Light .44 Special loads w Hornady 240 SWCHP?

[jtcarm]

I need a light load along the lines of the old 246 LRN for a newly-acquired .44 Hand Ejector Second Model. I'm thinking of trying the swaged Hornady bullets, either the SWCHP, but if someone knows of a better commercial cast or swaged bullet, I'm open to that, especially a wadcutter around 200 grains. I don't want to have to buy a box of 500 just to try them out.

I used to cast and am out of my home-cast stock, so I haven't bought commercial handgun bullets in over a decade. Back then they all seemed undersized and over-hard.

Thanks!

James

[arjay]

I used some of the Hornadys years ago in mild 44 mag loads when I couldn't find cast bullets.I seem to remember they were accurate and there was no leading.I think I loaded them with 7 gr of unique in 44 mag brass.

[Aticus]

You want light loads for 44 Spl? Check out Trail Boss powder. Trail Boss is made for low velocity loads in large cases for cowboy action shooters. Works for me!

[BUFF]

I have shot the Speer swaged SWC of the same weight as the Hornaday and it probably provides similar results. 4.0 grains of Bullseye or 5.5 grains of Unique both come close to duplicating the velocity and pressure of the W-W 246 grain RNL factory load, about 700 fps or so out of several of my guns, and both strike at about the same point of impact as the factory load, as well. The Bullseye load has been a bit more accurate for me. I use the same powders and charges when I want light stuff using my home cast 250 grain SWC and both work well for that.

Winchester's data says that 5.4 grains of 231 also duplicates their traditional 246 grain load. I like 231 for light to medium loads and intend to try it out in .44 Special some day.

[jtcarm]

Thanks Buff, that's exactly what I was looking for.

[Vulcan Bob]

Plus one for Buff, I use 5.3 of Bullseye with standard primer with good results. Brian Pearce in an artical in Handloader magazine stated that the Hornady LSW-HP expands at 800fps or so.

[BUFF]

I think that loads in the original 246 grain/700 fps .44 Special range have a lot of utility. They hit closer to point-of-aim than the other same-pressure factory loadings like the Federal lead 200 grain SWC-HP or the Winchester 200 grain Silvertip, which tend to shoot quite low in the older, full size guns. Not to mention, in light guns like the Charter Arms Bulldog, heavier loads like the Skelton 7.5 Unique/250 SWC kick quite a bit harder.

I like the 4.0 Bullseye/250 gr SWC load in my Triple Lock, no sense stressing that fine old gun. It is also great for introducing shooters to big bore revolvers. The original 246 gr RNL W-W and R-P shoot well in all guns I have tried them in but they are both quite expensive and I like the nice clean holes that a SWC cuts in paper better than the ragged one from round nose bullets. As well, as I age, I find that the 700 fps velocity gives a 250 grain bullet all the power it needs to fully penetrate a paper target and cardboard backer at 25 yards, which is sometimes all I need!

James, let us know how the swaged Hornaday bullets shoot for you.

Speaking of the original factory loads, on those rare occasions when I buy them, I buy the Winchester flavor. The brass is superior. I have had 2 or 3 R-P cartridge cases per box split length-wise on their first shooting! I have never had a W-W .44 Special case fail even after numerous shootings with both the mild, the Skeeter loads or a few Elmer Keith Memorial loads.

I have tried a couple of boxes of factory "cowboy" loads from 2 makers, but they were both filthy and accuracy was unimpressive. They aren't cheap, either.

I bought 1,000 brand new Starline .44 Special cases a while ago. I haven't tried them yet but I have had excellent results and longevity from other Starline brass I have tried and don't expect their .44 Special brass to be any lesser quality.

[STCM(SW)]

My target load for my 1923 .44 Target is 4.3 gr of TB under a 204 gr WC I mold.
Maybe molding is the way to go as the guy who sell HBWC's for the .44 seems to never have them in stock.....

[Forrest r]

The hbwc's (220g) have become my go-to bullet for the 44spl. They are easy to load & I've ended up with some excellent target loads with them & be, ww231, ww452 & universal clays so far. Those are the only powders I've tested/used so far, any powder & a light load seems to work with these bullets.

I went thru 100#+ of the hbwc bullets so far this year, my 624 eats them like candy. Cast up another 25# of them last week to refill the empty 44spl cases.



If you can find/buy these bullets, get them. They flat out shoot with low velocity/pressure loads.

[chriske]

5.3 to 5.4 W-231 under a 240 Gr SWC always worked fine for me.

My new pet load in .44 Spl is 4.3 Gr of VV N-320 behind a 220 Gr hollowbased , copperpated full wadcutter

[jtcarm]

Wow, what mold is that? And where can you buy the HBWCs?

I think I'm going to have to return to casting. I found a couple hundred of my LBT Ogival Wadcutters, .431/230 gn in my shed and was reminded of how much better my home cast were vs commercial.

The one on the left is an LBT .431 280gn WFN.

IMG_0969.JPG

[jimkim]

This looks like that HBWC. 215 Grain Hollow Base Wadcutter (.430) [430-215-HBWC] - $14.00 : Matts Bullets Still looking for the mould number.

[STCM(SW)]

He has been out of stock on that bullet for some time now....