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  #1  
Old 03-15-2016, 12:25 AM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Default Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?

Looking at some of these for hand loading some low-end magnum/+P special SD rounds for a 23 ounce 44 snubbie.
Anybody loaded and shot any?
Do they expand at velocities under 1000 FPS?
Can they be pushed that fast?
Can they even be pushed fast enough for reliable expansion?

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Old 03-15-2016, 01:10 AM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Brian Pearce said they will expand at 800fps, I think.
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Old 03-15-2016, 01:24 AM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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They probably will,I do remember them leading at 800 fps
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Old 03-15-2016, 02:29 AM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Hornady #8 lists that bullet (#11118) as having a muzzle range of 600-1100fps. How fast it'll run in your gun, without leading, depends on how well they work together.

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Old 03-15-2016, 08:31 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Hmmn, leading at only 800 fps? That doesn't sound all that encouraging....
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Old 03-15-2016, 09:00 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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It was about ten years ago that I tried a box if I remember right (always a gamble!) I think that 7 gr of unique gave me good accuracy with a bit of leading,but any more than that,things went south.
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Old 03-15-2016, 11:04 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Despite what the manufactures claim the swaged SWC bullets will
usually lead bores at 800 fps or even less. I have had good results
with 38 caliber RN Hornady swaged bullets at around 725 fps but I
haven't pushed them any faster. My experience with .44 and .45 cal
SWC bullets at around 800 fps was not good. If you read most of
Brian's articles you will see that swaged big bore bullets will usually
lead bores at pretty low velocities.
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Old 03-15-2016, 11:07 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Well, I guess I know why they are about half to two-thirds the price of the cheapest jacketed HP bullets.

Just curious, anybody tried cast lead bullets with copper gas check bases? Will the gas checks eliminate the leading issue?

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Old 03-16-2016, 09:55 AM
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If they are swaged lead bullets, they AIN'T hard lead.
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Old 03-16-2016, 10:36 AM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BC38 View Post
Well, I guess I know why they are about half to two-thirds the price of the cheapest jacketed HP bullets.

Just curious, anybody tried case lead bullets with copper gas check bases? Will the gas checks eliminate the leading issue?

Ive used cast 44s up to 1100 fps with no leading at all.Those have old fashioned lube on them and no gas checks.
They were cheaper than swaged also.
These new plastic coatings are getting great reviews pushing cast bullets even faster,but I haven't tried them yet.Ive got a lot of the old stuff left still.
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  #11  
Old 03-16-2016, 12:11 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnK View Post
If they are swaged lead bullets, they AIN'T hard lead.
Just quoting what Hornady said about them in their product description.

Of course "hard" is a relative term. What Hornady calls hard Lyman or someone else may call soft. They didn't give them a brinell rating...
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Old 03-16-2016, 08:26 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BC38 View Post
Well, I guess I know why they are about half to two-thirds the price of the cheapest jacketed HP bullets.

Just curious, anybody tried cast lead bullets with copper gas check bases? Will the gas checks eliminate the leading issue?
Cast lead bullets that are normally much harder than swaged
bullets have been available with copper gas checks for many
years. Several Lyman mold designs are for gas check bullets.
I have no personal experience with them but they do seem
to greatly reduce leading. The drawbacks are that cost of
purchased bullets as well as handload pressures are more
in line with jacketed bullets than cast bullets. With most
of the vendor bullets available today being Magna designs
gas check bullets are not as common as they used to be but
they are available. Overall the best compromise between
soft swaged bullets and jacketed bullets is the plain old
hard cast plain base bullet.
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Old 03-16-2016, 11:26 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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So how do the harder cast expand compared to the softer swagged at the lower velocities? I'm thinking probably not as well.

I'm also thinking about trying some Berry's 240gr copper-plated hollow-point bullets too. Being swagged lead with copper plating, I'm thinking they would be the best of both worlds. Soft enough to expand easily at lower velocities but copper plated to prevent leading.

Anybody tried those?

Basically I'm wanting to do is to load some 44 mag cases, with slightly hotter than 44 special loads but not as hot as 44 magnums. I'm looking for SD loads that will have very manageable recoil in a 2" five shot 44 magnum, but that will still have enough velocity for reliable expansion, and more muzzle energy than the 44 specials.

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Old 03-16-2016, 11:37 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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My experience with swaged Hornady bullets is mixed. They seem to lead easily towards 1,000 fps.. At least that soft lead is much easier to remove than leading from harder cast bullets. The Hornady are very sensitive to case tension. Their textured bearing surface is easily squeezed in by brass that's correctly expanded for cast, plated and jacketed bullets. I have quit using them since I have better results with coated cast bullets which are easier to load, more accurate and with much less leading.
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Old 03-17-2016, 07:35 AM
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I think you're putting the cart before the horse with a couple of different things.

1000fps from a 240gr bullet with a 2" bbl is a pretty hot load. Hot load ='s high pressure & high pressure ='s leading.

I'd try a couple bullets and see if they lead, if they do try coating them with something like johnson's paste wax for furnature. Let it dry and load a test run of them.

Lead bullets are faster than jacketed bullets and most of the time, coated bullets are faster than lead bullets, hence milder/less pressure for the same velocity.

A little hp 101:
When choosing a hp you need to actually look at the hp itself. Same bullet with 3 different styles/types of hp.



The penta hp is at it's best in the 800 to 1000fps range.
The large round hp is 1000 to 1200fps
The small round hp is 1200fps to 1400fps

Another example of the difference in hp's.



A article from a 1953 rifleman magazine on 4 different hp bullets for the 44cal (4 of them with a cutaway picture to be able to see the actual hp size/shape). The article also shows how the different hp's expanded at different speeds when made from different alloys.

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/4...20rifleman.pdf

I know a little about hp's in the snubnosed 44's, carried a 2" & 2/12" bbl'd bulldog (44spl) for decades and have tried allot of different hp's over the years in them. At the end of the day I've found that bullets in the 200gr to 220gr weight range made out of 8bhn/9bhn alloy are the best bullets for a snubnosed 44cal revolver. Bullets in that weight range with rival 45acp/5" bbl'd 1911 ballistics. Not bad for a snubnosed revolver.

One of my favorite 44cal hp's, it's a 200gr hp "thompson" design.



There's a 158gr thompson bullet for the 38spl/357 (358156) and a 250gr thompson bullet for the 44spl/mag (429244). The 429244 is hard to get enough velocity on it in 2" bbl's to make it reliable. Typical lyman hp pins for the 44cal are .156 for pistols and .140 for rifles. Allot of people don't know this and buy a hp mold thinking they are the same because the pin looks the same. Anyway, that h&g #142 200gr hp is actually a well designed bullet. It has a .160 hp pin that makes a deep (solid version is 220gr) hole. With an alloy around 9bhn it expands extremely well in the 800fps to 1000fps range.

Another favorite hp for the snubnosed 44's, a 220gr hbwc. People turn the 148gr hbwc's around all the time and use them in 38spl's. This just happens to be the 148gr hbwc's bigger brother.



That bullet was shot from a snubnosed 44spl.

For any slow moving bullet you want a large deep hp, the faster the bullet goes, the smaller the hp. I currently own/use/shoot 7 different hp molds for the 44cal's along with swaging my own jacketed hp's.

A 265gr home swaged jacketed hp, as you can see the hp is huge but shallow.



It is designed to put the smack on anything it gets a hold of 75yds to 100yds down range. That's why the test at 1100fps into wet paper @25yds. Full house loads will be doing 1100fps @ 75yds and that's how that bullet will perform @100yds.

If I was making that bullet for 7yds/30ft for a 44cal snubnose it would have the same hp design but be in the 220gr/225gr weight range.

Next time you go shopping for hp's the 1st thing you need to do is figure out how fast they will be going and then choose a hp design/shape/depth that will have the ability to perform at those velocities. The other thing to keep in mind is that it's better to have a under expanding hp than an over expanding hp. If the hp doesn't open or clogs and doesn't open you still have a bullet that penetrates. That's another reason I like to use bullets in the 200gr/220gr weight range in the snubnosed 44cal's, speed and penetration.
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Old 03-17-2016, 09:50 AM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Forrest R, thank you for so much excellent info.

Although I neglected to say it the 800-1000 fps range is indeed what I had in mind when I referred to "lower" velocities. Since one of my major goals is manageable recoil, that would be exactly the velocity range I'm looking for. The previous poster's comment about the swagged Hornady bullets leading at anything above 800 fps was one of the things that put a damper on my interest in them.

I'm already following your advice by seeing if I can get some samples of the Berry's 240gr HPs I mentioned above to try. From the online photos I've seen they appear to have the same profile and the larger diameter round cavity as the center example in your first photo. They are soft swagged lead but have the copper plating to give them a harder outer layer. I'm hoping that will make them give a little better expansion below 1000 fps while at the time avoiding leading issues.

I'll also be shopping around for some 220gr cast with the REALLY big cavity along the lines of the pentagonal ones on the right in the first photo you posted above. Since I'm not a caster, do you know anyone who produces those for sale? I'll probably also be trying some reverse loaded HBWCs as well, since those are relatively common and easy to find.

Thanks for sharing all your expertise!

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Old 03-17-2016, 10:23 AM
Forrest r Forrest r is offline
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Ya, I got the 800-1000fps from your 1st post. 800/900 is very doable, when you start getting 950/1000fps from a 2" bbl'd 44mag. You will start to be in the full house 44mag loads with a 240gr bullet.

200gr/220gr is allot easier to get 1000fps out of compared to a 240gr bullet in the 44cal's.

Allot of people really don't think about it but it really is a good investment for someone who doesn't cast to own a forster case trimmer. They have a hp attachment so any lead lead/coated/plated bullet can be hollow pointed.
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Old 03-17-2016, 10:36 AM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Quote:
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Ya, I got the 800-1000fps from your 1st post. 800/900 is very doable, when you start getting 950/1000fps from a 2" bbl'd 44mag. You will start to be in the full house 44mag loads with a 240gr bullet.

200gr/220gr is allot easier to get 1000fps out of compared to a 240gr bullet in the 44cal's.

Allot of people really don't think about it but it really is a good investment for someone who doesn't cast to own a forster case trimmer. They have a hp attachment so any lead lead/coated/plated bullet can be hollow pointed.
Very good, you are correct - I didn't remember that I had specified <1000 fps in the first post.

I'm kinda torn between the decision to go lighter and faster or heavy and slower. I know this is a topic of major debate, but if I've understood correctly, the slightly lighter 200/220gr at 1000 fps and the heavier 240gr at around 800 fps will produce very comparable levels of muzzle energy and recoil, but the heavier slug will penetrate more due to its momentum, and the lower powder charge behind it will produce less muzzle blast.

My thought would be that the greater momentum and penetration, combined with expansion, will "dump" more of that muzzle energy in the target and reduce the probability of over-penetration. At least that is my train of thought and what I am aiming for (pun intended )
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Old 03-17-2016, 02:06 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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I've just started to load the Hornady swaged HP, having been gifted a box and decided to try and find a "cowboy" level load to use for general range use. I also found some PB hiding on my bench and decided to give it a try. Wish I could find more published data on PB, but since it's discontinued, understand why it's nowhere to be found.

FWIW, I find a load of 7.7gr. tends to be a nice accurate load, without leading, and I'm guessing it's running around 825-850fps.
I read somewhere that the newer 629's tend to have tight throats, and mine measure out at .4285. Since the Hornady's are .430 to start with, I wonder what effect there is in having them sized down in the throat, only to be pushed up again when they hit the bore? Maybe that's a reason for them not reaching the published vel? Guess I could have my throats reamed out a bit, but I'll keep that idea for a later date, after I throw more down the tube.

ps: if anyone out there has more PB data to share, I'd be very grateful.
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Old 03-17-2016, 02:24 PM
J. R. WEEMS J. R. WEEMS is offline
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According to an email I got from them, maybe a month ago, they said they were getting out of the LEAD business-- but that might of been just their 32 WC----
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Old 03-18-2016, 03:38 AM
alwslate alwslate is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springer99 View Post
I've just started to load the Hornady swaged HP, having been gifted a box and decided to try and find a "cowboy" level load to use for general range use. I also found some PB hiding on my bench and decided to give it a try. Wish I could find more published data on PB, but since it's discontinued, understand why it's nowhere to be found.

FWIW, I find a load of 7.7gr. tends to be a nice accurate load, without leading, and I'm guessing it's running around 825-850fps.
I read somewhere that the newer 629's tend to have tight throats, and mine measure out at .4285. Since the Hornady's are .430 to start with, I wonder what effect there is in having them sized down in the throat, only to be pushed up again when they hit the bore? Maybe that's a reason for them not reaching the published vel? Guess I could have my throats reamed out a bit, but I'll keep that idea for a later date, after I throw more down the tube.

ps: if anyone out there has more PB data to share, I'd be very grateful.
I don't know what published data you're refering to but most
published data is from test barrels and lists velocities that
are far higher than handloaders will achieve in their guns.
Also swaged bullets will usually run a bit slower than cast
bullets with the same powder charge. I've tried PB powder
in handloads with different ctgs and found it to be a very
mediocre powder, very position sensitive with large velocity
variations. If you've found a load you like with it I suggest
you use it up and don't look back, it is gone.
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Old 03-18-2016, 07:45 PM
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Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Bullets :: Handgun :: Choose by Bullet Type :: Frontier® - Lead
If you can swedge it down it isn't hard lead. This product works great in a target 38. I would not push the 38 bullets at over 800 fps unless a lot has changed in 25 years.
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Old 03-18-2016, 08:53 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Bullets :: Handgun :: Choose by Bullet Type :: Frontier® - Lead
If you can swedge it down it isn't hard lead. This product works great in a target 38. I would not push the 38 bullets at over 800 fps unless a lot has changed in 25 years.
OK, thanks. I'm loading 44 cal and have pretty much decided against using the swagged lead anyway (per posts above).
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Old 03-20-2016, 01:47 PM
Model 15-4ever Model 15-4ever is offline
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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I'm kinda torn between the decision to go lighter and faster or heavy and slower. I know this is a topic of major debate, but if I've understood correctly, the slightly lighter 200/220gr at 1000 fps and the heavier 240gr at around 800 fps will produce very comparable levels of muzzle energy and recoil, but the heavier slug will penetrate more due to its momentum, and the lower powder charge behind it will produce less muzzle blast.
I've loaded many different bullets in various combinations for .44 Special and .44 Russian. Used in different models of the Charter Arms Bulldog. Those guns are 19-22 oz in weight. I've also loaded .44 Special for S&W Model 21, and Ruger Blackhawks.

I highly recommend the article by M.L. McPherson on loading for the Charter Bulldog: https://www.levergun.com/articles/ch...e-and-feeding/. It is good advice for any lightweight 44 Special.

If you cast your own bullets you can spend a lot of time experimenting with sizing, hollowpointing, etc. But unless you are firing them into ballistic gelatin, your terminal results are a **** shoot. Most shooters don't cast their own bullets, and selecting a modern JHP bullet for a defensive load is a better choice.

Loads with 240 grain bullets - cast or jacketed - have heavy recoil in the Bulldog, and loading them down to 650 fps dillutes their effectiveness, and negates what minimal expansion there was to begin with. The 200 grain JHP loads are better, but recoil of defensive loads at 900+ fps is still heavy.

I've found the 180 grain loads to be a better choice in the lightweight .44 Special. The Hornady 180 grain XTP will expand at 950 fps range and adequate penetration of 12"+ is not an issue. Recoil is more manageable than the heavier bullets.

For lower-cost practice loads - or if you just wanted a casual practice load to begin with - Missouri Bullets offers a coated 180 grain TC cast bullet, which loaded to 750 fps will make practice easier on you and the gun. The coating pretty much eliminates leading issues, especially in revolvers with inconsistent cylinder throat and/or bore dimensions. For practical purposes, it will shoot to the same point of aim as the XTP load.

Last edited by Model 15-4ever; 03-20-2016 at 01:50 PM.
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Old 03-20-2016, 10:11 PM
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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I've loaded many different bullets in various combinations for .44 Special and .44 Russian. Used in different models of the Charter Arms Bulldog. Those guns are 19-22 oz in weight. I've also loaded .44 Special for S&W Model 21, and Ruger Blackhawks.

I highly recommend the article by M.L. McPherson on loading for the Charter Bulldog: https://www.levergun.com/articles/ch...e-and-feeding/. It is good advice for any lightweight 44 Special.

If you cast your own bullets you can spend a lot of time experimenting with sizing, hollowpointing, etc. But unless you are firing them into ballistic gelatin, your terminal results are a **** shoot. Most shooters don't cast their own bullets, and selecting a modern JHP bullet for a defensive load is a better choice.

Loads with 240 grain bullets - cast or jacketed - have heavy recoil in the Bulldog, and loading them down to 650 fps dillutes their effectiveness, and negates what minimal expansion there was to begin with. The 200 grain JHP loads are better, but recoil of defensive loads at 900+ fps is still heavy.

I've found the 180 grain loads to be a better choice in the lightweight .44 Special. The Hornady 180 grain XTP will expand at 950 fps range and adequate penetration of 12"+ is not an issue. Recoil is more manageable than the heavier bullets.

For lower-cost practice loads - or if you just wanted a casual practice load to begin with - Missouri Bullets offers a coated 180 grain TC cast bullet, which loaded to 750 fps will make practice easier on you and the gun. The coating pretty much eliminates leading issues, especially in revolvers with inconsistent cylinder throat and/or bore dimensions. For practical purposes, it will shoot to the same point of aim as the XTP load.
Excellent feedback and info. Thanks!

Interestingly enough I already have two whole boxes (50 rounds total) of the Hornady Critical Defense 180gr XTP ammo that came with my Rossi model 44C magnum snubby. My bulldog is in my waistband right now loaded with it and I have another 5 rounds in a speed loader in my off hand pocket!

I'm actually looking for a bullet to load something just a touch heavier and hotter for my Rossi 44C (44102). It is a heavier gun than the Bulldog - and it should be - since its chambered for magnums. My Bulldog is the old classic version from Bridgeport and (unloaded) it weighs just a tad under 19 ounces. The 44C weighs a full 10 ounces heavier - just under 29 ounces. At first blush that may not sound like that much, but it is over 50% more weight-absorbing recoil and that makes a HUGE difference.

So I'd like to load some magnum cases just a little hotter than specials - about 10% above the top end of the range for 44 specials - but still well below the level of full-boat magnums. That's actually the load I'm thinking of making up using the 240gr plated SWCHP from Berry's. I'd like to load it somewhere in the 900-1000 fps range.

FWIW, the 44C also came with one box (25 rounds) of Hornady Critical Defense 240gr XTPs. Now I'm not a recoil whimp - 357 in a steel J-frame is just fine in my book - but have you ever shot 240gr, full-boat, magnum rounds in a 29 ounce gun? Let's just say it isn't for the faint of heart, or wrist, and it also isn't something I want to do very many times in a row. About two cylinders worth and it starts to get to be a bit much.

So I'm actually looking for bullets to load up some SD rounds that are a bit hotter and have more punch than anything I've found in 44 special, but less punishing on the shooter (me) than full boat 44 magnums.

And that quest is what caused me to start this thread.

Last edited by BC38; 03-20-2016 at 10:14 PM.
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  #26  
Old 06-06-2017, 04:16 PM
Tedbytes Tedbytes is offline
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Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em? Hornady hard-lead cold-swagged 44 cal 240gr SWC-HP - anybody load 'em?  
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Default Hornady and other swaged lead 44 cal h.p. Bullets

I have been loading for over 40 years. I remember one manufacturer named Alberts bullets later known as Taurus bullets that made a black colored soft swaged bullet for many pistol calibers to also include 30 cal and 45-70 big bullets. This company is sadly missed in my opinion. The graphite type powder added little for bore protection and I was taking Lee's liquid alox and tumbling them and let them dry overnight on top of these pre-lubed dry bullets. I took further steps with these as well as the discontinued Speer swaged and the Hornady bullets one more level by improving the tapered H.P. Hole using various sized 5 and 6 sided reamer pilots. I would hammer each bullet atop the h.p. Nose using the reamer to create an expanded star shaped cavity. The 44 cal 230 Alberts opened like silver dollars in my Charter Arms Bulldog with 6.5 unique, a safe load for this great revolver. The Speer and Hornady were not as soft and did expand,but not like the old Alberts in the Green and white box. I have many 32 and 38 wadcutter Alberts left,but sadly;only a handful of the 44 Alberts.
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