A buddy and I got a wild hair and ordered some components for our 44's. Here's what we have to work with:

The Components:
Sierra #8605 44 Caliber 220 Gr FPJ Tournament Master.
Winchester 44 Spl primed brass from Pat's Reloading.
Couple jugs of Unique.

The Shooters:
44HE, postwar transition, 5" bbl.
624 4"
624 6-1/2"
629-2 4" Mountain Revolver.

We want to go with mild but accurate plinking loads in the postwar 44HE for sure. It's a good shooter and there's no need to push it hard. Just want to give it a little exercise once in a while.

The 624 and 629 loads for 4" bbls. should be faster but allow quick follow-up shots. Targets will be paper and steel out to 25 yards.

The 624 6-1/2" should be capable of striking large steel silhouette targets at much longer distances from a supported position. Accuracy load required here.

We found load data for 185, 200, and 240 grain bullets but cannot find anything for the 220 grain Sierra Match. Have any of you experimented with these bullets?

Thanks in advance!

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Gila,

I want to caution you on your thought process just a tad. How are you going to make sure the loads for the M629 NEVER end up in the older firearms? The only way that is guaranteed is to load for it using magnum cases. Otherwise you run the risk of putting your heavy loads in your older firearms.

That being said, I haven't loaded for the specific bullet that you mention. I can tell you that I have found some Unique data for that weight of bullet in the 44Mag and I think I could extrapolate data from those loads.

Either that or you can take the 200gr Unique loads and use the minimum as a maximum until you run them over the chronograph. If you end up in the 850fps to 900fps range you should be good to go. That's just a suggestion though and you need to have some handloading experience before you follow that advice. I'm not sure of that at this point so hesitate giving any more information!

p.s. My mom lives in Yuma.


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Added:
I found this on "Taffin Tests" and thought it might be of interest to you.

JHP 7.7 gr Unique 1,089 fps
BRASS: REMINGTON .44 SPECIAL BARREL LENGTH: 6 1/2"-7 1/2"

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt44spec.htm

smith crazy wrote:
The only problems I see with this is he is wanting to shoot the same load out of his 629 as his 4" 624, which will only shoot specials, and the 6.5" 624, which only shoots specials, will need more power than the 629.

Sierra edition 5 has loading data for bullet #8605 in .44 special using Unique powder. Starting load is 6.7 grs (@ 700 fps) and max load is 8.4 grs (@ 950 fps). Test firearm was a 624 with a 6.5" barrel, and they give no pressure data.

Take two aspirin and lie down until the feeling goes away, maybe?

Seriously, it seems much more practical to me to develop one accurate load using data for the 240gr as a starting point. A chrono is essential. When you get a safe velocity and the accuracy you need, go shoot. A SAAMI safe pressure load will work in all of them, and a little extra velocity is not going to make much difference in the slightly longer barrel. Unique is not the powder of choice when trying to push velocity limits.

Thanks guys!

We'll start with the Sierra load data and work up from there. We'll take the 629 out of the equation too. I appreciate your input and advice.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

funny you should ask. I just loaded a box of them today. I used magnum brass, starline, WW primers and 8.7 - 8.9grs of HP38. I like the 220gr Sierra bullet for long range targets but of course they work good at 25 yards as-well. This load is a joy to shoot and is still traveling fast enough to stay accurate, about 1100 fps. I have also had great results with the Sierra 220 gr and 12grs. of AA#7 in my 44 Special Ruger with a 4 5/8" barrel. That load was going 1085fps out of the Ruger. Both loads are very accurate for me. I don't know about using them in the older gun, sorry. edit;Of course, I use Starline 44 special brass in the 44 Special. I should have known..... I got to pay more attention too. It ain't even unique I'm talking about. whoa boy.

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AM-Tracks 66-69

really ... feed your M629 full length magnums. Ive found that using a proper magnum case resulted in improved accuracy every time with all else being equal

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it just needs more voltage

Simple, use data for 240 grain jacketed bullets! Somewhere between 6.9-7.5 grains Unique will work just fine. This is pretty much the standard charge weight range for Unique and 240-255 grain cast bullets too.

If you think you need data specific to a 220 gr. bullet you are over-thinking the "problem".

You are kidding, aren't you? If Sierra makes the bullet then they have load data for it. If you can't find a Sierra manual then call Sierra and ask them. They have some of the best CS people in the business.

Interpolating data when there is data available is, at best, a bad practice and at worst dangerous.

Pecos

If I may be so bold as to curmugicate..

The 220 gr FPJ was designed for silhouette and the highest
velocities safely achiveable to knock down steel targets (and
heavy game).
I have been using the Hornady 200 gr XTP and the Sierra 210 gr
JHP (now discontinued) for metallic loads in the 44 Special.
If you want cheap accurate target and plinking loads go to
a hard cast bullet. (I use the Oregon Trail Laser Cast Silver in
200 and 240 grain flavors)

The same traditional loads apply to all of these bullets.
6-7.5 grains of Unique (or Universal) with a standard primer.

Special cases for the specials. Magnum cases for the Magnum.

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Nemo

The comments are well formulated I just doubt that the OP cares much about it anymore. My original post in this thread was over two years ago and in post 3 or so, he said "Thanks". It would seem he was quite done with the subject.

But, hey, feel free to debate the whole thing all over again! 2 years never stopped me!

Actually I return to this thread periodically and have taken heed of the advice offered. I ended up using new Winchester .44 Special brass and 7.5 grains of Unique under the 220 Sierra bullet. This load works great in 6.5" 24-3, the 5" .44HE 3rd, and the 4" 624, though I must admit that the oldest gun is fired less often than the modern guns (does mid 1980's still qualify as "modern"?)

"Specials in Special brass, Magnums in Magnum brass." Good advice. I don't shoot Special brass in my Magnums anymore. Don't have to.

Thanks guys.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat