I recently acquired a .44 magnum with a 3.75 inch barrel. I've been doing lots of reloading research to find a tame load for quicker target reacquisition, and just wondered what anyone thought? Have a good load I should check out? Thanks.
Tame .44 mag. recipe
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judgedelta
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When I was loading and shooting .44, HP-38 or W-231 seemed to be the softest shooting loads. Something about the burn rate, I guess. That and some plated bullets and you'll be good to go. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
newfalguy101
Member
Most any reload manual will list handloads for lead bullets at modest velocities.
BCRider
Member
I wanted a "fun" but lighter than full power load so I went with batches of 200gn and 240gn cast lead RNFP bullets powered up so it moves along at something between 1000 and 1100fps. This would put the loads strongly into the .44Spl +P sort of range if there were such a thing.
The 200's were a little less kick than the 240's but both were easy enough on the hand for all day shooting and would offer reasonable recovery for the next shot. In a close in encounter they could be controlled with a bit of practice to push all of them rapidly into a foot round target at 5 yards easily enough.
It doesn't lack for energy either. As pointed out in another thread this "plinking load" of mine would still shoot end to end through a horse. So if you're thinking of this for defensive use be sure what is behind the bad guy.
The powder I used was Tightgroup for these loads and the data came right off the Hodgdon reloading data center web site. The loads varied from 6 to 7gns of powder. I need to get back to this to figure out which I like for a standard but it's a good starting point for you.
The 200's were a little less kick than the 240's but both were easy enough on the hand for all day shooting and would offer reasonable recovery for the next shot. In a close in encounter they could be controlled with a bit of practice to push all of them rapidly into a foot round target at 5 yards easily enough.
It doesn't lack for energy either. As pointed out in another thread this "plinking load" of mine would still shoot end to end through a horse. So if you're thinking of this for defensive use be sure what is behind the bad guy.
The powder I used was Tightgroup for these loads and the data came right off the Hodgdon reloading data center web site. The loads varied from 6 to 7gns of powder. I need to get back to this to figure out which I like for a standard but it's a good starting point for you.
BullRunBear
Member
You didn't say how you'll use it but it sounds like any mid to full power 44 Special load will meet your needs. Over 90% of what I shoot out of 44 magnum guns are 44 Special cartridges or magnum cases loaded to 44 Special levels. Same bullets for Specials and magnums, usually 240 grain lead SWC, with Unique powder. I get good results with standard large pistol primers.
Jeff
Jeff
VThillman
Member
Yeah, what BRB says. The .44 Special loads in your manual work fine in .44 Magnum cases. It's one of the advantages of a revolver over a semiauto - you don't need to be concerned about cycling the action with weak loads.
No you really do not want to load 44 special data in 44 Mag cases. Either use 44 special brass or just use the start load of 44 Mag. Looking in any manual will show you the velocities
Depends on what powders you have. The opposite of magnum loads would be faster powders.
W231/HP38 as mentioned would be fine to use.
Depends on what powders you have. The opposite of magnum loads would be faster powders.
W231/HP38 as mentioned would be fine to use.
Captaingyro
Member
I shoot a lot of soft .44 Magnum loads at steel. After quite a bit of experimentation I settled on 6 grains of Universal under either a 240 grain LSWC or 200 grain LRNFP (lead round nose flat point), i.e., a "cowboy" bullet. I use magnum cases. These shoot about 750 fps out of an 8" barrel.
I've tried 231 and, while pleasant and clean, it did not give good accuracy at these velocities.
Try to use softer bullets, around Brinell 12 or 15. You're not punching these bullets very hard, and a harder alloy will fail to obdurate and may give you some leading.
I've tried 231 and, while pleasant and clean, it did not give good accuracy at these velocities.
Try to use softer bullets, around Brinell 12 or 15. You're not punching these bullets very hard, and a harder alloy will fail to obdurate and may give you some leading.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
When I want a light load for a magnum handgun here's what I do. I pick a "Special" load and use the max charge for the Special in a magnum case. That works very well for me. Of course if necessary for accuracy you can add more powder since you are usually at or below the starting charge for the magnum round.
I hope I explained that well enough. sometimes it's perfectly clear to me and when put into words it's vague.
I hope I explained that well enough. sometimes it's perfectly clear to me and when put into words it's vague.
Just get a .44 Special load from your reloading manual and put it in .44 Magnum brass. The difference will the Special listed velocities will be slightly higher from what you'll get in Magnum brass because of larger case capacity. I've been doing this since '86 when I got my first .44 magnum and don't understand the warnings. Of course don't down load any W296/H110 charges, but I don't remember any .44 Special loads using that powder anyway.
TimSr
Member
There is no listed .44 spl load that will give you any issues in a 44 mag case. Just like the .38, the 44mag used a longer case to keep you from putting them into 44spl guns.
Unique is great powder for this since you can start at about 6.5gr cat fart loads, and then keep adding until you find one you like. Stop when you get to about 12gr . This is with a 240gr SWC.
If you are using cold swaged lead bullets like Speer or Hornady, they will start leading when you get much beyond 7.0gr. If you are using hard cast bullets, like Missouri, you can take them all the way up to full magnum listings for Unique.
I used to shoot indoor range matches in the 80's using 6.5 Unique or 5.5 Bullseye under a 240gr SWC. Very mild.
Unique is great powder for this since you can start at about 6.5gr cat fart loads, and then keep adding until you find one you like. Stop when you get to about 12gr . This is with a 240gr SWC.
If you are using cold swaged lead bullets like Speer or Hornady, they will start leading when you get much beyond 7.0gr. If you are using hard cast bullets, like Missouri, you can take them all the way up to full magnum listings for Unique.
I used to shoot indoor range matches in the 80's using 6.5 Unique or 5.5 Bullseye under a 240gr SWC. Very mild.
oldpapps
Member
I have found a lot of latitude in using 231/HP-38.
My 'wimp' load is 5.6 grains over a standard LP primer and under a cast (Missouri Bullet 'Elmer K' 240 grain 18 brinell) bullet, for 642.9 FPS to all the same except the charge is jumped to over 10 grains with a velocity of 1174.3 FPS (this was only 6 test samples and hard to extract and the beginning of primer flowing!).
So, I would have little problems starting at the 'start' loading in your selected manual and easing back to what ever point you like.
My 'wimp' load is 5.6 grains over a standard LP primer and under a cast (Missouri Bullet 'Elmer K' 240 grain 18 brinell) bullet, for 642.9 FPS to all the same except the charge is jumped to over 10 grains with a velocity of 1174.3 FPS (this was only 6 test samples and hard to extract and the beginning of primer flowing!).
So, I would have little problems starting at the 'start' loading in your selected manual and easing back to what ever point you like.
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