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Old 04-01-2012, 03:13 AM
Derek.38 Derek.38 is offline
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Default 44 special loads in magnum brass

I was just wondering should I use .44 special data as its printed or increase it to compensate for the longer case?
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Old 04-01-2012, 03:38 AM
steveno steveno is offline
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chronograph some of the loads and see if this is the power range you are looking for. I use the same powder charge and bullet in 38 special and 357 magnum cases and there isn't enough difference to worry about.
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Old 04-01-2012, 06:52 AM
Marksman Marksman is offline
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I shoot the "Skeeter load" of 7.5gr. Unique in my .44 Magnum. I mostly use 200gr. RNFP bullets with this load, sometimes 240-250 SWC though. Skeeter developed this load for the .44 Special, it works well for me in the .44 Magnum. Enough power, accurate and pleasant to shoot.
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Old 04-01-2012, 11:51 AM
TSQUARED TSQUARED is offline
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I shoot real light loads with the Lyman #429421 and Trail Boss powder.
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Old 04-01-2012, 12:23 PM
MikeChandler MikeChandler is offline
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I loaded up a bunch at 7.4 gr Unique using the Redline 240 gr hard cast LSWC in magnum brass with standard large remington pistol primers.

I'll be taking my chronograph with me to the range today - first I've got to find a replacement rod or dowel. My wife hit one of the support rods with her 9mm. It was a definite LOL.
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Old 04-01-2012, 12:45 PM
Aticus Aticus is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek.38 View Post
I was just wondering should I use .44 special data as its printed or increase it to compensate for the longer case?
Try Hornady's 8th edition manual page 983 or Speer's 14th edition page 946. You might find what you're looking for.

Pecos
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Old 04-01-2012, 02:42 PM
retired2006 retired2006 is offline
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Look on Hogdon's reloading website, they have "cowboy loads" data listed that should help you out, if you are loading cast bullets.
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Old 04-01-2012, 06:37 PM
Curt Blunt Curt Blunt is offline
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I typically bump up the Special load half a grain with the faster powders (Red Dot and Unigue, for instance). Seems to work well.
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Old 04-01-2012, 07:42 PM
BoDog BoDog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Curt Blunt View Post
I typically bump up the Special load half a grain with the faster powders (Red Dot and Unigue, for instance). Seems to work well.
Just rember accuracy trumps velocity any day, you have plenty of gun try several loads.
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Old 04-02-2012, 09:56 AM
lscocoa lscocoa is offline
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I use 4.5 gr. of Trail Boss in .44 mag. cases . It's a fun lite load that shoots great in all my .44's , mainly used in my mountain gun .
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:59 AM
chriske chriske is offline
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Provided your .44 Special load is NOT max, increase its powder charge 10% for use in Magnum brass (I do that with 38Sp laods in 357Mag cases as well)
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Old 04-24-2012, 11:16 AM
sixshot sixshot is offline
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Usually takes about 1 more grain of the same powder to duplicate the same load in the larger case. 7.5 grs of Unique in a 44 special = 8.5 of Unique in the 44 maggie, not exact but close.

Dick
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Old 04-24-2012, 12:06 PM
EarlFH EarlFH is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sixshot View Post
Usually takes about 1 more grain of the same powder to duplicate the same load in the larger case. 7.5 grs of Unique in a 44 special = 8.5 of Unique in the 44 maggie, not exact but close.

Dick
Most reloading manuals, recommend NOT using any loads in 44 Mag. brass, lighter than the loads in the manual for 44 Mags. They've been known to cause explosions, if you do.

EarlFH
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  #14  
Old 04-24-2012, 12:54 PM
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In a magnum case, Lyman 429421 over 7g W231.

Try it, you'll like it.
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Old 04-24-2012, 01:35 PM
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You can increase it a bit but pretty much a moot point as you'll discover.
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Old 04-24-2012, 01:38 PM
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7-10 gr of unique with a 240 gr lswc will give you a nice range of loads from 700-1000 fps.
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Old 04-24-2012, 01:48 PM
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When I load a "Special" pressure load in a magnum case I usually use the Max charge from the Special load data in the Magnum case. That seems to work very well for me...
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Old 04-24-2012, 03:09 PM
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There are very few powders that react badly that we use, for the most part, if we have just a hint less than what is 'The Norm"...however, I've seen were some try to reverse this thought! Now that's dumb!

Knew a fella some years ago that would not listen to ANY oldtime reloader and he insisted that he knew what he was doing....famous last words...he "knew" that if he loaded mag loads in a spl case it was just all fine and dandy...This idiot destroyed a hand built fully engraved Colt SSA in .44Spl with a very hot mag load of powder crushed into a spl case! He was unharmed, but his weapon was trashed. He asked me to rebuild it for him. I instructed him the closest directions toward the gates of hades...I don't associate with morons that have firearms!

Thank goodness we have good folks here that use their heads and understand safe practice...That's why I like it here. Our folks LOOK way ahead before they ever think of a leap into the unknown. Good on all of ya'll!

Wade

Last edited by An Old Ranger; 04-24-2012 at 03:11 PM. Reason: spelling error
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pecos Bill View Post
Try Hornady's 8th edition manual page 983 or Speer's 14th edition page 946. You might find what you're looking for.

Pecos
I just looked @ pg. 946...very nice! .2gr more unique in the Mag case w/ the same 240gr bullet, slower, but good to go.
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Old 04-25-2012, 10:15 PM
MMA10mm MMA10mm is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EarlFH View Post
Most reloading manuals, recommend NOT using any loads in 44 Mag. brass, lighter than the loads in the manual for 44 Mags. They've been known to cause explosions, if you do.

EarlFH
98% wrong. Only with powders such as W296 / H110 is there such a warning, and it is very true in that case. But, with the vast majority of powders, and especially Unique, this is not an issue. Other than ultra-slow ball powders, if a load is strong enough to propel a bullet out of the barrel, there is no risk of a detonation or "SEE" event.

My standard moderate-to-light 44 Magnum load is 7.0-7.5grs of W231 under a 225gr-270gr lead bullet. This gives me around 850-950 fps out of handguns and just under 1100fps in rifles. It's very mild, pleasant load with decent power - just about what most people are looking for in a 44-Special-load-in-a-44-MAG-case.
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Old 04-29-2012, 01:12 AM
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Do you have to add a filler material to the case to make up for the low powder charge? I'm assuming that the powder fill is kind of low with a normal, not wadcutter, bullet.
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Old 04-29-2012, 01:56 AM
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Default case filler

I always use polyester fiber to fill my cases but looking over thousands of post's, handloading data and just general discussion, i have been told it doesn't matter if you use it or not, it's all in the primer to powder ignition and personal preference.
Here's what i did find out by trial and error.
I loaded some starline brass with win. primer, 12.8 g of 2400/w a lcsw 240g. i loaded 48 cases with and 48 cases without the filler. I found that the cases with no filler left un-burned powder in the barrel.but being a very slow powder (2400), that was to be expected. here's what got me though and why i use filler. those with the poly burned all the powder clean. a difference in accuracy was impossible to tell @ 25 yds.
This is a very mild load and shot from a 4" barrel. I would not shoot it from a barrel any longer than the one stated. because you could almost see the bullet fly to the target.
I didn't crono it as i will never use this load for anything.
it was just something to do on a day i was bored

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Old 04-30-2012, 09:41 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MMA10mm View Post
98% wrong. Only with powders such as W296 / H110 is there such a warning, and it is very true in that case. But, with the vast majority of powders, and especially Unique, this is not an issue. Other than ultra-slow ball powders, if a load is strong enough to propel a bullet out of the barrel, there is no risk of a detonation or "SEE" event.

My standard moderate-to-light 44 Magnum load is 7.0-7.5grs of W231 under a 225gr-270gr lead bullet. This gives me around 850-950 fps out of handguns and just under 1100fps in rifles. It's very mild, pleasant load with decent power - just about what most people are looking for in a 44-Special-load-in-a-44-MAG-case.
I gotta give your load a try in my 8 3/8" barrel 29-2.

Tom
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Old 05-04-2012, 09:37 PM
alank2 alank2 is offline
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Hi,

My favorite comfort load in 44mag brass is 240gr with 7.5gr of VV n320. Shoots nice without beating me up.

Good luck,

Alan
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Old 05-05-2012, 09:11 AM
MichiganScott MichiganScott is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waho View Post
Do you have to add a filler material to the case to make up for the low powder charge? I'm assuming that the powder fill is kind of low with a normal, not wadcutter, bullet.
I've used fillers with some loads in the past, but find it to be too time consuming. I prefer to find an accurate load that works without fillers.

arjay's suggested load works well. 10gr. of Unique is my favorite, with 8gr a close second.
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Old 05-05-2012, 06:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MMA10mm View Post
98% wrong. Only with powders such as W296 / H110 is there such a warning, and it is very true in that case. But, with the vast majority of powders, and especially Unique, this is not an issue. Other than ultra-slow ball powders, if a load is strong enough to propel a bullet out of the barrel, there is no risk of a detonation or "SEE" event.

My standard moderate-to-light 44 Magnum load is 7.0-7.5grs of W231 under a 225gr-270gr lead bullet. This gives me around 850-950 fps out of handguns and just under 1100fps in rifles. It's very mild, pleasant load with decent power - just about what most people are looking for in a 44-Special-load-in-a-44-MAG-case.
Yep, I agree. For all intents and purposes, a .44 Special load in a .44 Magnum case is safe but will produce lower pressures and velocities (except with H110/W296). I'm sure too light of a load may cause a bullet to stick in the barrel, but that would be a pretty light Special load.

Yahoo! 1st post in a new-to-me forum...

Last edited by mikld; 05-08-2012 at 11:26 AM.
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