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44mag reloading ?

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45Frank

45Frank

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Nov 3, 2005
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366
Location
North Carolina
A friends wife hunts with a 44mag and there just isn't any ammo local here. He knows I reload so he asked me knowing I have dies and equipment.
She normally shoots SWC or JFN when available. Do any here have any experience or favorites? She hunts deer mostly occasionally a bear. Would lead Elmer K from MBC work or be a problem(lead). Just didn't know about JFN or there ability with deer. Suggestions.
 
Every thing will work.... a little.

The .44 mag was originally all lead bullets and worked/s very well for deer, hog....

Leading is caused by several things:

Size - too small or large - too small and the bullet doesn't fill the barrel and hot gases sneak by and lead is melted - too large and the lead is scraped away in the barrel.

Velocity - too great of velocity - the bullet material can't spin fast enough, soon enough and is scraped away in the barrel.

Bullet hardness - the bullet is too soft or hard - this is just a continuation of size and velocity. The bullet must fill the barrel and travel at a speed that doesn't strip metal off. Too soft and velocity gets you. Too hard and the bullet can't fill the barrel (there is a word for this and as I have trouble saying it when I can remember it, I can't spell it but I'll try, 'oburate' I think).

Directly to your question. Yes Keith cast bullets kill deer, lots of them. Missouri Bullet Company make very good bullets as do many others (I like MBC bullets a lot but what do I know). I have not had any leading problems with MBC 240G LSWC loaded to velocities well over 1200 FPS (all I want to push my S&W M29s).

P.S.
My opinion is that for a pistol bullet of .429 inches or larger, a 'hollow point' is a waste of time. That said, my jacketed 44 loads are mostly 240 JHPs but that's just me. :)
 
I've shot a bag of these from a 7.5" Redhawk over 19 grains of new IMR4227 (aka old H4227) and I suspect they would go through two deer, and leave both of them a little unsteady on their feet. ;) I'm going to order more.

http://www.westernbullet.com/rc44gr.html

He sells Keith 429421 bullets, too, at a very reasonable price, but only offers one diameter, so if they were too small for her gun, probably would lead it up. I've shot some through my Redhawk, and if I put in one of the 300 gr GC at the end of each cylinder I don't notice bad leading. Maybe accuracy would be a little better if they were a thousandth or two bigger, but I'm no Ransom Rest, so I can't tell the difference!

He doesn't give any info on alloy. I think they are not the hardest bullet in the market, but it's hard to believe they wouldn't kill anything running wild in NC. They are pretty malleable: Some of the 300 gr I seated had the corners of the meplat rounded off a little by the plunger in the die (probably had it set for seating a little too deep), but that was fixed in the next batch I loaded.

Last summer shipping lag was not unreasonable by the standards of the times. I forget exactly how many weeks, but several! I guess you could try to contact him to see if it's too late to get them for this season, but his on-line rep is for less-than-stellar customer service.
 
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Hard cast 240 grain bullet over 19.5 grains of 2400 is what I used.
As stated above, it would likely shoot through 2 deer.
Shot a buck with it and I don't think the bullet even slowed down.
The buck sure did, however.
 
The 44 mag is a good reason to start handloading.

The most common load for the 44 mag is 24 gr H110 or W296 with 240 gr JHP with a roll crimp into the bullet cannelure.

There is a reason that load is the most popular. It really kicks and the pressure is within [less than] SAAMI registered max average pressure.

Rifles may get 1800 fps and shoot moa accuracy.
 

Attachments

  • 44 mag 2007 with cut down Marlin 444 barrel at 100 yards with 240 gr JHP 24 gr H110.jpg
    44 mag 2007 with cut down Marlin 444 barrel at 100 yards with 240 gr JHP 24 gr H110.jpg
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I use 10gr of Unique for my wifes 44 with a 240 Keith.

I use 10gr of Unique for my 45 250 Keith.

10gr of Unique for our 35 Rem with a 180 WFNGC

My powder dispenser doesn't get changed all that often.
 
Partly depends on what gun you are shooting. What ammo do your friends normally use??

I can load full house loads of H110 and the MBC 240 gr LSWC (or Hornady XTP)and shoot it in a Ruger SRH 7.5" barrel and it is no problem. The same load in a SW 629 4" is a bit stout.

But leading is not an issue in the Ruger, plus if it;s hunting than not that many rounds will be fired for leading (if any) to be an issue.

Either bullet I think will take down most any deer or bear;)
 
H110 / 296, magnum primer, and the desired jacketed projectile, makes for an easy load to assemble for big game action. IMO, I would go with either a 225 gr. JSP or 240 gr JSP considering the whole bear thing.

GS
 
Try 240 grain RNFP's over a near-max load of Unique or Herco. (that's somewhere around 10 and 12 grains, respectively)
 
If this is for a rifle, remember that SAAMI spec s for the groove diameter are not the same as for a pistol...

Pistol = .429"

Rifle = .431"

The best jacketed load for me that works for my Ruger SBH and Marlin 1894S both, is the Hornady 265gr FP (.430") over 22gr of H110...

Cast in the Marlin wants to be a minimum of .432"...

YMMV
 
I appreciate all the responses which is what I wanted.

I found some Nosler 200g Hollow Points in my cashe of stuff. They are jacketed all but the very tip, I have no idea where I even got these from.

I like the 240 Elmer K's and may order some of these for her to hunt with.
I have been enlightened with how many folks like the SWC and FN for hunting.

The more responses the more I learn or at least the more research I do.
 
I tried 240gr. LSWC's in my Trapper and they were all over the target, totally unpredictable. Switched to 210gr. Winchester Silvertips and can put 'em all in a playing card now at 100 yds., with a scope.
 
If you're shooting 100 yds. with a 44 Mag., jacketed bullets simply group noticeably better.

I tried to convince myself otherwise for a long time.
 
If you have enough of the Nosler 200gr jacketed HP, I'd use those. I have hunted and killed deer with 180gr Sierra JHP under 22gr of Alliant 2400, and the lighter bullets allow for good expansion with the higher velocity. The heavier bullets do not seem to expand as much at handgun velocities, but they still punch through.
I think that jacketed bullets have fewer issues to worry about if someone else is going to use them.


NCsmitty
 
I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter, my go to deer load is the Lee 240gr. SWC pushed by 12.5 grs. Unique, 50/50 cast coww and pure lead lubed with Alox.
As good as it gets for me.
 
rondog said:
I tried 240gr. LSWC's in my Trapper and they were all over the target, totally unpredictable. Switched to 210gr. Winchester Silvertips and can put 'em all in a playing card now at 100 yds., with a scope.
Click to expand...
Where we hunt 50 yards would be about it in all but one spot. I am going to reload the Noslers because I have them.
 
Good info here. I load for my .44 quite a bit. For critters, I load a Hornady xtp 240 grain ( best I can remember). For plinking, I load 240 grain SWC. Both are at .44 mag velocities. For hunting, I'd use the xtp for consistent expansion at the published velocity.
 
Salmoneye said:
If this is for a rifle, remember that SAAMI spec s for the groove diameter are not the same as for a pistol...

Pistol = .429"

Rifle = .431"

The best jacketed load for me that works for my Ruger SBH and Marlin 1894S both, is the Hornady 265gr FP (.430") over 22gr of H110...

Cast in the Marlin wants to be a minimum of .432"...

YMMV
Click to expand...

:confused:

That is interesting. I did not know there was 44 Magnum Pistol and 44 Magnum Rifle ammunition??
I use the same for both.
 
That is interesting. I did not know there was 44 Magnum Pistol and 44 Magnum Rifle ammunition??
I use the same for both.
Click to expand...

It's not that there are different ammo's from the major manufacturers...It's that SAAMI specs are different for the two...I know of no other cartridge/caliber that has this difference between pistol and rifle...

Most jacketed factory ammo will fire well in pistols, and 'acceptably' in rifles, but to get the most out of a rifle you really need to hand load...If I am using jacketed bullets, for me that means Hornady...Their bullets are .430" instead of .429" like most manufacturers (Sierra being the exception at .4295")...

Here are links to the SAMMI specs in PDF format:

EDITED TO REMOVE INCORRECT LINKS...CORRECT LINKS IN POST #23 BELOW
 
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Salmoneye said:
Most jacketed factory ammo will fire well in pistols, and 'acceptably' in rifles, but to get the most out of a rifle you really need to hand load
Click to expand...

I must have had a good factory-ammo/rifle combination, then.

I used my .44 Marlin 1894 with 240gr .44mag American Eagle brand (or White Box commercial) to solve a groundhog problem on the farm a little over 20 years ago.

After getting my 1894, used, at the Medina, OH Gun Show in ~1988, I installed a William 5D aperture sight.

I recall one afternoon when I was about to leave the house to do another sweep (more about walking & enjoying the woods & fields than shooting ;)) and I decided to pause to check that the sights were still "on".

I stuck a 2" blaze orange self-adhesive Spot on one of the big Poplars at the back of the drainfield and used the SE corner of the house as a rest, 100 meters away.

I shot 2 or three times very slowly & carefully, and then walked to the tree. All of the rounds had taken a good bite out of the Spot, so I knew the sights were still good and headed for the farm.

That was when my presbyopia was jusssssssst beginning (was starting to notice that I needed to hold books farther away to focus) ... I cannot shoot that well now.

Next time a setup to Cerrosafe some pistol bores I will try to remember to also make a cast of that Marlin's bore.
 
Your PDF links are just table of contents.

There is a difference in lead and fmj diameter projectiles but no factory ammo I have seen mentions for rifle or revolver use only?;)
 
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.45Frank, Sorry I didn't see what type of .44 Mag your wife is shooting, Pistol, Revolver, or Rifle/carbine.

I've shot all 4 of them with hand loads, except the Desert Eagle. Personally I prefer the Hornady 200 grn XTP which measures .430 diameter, for deer, and wild hogs. I've shot moa with a Ruger Carbine (semi-auto), and have put deer down with a 75-80 yard shot. Further in my 7.5" Ruger Super BH. I've also found that to be the most accurate load around at least for me. I use 28 grns of WW296, and a Federal Magnum Primer, which is necessary in order to create enough pressure to activate the gas piston in the carbine. The recoil in the revolver is harsh but not too unbearable, such as shooting 240 grn JHP in the revolver either the Ruger or the S&W with the 8 3/8" barrel.

Quite awhile ago I had the opportunity to shoot a Magnum Research aka Desert Eagle .44 Magnum handgun with the 10" barrel, but all we shot were factory Remington or Winchester 240 grain ammo. I found the gun to be very easy to handle and extremely accurate at the time. The fella that owned it had shot several feral hogs up around Monterey with it and according to him they were all one shot kills.
 
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