Model 29 - Which Ammo?

[bryan87]

I am trying to make a decision on which ammo types to use in my 29-2 for SD and hiking/camping. I have yet to take her to the range since a certain overzealous person lost the bolt plunger spring while cleaning the internals and is waiting on a replacement.

I am looking at Cor-Bon .44 Special 165 grain JHP for HD and Buffalo Bore .44 Magnum 270 grain jacketed flat nose or Cor-Bon Hunter .44 Magnum 300 grain penetrator flat point for camping/woods.

For those of you that have used these particular rounds before what are your opinions of them and would you recommend anything different? Thanks!

 

[Sebago Son]

I haven't used much of this designer ammo, but I can tell you that I have shot literally cases of Federal's American Eagle 240 JHP. It's good field ammo and works just fine on White Tails and such. If I wanted a reduced load for self defense agains humans I'd use regular .44 Mag. or Spl. "SilverTips" by Winchester.

These more mundane loadings may not be as fashionable as the cartridges you mentioned, but with the .44 Magnum you have alot of overkill. Price wise you could afford enough of the Federal or Winchester rounds to practice and get good with them.

 

[bryan87]

These more mundane loadings may not be as fashionable as the cartridges you mentioned, but with the .44 Magnum you have alot of overkill. Price wise you could afford enough of the Federal or Winchester rounds to practice and get good with them.

It's not so much my desire to buy the flashiest ammunition but more a result of what I saw for comparative ballistics for these particular factory loads: 44 Special Ballistics Chart | Ballistics 101 and 44 Magnum Ballistics Chart | Ballistics 101.

I also was trying to take into account the fact that my 29 is older and therefore I didn't want to run through it anything that could damage the gun. You have excellent points about being able to afford enough ammunition to practice with though. Truth be told this is my first .44 Magnum and I don't really know what would be optimal. I have only ever shot Hornady XTP and it was with through friends 629 Classic. I will explore your suggestions!

 

[Sebago Son]

Really Bryan, handloading is about the only way most folks can shoot enough .44's to become and stay proficient.... do you reload? If so, you could also custom make a lighter load that wouldn't rattle your older 29 (or you!) quite so much!...

Good Luck!

Drew

 

[bryan87]

Really Bryan, handloading is about the only way most folks can shoot enough .44's to become and stay proficient.... do you reload? If so, you could also custom make a lighter load that wouldn't rattle your older 29 (or you!) quite so much!...

Good Luck!

Drew

Thanks Drew. In all honesty I haven't the faintest idea where to start with handloading. I tried going to Gander Mt. (only local place that sells equipment) to get an idea of what the cost would be to get set-up and didn't find them very helpful.

What would you recommend for a basic set-up that would enable me to make lighter / preferred handloads?

Bryan

 

[Sebago Son]

Getting Started Reloading...

Bryan,

I wouldn't walk across the street to take a dump in Gander Mountain's parking lot. Their customer support is awful and their sales staff incompetent. I wouldn't trust the answers I got at Cabela's either... Better you should take a look on-line at Midsouth Shooter's Supply or Midway...

Were I you, and I was getting started and was only going to do pistol / revolver rounds, I'd start with an RCBS "Partner" set up...

I helped my friend and fellow forum member "BruceHMX" get started a few years ago and took some snapshots along the way....

We were loading for .32 S&W Long, but the principals are very similar for the .44 Magnum & Special.

Bruce lives in Virginia and we just bolted the press to his porch railing using the RCBS adapter plate, loaded ammo and shot away....

Bruce has been hanging around here longer than I have and is a real mad-man ...

How much more fun could a couple of red neck boys have on a summer afternoon?

Drew

 

[bryan87]

Bryan,

I wouldn't walk across the street to take a dump in Gander Mountain's parking lot. Their customer support is awful and their sales staff incompetent. I wouldn't trust the answers I got at Cabela's either... Better you should take a look on-line at Midsouth Shooter's Supply or Midway...

Were I you, and I was getting started and was only going to do pistol / revolver rounds, I'd start with an RCBS "Partner" set up...

I helped my friend and fellow forum member "BruceHMX" get started a few years ago and took some snapshots along the way....

How much more fun could a couple of red neck boys have on a summer afternoon?

Drew

Drew,

You had me laughing out loud about the gander mountain parking lot. That looks like such a great time! I am envious of that porch/personal range setup…

So the RCBS Partner Press package looks like it contains mostly everything I would need. Outside of that it seems I would need dies for the particular caliber, primers, bullets, cases and powder. Would I need anything else?

I have heard that reloading has the potential to become just as much of an addiction as actually shooting. Thanks for the starting point!

Bryan

 

[Sebago Son]

Bryan,

You need a press, dies (Carbide dies are goos so you don't have to lube the cases) a powder measure of some sort (Bruce and I were using a dipper which is a fair place to start). Powder, primers and slugs.

Good stuff to have is an auto primer, primer pocket prep tools (cleaners and reamers), a chamfering tool, ammo boxes, caliper and the adapter base.

Sooner or later you will want to vary your powder charges from the fixed charges the dippers will give you and therefore you'll want an adjustable powder measure.

Down the road you'll want a case tumbler and maybe some sort of case trimmer.

Don't forget a good loading manual or two. Actually be sure you get these before you start loading.... Read them thoroughly and often.

Yes, handloading can be even more OCD than shooting!

Have fun Amigo!

Drew

 

[mod29]

Really no need to overthink this, if you're looking for a general-purpose load for your Mod 29.
Pick up some WWB 240-gr JSP.
Reasonably priced, accurate and reliable. It's a magnum load, but isn't over the top, power-wise.
It's a favorite of mine when I'm packing in the great outdoors.

-Jim

 

[bryan87]

Bryan,

Yes, handloading can be even more OCD than shooting!

Have fun Amigo!

Drew

Drew,

Thanks! I printed all of the above out and will start doing my research and $ crunching to see where I come out. I appreciate your time and input getting me started in what will surely be a full-time hobby. I'll let you know how it comes along!

Bryan

 

[KJM]

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[bryan87]

Wouldn't the 300 gr Buffalo Bore be way to stout for a dash two?

Maybe - I am brand new to .44 Magnum and the older smiths (my only other revolver is a 686-6).

I was posting to try and get a feel for what types of .44 magnum those with more experience than me typically use.

 

[aslap]

I have a a 1977 29-2 with the 8 3/8" barrel. I hadn't shot the .44 mag for at least 30 years so I picked up this Remington UMC 180 grain load. Didn't research it at all. Found out (later) that it comes out of the gun at 1600 fps.

Woof! It sounded like a destroyer deck gun and the recoil was (to me) punishing. I don't hunt so I settled on a 240 cast lead bullet over 9 grains of Unique powder. This gives a consistent 1050 fps and is a joy to shoot. Light load, I know, but a lot of fun on paper.

Enjoy the big magnum! Nothing like it!

Tony S.