I will beginning to reload for my soon to be acquired S&W 44 Magnum Performance Center 629. I have reloaded for quite a few years for benchrest rifle shooting in addition to currently reloading 9mm and 45ACP cartridges. I want to select a good all around powder that I can use for both 44 Special target loads and 44 magnum hunting loads (will use for deer hunting). Would appreciate advice on a good all purpose powder.
Also looking for a good 185 grain target bullet for the 44 Special and a good 240 grain hunting (whitetail deer) bullet.

All thoughts and opinions appreciated!

Thanks

Welcome cladd1! I load both .44 Mag and 44 SPL ballistics both in 44 Magnum brass. I don't own a 44 SPL gun, so no sense in complicating my inventory. For 44 SPL I use fast powders like Hodgdon Clays and Winchester 231. Unique and Universal work very well also. I typically load these under 200gr plated or coated slugs.

For full power I use W296/H110 and IMR4227. 4227 doesn't get as high velocity as 296/110, but it is single base, and bit easier on the gun.

Load data for all the powders I mentioned above except Unique are on the Hogdgon Reloading Data site.

If you're willing to go to 200gr for the target load, I would suggest keeping eye on free shipping deals from xtreme bullets. It will be one of the best deals on slugs you'll find. I've shot about 10k of them at this point.

I like Win-231 and Red Dot for reduced power target loads. 2400 and Win-296 work well for heavy hunting loads, with 2400 being a little more versatile as it can be loaded down some, where 296 shouldn't be.

For a 240 grain deer bullet, I would look hard at the 240 grain XTP. I have used this bullet on a fair number of deer with complete satisfaction.

Larry

To answer your question with a non-answer I will say generally you can't use the same powder for light target loads and heavy magnums.

Your lighter loads generally use faster burning powders and your heavier mag loads use slower burning powder.

When I first started loading for 357 and 44 mag I only used Unique and 2400. If I had to pick only one powder to 'TRY' and do it all it would be Unique.

Ultimately to get the best out of both cartridges I would go with at least 2 different powders.

Using 44 mag brass and 240 gr bullets,Unique gives me 750-1100+ fps.2400 will push em faster

As has already been stated, one powder for both will be a compromise for both. I'd suggest a moderate speed power like Power Pistol as the compromise. You won't get the maximum speed with it in the 44 Mag but in 44 Spcl. it'll give good performance in all but the lightest of loads.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

I agree--Unique will serve you well for all your paper-punching needs. With a lighter (185- or 200-grain) bullet, recoil will be quite manageable. And you can have quite a bit of fun with a 240- or 255-grain SWC and a heavier charge, while still keeping costs down. Your .44 Magnums won't cost much more to shoot than .45 ACP.

2400 will be superior for your hunting loads, and you won't mind the primary drawback (22 grains of powder costs a lot more than 10 or 11) in such low volumes.

I would suggest that you stick to Magnum brass. .44 Remington Magnum is an incredibly versatile cartridge. A lighter bullet and a faster powder will be a real kitten to shoot--just take your pick. I would wager that you could even get excellent results using the same 240/255-grain SWC from the full-power target loadings.

Simply put, it's not worth the potential of developing carbon rings in your cylinder.

I use Unique for cast target loads
2400 for 240 JHP for Ruger SBH
H-110 for 240 Jsp for Marlin 1894
All loads in Magnum brass.

Titegroup is a good powder .44 special for magnum loads H110. As for bullets I shoot cast .250 -300 grain.

I like Hornady XTP bullets, both 200 and 240 gr.
Used lots of Blue Dot meters well and clean and accurate.
Others may push the bullet faster if you really need that.

As a compromise powder for both, Unique does a pretty good job. 7 grains will get you about 850 fps with a 240 grain lead bullet, and 12 grains behind a 240 Hornady JSP will go 1200. That's pretty hot, but I haven't had any problems with it.

Best bet, as always, is check reloading manuals.

I like 700X for both. In a mag case I use 7gr of 700X and a 240gr LSWC. Out of a 6" barrel I get about 985fps, which has been more than enough to kill a truck load of deer over the years. Not a mag load, more of a manly 44spl load.
I drop it to 6gr with the same bullet in a spl. case.

Blue dot will get you in magnum territory using less powder . I'm a real fan of IMR 4227 . I loose a little in velocity but have great accuracy . It's single base powder , burns cooler easier on the gun .
Winchester Super Field in 44magnums for great mid range loads and Super Target in 44spls are the 2 powders I use the most though .

I know you asked for a single powder, but I think to get the best out of both cartridges two powders are warranted.

For top end .44 Special and mid-range .44 Magnum, Alliant's Power Pistol is an outstanding powder. You can get excellent speed (1000 fps) and still keep the pressure at SAMMI levels in the Special.

For top end .44 Magnum loads Ramshot's Enforcer is my favorite. Just a bit slower than 2400, Enforcer meters like water and gives me very low SD and ES numbers. Its very clean to boot.

I load both. I use Unique cause I have a lot. For the Mag either 2400 or 4227 for up there loads. And as far as "crud rings" a swipe in the cylinder with a bore brush and it comes right out. Not like your gonna shoot 500 rounds at a time without cleaning a little bit. And the loads in a 44 sp case are so easy to make. and you can easily see if you have a double charge. Never have but the special is easy. And if you want to use one powder..Unique will get you over a 1000 ft per second..with the right bullet enough for even the big bears. Heck my bear load in the 41 mag(what I carry in b'ar country) is a 250 gr cast WFNGC bullet at about 1050. I have used H110/296 in the past and do have plenty but use it for my 410 loads..Max velocity but also max pressures. So if I really need hot loads 4227 or 2400. Much easier on the shooter and the gun.

Unique or 2400 if you can't do it with one of these you just don't need to do it at all .

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

That's all I use. I second this.

I use either the 240gr XTP or the bulk box Nosler for jacketed bullet loads . I cast my own 250 grain lead Keith bullets as well as the Thompson 230244 Lyman gas check bullet . No experience with the 185gr bullets .Never saw the need .

Eddie

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Thanks for all the terrific responses - great ideas. I really liked the suggestions about using 44 mag cases for both magnum and 44 special target loads. This makes perfect sense however it just did not occur to me until I read this. I just ordered my
S&W Performance Center 629 with 7.5 inch barrel and compensator. Now need to order some dies/brass/bullets and primers (need to order I assume magnum large pistol primers?) ( :

Thanks again!

Magnum large pistol primers ? That depends on your choice of powder / powders . I use " full magnum " primers with IMR 4227 . Other wise I use exclusively Winchester LPP's . Alliant says even 2400 does not need mag primers . Unique , W231 , Power Pistol , Blue Dot etc does not need mag primers . The powder co's list the primers used in developing their load data .

I load both .44 Special and .44 Mag, but all mine are on the light to medium side. Unique and 700-X are tough to beat for lighter lead bullet loads, but any of the faster burning propellants will be OK.

I usually use Winchester Large Pistol for loads in the 9-12 grain range.

I only load .44 mag brass using 240gr RNFP Missouri Bullet with Titegroup for specials, and 240gr XTP with W296 for mags.

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"from my cold dead hands" C.H.

Primers?? In he 44 mag case with the slower powders 2400 4227 and such I use mag primers. I know what they say about 2400 et al but If I carry the magnum it will usually be in the mountains wherethe grizz live. So I use primers that WILL make 'em go bang..JIC anything in the special case I use anything standard. S&B right at this time cause they cost under 18 dollars per M. Yeah I'm cheap. Next to use in large pistol is gonna be some Tulammo I got for 15 per.

For the handgun calibers you mentioned that you already have, in addition to the soon to be attained .44 Special and Magnum, you would be well served with the old trilogy of Bullseye, Unique and 2400. Those 3 will do it all from light target loads to heavy hunting loads. If I had to settle on just one, it would be Unique.

Primers?? In he 44 mag case with the slower powders 2400 4227 and such I use mag primers. I know what they say about 2400 et al but If I carry the magnum it will usually be in the mountains wherethe grizz live. So I use primers that WILL make 'em go bang..JIC anything in the special case I use anything standard. S&B right at this time cause they cost under 18 dollars per M. Yeah I'm cheap. Next to use in large pistol is gonna be some Tulammo I got for 15 per.

Right now Starline Brass is offering 1000 44 Mag cases for $176 or 500 for $101 and free shipping. That's going to be tough to beat. I use their brass for both .357 and .44 RM. It works quite well in my Dillon press, and my guns.

I really like Red Dot and Bullseye for light my 44 special and Unique for stouter near max level loads. For my 44 mags, Unique is my go to light and mid level powder and H110 for my max level hunting loads w 240 gr XTPs. All this talk about loads makes me want to head up to the loading bench!

I use 9.1 grains Clays Universal, dropped with RCBS little dandy rotor #16 with a RCBS 240 gr LSWC. It's clean, accurate and ~1,000 fps, has been just splendid on many small game and a few deer.

I've used just about all the powder listed so far in 44 Mag except Titegroup and Bullseye and all work well. For another couple of choices, Longshot has served me well in the medium to medium-high powdered loads and I also use a lot of Accurate #9 in both 44 Mag and 357 Mag. It's a little quicker powder than H110/296 and won't give quite as high a velocity as H110, but it is more tolerant of loading down than H110 too. It also has a flash suppressant in it and you don't get the big fireballs out of a revolver or Desert Eagle that H110 throws. It also meters great and burns pretty clean.

CFE-P will toss a 240gr. slug anywhere from 780fps to 1300fps. Like most powders though it's happiest mid range on up.

Thanks again for all the great advice. It appears that to achieve maximum potential I would be well served to use 2 different powders. One of the powders mentioned in this thread was Hogdon Universal. I did check Hogdon's reloading data and it listed that 5.6 grains with a 240 grain bullet would achieve 873 FPS and 10.2 grains could get me 1246 FPS. At first glance this seems like a reasonable target load and a not to bad deer load with the right bullet. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Your MVs from hodgdon are for a 8" test barrel, so are too high for your performance center 629 magna port by a bit.


My usual advice to magnum shooters is buy a real magnum powder or else accept mid-range performance. Some shooters just never load full magnum rounds; that's their choice. You can't do the full performance spectrum with one powder. Period.
You can wish, you can guess, you can hope, but one full-power H110 or 2400 magnum load will show you otherwise compared to any medium powder.

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Science plus Art

As I recall, the late Elmer Keith put the .44 Magnum on the map and his loads were built with IMR 2400. Of course, there are newer powders available that didn't exist in his time but the old standard load of 22 grains of 2400 behind a 240 grain JHP still works for me.

2400 for 240 grain heavy duty loads and Unique for lighter loads.

If you had a Lyman reloading manual you could select the best bullet --powder combo without a lot of guesswork. Unique is about the only powder listed for any caliber 22-45. I would buy all 44 mag brass. You can slow the bullet down to what feels right. 750--1200+. I use 2400 mostly in my 788 rifle but I have 4227--h110 and 296 on hand. Your pistol will do good with 100s of loads. Give us a photo when you get it.

For .44 Special loads I use either Unique or HP38/W231 with the cast 240 grain SWC. For mid-range .44 Magnum I use Unique. For full power and hunting loads, I use the 240 Hornady XTP and 2400.

Elmer Keiths load of 22 grs of 2400 powder was for " HIS " particular bullet . A 245 gr swc , long nose , short shank . The Lyman 429421 is a great example of the Keith designed swc .
People think just any 240 gr bullet , cast or jacketed is fine to use Elmers 22 gr load of 2400 powder on . that is NOT correct . Your STD. 240 gr bullet , cast or jacketed has more shank , meaning less case capacity . Using Elmers load on STD 240 gr bullets results in extremely high pressures , way - way above and beyond what is considered safe .

My hat is off to all those forum members who took the time to respond to my post. I now have a great deal of information to process that I'm certain will put me on the right path to developing excellent target and hunting loads. I hope everyone has experienced a blessed Thanksgiving day!!

I use Universal quite a lot for casual 44Mag shooting. A couple of my favorite loads -
200g LRN over 7.5g Universal - my under-125lb wife loves these in a Taurus M44 6.5" ported barrel.
240g LRN over 9.5g Universal - easy shooting in a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter.
Unfortunately it seems I haven't chrono'd those 2 loads.

Also, consider HS-6 for not-quite heavy loads. It seems to be a 'smoother' recoil, probably because it's a slower burning powder than Universal.
240 LRN over 10.5g HS-6 gives me 1000fps from my 7.5" SBH HUNTER, with 2.5" 12-shot groups at 25 yds.
240g LRN over 11.5g HS-6 gives 1125 fps, 3" 25yds 12-shot groups. SD around 12, and spread of about 20fps.

Get some 231 for target practice, and some H110/296 for full power.

H110/296 is a very accurate powder also, as well as powerful. Use mag primers with H110/296 and std. with 231. I have heard of folks using mag primers with 231, but I don't.

I've been using these since the '70's and early '80's (among many others) and I use these the most. With cast and jacketed. (overwhelmingly cast, haven't used jacketed bullets in years)

Bullseye is a very accurate and economical powder for target loads also. Enjoy!

As you can see, There's no shortage of opinions on what works best. I like 6gr. of CFE pistol for .44spl. I use LiL Gun with 225gr. hornaday FTX bullets for my hunting loads; both Hodgden and Accurate have website reloading info. for free. I suggest you check those out.

I forgot to mention that the .44 Spl. loads are with 240gr. LSWC bullets

Unique in the 9-10gr range(magnum brass) under a 240gr LSWC or 240gr plated bullet has always served me well for "I know it's a magnum but still pleasant to shoot" range. I back this off to 6-7gr for specials. I don't recall the charge weight, but I also like PB for lighter loads although it's no longer available. It's a bit on the "fluffy" side(a "1 lb" can is 14 oz) so gives good case fill.

I've used both 2400 and 296 for full blown "what the heck was that/my hand is hurting" magnums. I give 296 a slight nod in 44(I prefer 2400 for 357 mag) but either works well.

There's always Blue Dot and Herco, both of which work well although you'd be well advised to heed the warnings Alliant gives about Blue Dot in certain weights for this caliber. rburg gave me some a while back that I think were 13.5gr Blue Dot under a 240gr JSP, and they were warm to say the least.

Herco is an often overlooked powder, but is a nice intermediate between Blue Dot and 2400.

I checked Alliant's website a little while ago, and they seem to really be pushing BE-86. I have a can I haven't yet opened, but the charge weights are similar to Unique. CFE Pistol is also a good choice that's roughly in this range, and I've used a decent amount of it in 44 special. I have a unopened can of Vitahvouri N320 that I should be good also.

I am not a fan of Bullseye or Titegroup in either of these calibers due to the low powder volume. I'm okay with using either in 38 special where the case volume is much lower, but neither is much more than a sprinkle in a 44 special or magnum(esp. magnums). Although they would seem like a natural choice for 45 Colt, I don't like them in that either. Vihtavouri N310 is another nice, fast powder but again gives poor case fill. The fact that it's a stick powder makes it meter poorly in lower volumes, although the off-white color of it does at least make it easy to see in the case.

I like Bullseye, Red Dot, Unique, and SR4756(RIP) in Specials.
I like 2400 and VV N110 for full power Magnums.
I REALLY LIKE N110 for Magnum loads.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Alliance warning about Blue Dot was for light wt bullets in 357 mag and all 41 loads . I have used Blue Dot for yrs in the 41 mag and will continue to do so . My research led me to believe it wasn't the powder as the problem . Reloaders using heavier load weights but NOT noticing the OAL in the load data . That is important . Speer in their latest manual list a 41 mag load using Blue Dot .

I also think part of the warning on BD was because it was somewhat unstable burning in colder weather...especially with lighter bullets for caliber. I used to use it quite a bit in 41 and 44

Like several others -- I use 2400 for full power mag loads with 240 gr jacketed bullets. However most of my shooting is with 200 gr cast bullets from a 6 hole Lee mold and Unique for the powder.

For full power loads, I give 2400 the nod over 4227, have used both, prefer 2400. For lighter loads HS6 is a great powder for copper plated bullets 11grains of HS6 still has plenty of umph to take a bowling pin off the table with mild recoil.

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Shoot Straight and Shoot often

This thread reminds of the effort I've spent in attaining my 2 goals for 44M & 44s loads:

1) accuracy at bowling pin range;
2) pleasurable shooting 'all day long' loads

As a former IHMSA (200 yards!!) heavy 44 mag load neophyte, it too a few decades to come to my senses (insert LOL here).

I've retired from handgun hunting as well. I've tried to find a suitable load and found for my current pistol (8 3/8"" 629 slicked up a bit) any load I put 200 or 240 grain cast lead down range at around 1000 fps gives me all I'm looking for.

I prefer using both the special and the mag for different reasons.
I have worked thru about a dozen brands of powers, and in my limited range use haven't found all that much difference in average group size when all is said & done. Factors other than powder affect my group size more. And "LPP" is plenty, never found any need/observable difference in "magnum" primers.

Welcome to the magnificent 44 fraternity. Celebrate your discoveries with all of us.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas