work.

[bfoosh006]

Here is a link to the goggle search on "Bayou Bullets Reviews" https://www.google.com/search?q=Bayo...en-US:official

[jyo]

Many, many folks use 7.5 grains of Unique under a 240 LSWC with standard primers in 44 Special cases---950-980 FPS out of various revolvers---I myself have shot this load for over 25 years in both 44 Special and 44 mag guns---reasonably powerful---very accurate---I keep a few thousand of these around for shooting in Colt SAAs and Old Model Ruger Flattop...

[ahabot]

I've shot both 7 and 7.7 grains of W231 under a 240 gr FP in both my revolver and lever action rifle. I've standardized on 7.7 grains because it works well with the lever action at 100 yds.

[stilly]

What .44 mag loads are you folks running for plinking/target shooting.

Decided to start reloading for .44 mag for revolvers and a lever gun. I'll be shooting 240 gr. hard cast lead flat top bullets with Unique powder.

Consulted Lyman 49th ed., and using Unique, it lists a starting load of 10.0 gr with a slightly long 1.645 OAL, going up to a max load of 11.7. So, based on that, I loaded up a couple hundred rounds using 10.1 gr.

Then today, I'm on Alliant's website and they list a starting load of 7 grains, with the traditional OAL of 1.605.

That's a big difference between what Lyman recommends.

I'm wondering what you guys are using and how they shoot. I'm looking for soft shooting plinking rounds, so if I can get that using 1/3 less powder and a slightly shorter OAL, that's what I'll do.

I'm thinking of loading up a few dozen more tonight using the Alliant recipe and compare the two.

THEN it sounds like what you are REALLY looking for is some .44 SPECIAL loads...

[Whiterabbit]

Load special loads in magnum cases, I do this for .44 mag and .357 mag.
This way you only need magnum brass and don't get the powder burn ring of a short case.

That's essentially what I want to do. I don't hunt with these guns, so low power loads are perfect. Saves wear and tear and also makes the powder go further.

I'm gonna load up some more tonight using 8 grains of Unique and try them out alongside the ones I loaded with 10.1.

Bingo. Use 44 special loads, and make sure the BOTTOM of the bullet is in the same place in the case as IF it were in a 44 special case. You have an identical 44 special load in a 44 mag case. Identical.

After loading down, I figured if that's what I was gonna shoot, I should just sell the magnum pistol and buy the special. After that epiphany, my plinking loads ARE the mag loads. If that becomes unacceptable, I will sell the gun.

[357magnum]

Bingo. Use 44 special loads, and make sure the BOTTOM of the bullet is in the same place in the case as IF it were in a 44 special case. You have an identical 44 special load in a 44 mag case. Identical.

After loading down, I figured if that's what I was gonna shoot, I should just sell the magnum pistol and buy the special. After that epiphany, my plinking loads ARE the mag loads. If that becomes unacceptable, I will sell the gun.

I don't think you can seat the bullet the same depth in a magnum case as a special case. .44 mag case = 1.285", .44 special case = 1.160". Difference of .125".
Your bullet would be .125" deeper in a magnum case, and way above the cannelure. No place for your roll crimp, and probably raise your pressure.
I load all my special loads in a magnum case, too magnum length specs.
Hope this helps.

[Whiterabbit]

I don't think you can seat the bullet the same depth in a magnum case as a special case. .44 mag case = 1.285", .44 special case = 1.160". Difference of .125".
Your bullet would be .125" deeper in a magnum case, and way above the cannelure. No place for your roll crimp, and probably raise your pressure.
I load all my special loads in a magnum case, too magnum length specs.
Hope this helps.

you BET you can do it. The revolver will not know the difference.

You can do that with a 45 colt load in a 460 S&W case. Ask me how I know. Bullet tip is basically below the throat.

For a 44sp load, bullet jump wont be an issue. recoil will be low, pull should be low, anything that does pull *shouldn't* go so far as to lock the cylinder. There should be plenty of neck tension. If it DOES pull far enough, IMO (imo) there's a problem with the expander. In other words, I can load undersized bullets in a 460 S&W at 65 ksi with no bullet pull problems without crimping, and I do NOT crimp for 460. YMMV of course, but IMO (imo) case neck tension trumps crimp every time. I do not crimp my 460 loads. They do not jump.

If you load 44 magnum loads and seat to 44sp OAL, I don't know what to say. If you load 44sp loads to 44sp OAL in a 44 mag case, yes the cannelure will sit low (if there even IS a cannelure!) but you will generate the lower 44sp pressure.

[Whiterabbit]

I don't think you can seat the bullet the same depth in a magnum case as a special case. .44 mag case = 1.285", .44 special case = 1.160". Difference of .125".
Your bullet would be .125" deeper in a magnum case, and way above the cannelure. No place for your roll crimp, and probably raise your pressure.
I load all my special loads in a magnum case, too magnum length specs.
Hope this helps.

Here is the perfect illustration in reverse using the cartridge that bears your name:



Exact same idea, but using a 44 mag case and a 44sp load.

Now: of course if the neck sits over the ogive (and it might!) then it wont work in a lever gun! But the revolver wont know the difference. That I guarantee.

[357magnum]

you BET you can do it. The revolver will not know the difference.

You can do that with a 45 colt load in a 460 S&W case. Ask me how I know. Bullet tip is basically below the throat.

For a 44sp load, bullet jump wont be an issue. recoil will be low, pull should be low, anything that does pull *shouldn't* go so far as to lock the cylinder. There should be plenty of neck tension. If it DOES pull far enough, IMO (imo) there's a problem with the expander. In other words, I can load undersized bullets in a 460 S&W at 65 ksi with no bullet pull problems without crimping, and I do NOT crimp for 460. YMMV of course, but IMO (imo) case neck tension trumps crimp every time. I do not crimp my 460 loads. They do not jump.

If you load 44 magnum loads and seat to 44sp OAL, I don't know what to say. If you load 44sp loads to 44sp OAL in a 44 mag case, yes the cannelure will sit low (if there even IS a cannelure!) but you will generate the lower 44sp pressure.

Your explanation includes a lot of *shouldn't* and should be.
Sounds like a lot of not knowing for sure, on your part.
I wish you luck on your reloading.

[Whiterabbit]

Your explanation includes a lot of *shouldn't* and should be.
Sounds like a lot of not knowing for sure, on your part.
I wish you luck on your reloading.

Done it with 460 S&W/454 casull/45 colt, and also with 38sp/357mag/357max.

Post had a lot of "I've done this" too. That's why the should's and shouldn'ts, as opposed to the "I think reality is this way", and "I think reality isn't this way." Simply put, I have been there and done that. Sharing the experience.

I reread my post. The "shoulds" come from not knowing if OP's expander plug in his die is oversized or not. Would otherwise read like this:

If your expander is properly sized, your bullets WONT pull, Neck tension WILL be enough to hold them in the case, and you WILL be a-OK. If your expander is oversized, you MIGHT have a neck too large, you MIGHT pull, because neck tension MIGHT not be enough to hold the bullet in place.

Of course this would apply to all loads for his 44, whether a 44mag in a 44mag case, 44sp in a 44sp case, 44mag in a 44sp case, or a 44sp in a 44mag case. But you probably knew that already.