Found my new favorite 44 Magnum practice/plinking load. I loaded some new Starline brass with 5.5grs of W231 and an ACME 240gr powder coated SWC. I seated them about the middle of the top driving band. Took it to the range and 20 shots thru the chronograph showed this.
Average 837fps
Extreme Spread 27
Standard Deviation 9

This was through two guns an 8 3/8” & a 6.5” 629 Classics

Attached Images

BAE1C969-A17D-44EB-B0EB-BF7BB17730E0.jpg (22.4 KB, 158 views)

Good shooting. I have found W231 and Red Dot, under 240 swc's work well for reduced power .44 mag loads. About 850 to 950 fps is a sweet spot for range / plinking loads.

Larry

What was the distance for your target? I have a bag of coated 240's and 4lbs of 231 in my cabinet....

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Regards,

Tom

I load 11 grains AA#5. 240 gr hardcast. Warmer than 44 spl but lighter than magnum. Fun and accurate, easy on gun and shooter.

WOW !!

That had to be a really strong wind from the right of you, that day.
Hope you can get out on a nice day.

Boy, that sort of spoils things about having to look for a good load, now.
Bummer man. Maybe take up Golf, for all your spare time?

Sweet.

I load 7gr 231, gives 857fps,great light mag case 240grLSWC load in my629 6.5".44
Jim

I load the same 5.5 grains 231 but deep seat the bullet to crimp over the driving band. The rounds look a bit different but the accuracy is amazing. It is my normal carry load in a 4” M29-2.

Dan

To each his/her own; but I shoot full power loads in all my magnum handguns. I can handle those loads and I know where those bullets will hit whether at 25 yards or 200 yards. For plinking, I shoot 22 rimfire! Why own a magnum when you don't use it as such!

My favorite " light " 44 magnum loads use 5.0 grs of Bullseye powder using a 240 gr swc . It's Elmer Keiths " gallery " load . Great for target practice . His 8.5 grs of unique is a nice , little stronger load using same bullet . Both shoot POA = POI . From what I have read , that 8.5 grs of Unique was his " everyday " load . Finding lighter loads in the 44 can be enjoyable . I have liked 6.5 grs of Red Dot , 700x , WST and Titegroup for a little more punch than the 5.0 grs of Bullseye powder , all crimped in the crimp groove . All very accurate out of my 29-10's , 4 & 6.5" barrels . Regards Paul

In my Cowboy Action Shooting days, my best .44 Mag load was a 240 grain SWC and 7 grains of any of the faster propellants, usually Bullseye.

Well now...

Alliant says 6.0gr Bullseye for a 240gr LSWC. So, a -10% START load would be 5.4gr...

Seems like y'all are on to something here!

Might just be in the ballpark for 44 Special (maybe even a 44 Special "+P"!) as well?

Cheers!

Is there a reason why you didn't crimp in the crimp groove? I see some posts now and then when a reloader starts 10% below Minimum. I don't know where that came from but in 40+ years of reloading the only 10% reduction I've seen and occasionally use, is from Maximum. There is a reason for starting/min. suggested loads and 10% lower may pose problems. But with the 44 Magnum there probably is no danger as I've loaded 44 Magnums with 44 Special data many times (I have loaded exerything from .432" balls over a dusting of Bullseye up to 310 gr ingots for my T-Rex Killer loads; near max/max loads of WC820)...

I don't have my records in front of me but your load is right around my "Target" load, but your marksmanship is better than mine! Good easy shooting for a change from Magnum...

I liked the 5gr of Bullseye and 8.5gr of Unique loads in Hornady 44mag cases for my indoor range shooting with maybe one fullhouse load to test if my tooth implants are still up to parr.
These loads worked well for me in a 4" mountain gun and 3" 629-4 Backpacker.
With powder prices and availability now being what they are using less powder for the same amount of pleasure is not a bad choice with the 5gr of Bullseye load.
Probably the other nine shooters on the firing line and the range officers like the light load choice also.
BTW,I'm 78 years young.but these old legs have seen better days.

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The pictures is actually sideways. The group was above that 1” target square. That group was at 15yards from a bench. I’ve whacked my Chrono a few times already trying to shoot offhand thru it. Haha.
I seated it above the crimp grove because I wanted to try the deep seating mentioned above. The next ones I load I’m gonna crimp right at the top/just over the shoulder of the bullet and in the regular crimp groove and see what the differences are. I love 231 powder and bought a lot of it when I first started reloading. I may take one of my scoped revolvers and try it a little further out.

BKS;

If your chrony has factory metal rods.............

you might replace them with wooded dows from a hardware store that
break a lot easier and maybe prevent damage to your unit.

The sun visers can usually be glued back together, if damaged.

Carry on.

I’m following this with interest. I’m wanting to develop some easy loads 44mags loads , using* Red Dot, for my Rossi 92 lever action rifle.

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"Your other right........."

I don’t fully understand the hole “deep seat” thing other than it reduces air space in the case and makes them more efficient. 44 mags become Specials. I was reluctant to deep seat bullets just because of the look. The load I use was recommended by David Bradshaw. David knows more about shooting accurately than most. I finally gave it a go and it was almost magical. Why light loads? Well sometimes heavy loads aren’t needed and sometimes they are.

Dan

Thank you I had no idea you could do that.

I also shoot a lot of light loads in my magnums. I have .22 revolvers, but S&W doesn’t make a 3” N frame .22, which is one of my favorite plinkers. I use 7 grains of 231 in that one with a 240 LSWC.

Nice shooting! Thanks for posting.

I'm not going to try to answer for the OP but I will tell you about a friend. He is on a fixed income and can't afford to buy many guns. He loads ammo for his .44 Magnum at full power for when needed but sometimes you just want to plink with your favorite gun. In those times he loads what amounts to a stiff .44 Special for a fun day of shooting. I don't think you should judge what others do by your circumstances.

BKS, thank you for your post. Good shooting and that load looks good. Well done...

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SWCA #3437

7.0 - 7.5 gr of TiteGroup and any 240 gr cast shoots real nice and clean out of my .44Mag. Plenty of thump, and easy on the shooter.

I've been using 8.5 gr of CFE-P under 240 gr LSWC for several years with great accuracy. It's easy on me and the gun and will still knock down a 55 lb steel ram at 200 meters.
Starline cases have been loaded 18 times with just one split and WLP primers. Talk about stretching a dollar...

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Arf She Said