44 mag ammo

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groundpounder17

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I've just purchased my first S&W and first 44 mag, a 29-5 5" classic. I'm looking at purchasing some ammo and was wondering everyone's opinion. I reload so I also want to consider a round with a quality case. I'll be shooting an all around purpose round but will reload for plinking/target shooting as well as PD to include 2 and 4 legged beast. I do live in an area with black bears and the occasional Brown bear. When in south Arkansas where my family lives we see everything from hogs, mountain lions (occasionally) and black bears.
So basically I'd like to purchase a highy accurate and well cased round that I could reload in two basic categories: target shooting and SD/hunting.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Get yourself some new brass and go that way. I prefer 240gr bullets, good velocity. Others recommend 300gr for the larger critters.
 
I've used Federal and RP brass (and ammo) for years and have had good luck with longevity in both. I load 10.5 grains of Unique behind a cast 250 Keith SWC (Lyman 429421, they're also available from commercial casters) that hits with enough authority to get the job done but doesn't beat up me or the gun. It will do all the things you mentioned, but if I thought I was going to have to fight bears or cougars I'd probably go with 18.5 -19.0 grains of 2400 behind it. Alliant lists 20 grains but I've had brass sticking issues with that load in a prior 629.
 
I buy Winchester white box and then reuse the brass with 7-10 gr of unique with a 240 gr lswc.That gives me a plinking to hunting load from 750-1000fps.My old hunting load was 21 gr of 2400 with a 240 gr jacketed bullet.
 
I use 9-10 gr of Unique with a 240 gr swc to practice with. I use 18 gr 2400 with a 240 gr swc for a heavy load.
 
Winchester white box would be a good start. Google John Taffins "Book of the 44". The last few chapters will give you loads that work.
 
If it's your first dance with a big bore magnum, you might consider running some .44 special trough it before you cut lose with the warmer stuff. Georgia Arms has several different loads both .44 special and even more .44 mag to chose from.
Advice given to me many years ago by an old school state trooper and avid hand gunner/re-loader before it was popular. He was the state police champion shooter for many years.
 
silentflyer said:
If it's your first dance with a big bore magnum, you might consider running some .44 special trough it before you cut lose with the warmer stuff. Georgia Arms has several different loads both .44 special and even more .44 mag to chose from.
Advice given to me many years ago by an old school state trooper and avid hand gunner/re-loader before it was popular. He was the state police champion shooter for many years.
Click to expand...

To me, this advice make sense if you don't reload. Given that you're into reloading, I'd get the Winchester .44 mag recommended above and reload a lighter round for plinking after you have some brass to work with. That will give you the same benefit as running .44 special. Unless you are very new to guns, basic .44 mag in a 5" gun isn't gong to be that bad. .44 special is nice if you reload, but to buy new, it's very expensive.
 
I just got a box of buffalo bore 255 g low recoil. The LGS didn't have much selection. It was either that, blazer, or a Ted nugent load that appeared to be p+. I think the velocity on it was something like 1650 fps
 
For everything under a grizzly bear plain 240gr hp will do fine but if your going to shot much . Buy a basic single stage reloading kit . Some times its nice to have a soft lite plinker load too . Shooting 44 sp velocity but not having to deal with bullet jump and crud ring to clean out of the cylinder .

1650fps . NOT from that BB load . More like 1300fps from your pistol . Ok load but swc is not a general needs bullet . IT bores a great hole buy no expansion . The HP like from speer bonded would have been cover all needs including black bear on down . For grizzly get something in the wide flat nose design from 305gr to 340gr . I prefer Underwood ammo to BB ammo if you have to buy Georgia arms , corbon , speer , grizzly ammo and a few others cover serious needs ammo and several can be had thru your local dealer and some gun show circuits , just ask .
 
I use a Forster co-ax. I'm just set up for reloading 45 acp, 5.56 (.223), and 7.62(.308). I will have to order most needed items to set up for reloading. I just wanted a box of ammo to get started shooting.
The BB 255 low recoil shouldn't be too much for the 29-5 should it?
 
hardluk1 said:
For everything under a grizzly bear plain 240gr hp will do fine but if your going to shot much . Buy a basic single stage reloading kit . Some times its nice to have a soft lite plinker load too . Shooting 44 sp velocity but not having to deal with bullet jump and crud ring to clean out of the cylinder .

1650fps . NOT from that BB load . More like 1300fps from your pistol . Ok load but swc is not a general needs bullet . IT bores a great hole buy no expansion . The HP like from speer bonded would have been cover all needs including black bear on down . For grizzly get something in the wide flat nose design from 305gr to 340gr . I prefer Underwood ammo to BB ammo if you have to buy Georgia arms , corbon , speer , grizzly ammo and a few others cover serious needs ammo and several can be had thru your local dealer and some gun show circuits , just ask .
Click to expand...

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The BB is 1350 fps, the Ted nugent loads were listed as 1650 fps
 
Is PMC still around? I've been reloading some of their brass for 25 years and have not split one yet. I don't think I've purchased factory 44 mag in 20 years. I'm a big fan of H110/296 in a slightly compressed load behind a 240g slug. Unique is good for the big flash fun. 4227 is low flash, but high concussion.
 
ted nugget ammo is or was made by pierce munitions and there advertising tends to be on the happy side if its even being made anymore . And you have a bow of ammo to start with so enjoy .
 
Armscor makes some nice shooting 240gr LSWC cowboy loads in 44 mag that are pretty reasonably priced. I can get them locally for $25 a box of 50, and their brass seems to reload just fine for me.
 
Went to the local hardware store which also has a very small gun and ammo selection. They only had BB 240 grain low recoil ammo but only $35 per box so I picked one up as well. Walmart is out of 44 mag and 44 special ammo so that option will have to wait
 
Groundpounder17, Sorry I thought you were already setup for reloading your 44 Mag. If you can find any of the brand name ammo, the brass will last a long time if you keep your loads moderate. As I said I like Remington, Federal, then WW. I didn't like the cannerlure (SP) in the middle of the WW brass, but I've used it all and it all seemed good.
 
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