.44 target load

Jersey Doug · Jun 6, 2018

A while back was here looking for a 38 special target load for my M-14 S&W (8 3/8). Thanks to the help I found now shoot the Hornady 148 wadcutter with 2.7 Bullseye (as recommenced) was as simple as that to get the accuracy looking for.

I'm hoping for advice again on a similar simple target combination for my M-29 in .44 special ? Looking to make tight groups a 25 yards.

arjay · Jun 6, 2018

Using a cast 240 gr lswc and 44 mag brass,somewhere around 8 gr of unique should do it

Wise_A · Jun 6, 2018

Low recoil, as well? 8-9 grains of Unique in .44 Magnum brass is moderate and accurate. Lately I've been toying with 5.0 grains of Titegroup (again, Magnum brass) under a 240-grain LSWC. It makes nice groups, and my double-action trigger-squeezer gets tired long before my recoil buffers do.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, 25 yards and under, it's hard to impossible to come up with a .44 load that most would deem inaccurate, unless you literally tried to pick an unsuitable combination.

rwsmith · Jun 6, 2018

I wanted a target load...

... for .44 magnum. I was going to use Bullseye, but I thought how tiny the charge looked in a .44 case. I used Unique with a 230 gr coated Missouri SWC. I don't remember exactly what the load was but it was pretty light at about 800 fps. Something under 6 grains, I think.

STCM(SW) · Jun 6, 2018

204 gr WC with 5 gr of BE is the best I have ever shot out of a .44 for target shooting....

Forrest r · Jun 6, 2018

Pretty much any bullet in the 180gr to 240gr weight range and 6.0gr to 6.5gr of clays.

My 25yd bullseye 44mag load.

2.5gr of clays pushing a 148gr hbwc in the 38spl's will do the same thing, namely shoot bugholes.

stansdds · Jun 6, 2018

In my 29-3, I have had great results with commercially made hard cast 240 grain lead semi-wadcutter bullets over 9 grains of Unique ignited by a Winchester large pistol primer in 44 Magnum brass.

Trooper224 · Jun 6, 2018

I used a Model 29 in bullseye for a couple of years. A 240 grain SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique, in a magnum case, won a lot of matches for me.

SRG · Jun 6, 2018

Had really good luck with .200 grain cast over 5.8 grains of 231 in .44 Special cases in my Model 29 and Triple Lock. Very mild and accurate.

Ivan the Butcher · Jun 6, 2018

ALL IN MAGNUM BRASS! 215 gr TFP and 8 gr. Unique is very accurate and mild! My 629 2" is too much for me to handle with factory 240's so I use 240 SWC and 10 gr Unique . Manageable and accurate Upper mid-range. Out of 8 3/8 29 or super 14 Contender the 8 gr load is super mild!

Ivan

msauter · Jun 6, 2018

Using .44 Special cases, I use Xtreme 200 gr heavy plated bullets over 5.2 grains of Bullseye. Targets show 25 rounds each, standing, at 40 feet.

cowboy4evr · Jun 6, 2018

Elmer Keiths " target load " (he called it his gallery load ) was 5.0 grs of Bullseye using his 245 gr swc , in a magnum case . That should work well with 240 gr commercial cast bullets as well . His " mid range " load for everyday carry was 8.5 grs of Unique . Hope this helps , Regards, Paul

Jersey Doug · Jun 6, 2018

Want to thank everyone for their input. Have the matching powder and primers mentioned, will have to order bullets. Will post results after get to the range.

Snapping Twig · Jun 6, 2018

My load in a magnum case is 7g W231/HP38 under a 250g SWC.

Benchrest1 · Jun 7, 2018

Another vote for 8.5 grains of Unique in a mag case. That's been my go to load for over 30 years.

cowboy4evr · Jun 7, 2018

7.0 of IMR 700X using a 240-250 gr bullet is another real nice everyday load in a magnum case . 6.0 in a 44 special case . I got those loads from an article that Mike Ventorino wrote in Hand Loader magazine . Red Dot will work well also , same 7.0 load in magnum case , 6.0 in a special case .

Shuz · Jun 7, 2018

Green Dot is what I've used for many years with my own cast boolits in .44 mag cases. That was after I had discussed it's use in the .44 mag with an Alliant(formerly Hercules) tech rep. He told me that "Green Dot is one of the best kept secrets in loading for the .44 mag". Of course we were talking loads in the 700 to 1100fps range, not magnum loads. Take any load listed for Unique, and drop it by approximately 1grain, and use Green Dot. The velocity will be very very close to the same, accuracy will be the same, but you will use less powder and thus it will be cheaper to load. During powder shortages that we have all experienced lately, Green Dot was always available here in the Pacific Northwest.
I load on a Dillon Square Deal B, and it's powder measure throws charges of Green Dot that are no more that .1g +-. YMMV.

TAROMAN · Jun 7, 2018

A 240 coated LSWC over 7.5 grains of Green Dot gives me exactly 1000 FPS average across the chronograph.
6 inch 629-4.

S&W HE · Jun 7, 2018

Benchrest1 said:
Another vote for 8.5 grains of Unique in a mag case. That's been my go to load for over 30 years.

Ditto!

Another 44 Mag case target load that's works well for me from my old Mag-Na-Ported 6" 629 is...

10.6 grains Accurate #7 under a quality hard cast 240 gr. LSWC

Chronographs an Average: 870 fps ES:18 SD:7

BeachBumShooter · Jun 8, 2018

I have loaded several thousand rounds of 44 special brass with 5 grains of Bullseye under a 240 lswc coated bullet and have found that load to be WAY more accurate than I could ever be. And its mild enough for the wife to enjoy shooting my model 629.

.44 target load

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