Newbie to 44 mag loading

[329]

Hoping I can get some pointers starting off. 8-o years ago I purchase some cast bullets to reload for a 629 but never got around to it . The bullets are .430 dis 240 gr sec brinnel 18 Keith style but with bevel base from Missouri Bullet co. Photo attached. I would like to push them at 950-1000 fps. Are these adequate for the job? There was a reason I bought them 8 years ago but the reason is dust in the wind noe😁. Any pointers would be helpful.

Missouri Bullet Company

[6string]

They should work OK.
They're much harder than you need or really want for the stated velocity. If you get leading, it'll likely be because they're too hard and undersized for your cylinder throats.
If they match your throats, you should be just fine.

Unique powder (7.5-8.8 grains) would be a good place to start if you can find it. Bullseye will work well, too (5 grs start, maybe up to 6 grs). But, it's hard to find as well.
You want to find dense fast burning powders, either intended for pistol or shotgun. Hodgdon (HP38), Winchester (231), IMR (700x) are all suitable powders. You just need to be able find them!
Vihtavouri powder works very well, is quite clean and accurate, but can be a little expensive. But, it's usually available somewhere. N310 is a very fast burner, so stay light and work up with caution. N320 is also excellent, a little slower burning and perhaps a better choice for .44.

[329]

Originally Posted by 6string

They should work OK.
They're much harder than you need or really want for the stated velocity. If you get leading, it'll likely be because they're too hard and undersized for your cylinder throats.
If they match your throats, you should be just fine.

Unique powder (7.5-8.8 grains) would be a good place to start if you can find it. Bullseye will work well, too (5 grs start, maybe up to 6 grs). But, it's hard to find as well.
You want to find dense fast burning powders, either intended for pistol or shotgun. Hodgdon (HP38), Winchester (231), IMR (700x) are all suitable powders. You just need to be able find them!
Vihtavouri powder works very well, is quite clean and accurate, but can be a little expensive. But, it's usually available somewhere. N310 is a very fast burner, so stay light and work up with caution. N320 is also excellent, a little slower burning and perhaps a better choice for .44.

Thank you, what hardness would you recommend for those speeds?

[Cotis]

12 bhn

I have only started loading .44 Mag this past summer, only full house loads so far. I too would like to make some plinking loads, so learning here also from this thread.

I use Missouri Bullets in .38 Special and .32 S&W Long. I really like them (the Hi-Tek coated ones).

[329]

Originally Posted by Cotis

12 bhn

I have only started loading .44 Mag this past summer, only full house loads so far. I too would like to make some plinking loads, so learning here also from this thread.

I use Missouri Bullets in .38 Special and .32 S&W Long. I really like them (the Hi-Tek coated ones).

I am curious about the coated hiteck bullets as well. I noticed that Missouri Bullets has coated in 12 and 18 hardness. I am thinking the 12 would be batter for the 900-100 fps? Not a lot of info on the website.

[One Holer]

I have some of those Missouri Bullet Company .430 240 gr SWC "Keith" bullets with the bevel base, the Hi-Tek coated ones. I don't know if they are 12 or 18 bhn, but do know that my S&W model 69 loves them. Found that a max charge of 2400 is very accurate and clean (no leading). YMMV

[BLUEDOT37]

Give those bullets a try since you already have them.

Different guns like different bullets. You won't know until you try them.

I'd suggest using Power Pistol. Load a small test batch of each using 8.5, 9.0 & 9.5grs to see if your 629 likes it.

9.0gr should be close to 1000fps, depending on your bbl. length.

.

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by 329

Thank you, what hardness would you recommend for those speeds?

If the bullet fits the bore correctly a hardness of 12-14 BHN is all you need.

Just FYI, if those bullets were 18 BHN 8 years ago they are even harder now. They actually get harder with time. (I don't know why but they do lol)

Hey, use what you got and they probably won't lead the barrel but the above is correct, if you do get leading it's because the bullets are too hard, not too soft.

You will be fine, load-um-up and have some fun...

[max]

Start at 7 or 8 grains of Unique. It is all I shoot in my 41, 44 and 45 Colt.

[stansdds]

For reduced velocity loads in 44 Magnum brass using 240 grain cast lead bullets, it's hard to go wrong with Unique. Odds are pretty good that somewhere between 7.5 and 9.0 grains, you will find a really accurate, easy shooting load.

[BigMuddy]

I have used all of the powder mentioned already, and all are good choices. Most of them have been pretty difficult to find lately. I have recently been working with Hodgdon Longshot powder and am impressed with the results. My 44 Mag load does 1100 fps with the same bullet you have and accuracy in all of my guns has been stellar. Best of all I can find it.

Good luck finding primers.

Dan

[Forrest r]

If you have any clays powder made by hodgdon laying around I'd give it a try. 6.0gr to 6.5gr. Most 200gr to 250gr bullets will do 1 1/2" 6-shot groups or less @ 25yds with that powder.

A cast/lead/coated bullets bhn is wwwwwwaaaaaaayyyyyyy overrated.

I been casting and swaging my own bullets since the 80's. It took a lot of testing & experimenting to find that the harder the alloy. The more dependent it is on fit.

Since +/- 2000 I've been using this alloy/pressure table.
8/9bhn (95% of my shooting needs) 25,000psi or lower in pistols revolvers & rifles
+/- 12bhn 25,000psi to 40,000psi in pistols revolvers and rifles
14bhn in rifles up to 60,000psi

Velocities are meaningless.

Started coating my cast bullets in 2014 and found that it's a game changer when it comes to a bullets bhn. The coated bullets can be a softer alloy allowing them to perform at a higher level/more consistent level over a wider range of loads.

Decades ago the way to test your alloy/bhn's was to cast bullets out of several alloys and test them over a chronograph. The alloy that gave the highest velocity while maintaining accuracy was the tell tail sigh that you were using the correct alloy for the pressure of the load.

[329]

I have a full can of hodgeson longshot that was recommended a long time ago. Anybody ever use this with a 240 lswc? I can only find data on jacketed bullets.

[329]

Dan, just noti ced your reply, thanks. On the lLongshot I can only find data on jacketed bullets in 240gr. Would the loading data be the same for lswc?
Thanks.

[STORMINORMAN]

Originally Posted by 329

Dan, just noti ced your reply, thanks. On the lLongshot I can only find data on jacketed bullets in 240gr. Would the loading data be the same for lswc?
Thanks.

I see a couple instance on the Hodgdons site where the START & MAX loads for Longshot are approximately 50% of the suggested loads for IMR 4227 with the same weight bullets.

Also, the Longshot START load data for a Nosler 240gr JHP is 11.0 gr.

As such, an "UNLISTED, UNPUBLISHED but SUGGESTED" START load for a 240gr LSWC of 10.0 gr Longshot should be a pretty safe place to begin, as pressure should be less than 30K psi so there would be quite a cushion there. Should also be "in the ballpark" as far as your velocity goals are concerned as well...

I would not hesitate to load these and most probably will once I use up the target velocity rounds I have waiting for the next 44 Magnum trip to the range.

Perhaps Dan (BigMuddy) can further advise?

Cheers!

P.S. As a further reference point the Hodgdons START Longshot load using a heavier 250gr bullet in their 45 Colt (Ruger Only) data is 12 gr.

[mikld]

90% of my cast bullets run 10-12 BHM, with some even softer (9 or so for my 38 Special 160 gr SWC). With proper fitting bullets I rarely get leading. 44 Magnum was my most favorite caliber for over 20 years and I loaded everything from 123 gr. balls to 300 gr. ingots, all cast. My Lyman 429421 worked quite well with Unique and when I couldn't find Unique I discovered Universal and am still using it. One of my manuals says for a 240 LSWC, Universal, 6.5 gr. to 10.2 gr.. Works great in 4 of my 44 Magnums...

[dogdoc]

Those are definitely not Keith bullets even though they call them that. I have loaded many of those when do not have time to cast true Keith bullets like Lyman 429421. Keep velocity low under 1000fps with those bevel base bullets and you will be fine . Alliant power pistol has given me good groups at midrange velocity and it meters well. I have lubed mine with Lee liquid alox to prevent leading for those too hard bevel base bullets. If you want try them with higher velocity, I get the best groups with 2400

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by 329

I have a full can of hodgeson longshot that was recommended a long time ago.
Anybody ever use this with a 240 lswc?

LongShot & Power Pistol are not identical but they are very interchangeable. The P-P load data I posted above would work equally well with LongShot in these moderate loads.

As always, work up slowly.

.

[cowboy4evr]

My everyday carry load in 44 magnum using a 240-260 gr cast bullet has been 9.0 grs of Winchester Super Field . It has became my " Unique replacement " . I can usually find it when Unique or Universal are not available . If I want a stouter load , then I go to 10.0 grs of WSF .
In the past I also found that 8.0 grs of W231 / HP38 ( same ) using a 240 gr swc was a real nice load . Mike Venturino had an article in Handloader magazine a few years ago recommending 7.0 grs of 700X powder using the Lyman 429421 cast bullet . I found great favor with that load also . Regards Paul

[alwslate]

For around 920 FPS out of a 4" barrel 8.2 grs of 231 is hard to beat with low extreme spreads. 8.5 grs is excellent for around 975 FPS from the same 4' length.

[Luke Duke]

Originally Posted by 329

I have a full can of hodgeson longshot that was recommended a long time ago. Anybody ever use this with a 240 lswc? I can only find data on jacketed bullets.

Long Shot is a good powder. Start low. Only problem with it is, its got an extremely loud report ! I had a pound of it and worked very well for every revolver/pistol I have. Just LOUD-Shot.

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by Luke Duke

Long Shot is a good powder. Start low. Only problem with it is, its got an extremely loud report ! I had a pound of it and worked very well for every revolver/pistol I have. Just LOUD-Shot.

If you didn't like LongShot you're not going to like Power Pistol.

P-P is noted for it's flash. L-S isn't.

.

[Phish]

I use Hercules 2400, Herco and Unique behind that bullet with great results. I don't load maximum loads in my Smith as my Ruger get all the punishment. I put down a nice bodied buck this past gun season with that 240gr. Missouri bullet behind a charge of H2400 right through the shoulder/heart and it dumped itself at 20 yards.
There is so many good powders out there so use whats available in your area. Every powder mentioned in this thread is in my cabinet and not one is useless as they all do well. When I first got into 44 magnum more than 30 years ago and the thinking was to go hot or stay on the porch. As the years go by and the wiser I gotten, now I back off the hot loads and go for accuracy and enjoyment and get the same results.
My favorite powders are 2400 and Unique as it will cover the full 44 spectrum.
Enjoy shooting the 44's.

[cowboy4evr]

Recently I got to thinking about Hodgdon's Titegroup powder . I used in 9mm and it worked fine . Many competition shooters use it so I decided I needed to give it a second look in the 44 magnum . After looking at the load data using a 240 gr bullet I was surprised at the wide spread from minimum to maximum , 5.0-10.0 grs . I loaded up some 250 gr LFN cast and used 8.0 grs of titegroup . To say I was surprised is an under statement . They didn't have a lot of muzzle flip , seemed like quite a bit of power and the accuracy was great . A great everyday carry load / walking around out in the country load . Yes , there is a lot of room in the case as Titegroup is a very dense powder , but it sure worked out well for me . Now let's take a look at the 41 magnum using a 210 gr bullet . Hmmmm 6.5 - 7.5 grs is the load data from Hodgdon . I think 7.0 would be perfect . Regards Paul