Any thoughts on this load produced by Georgia Arms for woods carry in a ported M29 4". Thanks just curious as to effectiveness for plinking,plates,hunting, defensive uses. Yes I understand this is not idea for everything and I don't reload just wanna get some thoughts from folks with way more knowledge then myself. Appreciate it!

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Take it easy. Chris

Sounds like a good plinking load.

The porting won’t do any harm with that load, although you may find it makes for an additional cleaning chore.

Most folks, if they’re honest, will tell you that less than magnum loads are pretty desirable and do 98% of what needs doing with a handgun.

Chris: That is about what I would expect from .44 Special loaded for "cowboy action" shooting. In your ported 4" M29 this would be a very mild load with minimal recoil.

I shoot quite a few .44 Special, 240-grain cast SWC, 7.0 grains Unique (about 825FPS) in several S&W and Colt revolvers chambered for .44 magnum and .44 Special. Accurate, easy to control, and pretty potent for most needs (ballistics are pretty similar to .45ACP 230-grain, for comparison purposes). Punches through car doors easily, breaks 2X4 lumber to splinters. I haven't used it on game animals but I would expect it to be a good performer at modest handgun ranges.

About 10 years ago I was much too busy to do any reloading so I ordered a case of .44 Special from Underwood Ammunition, 240-grain jacketed hollow point. Loaded at the top end of .44 Special levels (Underwood quoted 900+ FPS from a 4" barrel), a very stout load that would be preferable for large game animals in my opinion.

I have a 3" 629, 4" 29, and 6-1/2" 29, all .44 magnums. I have not used any magnum ammunition in at least 20 years. The .44 Special does everything I need.

In the .44 Special, I've been using a 200 grain cast flat point design (SAECO mould) for a long time in all .44 Special and .44 Magnum revolvers. I load to a muzzle velocity of about 850 fps. Accurate and useful load that is pleasant to shoot. Like LoboGunLeather, it's been a good while since I've loaded any .44 Magnum.

Yes I'm not trying to rattle my fillings just enjoy a pleasant but useful round and I find myself shooting way more 44 special vs 44mag.

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Take it easy. Chris

Sounds like a pleasant general purpose load to me. Let’s face it, most of us don’t need to turn a grizzly inside out on our ramblings.

I load my 629 with 240grain hardcast SWC at about 1000 fps or so.

Fun load that would drop any game in America. Or any thug.

If i loaded it for defense, I'd slow them down to about 850.

I have shot quite a bit of Georgia Arms 200 grain LRNFP @750 fps 44 magnum cowboy loads through my S&W 69 at the range. The lube on lead bullets makes for a lot of smoke but that's the only negative I have found. The smoke makes the gun a lot dirtier than normal but it wipes right off, no problem if you clean your gun after shooting. I sometimes suspect cowboy shooters like a lot of smoke so they might use a different powder or less lube on ammo not labeled "cowboy loads".

Through my gun the ammo is very pleasant to shoot and more accurate than I am. I have never shot it off a bench so I cannot comment on absolute accuracy. It knocks down steel plates with a bit more authority than 9mm.

While it is great for plinking, plates, etc. it is quite weak compared to hunting ammo. GA doesn't specify if the bullets are cast or swagged. Swagged bullets are softer and would deform more or possibly come apart if they hit a big bone or other hard object compared to a hard cast bullet.

I have used a lot of Georgia Arms ammo and have been very happy with it. For plinking, plates and target shooting that ammo will work great. Its not going to bounce off a bad guy but for hunting or defense I would go with something more powerful, particularly if for animals like wild boar or bears.

For reference, pre-pandemic GA was charging $25/50.

Let us know how that load works with regard to your sights. If there is no trouble with POA vs. POI, hopefully it will also be accurate and you will be OK. I have never really been satisfied with the accuracy of any of my light loads for .44 Magnum, but they almost all have been “acceptable.”

Regarding the POA-POI thing, with the lightweight bullet you may have better luck than I do with the 250s I generally use. The 250s tend to shoot high with reduced loads and require sight adjustment, or even a shorter rear sight blade, depending on the individual gun.

Reinventing the .44 Russian?

Georgia Arms makes great ammo (when available). They have a 240 gr .44 mag moving at 1,000 fps that is pleasant yet authoritative. Wish it was JHP. They used to have a 230 gr jhp (I suspect .45 acp slugs) .45 colt moving at 900 fps and standard pressure. Sadly it was discontinued (last I checked). Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I've always had good luck with Georgia Arms. I've been buying off them for approximately 10-12 years its my go to for 41mag 210gr. I found some old bags of 41 that I payed $21. I recently ordered (October) some 41 & 44 special which is $30/50 and I bought some of said ammo 200gr 44mag recently for $33/50. No pigs around here just black bears coyotes and two legged pests. I posted a target on another post of mine when I purchased the 29 it was 44mag 240gr WWB JSP and GA 200gr 44 specials LRNFP @ 15yards with similar results all shot standing two handed. "Sight in help with M29" is post with target pic that I created if you care to take a look.

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Take it easy. Chris

I have heard good things about Georgia Arms ammo. 200 grain at 750 fps sounds like a nice, mild plinking load.

For general woods carry, I like a 240 grain SWC at 900 - 950 fps. Mild, but hits hard. Works well in my 2 3/4 inch model 69, as well as my longer tube guns.

Larry

Looks like many people have now rediscovered the practicality of standard loads.They had that figured out back when Colt realized that 50+ grains of black powder wasn't necessary for adequate performance from a revolver (Walker) and steadily reduced revolver chamber capacities to around 30 grains (1860 Army). .36 caliber revolvers stayed in their original power ranges as did the .38 caliber cartridges that replaced loose powder cap and ball guns. Heavy loads weren't a fad until the experimenters of the 30's started jacking up standard calibers for big game hunting. We now have revolvers that look like they should come equipped with wheels. I think our forefathers would have gotten a chuckle out of that.

If I remember correctly , the original load for the Colt Walker , or " Walker Colt " either is fine was 60 grs of FFFg , according to the internet . It was later reduced to 50 grs of FFFg . Regards Paul

My 44 mag carry loads are around 1400fps 200gr jhp.

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Plant garlic in the fall

200 gr @ 750 is little weak for my taste, in a gun as hefty as a 629. That's more like I would use as a plinking load in my 69 2.75".
I would want something that's more like a 45 ACP, say 200 gr @ 900.

I have tried some mild loads in my 629's a few times over the years. I just keep going back to the thought that if I'm going to make the effort to carry a 629, it will be with a full power magnum load.

My preference is 240 gr XTP over H110 at 1450 fps.

I shoot the 240 gr SWC at the range, at the end of the shoot I fire off some magnum 200 gr JHP or 240 gr JHP just to keep the feel of magnum loads.

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Plant garlic in the fall

My target load is 6.0grs Winchester Super Target with a 240-250 gr swc sitting on top loaded in a magnum case . I don't have a chronograph , but I suspect it gets me into 45 acp range , about 850 fps give or take a few fps . It's very accurate , light recoil and very clean shooting . I shoot these in my 29-10 , 4 " barrel . Regards Paul

Worry less about the bullet and more on YOUR accuracy. Practice with what you carry and be able to get 2-3 fast accurate shots. I don't think you would get a complaint from the bad guy no matter what you use.

You've just described a lightly loaded 44-40.

I believe you are right. Apparently, people were satisfied with the power levels of the revolvers back then. Colt could have made longer cylinders and frames for his 1851 Navy if there was a demand for a more powerful.36; a .36 magnum so to speak. Our present service calibers are adequate for self defense and the .357 and .44 magnums are good for most hunting.

A 200gr LRNFP 44mag @750fps should fill the bill if the range is reasonable.

For plinking plates and close range defensive work it should be fine . You mentioned " hunting " I would not use it for that unless you are talking about closer distance . I used to buy from Georgia-Arms and always liked what they sold . Regards Paul

Pest control maybe a better description coyote woodchucks etc. Whitetail or black bears are the largest game around here.

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Take it easy. Chris