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Old 05-15-2018, 03:00 PM
Bronco89 Bronco89 is offline
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.44 200gr Rainer FN vs 200gr lead .44 200gr Rainer FN vs 200gr lead .44 200gr Rainer FN vs 200gr lead .44 200gr Rainer FN vs 200gr lead .44 200gr Rainer FN vs 200gr lead  
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Default .44 200gr Rainer FN vs 200gr lead

I haven't tried any of the Rainer copper platted bullets yet. Rainer says to use lead data. So my in house powder is Trail Boss. I would be loading this down to low end fr .44-Mag for a S&W-M69/4.25". The lowest load (.44-Mag) listed by Hodgdon is in the .44 spcl , pressures, which would be my goal.

My original plan was 200 gr Lead, but I have been wanting to give rainers a try. Any thought would be appriciated before I make my bullet purchase.

Intended target would be these mutant black silhouettes that haunt the range. I swear our range is haunted, they are everywhere!! I had to put ghost sights on my AR.
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Old 05-15-2018, 03:05 PM
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elpac3 elpac3 is offline
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Not sure the black silhouettes will know the difference between plated or lead.

I started shooting plated in the 9mm for IDPA only because club rules require plated or jacketed.

In my .44 I have been shooting the Bayou 215 grain SWC with good success up to mag. velocities with no issues.
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Old 05-16-2018, 06:43 AM
Forrest r Forrest r is offline
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FWIW:

In 2 different 44mag's 7.0gr of trailboss and 3 different 180gr to 220gr bullets hold the x-ring (1 1/2") @25yds on an nra target.

I'm getting 3/4" to 1" 6-shot groups @25yds with 7.0gr of trailboss and a 200gr wc (top right).


On another website (castboolits.com) other members have reported the same results in their 44mag's. Namely 7.0gr of trailboss and xxx bullet.

7.gr would be a good place to start & while not in the 44spl pressure range. They are under 20,000psi and extremely soft shooting.
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Old 05-16-2018, 08:22 AM
mike campbell mike campbell is offline
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My thought is to skip the plated bullet and go with a coated lead bullet that has a real crimping groove for a rimmed cartridge. You may or may not get away without bullet pull with a plated bullet but it's a real possibility that you'd have to be aware of. Plated offers no advantage over coated that I can see, but has the potential for a downside.

I have Berry 220FP's I shoot in my '57 Ruger SA and Xtreme 240RN's with a cannelure so shallow that it feels like it's photo-etched. Both offer acceptable accuracy but can't compare to coated or jacketed. They cost me 12-13 cents apiece and I've bought genuine Zero 240JSP's for that. No more plated bullets in revolvers for me.
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Old 05-16-2018, 09:41 AM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is offline
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In the low end velocity of 44 caliber, I shot cowboy action with 44-40 and 44 Special. My guns and targets showed no difference between coated and cast 200 RNFP.

Trail Boss is a little expensive. You may wish to try 4.4 gr of Clays for low velocity in 44 Mag (My 2 3/8 and 8 3/8 S&W's like the load!) Clays is clean burning, meters well, and is not position sensitive.

When buying 44 bullets, be sure of which diameter you receive. .429-.431 are for 44 Special, Russian, and Magnum. .427 is for 44-40, 44 Remington and 44 Colt. (these cartridges names not the guns!) Two times I had companies ship me .427 bullets when I ordered .430! (At the distance and size of Cowboy Action Targets, I could probably get away with .401 bullets!)

Ivan
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Old 05-16-2018, 10:39 AM
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P.W.Herman P.W.Herman is offline
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Odd, every time I read Rainier's website they state you should use jacketed loading recipes. And I should add I put a stout lee factory crimp on mine or the projectiles all fall out on the ground on the first shot...somewhat embarrassing. I 've been shooting them through a .45lc.

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Old 05-17-2018, 01:39 AM
Forrest r Forrest r is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher View Post
In the low end velocity of 44 caliber, I shot cowboy action with 44-40 and 44 Special. My guns and targets showed no difference between coated and cast 200 RNFP.

Trail Boss is a little expensive. You may wish to try 4.4 gr of Clays for low velocity in 44 Mag (My 2 3/8 and 8 3/8 S&W's like the load!) Clays is clean burning, meters well, and is not position sensitive.

When buying 44 bullets, be sure of which diameter you receive. .429-.431 are for 44 Special, Russian, and Magnum. .427 is for 44-40, 44 Remington and 44 Colt. (these cartridges names not the guns!) Two times I had companies ship me .427 bullets when I ordered .430! (At the distance and size of Cowboy Action Targets, I could probably get away with .401 bullets!)

Ivan
Clays is an excellent powder for plinking loads in the 44mag. 6.0gr to 6.5gr with bullets weighing 180gr to 245gr will give you countless hours of quality range time.
Nothing more than the test targets used to test different bullets/clays. Not hand/cherry picked by any means

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