Cheapest, clean, low recoil .44 Special and .44 Mag ammo?

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Aim1

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If I wanted to shoot a lot of low recoil .44 Special and some .44 Mag target ammo what would be the cleanest shooting, easiest to clean up afterwards ammo?

Some folks recommended cowboy ammo as being low recoil. This stuff looks good but isn't full metal jacket. I'm not sure what is easier to clean, FMJ, semi-wadcutters, wadcutters, or whatever else.


*** Thanks in advance for the advice on reloading but I have neither the time nor that inclination to reload. ***


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Well, lead bullets make more of a mess, but the mess is easier to clean than is copper fouling. Beyond that, it is my opinion that a non-wealthy handgunner who wants to shoot on a regular basis has no choice but to handload.

<edit> I posted this before the OP added his note about not being interested in handloading. And, of course, before he mentioned that he only shoots +/-200 rounds per year. It seems to me that if you only shoot 200 rounds per year it does not matter how clean your ammunition is, as you hardly ever have to clean your gun anyway!
 
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.38 Special said:
Well, lead bullets make more of a mess, but the mess is easier to clean than is copper fouling. Beyond that, it is my opinion that a non-wealthy handgunner who wants to shoot on a regular basis has no choice but to handload.
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Thanks but that definitely isn't going to happen. lol.

My dad used to handload and I just have no interest in it.
 
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Start reloading :)
I have two loads for my 44 mag! All use mag brass, no need to change anything reloading except the powder amount and type. One load is a 300 gr gas check lead bullet at about 750 and the other is same bullet doing about 1400. Both easy to clean after and a lot cheaper than buying the whole cartridge. The mild loads are pleasant and can be shot all day long. The hot one are not unpleasant but taxing and would be tiring after awhile.
I have to admit that I find reloading relaxing and enjoy it and I do not save money because I shoot a lot more :D.
If you decide to buy already loaded ammo, PM me and you can send all the spent brass, so it will not clutter up your space :cool:
 
Lead bullets messy? Hard to clean up?
Where did that idea come from??
Cast lead bullets (or swaged lead bullets) at the velocities that will result in "low recoil" (whatever that means. Felt recoil is wildly subjective.) will not be leading your barrel much or at all.
When I am done with my SBH, I wipe down the exterior of the gun, pull the cylinder. I run a bore snake through the chambers and the gun barrel. put the cylinder back in and put the gun away. (A light coat of oil on and in the gun)
 
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Low recoil lead bullet loads should not cause a cleaning problem. I've been reloading with them for years in 44 special and low to moderate power 44 magnums with no leading.

I know you said you aren't interested in hand loading but it really would be more economical. A minimal Lee Precision set up (under $100) would be adequate for your needs. Just FYI.

Jeff
 
There's a place nearby here Space Coast Bullets that sells reloading supplies, they are also a licensed ammunitions manufacturer and sells their bullets in the shop and at gun shows. He made some really nice low recoil 44spl, even gave me the recipe. Maybe you have a local place that makes bullets, might be a good place to go. I reload all of mine, it's not that expensive to get a Lee single stage setup.
 
To say you're not interested in hand loading translates into you're not interested in shooting all that much, at least to me. I don't know anyone who can afford to shoot commercial 44 Specials or 44 Magnums at the volume necessary to be come accomplished. If you're only taking pot shots at empty cans occasionally, buy your ammunition. For anything more serious than that, reload.

YMMV,
Dave
 
Dave T said:
To say you're not interested in hand loading translates into you're not interested in shooting all that much, at least to me. I don't know anyone who can afford to shoot commercial 44 Specials or 44 Magnums at the volume necessary to be come accomplished. If you're only taking pot shots at empty cans occasionally, buy your ammunition. For anything more serious than that, reload.

YMMV,
Dave
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By a lot I mean about 3-5 boxes a year, which is a lot for me.

The most I averagely shoot is 1-3 rounds out of my deer rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader to sight it in and then the 1 shot to kill the deer. That's it.

So, 3-5 boxes of .44 is a lot for me, I know it isn't for some others.
 
BullRunBear said:
"By a lot I mean about 3-5 boxes a year, which is a lot for me."

Aim1, If that is all the ammo you need a year, ignore the suggestions reloading. Most of us regard three or so boxes of ammo as one range session. Also, a lot of us handload for fun as well as economy.

Jeff
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Thanks.

Yeah, I used to help my dad reload as a kid and never took to it after that.

I also don't go to the range, hate them, fortunately I am able to shoot at my house.
 
You don't save money reloading, you just get to shoot more for the same dollar amount. Its another hobby all together. It either takes a decent amount of your time so you can frugally put together a reloading system or a decent amount of money so you can frugally use your time. Everyone starts off thinking they can get into reloading for just a few hundred bucks. Then, they realize the amount of actual time and effort it takes and how this gizmo cuts that part in half and this part in thirds. So you then upgrade your equipment, prolly still keep you old equipment, spend more money so you can save more time. All the while, your gun is sitting in the safe, not being shot. When you factor in the value of your time, reloading doesn't "save" you anything. Me personally, guns are one of my hobbies, so my free time has to get divided between it and my other interests. Thats why I say reloading is a separate hobby, it eats up just as much time and money as the other ones. The cost of reloading has gone up, too. No one seems to be talking about that when convincing someone to join the world of reloading.

Many popular rounds have come back to reasonable prices when purchased in bulk, not like they were pre-early 2000s, but reasonable. So, just don't jump on peeps so much to start reloading when they're asking to find a certain kind of ammo. Odds are, you can find it.

Oh, btw, I reload

-Robb
 
Rat Robb said:
You don't save money reloading, you just get to shoot more for the same dollar amount. Its another hobby all together. It either takes a decent amount of your time so you can frugally put together a reloading system or a decent amount of money so you can frugally use your time. Everyone starts off thinking they can get into reloading for just a few hundred bucks. Then, they realize the amount of actual time and effort it takes and how this gizmo cuts that part in half and this part in thirds. So you then upgrade your equipment, prolly still keep you old equipment, spend more money so you can save more time. All the while, your gun is sitting in the safe, not being shot. When you factor in the value of your time, reloading doesn't "save" you anything. Me personally, guns are one of my hobbies, so my free time has to get divided between it and my other interests. Thats why I say reloading is a separate hobby, it eats up just as much time and money as the other ones. The cost of reloading has gone up, too. No one seems to be talking about that when convincing someone to join the world of reloading.

Many popular rounds have come back to reasonable prices when purchased in bulk, not like they were pre-early 2000s, but reasonable. So, just don't jump on peeps so much to start reloading when they're asking to find a certain kind of ammo. Odds are, you can find it.

Oh, btw, I reload

-Robb
Click to expand...


Thanks. Totally agree, reloading in itself is a time consuming hobby and you need to learn about reloading, you don't just automatically know what to do safely.

I'm a hunter not a big shooter, if I have free time when it's warm out I'm out fishing, not shooting.

For me shooting my guns is normally a chore as I only don't to make sure my guns sighted in for deer season.

This .44 is actually the first gun I've bought that I'm actually excited about shooting and shooting a little bit for fun.
 
There is no such thing as low recoil .44 Mag ammo unless you're shooting a .44 Mag rifle. If you want low recoil factory .44, you're stuck with Special and that is not cheap, nor common. With factory .44 Spl, it's guaranteed to be 60 cents/round if you also factor taxes and shipping.

This is why years ago when I was not a reloader I looked at .44's and then .45's and decided that .45 Colt was better, especially those that had a cylinder or cut for moon clips to shoot .45 ACP. .44 is a fine caliber, but it's not a practical caliber for people just looking to plink with it using factory ammo. In that regards, .45 is far superior.

My suggestion is if you want to cut the ammo cost in half is to sell or trade the .44 in for a .45 Blackhawk or Redhawk. You get access to the "Ruger Only" .45 Colt loads, but you'll also be able to shoot cheap .45 ACP.

Or you could, you know, reload. The sole reason I got into reloading was mainly for revolvers because I could make ammunition that ammo manufacturer's don't or do and costs $1.50 a round.
 
Pete D. said:
Lead bullets messy? Hard to clean up?
Where did that idea come from??
Cast lead bullets (or swaged lead bullets) at the velocities that will result in "low recoil" (whatever that means. Felt recoil is wildly subjective.) will not be leading your barrel much or at all.
When I am done with my SBH, I wipe down the exterior of the gun, pull the cylinder. I run a bore snake through the chambers and the gun barrel. put the cylinder back in and put the gun away. (A light coat of oil on and in the gun)
Click to expand...

Messy. Lead and lube residue in the air, on your hands, on your gun. No, it isn't the end of the world, but let's not pretend it doesn't exist.
 
As for clean ammo, I can’t help there, dirty is dirty and the guns need cleaned regardless. As for ammo, drobs provided good info with the Lax suggestion, you might want to download the AmmoSeek app, it is showing .44special ammo for as low as .39 cents a round which is pretty good.
 
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Targa said:
As for clean ammo, I can’t help there, dirty is dirty and my guns get cleaned the same regardless. As for ammo, drobs provided good info with the Lax suggestion, you might want to download the AmmoSeek app, it is showing .44special ammo for as low as .39 cents a round which is pretty good.
Click to expand...


Thanks. I have used that before. Just need to know what ammo to get.
 
Pete D. said:
Lead bullets messy? Hard to clean up?
Where did that idea come from??
Click to expand...

From years of shooting lead bullets, then switching to copper plated when I started to shoot at an indoor range with a "no exposed lead" rule. Even without barrel leading, lead is a lot harder to clean up after. Or at least there is more of a mess to clean up. Let's say that.

To the OP. Sorry, I got nothing for you. Factory ammo for a 44 anything is expensive.
 
CajunBass said:
From years of shooting lead bullets, then switching to copper plated when I started to shoot at an indoor range with a "no exposed lead" rule. Even without barrel leading, lead is a lot harder to clean up after. Or at least there is more of a mess to clean up. Let's say that.
Click to expand...

Exactly^^. My .44’s get a steady diet of lead bullets but I loaded up some copper plated rounds specifically for the indoor range.
 
CajunBass said:
From years of shooting lead bullets, then switching to copper plated when I started to shoot at an indoor range with a "no exposed lead" rule. Even without barrel leading, lead is a lot harder to clean up after. Or at least there is more of a mess to clean up. Let's say that.
Click to expand...
I am not going to argue the point beyond saying that your experience is much different than mine. I shoot a lot of lead bullets. I buy'em, cast'em, swage'em out of lead wire. No problem and no more difficult to clean up after than the plated hollow points or the jacketed FN.
pete
 
If you aren’t going to reload the cases I suggest looking at CCI Blazer aluminum in 44 mag. It’s relatively cheap and is accurate in my SRH. It’s not top end velocity so should be relatively comfortable for you to shoot but still a magnum.
 
repeat : PM me so you can send me all that spent brass :rofl: I will give it a good home :thumbup:
 
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