What type of load do you shoot in your 44?
Do you like shooting the Mag, or Special and
why, if I might ask !
Thanks
Docent

What type of load do you shoot in your 44?
Do you like shooting the Mag, or Special and
why, if I might ask !
Thanks
Docent

I use handloads. I use warm 180 gr. magnums and a couple cylinders of hot 180 grainers for practice. I will switch over to Federal 180 gr. JHPs for protection once I use up my stock of 165 gr. JHP defensive handloads. I don't use that gun to hunt game (I kill varmints occasionally). For deer I would use Remington 240 gr. SJHPs.

What do you intend to use your .44 for?

As far as the .44 spl. goes, outside of practice I have no use for that cartridge. It is useful and accurate, and some like it, but if I were to forego the power of the .44 mag. I would rather carry a .357. I like handgun cartridges with an identity crisis (they're trying to act like a rifle cartridge). The closer a handgun acts to a rifle ballistically, the more effective it will be, provided the shooter can use it well and the bullet that's being pushed is up to the task.

8.5 grains of Unique with a 240 gr SWC in my 44. I shoot specials a lot more (6.0 Unique-same bullet) because it's easier on me and the gun.

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jj

[QUOTE]Originally posted by flop-shank:
I use handloads. I use warm 180 gr. magnums and a couple cylinders of hot 180 grainers for practice. I will switch over to Federal 180 gr. JHPs for protection once I use up my stock of 165 gr. JHP defensive handloads. I don't use that gun to hunt game (I kill varmints occasionally). For deer I would use Remington 240 gr. SJHPs.

What do you intend to use your .44 for?

Hi - -I just purchased the gun a few months ago, and haven't shot it yet. I'm just not sure what type of bullet (grain, manufacture's brand) I should get? I want to take it to the indoor range for some target shooting. Then I was thinking of a different load for house protection. What do you think? Mike

Sir, the big magnum loads are somewhat obnoxious in an indoor range. I can't imagine what they'd be like inside a house without hearing protection.

FWIW, I prefer .44 specials or mild handloads for short-range (<50 yards) paper-punching.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

The full-power .44 Magnum is a hunting cartridge, having generally excessive penetration for self defense in the home. Recoil and muzzle flash are tremendous, and follow-up shots will be slower than something lesser. One of the modern .44 Special JHP loadings would be better for that use, and much less unsettling in an indoor range setting.

Factory Magnum ammo is expensive so I shoot mostly handloads with cast semi-wadcutter bullets of my own. It's usually a Lyman 429421 over a charge of -2400 with standard large pistol primers, not magnum primers. I have shot thousands of these over the last 30+ years. The same bullt in .44 Special cases over 7.5 grains of Unique powder is a great general purpose loading for both Magnum and Special revolvers.

Buff is right about the .44 magnum having excessive peretration, however that isn't always true. The testing I've done indicates that Federal 180 gr. JHPs are a great defensive load, but not many shooters can handle them. As has been mentioned, the muzzle blast is pretty nuts and indoors would be hell on one's ears. The upside for those using full house .44s is that it allows one to use a cartridge that is somewhat rifle-like in performance, and a big step up in power over almost all handguns. If you're interested in using the .44 for defense. I would start by using a .44 spl. load designed for defense. Corbon's 165 gr. JHP and Speer 200 gr. Gold Dot come to mind. From there you can move up to managed recoil magnums designed for defense. Corbon makes such a load (using the same excellent Sierra bullet as their .44 spl. JHP offering), as does Speer with it's 200 gr. SB Gold Dot. If you can shoot well with something hotter than those, and most shooters can't, then Fed. 180s are the top dog IMO. Others like the mid range stuff, but if someone is trying to kill me, I want all the power I can handle.

You can do most of your range work with mild loads and finish up with a couple cylinders of your carry ammo, or handloaded equivalent, when practicing. That will save you from taking a needless beating, but keep you used to your defensive ammo.

You can run any of the factory (Big 3) stuff out of it.
Just remember to wear your sun screen, when you do!

I frequently carry my 29 and 629 and I almost never shoot anything but .44 Special in them. My carry load comes from Custom Cartridge:
http://www.customcartridge.com/products/index.php

I shoot the "Supercharged" line. I like the 210 grain gold dot round that gets a bit over 1,100 fps from a six inch barrel. My guns are six and a half and six so I am getting close to that in velocity.
My practice rounds are either Miwall reloads or my own. I use 240 grain lead with Winchester 231 powder. If memory serves, the load is about 5 grains (I'd have to look as I haven't loaded any in a while).

My early 629 sees only heavy 44 special type loads in magnum cases, I've lost 2 model 29's to too much magnum ammo! I'll not lose this one! My favorite load is a 250gr Keith bullet over 10gr. of Unique, about an 1150 fps load in it's 6" barrel. Plenty powerful for anything i'll be shooting at and you and your model 29 will last a looong time with this load. I keep Federals barnes X bullet load in my 44's for SD, i wouldn't fret much over how loud or flashy a SD load is, when and if you ever need to use your 44 you will not hear the report or see the flash, trust me.

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Sie vis pacem parabellum

The Federal 200 grain SWC-HP .44 Special has a lot ot offer as a self-defense round if you don't want to or haven't practised enough with the full house magnums to handle them comfortably. The Federal load uses a soft lead bullet that gives decent expansion, adaquet penetration for human targets, low recoil for quick recovery and is very plesant to shoot.

If you want somthing more powerful in a factory loading, try the Winchester 210 grain Silvertip .44 magnum. Not a full house load but noticably stiffer than the Federal special load.

With handloads, I like a 200 - 240 grain wadcutter or SWC at about 1000 fps. If that won't kill it, I probably ought not to be shooting it with a pistol in the first place!

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Big bang, much smash'em.

......and noticably lighter than the Federal magnum load (180 gr.). The Silvertip is a good one. It overpenetrated with my heavy clothing test, but did great into bare Perma-Gel (and hit like a ton of freaking bricks). Those who tend toward deeper penetration will like it, and the expanded diameters were impressive. It is scary accurate in my gun also.

I had forgotten about the "FBI load on steroids" (.44 spl. LSWCHP). Thanks for jogging my memory, 44.

I use Sierra 240s and winchester 296 for mags, cast 240 SWCs and Bullseye for specials.

I hunt with the magnums & target shoot with the specials,

My standard target load is a 240 gr. LSWC over 8gr. of 231. I've shot as low as 5 gr., but I like 8gr. more. I'ts got enough "pop" but is not abusive.

Jeff

A great load for practice/plinking (and to demonstrate how versital the .44 is) is 5.5g. of universal under the Lee 240g. swc tumble lube bullet in special cases. The recoil is so slight, you will be amazed! It's a great contrast to the more thumping rounds, and will really highlight how much you are fliching if you mix it in with some magnum rounds in the cylinder. It averages out at 728fps. out of the 3" 29 i have. 240 g. at 728 fps. is nothing to sneeze at, out of a longer barrel you would probably getting into .45acp territory, at least on paper.
I shoot mostly the unique loads already mentioned by fellow members above. I also dabble with the "usual" powders- H110, 2400, no9, 4227's. Don't overlook Lil'gun for both magnum and +P specials.

I use Montana Gold 240 gr JSP, 19 grains of 2400 and Federal Primers. I shoot about 200 44 Rem Mag per week in several guns.

All are reloaded on an RCBS Pro loader. Good luck.

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Mike

Mods 10 25 27 29 586 617 625 627 686
RCBS Pro 2000

Docent, it sounds like you are a relatively new shooter, and not a handloader. I recommend you try the Blazer 200 grain GDHP in .44 Special. They are relatively inexpensive as .44s go, so good for practice. It turns out they are also great for home defense. Experiment with the .44 Magnum rounds later after you become proficient with the Specials. This is the round I'm talking about:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/63215-5.html

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

200 g rnfp ,cast, 3.7 bullseye. magnum or special case. accuracy.

My 29 has had a steady diet of 7grs of IMR 700X and 240gr LSWC. Kinda an upper mid-range load.
I use H110 for hot loads, but to be honest it has been so long that I dont remember what the load was. WW296 is good too, as is 2400 but I have always preferred H110.

When I carry a 44 in town for defense, it is stoked with Gold Dot 200 44 special loads. At the ranch, I use handloads. Mostly, it's a 240/255 swc ( the 255 is a true Keith type) at just under 1000 fps. The only time I use my magnum handload (240 jhp or the 255 Keith swc over 24.0 H110) is when I hunt. I have three 44 magnums that have never seen a magnum case.

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Parson Colt, the preacher's kid

I like 250 gr XTP's. They are very accurate out of my S&W 629 4". I get them loaded by a friend who is a commercial reloader and have not found a DEER that likes them.

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I BACK OUR BLUE

For practice and competition, Rainer 200 gr truncated cone plated bullets in Starline magnum cases with 6.5 grains of W231. Feels like a good, solid 44 Special.

For defense, Hornady 180 grain 44 Special XTP.

For serious use, Fiocchi 240 grain SJSP 44 Magnums. This is powerful stuff.

I use a varity of .44 special loads. I rarely use magnums in a handgun. I will load magnums into one of my M29's If I am going hiking or camping in areas with dangerouns animals. I do however find magnums quite useful in a carbine.

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Formerly know as Lucky Derby

For "social work" I tend to keep my 4'' 29 stoked with 200 grain Gold Dot SB. I only use a couple other loads and one other bullet.

6.5 grains of Bullseye under a 255 Keith with a good stiff roll crimp and WLPP gets me a bit over a 1000 FPS that is scary accurate and clean burning. This is my hunting and woods load

20-21 grains of 2400 under a 255 Keith with a WLPP gets me a bit over 1200 FPS with good accuracy and punch. Like shooting this load at bowling pins and long range.

I try to shoot 50-75 rounds a week

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"I have to return some video tapes"

I also reload and I use the specials exclusively in my 29-2 4". I personally have no need for the magnums, as I mostly punch paper, however I find myself loading 180gr JHPs over 6.3grs of Bullseye lately. This load produces roughly 850fps +/- depending on barrel length, plus it is pleasant to shoot. Thanks.

My favorite in Ruger SBH 7.5" was handloaded 215 gr 429215 GC @ .4305 or so in Mag case over 8.5 Old Unique with enough dry rolled oats [yes!] to meet seated and moderately crimped bullet base, lighted by CCI standard LP primer. My source of these bullets dried up, regrettably.

Safe in my revolvers and accurate ~ scant 1.5 " @ 25 yds, benched, iron sights. YMMV...

Never handloaded much for my Smiths 44s

Regards,

Dyson