Have a couple short barreled .44's, 629-4 and a 29-4. Would like some data specifically for the shorter barrels using Hornady XTP's. Some medium loads I think, nothing that will beat the guns up too much. Target practice mainly is the goal. I havn't got into using lead bullets yet. My search revealed most data here was geared more towards lead bullets.

XTP's are about the only thing readily available locally to me, which is why I want to use them. 180, 200, or 240gr loads welcome. Probably will need to order some powder, as I only have Power Pistol, H110, and VV N320 on hand at the moment. Thanks for any help in the matter,,,

44 mag case, 11.0 grains unique, Fed 150 primer, 180 grain xtp or Rem sjhp and hard LFC. about 1250 fps from 4 inch. Extermely accurate from pistol with tighter chamber mouths.

Power pistol may alos be good with the 180 grainers, but have not tried it.

Go to the Hodgdon web site load data.

Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

If you need to get powder also, there is plenty to pick from. HP 38/Win 231 will load pretty much anything. For low to medium loads it works fine. There is specific data for the 180 gr XTP. You can use the data for other bullets of the same weight and JHP.

You have H110 which is "the" magnum powder but can not be reduced much. Pretty much all or nothing.

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Still Running Against the Wind

W231 will do what you want. 2400 will give more velocity and probably a little better accuracy if you ever decide to try some stouter loads.

How shore is the barrel?
Below 4 inches I would suggest something faster burning than Unique.
WW231 would be a good choice.
Unique will leave a bunch of unburned powder in a short barrel and quite a muzzle flash.

For full magnum loads I use H110/296. Lately I have been playing with IMR4227. You can load full power loads, but can also reduce it significantly for mid range loads. I tried 20 gr of IMR4227 with a 240XTP. It is very accurate and the recoil is like a 44 SPL. Please verify this load on the IMR site. Don't take mine or anyone's word on powder charges.

Kevin

If you're looking for full power loads you already have the powder you need, H110. Check the Hodgdon Load Data Site for load data. Some of their data was made with XTP bullets.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

The 629 is a ported trail boss, so 3". The 29 is 3" with no ports.


That's kind of why I was asking. Interweb opinion seems to be, 110 isn't the best for shorter barrel loads either. Too much unburnt powder making fireballs. Thanks,,,


ETA: I was going to pick some IMR4227 for subsonic loads in a rifle, so I will probably try a few loads of 4227 from the Hodgdon manual in the pistols.

Welcome to the forum.

I am wondering if you are saying in your model descriptions that your revolvers are 4" barrels or dash 4's.

Since you want plinking loads, although those bullets are pretty expensive for that task, pick a fast powder. The N320 you have will do well and there will be little left over flash and bang at the end of the tube.

W231/HP-38, SR4756, Unique, Universal Clays and a lot of other powders in that burn range will work exceptionally well for what you are trying to accomplish.

If it were me, cast, all the way. Unique or Universal Clays too.

Just me though. Get a good reloading manual or take Rule 3's suggestion and get Hodgdon's data from the web. All of the powder manufacturer's have data here on the WWW.

Hope this helps.

Loads that work in 8" bbls work in 3" bbls too, you just get more blast & flash. For a 3", I would be happy shooting nothing but Unique under any bullet wt. Sure it's not giving you a max vel load, slower powders ALWAYS give highest vel regardless of bbl length, but you will pay for that in flash & bang. Using a 240grXTP o/ 10gr of Unique is a good stout load not pushing max. You want more vel than that, you have to go slower powders. Powders faster than Unique will jsut ruin out fo vel room sooner. Fine for soft low vel loads, but no place trying to make serious vel regardless of bbl length.
FWIW, IMR4227 is almost as slow as H110, still going to get flash & bang there, but I do like it w/ lead bullets. My 44mags never see jacketed bullets except for the occasional testing of data. Lead bullets & the 44mag are like PB&J.

Use the starting loads from the manuals for the powders you already have. There is such a thing as going too low, so stick with published loading data to avoid the possibility of sticking a jacketed bullet in the bore. In such a large case, I too would stick to Unique, and powders around the same burning rate. I prefer to see a case at least half full of powder.

I can get Unique locally as well. I don't have anything against lead bullets, just don't have any experience loading them yet. Is loading them basically the same as loading jacketed bullets? Crimp and all? Thanks for the help,,,

Yep just adjust your bullet seating stem and crimp for the specific bullet you end up using.I've used 240 gr lead semi wadcutters in my 44 mags for years with 7-10 grains of unique for mild to medium loads

Look in the load data section for some 4" barrel load ideas with different powders.

Load data

Pretty much, BUT, you need to match the bullet dia to the bore &/or the cyl throats. Jacketed bullets are much more forgiving, accuracy can be ruined & you'll get leading shooting lead bullets too small. For most guns, 0.001" larger than groove dia yields good results. So 0.430"-0.431" or larger for lead bullets often works fine. Some S&W have larger throats, some Rugers smaller, so check that. A slightly larger throat isn't bad but a smaller throat will size the bullet down & you'll get terrible leading, even w/ hard cast bullets.

Although there's nothing wrong with Unique for the most part it's not on my list for mid-range magnum rounds. I like HS-6 and Longshot much better. Both will meter much better than Unique.

HS-6, my preference, will work very well for both lead and jacketed bullets and Longshot works better with jacketed bullets more than lead bullets. (it burns a little hot for lead bullets)

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I load 9.5 grains of Unique for 200 grain XTP in my light weight S&W 329PD, 4" .

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Hook686

For midrange self defense loads I use the 200 gn with 10 gns of Universal Clays. it should give you in the neighborhood of 1150+ fps in the short tube. Very accurate load and burns cleaner than Unique.

Now, here is a NEWS FLASH!

Just kidding. One thing AA left out, use magnum primers with HS-6 and you will like it much better!

Thanks for the help guys. I have an old 26th edition hodgdon manual, and of course the online one to guide me. They just didn't have too many XTP loads listed. Maily JHP's in the same weight. Probably will try to find a hornady manual too,,,

Gonna play with some unique for now. Since the HS-6, and others have to be mail ordered.

As I mention. The online site gives specific data for the 180 gr XTP

For the other weights just use the same weight and style bullet.

I have the new Hornady #8 manual so if you need data for other weight XTP's with Unique, as that is the only powder listed in the data for all of them, just let me know by PM.

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Still Running Against the Wind

The first clover leaf I ever shot was at 15 yards with 180 gr. XTPs over 7.5 grains of Unique. My 696 loves these bullets. I just wish they were cheaper. I usually shoot lead SWC to save money.

I have a box of 200gr XTP bullets I'm anxious to try out as well. But in the meantime I've been shooting 240gr LSWCs over 7.0-7.5gr Unique out of a 2.5" 629-1, ported with wood grips (because they look nice ). Very accurate at 7-10yds and easy to shoot.

Vihtavuori has loads for the XTP bullets using N320. Check their reloading guide online. You might have all you need, between it and the H110.

I do like Unique and Universal Clays for my 44 shorties, about 9-10 gr behind a 250gr KLSWC is a good load. I have yet to try HS-6, but I also have a bunch on hand, so maybe I'll get around to that. too.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

6gr of Bullseye behind a 240gr cast bullet is a pleasure to shoot out of my 3" model 29 and quite accurate. And I'm sure will do just fine with an XTP bullet of the same weight.

I found VV N110 to be almost identical, in charge weight & velocity, as 2400, but without the flash & blast. It's a whole lot cleaner too, but unfortunately twice as expensive. I was using 16.4gr under a LaserCast 240gr. bullet.