I recently picked up a 629 and since this is my first foray into .44 territory, I'm looking for a little insight.

I'm paper punching as CC and hunting are not options here. I was thinking a 240g LSWC but am open to other points of view.

I also was looking to keep the power on the lower side as there's no real use in pounding the gun and the backstop (and the shooter) to kill paper.

Any and all opinions solicited and welcome!

I have many years of casting and loading for several .44 Magnums. Most of my use has been practicing for and hunting deer.

Having said that, I also have several .44 Specials and loading .44 Special level loads is what you are looking for. If you have .44 Special brass, I can recommend the ol' Skeeter load of 7.5 grs. of Unique behind a 250 gr. Keith cast bullet. This will give you about 950 fps. It is pleasant to shoot and actually quite effective in the field as well as the range.

If you have nothing but .44 Magnum brass, then a load that will give you similar ballistics in the magnum brass is 7.5 grs. of Winchester 231 (or HP 38 as they are the same powder in different packaging).

Then, if you, on occasion, want to experience full .44 Magnum loads, you can load the same 250 gr. Keith bullet ahead of 25.0 grs of H110 or Win 296 (same powder, different packaging). My long time practice load just prior to hunting season is 23.0 grs of H110 or 296 to make it a bit easier on the gun. I have 10,000 of these loads through my Model 29 Smith. I reserve the full house loads for hunting. The 23.0 grs. load shoots well (I can keep most shots on a playing card at 100 yards, off a rest) and is much easier on the gun (and shooter).

You do not have to shoot full house loads in the revolver to enjoy your range time (no more than you have to drive 100 mph in your car to go to the grocery store).

Congratulations! You have one of the finest revolvers and cartridges on the planet.

FWIW
Dale53

My 629 is a paper puncher too so most of my loads are reduced so I can feel the steering wheel on the drive home. Loading 44 magnum is new to me so all I've loaded so far is 240gr. LSWC's. They're cheap in bulk. For powder W231/HP-38 is great for light loads. Stepping it up a notch I have a favorite load I can shoot all day using HS-6 that in theory should be around 1100fps. For full on magnum loads 2400 and Accurate #9 have so far worked well.

I just recently started shooting some very reduced (44 special-ish) loads in my 629 using unique and 240gr SWCHP's. They are very accurate and a pleasure to shoot. I choose H110 for magnum hunting loads. Just start in the high range of the 44 special data and work from there. Lots of fun and it doesn't scare anyone off from the "magnum"

240 cast and 8.5 unique is my everyday load. Easy on the shooter

A 240 gr cast lswc with anywhere from 7gr to 10 gr of Unique is what I shoot in my 44 mags most of the time.The 7 gr load is a nice mild plinker.

I load a 215gr lswc over 8.4 gr. Universal Clays for paper punching. It works well and does not beat you or your gun up.
I have not seen Universal Clays in a shop for close to two years. Some have said they have pick it up , but not in my neck of the woods yet. I am still a fan of full house loads in the big 44s. I run a 180gr Hornady XTP over 29.5 gr. of Win 296 w/ mag primer. It will get your attention.

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Not so Free in the Free State

Dale nailed it.

I load similarly, if a bit lighter.

In a magnum case I use 7g W231/HP38 under a cast 250g SWC.

That will give you @ 900fps which is pretty much a Skeeter 44Spl.

For magnums, I load a slightly larger bullet - Lyman 429244 @ 265g from WW - over 22g W296/H110. Works just as well with a 250g cast SWC.

Many caution to use a magnum primer with W296/H110, but an old Skeeter trick is not using a magnum primer - which is what I do. So far so good after 30 years of doing it his way.

All the same, Winchester primers are good for either standard or magnum or just go for magnum primers as you wish.

Back in my Cowboy Action Shooting days, my favorite .44 load was a 240 grain SWC bullet over 7 grains of Bullseye in a .44 Mag case, and 6 grains of Bullseye in a .44 Special case. I used .44 Special cases for my rifle, as the tubular magazine would then hold a couple of more rounds (10 in .44 Special, vs. only 8 in .44 Mag), and .44 Mag cases in my Rugers.

At present, I use 180 grain .44 Cowboy bullets and 6.5 grains of Bullseye in .44 Special cases for everything. (also is a good mild .45 Colt load with 200 grain .45 Cowboy bullets). However, about any bullet weight in either size case over 6 to 7 grains of any faster pistol or shotgun powder (Bullseye, Unique, 231, Green Dot, Red Dot, AA#2, etc.) will produce a good mild load. Your gun will tell you which one it prefers. I use lighter bullets for lower recoil.

where I am just punching paper, I deviate away from the 240G and go lighter.
200 - 220 grains to take a little more edge off of things over a load of Unique.
end result is a sweet shooting load with higher velocity if and when you need to call upon it off paper.

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it just needs more voltage

Congrats on your new acquisition LMWIS. I'm also a new 629 owner (4 incher in my case), but I've have been loading for 44's for a bit (Mag & Special). I tend to use light cast bullets for plinking and target practice as I am able to get more bullets from each pound of lead. I've tried loads using ultra light 116gr WC to 163gr WC and 172 gr RN on up to 260gr SWC. the bulk of my paper punching loads tend to be assembled using 172 gr RN, 200 gr FN, 208 gr WC and 214 gr SWC in Mag cases over published mid/upper level 44 special load data. Bullseye, Red Dot and Unique typically get the nod. They are real cream puffs in the 629. Take care and enjoy that new 629!

For Easy-On-You loads, compare 44 Spl to 44 Mag data. Make you loads start at 44 Spl max up to 1.0 grains over 44 mag starting. I use 200 to 220 grain bullets that work great from Mild to Brisk.

I use a 245 gr cast SWC and AA #9 powder when more umph is needed up to full power magnum loads. In 7-1/2" or 8-3/8" barrels the recoil is tolerable, but not in 3" or 4" revolvers -- only made that mistake once. "Hot" loads are placed in a red plastic tray or box. Enjoy your new revolver.

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S&WHF 366

Ran roughly 1000 swaged lead 240gr LWSC through a 29-3 last year, and about that through various other .44s but those were cast rather than swaged. The 29 in question got it's bore cleaned once in all that time, and I regretted doing it, as it was just before a match this year and took a while to settle down again.

I've been running 231 for 95% of the loads, and not much of that. Have found a pinch of Dacron helps reduce vertical stringing at ranges past 50 yards, but can't see any difference at 50 yards or less.

ETA: Older .44s usually have largish throats. This can make for some additional work for eliminating forcing cone area leading and achieving optimal accuracy. Newer .44s are much easier to sort. (There's some .44 mag ammo with cast bullets I've loaded for earlier revolvers that cannot be forced into the chambers of newer 629s!)

Also, I've found that the HiTek coated bullets available from quite a few vendors very worthwhile, if you can get bullets of the correct diameter. Have a couple of 629-6 Classics and some PC revolvers that are very happy with said projectiles. Was coating my own, but would rather buy than spend the time casting, IF the results are similar downrange.

With a 240gr LSWC I load 8gr. of WW231 for a light load and 10gr. of Unique for a mid-range load. I use 240gr JHC and 24.0gr of WW296 for my max loads.

Like jaymoore, I will sometimes use a pinch of Dacron pillow stuffing.

I'll join the crowd shooting 7.5-8.5 gr Unique/Universal/CSB-1 and a 240.
With the newer EDC rifling you MAY be better off with a plated bullet.
I only have a couple of these and have not done a side by side yet with regular cast.
Cast bullets are available in more sizes to fit your chamber throats.
So far I am real pleased with plated numbers in the 44 special running a grain less than the above recipe.
The plated bullets are soft enough they should obturate and fit any bore when driven fast enough.

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Nemo

I have a 4" 629 magna ported. I load only magnum cases. Tightgroup and 240 gr RNFP from Missouri bullet for specials. W296 and 240 gr Hornady XTP for magnums.

I have the 1950 Target .44 Special, Model 29 in 6.5" and 4", and the 629 Deluxe in 3". Also shoot a Colt Single Action Army in .44 Special.

My basic load is the Lee 240 SWC cast of wheelweights, unsized (0.430" from the mold), lubed with NRA formula Alox, .44 Special cases, 7 grains Unique, large pistol standard primer. Shoots very well in all 4 guns. Accurate, controllable, comfortable in these large-frame revolvers. Cases last indefinitely (last batch of 500 was purchased about 15 years ago).

I don't like shooting magnum ammunition and will not do so unless I have a very good reason. So far I have never found a good enough reason to subject myself and my good guns to that kind of punishment. But I don't go out chasing grizzlies, or buffalo, or musk oxen. YMMV.

Best regards.

If you're just punching paper I'd stick to lighter bullets (200-215gr), any quick powder, and load it all in 44 Magnum brass. I find Clays and Xtreme .429" plated 200gr LRN works very well.

I would very highly recommend messing with Bayou and Missouri .430" Coated slugs. These are basically the magic bullet. No leading, no copper fouling, and very accurate. Put those on top of some fast burning shotgun flake, and you will have an accurate, clean, 44 load you can shoot all day.

Dale, are you using magnum primers with the H110 load?

Mike

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NRA Certified Pistol Inst.

Even for hunting & ccw, I would still use a Good cast bullet. Not sure what is available commercially there, but a lot of good molds, cast your own.
For paper punching, no need to go much beyond medium burners like unique, WSF or universal.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I recently unearthed two tins of Norma R-123. Would this powder work for the .44? I just can't find any loading data here.

I've recently been running some Bayou Bullets Hi-Tek coated bullets through my 629 Classic and I am sold on them for paper punching duty. They shoot as cleanly as any jacketed bullet and no more smoke than a jacketed either. The load I have been shooting isn't a powder puff, but isn't top end by any means either. Since I don't like small powder charges in large cases because it's too easy to double charge if distracted with potentially ruinous results, I stick with the slower powders and heavier powder charges. I've been loading these Bayou coated 240 grain SWC bullets with 21.3 grains of Win 296 or H110 (same powder, different bottle) and lighting them off with CCI 350 magnum pistol primers. They shoot real well (and provide a bit of recoil that a 44 should provide IMO) without being abusive on the hand, wrist or the gun itself. It also doesn't show a real big muzzle flash like larger powder loads of 296/H110 will in my 629 either, which is the 6 1/2" barrel version. This load is also between the max and min loads shown in the Hornady #9 manual, more toward the lower end, so you don't have to worry about possible hangfires while using the 296/H110. My other 2 favorite powders for loading 44 Mag are Accurate #9 and Blue Dot.

Mike;
I typically use Winchester primers with these heavy loads and have never had an issue, even in cold weather down to -10 degrees. It CAN get cold around here during deer season although I must admit that many of my deer were taken in shirt sleeve weather with a crop permit...

Dale53

Some results from last week.

20 March:

10rds at 100. coated 429421 Not spectacular, but 8 of 10 would be hits on 100yd rams with a bit of zeroing. And no worse user error!


First 5 at 100. Could have been a slight difference in gripping the revolver between the two sets. Or load needs some tweaking. Early data with relatively new purchase. By next year we should know plenty more about what this gun likes.


Not so much liking the Valiant bullets at 100yd. But these bullets weren't sorted by weight beforehand. Note that the "high left" groups of the first two photos were shot with the same zero as the Valiant bullet load, and immediately following the Valiants.

Acceptable 50yd group. Would take steel piggies no problem.


Fairly good 25yd results.

ETA: Oh, forgot the projectile launcher:

Glad to see I'm not the only old geezer that still use Kieth bullets and Skeeter loads...using them 45 years now and they still get the job done..

What Dale53 said...
Many years ago when I use to shoot bowling pins. I used a 245 gr. LSWC with Unique in a 44 mag case at about 900 fps. Mild load and would take a bowling pin clean off the table.
However, my 8" m29 would shoot several inches high at 25 yds with that load, and needed a higher velocity round to hit point of aim..
I prefer 2400 powder now. Good for anything from a mild 44 spl. to a wild 44 mag. load.

My favorite is .44 cal Berry's plated over HP-38. Great accuracy and the clean up takes no time!

I was just getting set to load up some Berry's. I have the 240 GR THPs. I was planning to use CCI Magnum primers in everything and try some Unique and H110 loadings.

How far away was your target?

Mike

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NRA Certified Pistol Inst.

Do the Berry's bullets have tapered heels?

I'm asking because I recently bought 500 Hunting Shack 240 grain plated bullets. They have tapered heels and my 44 Special doesn't care for them.