Loaded my first batch...44 mag.

[radtuck]

I finally got my first batch of reloads finished yesterday. It took some tinkering with the seating die to get a good crimp, but thanks to the help of a buddy, it works flawlessly. I'm using 8 grains of Unique, 240 grain SWC, with winchester large pistol primers. I'm not sure what speed I'm getting, but the loads shoot extremely well with mild recoil. I'm definitely glad I bought the equipment to load my own!

 

[tappedandtagged]

Up it to 10 grains of Unique and you'll find that its still mild shooting, but the powder burns more completely at the higher pressures and won't leave as much soot behind. If I remember correctly I was getting mid to high 800's fps with 10 grns of Unique and a 240 grain cast bullet out of my 3" model 629. I've since gone to AA 9 and use the Unique for my .357 mag loads. AA9 gave me great accuracy and a true magnum result (18.5 grns is all I use).

At any rate, congrats on the hand loads! If you shoot a lot of 44's, reloading is the only way to go.

 

[radtuck]

Thanks for the input...I will probably move slowly up the scale with unique, but would like to try other varieties once the Unique is close to empty.

 

[jubela#4]

Congrats on getting your first reloads completed. The 8 grain Unique load should work great. I load 7.5 grains in all of mine and it works fine as well.

 

[radtuck]

Congrats on getting your first reloads completed. The 8 grain Unique load should work great. I load 7.5 grains in all of mine and it works fine as well.

Thanks! I really enjoyed shooting the loads...very nice on the wrist, and good accuracy. I can handle spending a dollar for 20 rounds vs a dollar per shot.

 

[kennyb]

congrats...you will find reloading very addictive!

 

[radtuck]

congrats...you will find reloading very addictive!

I agree...I can't keep empty brass in my shop!

 

[tops]

I always use a 240 gr. SWC but 9 grs. of Unique is the lightest I have loaded and with a 4 in. barrel it does 1015 fps. Since my arthritis has got bad I have shot a lot of 10 grs. of Unique. A 3 in. barrel is 1023 fps., 4 in. 1088 fps., and 6 1/2 is 1099 fps. If you really want to make it buck and roar try 22 grs. of 2400. Larry

 

[mikld]

Thanks for the input...I will probably move slowly up the scale with unique, but would like to try other varieties once the Unique is close to empty.

Good idea, no hurry. There is a bunch of powders that work well in the .44 magnum. I have used Unique, Universal, Blue Dot, 2400, True Blue, and of course H110. I still use a lot of Unique and Blue Dot, but like to try different loads with different powders. Lately I've loaded some Trail Boss for 265 gr. bullets in my Puma '92. A while back I used a lot of WC820 (kinda like AA 9), but almost always have some 2400, Blue Dot, and Unique on hand for my .44s.

 

[peppercorn]

Way to go radtuck!

44 mag is why I started loading.

My last box of jacketed hollow point ammo, from the LGS last November, cost me $39.00 and it wasn't even what I wanted, it was what they had.
Now I load a box of 240gr wadcutters, what I really want to shoot, for the modest sum of $7.50.

I initially looked at reloading like a task to be done with. Now I enjoy it nearly as much as I enjoy shooting.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Welcome to reloading. I'm glad your first rounds fired as well as you hoped.

There are a lot of good powders around for lead bullets in the .44 Magnum. Trying different powders is half the fun and I try a lot of powders. Eventually you will find one you will always seem to come back to. Until then you will have a ball trying different loads... Enjoy!

 

[Forrest r]

+1 on what ArchAngelCD said.

You'll find that the 44 is alot like the 38/357, extremely easy to reload for. It seems that when you find the speed/bbl combo of a bullet that works. Then alot of different powders will work with that bullet.

I reload for a 6" bbl'd 629 classic & the main bullet I use is a lyman 429421 245g swc. I get excellent groups with that bullet &:
5.5g of clays
6.5g of international clays
6.5g of hp-38/ww231
7.5g of bullseye

They are all mild plinking loads that are accurate & are in the 950fps range.

Enjoy your new hobby, rolling your own ammo is vary satifying & rewarding.

 

[Bomberman]

Congrats! The .44 mag is why I started reloading too. I ended up liking 9 grains of Unique as a universal load...it does just about anything that I want. Then, since I already had the equipment, started reloading for everything I shoot.

Now you need to take it one step further and start casting your own bullets...then you can make whatever round you want. Congrats again.

 

[mikld]

Way to go radtuck!

44 mag is why I started loading.

My last box of jacketed hollow point ammo, from the LGS last November, cost me $39.00 and it wasn't even what I wanted, it was what they had.
Now I load a box of 240gr wadcutters, what I really want to shoot, for the modest sum of $7.50.

I initially looked at reloading like a task to be done with. Now I enjoy it nearly as much as I enjoy shooting.

Careful, or you'll end up like I did! I now don't know if I reload so I can shoot more, or shoot so I can reload more...

 

[Skip Sackett]

Pictures or it didn't happen..............

 

[peppercorn]

Careful, or you'll end up like I did! I now don't know if I reload so I can shoot more, or shoot so I can reload more...

You may have just hit the nail on the head.
I think I have been trying to avoid the truth lately. My first indication was when I conviced myself I needed to buy more brass, as I had loaded all that I had on hand.

 

[radtuck]

Ask, and you shall receive...here are the pics. I just moved to a new house and my Dad helped me hang cabinets, and most importantly, build a bench for my press. Love the man cave (Garage). I loaded a batch with 9 grains of Unique last night, so I will try both 8 and 9 at the range next time I go shooting. I'll post pics of the targets after I shoot. Thanks to all for the words of encouragement...I think I'll be spending much more time in the garage!!

 

[peppercorn]

Those look great, thanks for posting the pics.
Just curious as to what gun you will be shooting them out of?

 

[radtuck]

Those look great, thanks for posting the pics.
Just curious as to what gun you will be shooting them out of?

629-3 classic with 6.5" bbl. I love the way the 8 gr. loads shoot...I want to try the 9 gr. loads this week.
John

 

[peppercorn]

Gotcha.

My 4'' and 5'' 629s take to a 240gr SWC and Unique in the 8.0-9.8 gr. range like they were made for one another.