cowboy loads for 44 magnum

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'm looking for a light load " cowboy" load for my RSBH using 44 magnum brass I'm just looking to
punch paper or steel from 10 to 50 yards so I'm thinking that 700 to 800 fps would work for me
would Bullseye or RedDot work for me bullet will be a cast from RCBS 245 Keith style I was thinking about starting with about 4 gr and going up to around 5.5 anyone have a good load like I'm looking for

 

[buck460XVR]

I'd try 9-9.5 gr of Unique. I always liked 9.5 gr of Unique under a bulk 240gr JHP for plinkin' bowling pins. Gave me about 1000FPS.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Thanks but more than what I'm looking for

 

[BBarn]

Earlier Alliant publications listed Cowboy Loads for 44 Mag. using a cast 240 gr. RNFP bullet with a minimum OAL of 1.595".

Red Dot 4.8gr. (start) to 5.6gr. (max)
American Select 5.1gr. (start) to 6.0gr. (max)
Unique. 6.0gr. (start) to 7.0gr. (max)

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Earlier Alliant publications listed Cowboy Loads for 44 Mag. using a cast RNFP bullet with a minimum OAL of 1.595".

Red Dot 4.8gr. (start) to 5.6gr. (max)
American Select 5.1gr. (start) to 6.0gr. (max)
Unique. 6.0gr. (start) to 7.0gr. (max)

What weight bullet was used

 

[Obturation]

I'm have you used trailboss?
I use it in 454 casull cases with 250 grain cast bullets for 900fps. Works great.
With a full charge of trailboss I get 1000fps from that load and still feels pretty light.

 

[Herman B]

I'd have a hard time saying '700-800 fps' and 'magnum' with a straight face. Those are 44 Spc velocities. Far greater number of recipes from which to choose in the Specials.

 

[Obturation]

A minimum charge of acc#9 (17.5 gr) gives 711 fps with 245 gr keith style bullet according to Lyman cast bullet handbook

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'd have a hard time saying '700-800 fps' and 'magnum' with a straight face. Those are 44 Spc velocities. Far greater number of recipes from which to choose in the Specials.

That's why I said cowboy loads i don't have or wish to use 44 Special brass but if i can use 44 Special loads in 44 magnum brass I'm all right with it

 

[BBarn]

What weight bullet was used

240gr. for the data I referred to. Added that to the post as well.

 

[mrawesome22-250]

Just use 44spl data in 44mag brass.

I use to use 200gr rnfp with W231 44spl loads in 44mag brass.

They got boring quickly. Too wimpy.

 

[Bill M.]

Trail boss will do what you want. I shoot it in my .41 mag with Bayou Bullets coated bullets.

 

[BBarn]

A minimum charge of acc#9 (17.5 gr) gives 711 fps with 245 gr keith style bullet according to Lyman cast bullet handbook

That Lyman load isn't as mild as it might appear. Keep in mind that for some reason Lyman's 44 Mag data is from a 4" barrel. Most other loading data sources use 7 1/2" or longer barrels in their testing. Lyman's data is still valid, but it doesn't compare easily to other sources as far as velocities.

 

[Obturation]

That Lyman load isn't as mild as it might appear. Keep in mind that for some reason Lyman's 44 Mag data is from a 4" barrel. Most other loading data sources use 7 1/2" or longer barrels in their testing. Lyman's data is still valid, but it doesn't compare easily to other sources as far as velocities.

Regardless of barrel length, it's the slowest loading listed in my data , it should still be the slowest regardless of barrel length. At 15,100 c.u.p., it would be mild by any measure

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Trail boss will do what you want. I shoot it in my .41 mag with Bayou Bullets coated bullets.

I have a good 41 magnum load with reddot and a 195gr bullet was hoping that I could do the same thing with a 44 magnum

 

[black mamba]

5.5 grains of Red Dot or 700X has been a very accurate load for me with 210-240 gr bullets in 44 mag cases. Should give around 800 fps, depending on barrel length. I've not tried any lower charges.

 

[Targa]

I run 7.0 grains of Universal over 240 grain Keith bullets. I chrono’d them at 847 FPS average through my 5.5” SBH, they are nice to shoot and accurate for plinking.

 

[RealGun]

I have used my 44 Mag for SASS and loaded 6.2 Trailboss with 200 gr RNFP, pistols and rifle. That was based on actual Hodgdon "Cowboy" data, indicating 890 fps for the minimum 6.1 grains. Their test firearm was not listed on the document I have but was probably 6", leaving our typical barrel length probably yielding a bit slower velocity.

 

[gotboostvr]

The "Skeeter" load is 8.5gr Unique under a 225-275gr bullet for about 1000fps.

I'd run about 7-7.5gr Unique. You could dial it down further if you'd like, but I'd start there.

I've used Reddot in 44 special before, I can look up my notes if you'd like.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

The "Skeeter" load is 8.5gr Unique under a 225-275gr bullet for about 1000fps.

I'd run about 7-7.5gr Unique. You could dial it down further if you'd like, but I'd start there.

I've used Reddot in 44 special before, I can look up my notes if you'd like.

thanks but i have no special brass to use I have used the 7 gr of unique and up and works fine just have a lot of reddot on hand

 

[gotboostvr]

I've used 6.0-6.6gr of Reddot under a 200gr RNFP in magnum brass, and 4.5gr under a 240gr SWC in special cases. There's no velocity data, but they're both annotated as being "Light Load", the 6.0gr load is annotated as "goes pop"

 

[no.5enfield]

240gr cast over 8-8.5 grains of unique is a really pleasant load. Soft shooting, but enough thump to remind you it's a 44.

 

[bluetopper]

8.0gr of Red Dot goes 878fps with a 240gr cast bullet. I don't see why 7 grains would hurt.

 

[mdo]

6.0 grains of Bullseye under a 240 gr SWC is extremely mild and very accurate out of my Ruger SBH and Marlin 1894. I now prefer powder coated bullets over lubed lead but have had good luck with this charge weight under 240 gr plated bullets. For me this is truly an "all day" shooting load since it is so mild and very economical since you can get 1,100+ rounds out of a pound of Bullseye.

Speer #14 reloading manual list the Bullseye loads for the 240 gr SWC at 5.5 gr - 6.0 gr so this is published data. The big caution is that it would be easy to double charge this load since 6.0 grains of Bullseye doesn't fill the .44 magnum case very well.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

6.0 grains of Bullseye under a 240 gr SWC is extremely mild and very accurate out of my Ruger SBH and Marlin 1894. I now prefer powder coated bullets over lubed lead but have had good luck with this charge weight under 240 gr plated bullets. For me this is truly an "all day" shooting load since it is so mild and very economical since you can get 1,100+ rounds out of a pound of Bullseye.

Speer #14 reloading manual list the Bullseye loads for the 240 gr SWC at 5.5 gr - 6.0 gr so this is published data. The big caution is that it would be easy to double charge this load since 6.0 grains of Bullseye doesn't fill the .44 magnum case very well.

Thanks I think this is what I was looking for