I'm now the proud new owner of a M-29-3 6" Nickel. I just couldn't resist it while trolling for a M-57. I STILL want the 57 and I'll fall into one eventually. Since this is a -3, I know it will just fall apart at a moment's notice. I'll only be punching paper with it for now so I want to develop the right light load for it using my favorite powder, 700-X. All my other calibers are done and I'm happy with them. For the .44 I just ordered a Lee 6-hole mold 240g SWC. From what my books say, the load ranges from 8.4g to 9.5g and the .44 Special ranges from 4.3g to 4.9g. My thought is a 3.5g starting point and I'll load 5 rds. each at 3.5g, 3.7g, 3.9g, 4.1g and 4.3g and see if that range will seal-up the brass and make the bullet go out the other end. To put that in perspective, 3.5g is my .45ACP accuracy load.

Any sage advice? I think that 700-X is a well kept secret or I just have the right loads in the right guns. It's clean, cheap, accurate and versatile.

First of all congratulations on your 44 Mag.

I have a couple of 29 dash 2's that I have had since the early 1970's.

They have been shot a LOT, and carried as work guns. I have had the 4" tuned up twice and the 6 1/2" once. They are still going strong.

And I am talking several thousand rounds each....

My 45 ACP bullseye pistol load is 3.8 gr. HS-700X, Rem 2.5 LP primer, behind 185 gr. Star LSWCHP - very accurate at 25 yards. HS-700X provides some very accurate loads in pistol cartridges with lead bullets. However in my expereince it is not clean burning as you always get many unburned powder grains over your shooting hand. In 44 Special with 246 gr. Keith LSWC, 4.2 gr. HS-700X and FLP gave me 629 fps. I have recently switched to Trail Boss for all my lead bullet revolver loads.

I have a 29-3 that I have shot literally 1000's of rounds through using 7grs of 700X under a 240 cast SWC. It is extremely accurate, clocks right at 1000fps making it warm enough for deer, but mild enough you can shoot it all day without getting beat up.

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C M Brier CPA, CIA, CFE

My best load (out of a Redhawk) for 700-X with the 240 SWC was 4.4 grs. Over time, however, I couldn't get the accuracy I wanted and switched to Unique. I found 6.5 grs. Unique to be a "real good load" (from my logbook).

A M57 no dash like this?



I use a 200 gr wadcutter in my M29-1 with SR4756, but I use .44 Special brass.

Nice picture! You have a good eye...and a nice revolver! My new one is 6" nickel, it's still in transit but I just cast a bucket of 240g SWC from a mix of WW and linotype, water dropped and lubed with Liquid Alox. If I shoot this a bunch, I'm going to go through a LOT of lead, these boolits are HUGE!

I gotta ask: What is the wisdom of the 29-3 "falling apart at a moment"s notice"?

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Old thread, but I’m sure that was said tongue in cheek. There’s a preference for pinned and recessed guns, but the 29-3 is just as strong as the 29-2.

Later guns with the endurance package are even more durable.

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"I also cook."

Yes , this is an old thread but to those that might read it I want to share my experience of 700X in the 44 magnum using a 240 gr bullet . Mike Venturino , of Handloader magazine had an article in 2019 . He recommended 7.0 grs in a 44 mag case using a 240 gr bullet and 6.0grs in a 44 special . They ran about 950 fps in either. I have used both and felt they were just right and would not go higher . Regards, Paul

I have been using these exact loads for decades. My 29-3 has consumed 8 12lb kegs of 700x at 7gr per round. I will let you do the math

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C M Brier CPA, CIA, CFE