44 tweener load

[Sappyg2.0]

I'm starting to play around with the 44 magnum again. Huge fun! But, I'm looking to load mag cases that fall between special and magnum velocity.
I've been using CFE pistol because it's great for both 38/357 & 44 loads that I can tell. I prefer this powder but am open to suggestions.

I've got a great 200 gr. Boolit load already but I'm looking to use 240 gr as standard. 9.8 gr of CFE still seems too punchy but the online Hodgdon manual doesn't go that low for that weight hard cast bullet.

What I think I'm looking for is a 240 gr lead bullet at or around 1050 fps or so. I don't want straight up 44 special loads and don't need full house magnum performance. I'm looking for a tweener. All suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

10 or 11 grains of Unique should do that.

This is a great site for looking for loads. Be careful though, I believe it's a site that folks just post loads in, so use caution.

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Source=

 

[Charlie98]

I agree... Unique is probably what you need to be loading, or others in the same burn range. I'm not really that familiar with CFE Pistol, it looks like it should be a good fit, however, but maybe it can't be downloaded like Unique can.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Unique will do what you want.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

9.5 gr of Unique gets me 1100 fps from a 240 gr cast out of a 6" gun.

 

[warnerwh]

9.0 grains of Unique is almost all I fired out of my SBH. Very easy on the shooter yet plenty of power and range for most people most of the time.

 

[readyeddy]

HS-6 is what I use to go around 1200 fps, but with a 240 gr. JHP.

 

[Sappyg2.0]

How well does unique meter? If I remember correctly is a flakey powder and sooty.

The CFE pistol seems to be quite sooty also. If I had my druthers I would definitely go with trail boss just because of the lack of soot. But, I don't think I can get the velocity I'm looking for.

 

[WrongHanded]

I have done something similar recently with both a 240gr LSWC and a 240gr XTP. I found 9.0gr of W231 quite pleasant, and also very clean.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have no problem with Unique metering....It is only sooty if you try to use reduced loads. If you pump up the pressure, it burns fairly clean.

 

[Sappyg2.0]

The online hodgden manual doesn't list unique but my 1998/99 Speer manual does. Haven't refered to it in years. 10 gr. Might get real close to 1100 fps. This falls right in line with Arkansas Paul's link. Thanks for your help.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

HS-6 is what I use to go around 1200 fps, but with a 240 gr. JHP.

Me too, but with a 250gr Keith.

HS-6 for 1100-1200 fps,
Universal for 950-1100 fps.

 

[cp1969]

The online hodgden manual doesn't list unique but my 1998/99 Speer manual does. Haven't refered to it in years. 10 gr. Might get real close to 1100 fps. This falls right in line with Arkansas Paul's link. Thanks for your help.

It won't show up in Hodgdon's info because Unique is an Alliant powder. Hodgdon's nearest competitor to Unique is their Universal.

 

[Jim Watson]

Staying with the CFE you already have, try 9.2 gr.
That is the top .45 Long Colt load. (Not .45 Long Ruger).

 

[joed]

I load 15.0 gr of 2400 in my .44 Spl with a 250 gr Keith and get 1050 to 1100 fps in my N frames, it's starting to get your attention but it should get what you want in a mag case. I think Unique would do it too but I load that one with 7.5 gr for 950 fps.

 

[Sappyg2.0]

Staying with the CFE you already have, try 9.2 gr.
That is the top .45 Long Colt load. (Not .45 Long Ruger).

Ha.. I didn't think to check loads for the 45 colt but that's dead on what I'm looking for. Plus, I shouldn't have an issue going below the published charge with CFE in the 44 mag cases. Thanks Jim.

 

[Toprudder]

BE86. About 150fps below full magnum velocity (can be downloaded more) and is not position sensitive. I load 240gn Zero JSP bullets (about $0.14 each) with 11.0gn BE86 - great plinking load that is accurate. Some people call BE86 the "new Unique" but I think it is a little slower burning, and meters better than Unique.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

Ha.. I didn't think to check loads for the 45 colt but that's dead on what I'm looking for. Plus, I shouldn't have an issue going below the published charge with CFE in the 44 mag cases. Thanks Jim.

If you can go down as low as 5.6 gr of CFE in a .44 Special case (per the Hodgdon site), you should be safe going that low in a .44 Mag case. I don't load the .44's but I load .38 Special and .357 Magnum and if a powder is listed for the same bullet in both, I consider the min in a .357 Mag case to be the minimum published for .38 Special or +P (add .1 gr for the added case volume if you wish) and the max to be the maximum published for a .357 Mag load. Hodgdon may not state that explicitly, so you have to take this as UNPUBLISHED DATA, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK but it makes sense to me and hasn't caused me any problem.

 

[Toprudder]

If you can go down as low as 5.6 gr of CFE in a .44 Special case (per the Hodgdon site), you should be safe going that low in a .44 Mag case. I don't load the .44's but I load .38 Special and .357 Magnum and if a powder is listed for the same bullet in both, I consider the min in a .357 Mag case to be the minimum published for .38 Special or +P (add .1 gr for the added case volume if you wish) and the max to be the maximum published for a .357 Mag load. Hodgdon may not state that explicitly, so you have to take this as UNPUBLISHED DATA, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK but it makes sense to me and hasn't caused me any problem.

It is MY opinion (for whatever that is worth) that you can go below published load data for 357, down to the min charge for 38spl, but the powder MUST NOT be position sensitive. I've seen 300fps difference between powder forward/rear tests with some powders. Don't want to stick a bullet in the barrel.

ON EDIT: AA#7 was really bad on powder forward test. Longshot was bad. Shooters World "Auto Pistol" powder was good, BE86 was really good, 34fps spread with 125gn plated bullet. I have not tried CFE in 357mag.

 

[NWPilgrim]

10.0 gr Unique is my medium load for .44 mag with 240 gr LSWC. 7.5 gr is a nice target load. The only concern about loading real light with CFE is it might be more sooty. I think most powders and especially the slower ones like CFE burn cleaner at mid-to-max loadings. I would think medium burn powders such as W231, Unique, Universal or Power Pistol would be better suited for the medium load you are looking for.

I don't know anything about BE86, who makes it? Is this similar to the new IMR Unequal? That one looks very interesting according to the Hodgdon loading tables.

 

[Toprudder]

10.0 gr Unique is my medium load for .44 mag with 240 gr LSWC. 7.5 gr is a nice target load. The only concern about loading real light with CFE is it might be more sooty. I think most powders and especially the slower ones like CFE burn cleaner at mid-to-max loadings. I would think medium burn powders such as W231, Unique, Universal or Power Pistol would be better suited for the medium load you are looking for.

I don't know anything about BE86, who makes it? Is this similar to the new IMR Unequal? That one looks very interesting according to the Hodgdon loading tables.

Made by Alliant. It is somewhere between Power Pistol and Unique in burn rate, probably closer to Power Pistol but with a flash suppressant added. Some people refer to it as the new Unique, but BE86 meters better, much like Power Pistol.

 

[Charlie98]

Made by Alliant. It is somewhere between Power Pistol and Unique in burn rate, probably closer to Power Pistol but with a flash suppressant added. Some people refer to it as the new Unique, but BE86 meters better, much like Power Pistol.

Alliant seems obsessed with BE86... it's hard to find online data in some loads that have anything but BE86. I suppose one of these days I'll have to give a pound of it a test drive... I like Alliant pistol powders.

 

[Toprudder]

Alliant seems obsessed with BE86... it's hard to find online data in some loads that have anything but BE86. I suppose one of these days I'll have to give a pound of it a test drive... I like Alliant pistol powders.

I don't think they favor it any, they seemed to have changed up their test protocol slightly. For instance, BE86 has several "JHP" loads for 357mag, whereas the other powders list "GDHP" loads for the equivalent weight bullets.

 

[Paladin7]

Hodgdon's Universal will do the trick... This is my go to for mid-range 44 Magnum Loads like the ones you want to achieve.

Unique is a good choice also and it will burn cleaner at 44 Magnum speeds, even mid-range. Although, I've moved away from Unique in recent years due to it being a fairly dirty burning powder overall.

 

[macgunner]

If you can go down as low as 5.6 gr of CFE in a .44 Special case (per the Hodgdon site), you should be safe going that low in a .44 Mag case.

Any concern with a squib going this low? In the same boat here with a 6" 44 magnum. I've loaded down to 9.6 grains of CFE under a 240gr bullet. Would be nice to bring it down a bit more.