RonH
Member
I'm looking for a good accurate target load with 240 gr. cast LSWC. I'm planning on using Unique, but I also have lots of 231, AA#5, bullseye etc. I'm looking for an accurate load at less than 1,000 fps. thanks in advance.
.44 Magnum plinking loads
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lscocoa
Member
I use 4.5gr. trail boss in my mountain gun for a light fun plinking load , which is good in my 8 3/8 in 629-4 and 10 5/8 29-3 . My most accurate mid-range load in all three is 7.5 gr. of unique with a 240 cast bullet . I also bought some Rainier 240gr.plated and am really happy with 8gr.of unique . Happy enough that if my aging grip/shake is somewhat calm I would feel comfortable popping a squirrel in the noggin out to 35-40 yards .
Inspector-Callahan
Member
TB
Any idea what velocity you're getting with the Trail Boss load? Sounds like a real powder puff paper load?
IC
Any idea what velocity you're getting with the Trail Boss load? Sounds like a real powder puff paper load?
IC
4barrel
Member
Check the end of your cylinder & get the bullets the same size. For plinking get some 44 special brass & 6.8 to 7.2 of UNIQUE will do under 5 inches at 50 yards. On 44 mag brass 8 gr. of UNIQUE will do good. Mine shoots a .430 bullet. The 44 special brass is more pleasant to shoot. I am talking true target loads. I have a 8 3/8 scoped 29 to check my loads & then switch to my 629. The under 5" is from the non scoped 629. I know Bullseye will work ok but I don't wont to take a chance on a double charge. I shot my friends 3" 29 last week end & stuck 10 shots in black @ 25 1 hand --3 different times with 8 gr. of UNIQUE in 44 mag.
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Nemo288
Member
I am not a big fan of shooting 44 special in the magnum. It leaves
a nice ring around the end of the chamber that can eventually cause
problems when inserting the proper ammo. You can clean it out but
there will always be some cosmetic damage.
Just assemble special loads in the magnum brass and add .5 to 1
grain to make up for the added space.
Example: 5.5 gr. Unique (or Universal) and a 240 SWC in the Special.
6.5 grains of the same in a Magnum case is my regular target load.
As 4Barrel says, 8 grains is also accurate in my magnums.
I have gone as low as 4.5 grains of PB (with filler) in the magnum case.
If you really want to reduce recoil, try some 200 gr. or 180 gr. bullets.
I was just delivered of some Penn 185 gr. (actually weigh 190) .432"
double ended wadcutters for this purpose (and to shoot in my Bulldog).
I'll report on how these work in a few days.
---
Nemo
a nice ring around the end of the chamber that can eventually cause
problems when inserting the proper ammo. You can clean it out but
there will always be some cosmetic damage.
Just assemble special loads in the magnum brass and add .5 to 1
grain to make up for the added space.
Example: 5.5 gr. Unique (or Universal) and a 240 SWC in the Special.
6.5 grains of the same in a Magnum case is my regular target load.
As 4Barrel says, 8 grains is also accurate in my magnums.
I have gone as low as 4.5 grains of PB (with filler) in the magnum case.
If you really want to reduce recoil, try some 200 gr. or 180 gr. bullets.
I was just delivered of some Penn 185 gr. (actually weigh 190) .432"
double ended wadcutters for this purpose (and to shoot in my Bulldog).
I'll report on how these work in a few days.
---
Nemo
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Open your relaoding manual to 44 Special. Find your bullet and powder listed and load that in your 44 magnum cases. Use listed mid-range to 0.5 grains under max powder charges for 44 Special and you get mild target loads in 44 magnum cases.
I've been doing it for years. Gives little ladies a chance to shoot a 44 magnum without discomfort. Slip in the real loads when the guys want to shoot.
I've been doing it for years. Gives little ladies a chance to shoot a 44 magnum without discomfort. Slip in the real loads when the guys want to shoot.
Taking the Bite Out of the Mighty .44 Magnum
November, 96 Bite Out
Reloading The .44 Magnum
Reloading .44 Magnum Page
Reloading the .44 Magnum
by Patrick Sweeney • September 24, 2010
Read more: Reloading the .44 Magnum
Handloader Magazine June 2006
Handloading the Smith and Wesson model 29
Click on link below, its a pdf download with very good info by Brian Pearce.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...aMd1Lrla1FwkUw99nPM6vLg&bvm=bv.51156542,d.dmg
Dirty Harry Quote
Officer Phil Sweet: What kind of a load do you use in that .44?
Harry Callahan: It's a light Special. This size gun it gives you better control and less recoil than a .357 Magnum with wadcutters.
November, 96 Bite Out
Reloading The .44 Magnum
Reloading .44 Magnum Page
Reloading the .44 Magnum
by Patrick Sweeney • September 24, 2010
Read more: Reloading the .44 Magnum
Handloader Magazine June 2006
Handloading the Smith and Wesson model 29
Click on link below, its a pdf download with very good info by Brian Pearce.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...aMd1Lrla1FwkUw99nPM6vLg&bvm=bv.51156542,d.dmg
Dirty Harry Quote
Officer Phil Sweet: What kind of a load do you use in that .44?
Harry Callahan: It's a light Special. This size gun it gives you better control and less recoil than a .357 Magnum with wadcutters.
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You don't say what gun or barrel length you are using but a couple of
loads with Bullseye are accurate in my 4" S&W md 29-2 at less than
1,000 fps. Magnum brass, Rem 2 1/2 primer, 6.2 grs BE, 250 gr cast
SWC = 830 fps. Same with 7.3 grs BE = 890 fps.
loads with Bullseye are accurate in my 4" S&W md 29-2 at less than
1,000 fps. Magnum brass, Rem 2 1/2 primer, 6.2 grs BE, 250 gr cast
SWC = 830 fps. Same with 7.3 grs BE = 890 fps.
Nframecollector
Member
6 grs. of Bullseye or 10 grs. of Unique work great with Elmers bullet in all my 44's!
Jes my take on reloading .44 Magnums. I don't pay much attention to any loads I find on line, period. I know the guys are just being helpful, but I can find a good load for anything in one of my manuals and I haven't run out of possible combinations yet. In my 25+ years reloading I have shot Special brass in my 5, .44s and if you regularly clean your guns, the "carbon ring" isn't a big deal.
When I want light loads for my Magnum brass I use book loads for the .44 Special, and I've never had problems with bullets stuck in the barrel. The only difference is the velocities will be lower than listed 'cause of increased case capacity, and I've come up with some really accurate loads this way. (one of my loads that's a hoot to shoot is .432" round ball over 3-4 gr. Bullseye). But don't "under load" with W296/H110.
One point; I treat all my reloads as if I'm shooting for competition, my attention and quality control is just as high with "plinking loads" as with my "life saving, anti-bear, anti-bad guy" loads...
When I want light loads for my Magnum brass I use book loads for the .44 Special, and I've never had problems with bullets stuck in the barrel. The only difference is the velocities will be lower than listed 'cause of increased case capacity, and I've come up with some really accurate loads this way. (one of my loads that's a hoot to shoot is .432" round ball over 3-4 gr. Bullseye). But don't "under load" with W296/H110.
One point; I treat all my reloads as if I'm shooting for competition, my attention and quality control is just as high with "plinking loads" as with my "life saving, anti-bear, anti-bad guy" loads...
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WaMike
Member
On a couple of fishing trips to AK, we were going to be in bear country and some (in retrospect) dim-wit advised us to carry 44 Mag. We joyfully dug out our Mdl 29s and practiced with both light and heavy loads.
Fortunately, none of us felt it necessary to shoot a bear (when we saw them, we moved noisily out of their way). Good thing, too, because one of the guys was still carrying plinking loads in his....he felt those loads were easier to shoot, ergo, he'd be better armed.
I "wisely" had practiced with Special brass and loads, so I wouldn't get the Mag loads mixed up with plinking loads. But again, on seeing my first brown bear sort of up close, I thought distancing myself the better part of valor.
Alaska old-timers have a term for cheechakos using 44 Mag pistols on brown bears: "lunch."
Fortunately, none of us felt it necessary to shoot a bear (when we saw them, we moved noisily out of their way). Good thing, too, because one of the guys was still carrying plinking loads in his....he felt those loads were easier to shoot, ergo, he'd be better armed.
I "wisely" had practiced with Special brass and loads, so I wouldn't get the Mag loads mixed up with plinking loads. But again, on seeing my first brown bear sort of up close, I thought distancing myself the better part of valor.
Alaska old-timers have a term for cheechakos using 44 Mag pistols on brown bears: "lunch."
I use the same load in a Mountain Gun with 260 gr cast bullets. It's about all the fun I want for a lightweight gun. Recoil would be much more managable with 240 gr, but I don't have any molds that light in 44. It's well under the heavy 296/H110 loads.
Sebago Son
Member
.44 Long Rifle
This is 7.8 Unique under a Tennessee Valley Bullet Company 242 grain cast round nose, flat point sized to .430".
Primers are Federal, No. 150's.
Out of my fixed sight .44 Belt Gun it will, on good day, shoot into 3" at 22 1/2 long paces. It shoots to the sights and gives me an average of 907 fps over the screens.
Not much recoil makes double action shooting easy...
Mild shooting and a efficient load to make up... the round nose bullet let's the load run smoothly through a lever carbine too.
Drew
This is 7.8 Unique under a Tennessee Valley Bullet Company 242 grain cast round nose, flat point sized to .430".
Primers are Federal, No. 150's.
Out of my fixed sight .44 Belt Gun it will, on good day, shoot into 3" at 22 1/2 long paces. It shoots to the sights and gives me an average of 907 fps over the screens.
Not much recoil makes double action shooting easy...
Mild shooting and a efficient load to make up... the round nose bullet let's the load run smoothly through a lever carbine too.
Drew
I loaded some 240 gr. cast with 8.0 grains of unique and it shot pretty well. My standard magnum loads are 10.0 grains of unique or Elmer's load of 22.0 grains of 2400. Although I'm planning on dropping my 2400 load to about 20.6 gr.
I'm shooting an M29 with 6-1/2" barrel and a 629 with a 4" barrel. I do not have a special so I just wanted some lighter loads to plink with.
BTW, my load in my .45 Blackhawk is 8.0 grains of unique with a 255 LSWC-cast, but that is for a different thread. Thanks for the replies.
I'm shooting an M29 with 6-1/2" barrel and a 629 with a 4" barrel. I do not have a special so I just wanted some lighter loads to plink with.
BTW, my load in my .45 Blackhawk is 8.0 grains of unique with a 255 LSWC-cast, but that is for a different thread. Thanks for the replies.
