I'm now the proud new owner of a M-29-3 6" Nickel. I just couldn't resist it while trolling for a M-57. I STILL want the 57 and I'll fall into one eventually. Since this is a -3, I know it will just fall apart at a moment's notice. I'll only be punching paper with it for now so I want to develop the right light load for it using my favorite powder, 700-X. All my other calibers are done and I'm happy with them. For the .44 I just ordered a Lee 6-hole mold 240g SWC. From what my books say, the load ranges from 8.4g to 9.5g and the .44 Special ranges from 4.3g to 4.9g. My thought is a 3.5g starting point and I'll load 5 rds. each at 3.5g, 3.7g, 3.9g, 4.1g and 4.3g and see if that range will seal-up the brass and make the bullet go out the other end. To put that in perspective, 3.5g is my .45ACP accuracy load.

Any sage advice? I think that 700-X is a well kept secret or I just have the right loads in the right guns. It's clean, cheap, accurate and versatile.