.44 Magnum Cast load data

Jitterbug · Aug 20, 2011

I'm wanting to load a 4" 629 with 250-300 grain cast bullets and I'm having a bear of a time finding published load data.

Can anyone recommend some good manuals or load data sources?

I purchased the gun for a woods CCW in the central to northern Rockies, where my primary concern is Moose on up to Grizzly bear.

Currently I'm loading powder puff loads with Unique and 231 under a 240 grain LSWC, to get reacquainted with the N frame in DA mode. I've been shooting mostly auto's for the past 20 years.

I just ordered some 250 and 280 grain bullets from Beartooth a Keith and a WFNGC, the 280 seems especially difficult to find data, I'm not as concerned with the 250 Keith. I do have some loads I found on the internet, but I would really like to corroborate with some published data if at all possible, especially with powders such as 296/H110. I know about the potential for bullet's sticking in the bore with an undercharge but I'm more concerned about the potential for detonation with H110/296, not sure if this is a concern, however I've read of the possibility.

On hand I have H2400, AA2, AA9 and H110, these powders are 18 years old but, have been well stored in a cool and dry Colorado basement, for obvious reasons I'd like to use these up, but I'm not adverse to purchasing new powders.

I "think" I'd like to get the 280 grain WFNGC going somewhere in the 1000-1200 fps range depending upon recoil and blast and my ability to tolerate it.

With the 250 I'm hoping to get closer to the 1200 fps range.

6GUNSONLY · Aug 20, 2011

I load 17.5 grains AA-9 with a 250 Keith-style bullet for my hunting loads, these usually run 1200+ fps out of my longer-barrel guns (6.5" and 7.5"). I would expect 1100 + out of your 4" gun. This is not a maximum load but gives me as much velocity as I want and is very accurate. The Speer #13 manual lists 18.0 - 20.0 with AA-9 and 240 grain jacketed bullet.

The same Speer manual also has data for their 270 grain Gold Dot jacketed bullet as follows:

H-110: 19.0 - 21.0 grains, magnum primer
WW-296: 18.5 - 20.5 grains, magnum primer
AA-9: 14.0 - 16.0 grains
2400: 15.5 - 17.5 grains

There are a lot of variables influencing pressure (bearing surface, hardness of alloy, seating depth, etc..) but the starting loads listed should be safe places to start for the 280 grain bullet. Hope this helps. Be careful and work up slowly.

mkk41 · Aug 20, 2011

Ya might want to get a copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet handbook.
Some of the bigger cast bullet suppliers will supply suggested data for their heavyweights. Some ya gotta ask.
I'm not a fan of the slow-burners in short barrels , which is part of the reason I switched to Blue Dot. Ya can use it for loads that run from mild to wild. H-110/W-296 are better in longer barrels. Short barrels make for a loud boom and great fireball 2ft from the muzzle. That powder burning outside the tube.

Skip Sackett · Aug 20, 2011

The ABSOLUTE BEST place for load data online is here: www.loaddata.com .

You have to subscribe to it but, it has all of the load data from the powder and bullet manufacturers as well as the data from all three of their magazines with Brian Pearce's articles. His articles cover a lot of the bigger bore revolver rounds and are a real gold mine of information.

Well worth the cost of subscription in my opinion.

Also, subscribe to Handloader magazine. You can get that on line too. Great resource. Real world shooting.

I cast an H&G #503 copy and that is one of the best bullets for the M29/M629. I use two loads, one is the maximum for that weight bullet with AA#9 with a standard primer. I also use the old Elmer Keith load for that bullet, -1gr, of 2400.

Any of those loads will be a handful but will really make that firearm sing.

I have another hunting load, for carbine rifles only, Lil' Gun (full charge by current data) and a 240gr Hornady XTP. 1800+fps from a 20" barrel. Not recommended for revolvers though.

Hope this helps!

I also cast a 240/295gr HP/RNFP for my M629 and some of the rifles.

Here is what they look like:

6GUNSONLY · Aug 20, 2011

Agree with MKK41 on the slow burning powders, although 2400 is not as bad as H-110, 4227, and 296. I have used a lot of Blue Dot, too, but did not have good luck with milder loads with it. I got erratic velocity readings. Worked great with loads closer to max. I'm liking AA-9 really well for all barrel lengths in .44 for medium to max loads.

Here's some of my home-cast 429244 gas-check hollow-points in nickel W-W cases loaded with 17.5 of AA-9. These were put up for my hunting loads last year. Didn't get a deer but they did account for a coyote out of my 5 1/2" Redhawk.

Skip Sackett · Aug 20, 2011

If temperatures drop below 20*F in your area, DO NOT USE BLUE DOT at maximum loads.

It is inversely affected by temperature. Colder = higher pressures.

Jitterbug · Aug 20, 2011

Thanks guy's

I just took a look at Loaddata.com, it looks like it will be a good resource along with the Handloader magazine. I didn't know about Blue Dot being temp sensitive, soon enough, we'll be getting way below 20 degrees, thanks for the heads up.

I'll be looking for the most velocity me and the gun can safely handle and without the flash and blast if that's at all possible. I may consider a 300 grain load too, mostly because there appears to be more data, but wanted to stay on the lighter side of things for the 4" 629 at least for a start anyways.

Any thoughts on the 18 year old powders?

Sevastopol · Aug 20, 2011

Hi. Accurate Number Two (Revised) has loads listed for a 280 SWC. I don't know if they can be used with a WNGC but, with the #2: 8.6-9.5gr.; with #9: 17.1-19gr.

Hope this helps.

dla · Aug 20, 2011

Jitterbug said:
I'm wanting to load a 4" 629 with 250-300 grain cast bullets and I'm having a bear of a time finding published load data.

Can anyone recommend some good manuals or load data sources?

I purchased the gun for a woods CCW in the central to northern Rockies, where my primary concern is Moose on up to Grizzly bear.

Currently I'm loading powder puff loads with Unique and 231 under a 240 grain LSWC, to get reacquainted with the N frame in DA mode. I've been shooting mostly auto's for the past 20 years.

I just ordered some 250 and 280 grain bullets from Beartooth a Keith and a WFNGC, the 280 seems especially difficult to find data, I'm not as concerned with the 250 Keith. I do have some loads I found on the internet, but I would really like to corroborate with some published data if at all possible, especially with powders such as 296/H110. I know about the potential for bullet's sticking in the bore with an undercharge but I'm more concerned about the potential for detonation with H110/296, not sure if this is a concern, however I've read of the possibility.

On hand I have H2400, AA2, AA9 and H110, these powders are 18 years old but, have been well stored in a cool and dry Colorado basement, for obvious reasons I'd like to use these up, but I'm not adverse to purchasing new powders.

I "think" I'd like to get the 280 grain WFNGC going somewhere in the 1000-1200 fps range depending upon recoil and blast and my ability to tolerate it.

With the 250 I'm hoping to get closer to the 1200 fps range.

See load data section - it is for a 4" barrel. Maybe you'll find it useful.

S&W329pd Information

fredj338 · Aug 21, 2011

You can always use heavier bullet data for lighter bullets of the same construciton. So any 300gr lead data is good for your 280gr bullets. My back packing load for my 4" M29 is a 270gr cup point o/ 17.5gr of 2400, makes 1060fps. A 250grLSWC o/ 18gr 2400 will do 1120fps in my 4" M29.

Larry from Bend · Aug 21, 2011

Jitterbug said:
I'm wanting to load a 4" 629 with 250-300 grain cast bullets and I'm having a bear of a time finding published load data.

Can anyone recommend some good manuals or load data sources?

I purchased the gun for a woods CCW in the central to northern Rockies, where my primary concern is Moose on up to Grizzly bear.

I just ordered some 250 and 280 grain bullets from Beartooth a Keith and a WFNGC, the 280 seems especially difficult to find data, I'm not as concerned with the 250 Keith. e.

I load the BearTooth 280 WFNGC (It actually weighs 285 grains) for a 5" 629 Classic as follows:
22.2 grains of H110
WLP Primer
Rem brass

This combo produces 1235 fps in my Smith. Work up to it!!

PS::: You can call Marshall (who owns BearTooth) and ask him anything about loads for his bullets and he'll be glad to help!!!

Skip Sackett · Aug 21, 2011

Larry,
How do the sights work with those heavier bullets in that Classic? Are they screwed down all of the way?

MMA10mm · Aug 21, 2011

Jitterbug,
There is actually lots of data out there, if you look. Accurate Arms has an on-line load data sheet, as does Hodgdon. The older, thick, Accurate manuals have data for heavier cast bullets. The Lyman Cast Bullet manual (at least the ones I have) are a little disappointing on their heavy-bullet data. Pretty thin. Beartooth Bullets has some data in their forums, if you search for it, but I would caution you that it is generally to the warm side of things, which means it would probably be quite uncomfortable in your 4" revolver.

As for me, I load my custom 270gr Keith SWC with a light charge of W231 (HP38) of 7.5grs. This gives me about 800-900fps, depending on barrel length and atmospheric conditions.

If I really want to thump something, I'll load that same bullet, OR a custom version of the old Lyman 429640 (pre-HP, RNFP-GC version) which weighs between 285grs and 290grs, depending on alloy, with 17.5grs of AA#9. Now, this used to be a middle-weight load of this powder. The original range of powder was something like 17.0gr-19.5grs, BUT Western Powders (new owners of Accurate Arms) have reduced the max charge down to around 17.5-18.5grs, so a lot will depend on how old your powder is. If you still have some of the older Accurate Arms from TN powder, you might be able to go warmer, but if you get any new stuff, from Western Powders in MT, I'd cut back a grain or so at least and work from there to be safe...

Hammerdown77 · Aug 21, 2011

All of Brian Pearce's loads, in any caliber, have proven to be excellent in all of my guns.

Take a look here for some .44 mag data:
http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL 241 Partial (LO) 2.pdf

Not listed in his loadings, but one I found on my own. 11 grains of Power Pistol, standard LPP primer, 240 to 250 grain LSWC bullet. Target below shot at 25 yards off sandbags.

Larry from Bend · Aug 22, 2011

smith crazy said:
Larry,
How do the sights work with those heavier bullets in that Classic? Are they screwed down all of the way?

Not ALL the way, but getting close to it. This load shoots about 3" higher than my 240 grain JHP load (1275 fps). On my current -4 (and on the previous -3) there is enough sight adjustment to get a dead-on POA/POI @ 25 yards.

PS That 285 grain load recoils less (at least to me) than the 240 grain load. I like it a lot.

Skip Sackett · Aug 22, 2011

Just got back from the range having shot some of those 434640, 240gr HP bullets over a maximum charge of AA#9. From the 5" barrel hand cannon, I got an average of 1400fps! All shots from support went into 1 1/2" @ 25 yards!

If you are gonna shoot a lot of them, take my suggestion and get a shooting glove!

Jitterbug · Aug 22, 2011

1400 fps with a 240 from a 5" sounds like it's really smoking.

Today while playing hooky from work, I got a chance to thumb through "The complete loading book for .44 Magnum" along with "Lyman's Cast bullet #3 for Pistol" ....

I may not have the titles correct, getting old and the memory is going.

The Complete loading book seemed to be a good deal for $9, but I figured my best bet is Loaddata.com, so I'm going to go that route and I have plenty of manuals for the moment.

I think it will be worthwhile especially since I load for .223, 38 Special, 9mm, 45 acp and 10mm.

Hammerdown, thanks for that link, I haven't had a chance to thoroughly go through it yet, but it looks like a really good article on various .44 loads.

MMA10MM, good seeing you bud!

And I really appreciate everyone's recommendations, hopefully the bullets will show up later this week, along with a new chrono on the way from Midway.

Skip Sackett · Aug 22, 2011

Jitter,
They were more than smokin'!

Lots of fun to shoot a FEW of! Cast up several hundred more. Have some friends that need to try them in their handguns. A few want to try them in their Marlin 1894's! Think I will back off a bit for those. Anything above 1600fps and accuracy seems to suffer a bit with a plain base bullet. Now if them babies were gas checked! WOOOHOOO!

Lookout!

Jitterbug · Aug 23, 2011

Smith

Sounds like your having some fun and getting good results with the casting.

Hammerdown, I just read the Handgun article by Brian Pearce it's a good read with some interesting and valuable data, thanks again!

I'm looking forward to getting to work on hand loading and shooting this revolver. I have pretty much booked up the next 4-5 weekends for end of season fishing trips, but want to get a load worked up, tested and chrono'd with something I feel comfortable carrying as I'll be venturing into Moose and bear country, I haven't heard anything from Beartooth regarding my order so maybe I'll call up there today to check on the status.

I did carry the new revolver the other day in a new Simply Rugged Holster and it was pretty comfortable for a 2 hour hike near home and wearing it around the house for the next couple of hours, not quite as comfortable as a 4.25" steel 1911 but pretty close, it concealed well enough to do some grocery shopping on the way home, I do think the new holster still needs a break in period. It's a bit stiff, which is ok by me, I like the way the grip hugs my side.

I was carrying some 240 LSWC over 7.0 grains of 231, I've only worked up a couple of loads thus far, that one and another with the same bullet and 7.0 grains of Unique. I finished that box of 240 LSWC off with 7.5 grain Unique loads I haven't had a chance to fire yet.

Bugs Bunny · Aug 23, 2011

MMA10mm said:
Jitterbug,

As for me, I load my custom 270gr Keith SWC with a light charge of W231 (HP38) of 7.5grs. This gives me about 800-900fps, depending on barrel length and atmospheric conditions.

I have the same rcbs cast mould from the 80's - 250gr hard cast Keith SWC - 231 6.5 grains been around 900fps on the chrono - I use that load for IDPA in a 3in - it penetrates deep into hardwood and the metal inside car doors it rips right through - I doubt anything in north america will stick around after being popped with it.

I have used up to 22gr of 2400 with it years ago, that was hot, leaded the barrel badly, just no need to push cast bullets that fast or beat the revolver for that matter.

.44 Magnum Cast load data

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