Hi!
I have a 3" 629-4 Trail Boss which is Magna ported. Problem is I can't find a good commercial 44 Mag load that is fun to shoot!
I would like a recommendation for a good clean burning, accurate medium power loading for a 240gr Hard Cast SWC bullet that would be fun to shoot and plink with.

I used to load with 2400 but in such a short barrel maybe Unique would be better?

Any recommendations would be appreciated... since I have not reloaded in 40 years I was also wondering which primers and brass would be best to start with.

I love the gun but a day spent with some high-velocity factory Remington 180gr 44 Mags made me realize I have to start to reload again if I want the continued use of my hand

Well, you could step down to the Lyman 429421 bullet, 7.5 gr of Unique, Federal or WW LP primers in .44 Spl brass. Otherwise known as the "Skeeter load". If you're going to use Magnum brass, bump the load up to 8.5-9 gr of Unique.

Anybody's brass would be fine, recycle the brass from whatever, you've been shooting.

Bullet: Tru-Cast 240 grain Semi-Wadcutter hard cast bullets
Brass: Starline 44 Magnum
Powder: Winchester 231
Powder Charge: 5.2 grains
Primer: Wolf Large Pistol

Range Report – 44 Special Hard Cast in the Smith and Wesson 629 – Ultimate Reloader

Ok , a medium velocity load using 44 magnum cases . Using a commercial cast 240 gr cast bullet or plated bullet here is some recommendations .
1. 8.0 grs of HP-38 / W231
2. 8.5 grs of Unique
3.6.0-6.5 grs of Red Dot
4. 5.5 grs of Bullseye
Any of the above loads should do well . The above loads will also work well with a 215-225 gr cast bullet for a little less recoil . Good Luck , Regards, Paul

If what you are wanting is a mid-range MAGNUM load behind a 240 g. lead bullet, I've had good success with 10.0 g. Unique. Accuracy in my Model 29 is outstanding and felt recoil is enough to know that you have left Special territory but haven't quite gotten to "that makes my wrist hurt."

Edit: magnum cases

__________________
Some collect art; I shoot it!

A favorite of mine with a 240 grn cast is 6.5 grains of Red Dot, 44 mag case, CCI regular primers. About 900 to 950 fps, depending on the gun. Accurate in the dozen or so .44 mag handguns I have. Similar in power to a hot .45 acp load, and will shoot thru a buck broadside.

Larry

25 yards in a Smith 29-2 4” 6 shots off rest
44 special case
Lyman 421429 250 Keith bullet
13.5 grains 2400
CCI 300 larger pistol primer

Good all around load for heavy duty revolvers like 29s or 24s

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8-9gr of unique is pretty much the medium power load. You can also go with 9-10gr of wsf, be86 wpuld be another good choice. Faster powders are not really midrange loads, but target loads.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

thee is no better load for me than:
CCI 350 mag primer
44 special case
somewhere around 8-8.4 gr. HS-6 (consult your books first and don't exceed)
something around a 200 - 220 gr Sierra JSP if I recall.

the MOST accurate load and I have tried many many in the 44 spl.
perfect mid power and again in the same hole.

***Unique***

You won't lose anything by sticking with 2400. But if you find the recoil objectionable, either HP-38 or Unique will do just fine, with HP-38 delivering (in my experience) a little more felt recoil than Unique.

I might also suggest a large-frame .357 Magnum if you want a loud, pushy plinker. I thoroughly enjoy my M&P R8 with bottom-to-middle loads of 2400 under 125-grain JHPs.

HS-6 makes a great midrange load and meters really well. A magnum primer is a must with it I have found.

I also have a 3" 629, but mine is not magna-ported. It is best to keep those two factors in mind when selecting ammunition. The slower-burning powders will never produce top performance in the shorter barrels, but they will produce massive muzzle blast, flash, and recoil without providing the hoped-for ballistic performance.

I stick with stout .44 Special loads, usually a 240-grain cast SWC with 7.0 grains Unique. Very accurate and controllable. It has also proven capable of shooting through a 200-lb. mule deer, so it is not just a powder-puff plinking load.

Same load works very well in my 4" Model 29, 6.5" Model 29, S&W Model 1950 Target, and Colt Single Action Army .44 Special.

I don't recall purchasing or shooting .44 magnum ammunition for at least 20 years. A good .44 Special load does everything I need without the noise, blast, and recoil.

.
That's pretty close to what I've shot a bazillion of. I used Win primers and Midway brass, which was probably Starline. But it's not mid range, it's light but a pleasure to shoot.

My favorite for many years is 8 grains of 231 and a cast 245 grain SWC...Very low recoil and muzzle blast but reasonably powerful...Very accurate...

There isn’t much that I can add to the above reloading advice. However, if you don’t wish to invest in equipment to start reloading once again, you should buy commercial .44 special loads. Commercial .44 special ammunition would help to tame the recoil of your 3” barrel. You might enjoy the .44 Speical Cowboy Action loads offered by several companies.

Something in the neighborhood of 8.0 to 9.0 grains of Unique under a hard cast 240 grain LSWC makes a really nice, very controllable, and usually accurate reduced power load in 44 Magnum.

My current, go to, plinking 44 Magnum reload is;

240gr Lead Semi Wad Cutter Laser Cast bullet
5.6grs Alliant Red Dot, CCI LP #300 primer
Brass is Winchester, Remington, Federal, Starline.
Crimp is what I call medium roll crimp.
FPS approximately 825.

Bullets tumbled lube with Ben's Liquid Lube,
for Lead free barrel performance.

Primers no where near flat. Appears to be accurate
in my two Model 629s.

Other powders I've used and like are; Bullseye, Unique,
American Select (bulky and very clean),
Long Shot (not much info out there on this one),
and IMR Trail Boss (not much luck with this powder).

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

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I will be using a neighbors reloading equipment... Is there one best HC SWC bullet that is less likely to lead up my barrel? I used to load 1/2 copper jacket SWC bullets that seem to have fallen out of favor....

For several decades 7gr 700X in a magnum case and a 240 LSWC

With a swaged bullet you can go as low as 7gr of unique otherwise somewhere between eight and ten grains with magnum brass and a 240 gr cast bullet should be the sweet spot

There's always those Zero brand jacketed soft flat points. They are pretty cheap. I haven't loaded any light or medium ones yet.

Leading in a barrel is usually caused by problems with the revolver . Cylinder throats too small , tight spot where the barrel threads on to frame etc . When things are correct lead bullets won't lead a barrel . You might look at plated bullets . They won't lead your barrel and should provide decent accuracy . Berry's would be my choice . Powder Valley has been my supplier for yrs . Hope this helps , Regards, Paul

I'm having good luck with Hi-Tek coated hard cast bullets from Chey-Chey bullet company in Wyoming. I'm loading a 200 grain hard cast coated .430 sized bullet up to well over 1000fps with no leading at all. Using Titegroup and CFE Pistol, but there's no reason your favorite powder wouldn't work as well.

Slower powders will always produce highest vel, even in shorter barrels in my exp. You do pay for that in blast & flash but the vel is there. How much more is really the debate. A good medium burner will get you close, like within 50fps, with less drama.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

All about proper fit when using lead or coated lead bullets. You may or may not get leading, depends on the bullet fit. The cyl throats are often the culprit if they are too small. I would look for bullet sized to 0.431" if possible, always better bigger than smaller. If they wont push thru the cyl throats with light pressure, could be an issue.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

A lot has changed in 40 years - a person certainly doesn't have to use Unique anymore. But I know folks are going to regurgitate loads from long-since dead white guys.

Here's some load data for 4" barrel that you might be able to glean a bit from:
4" load data

Btw, buy coated bullets from Missouri Bullet Company and you won't be worrying about leading.

My medium .44 Mag loads are loaded in Mag brass and use a Lee 200gr RFN.I've tried it with the followings:
10gr Unique...an old standby that still works
10gr 800X...as accurate as the Unique load but more noise
12gr Power Pistol...very noisy
All 3 are accurate(hand held 4'' at 20 yds)and will get you a little more than 1000fps from your short tube.

Be sure and test loads off a rest at about 25 yards. I see people post small groups shot at 10 or 15 yards but you will find things really change at 25 yards a lot of the time. This is why 25 yard groups are a standard. 50 yards is better but the sights can become a limiting factor and for me, my 50 something eyesight.

Agree, group testng at anything less than 50ft isnt going to tell the story of the load.

__________________
NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I've used a lot of the aforementioned zero jacketed soft points. They are not much more expensive than the 240gr cast swc offered by many suppliers. They are easy to load and shoot clean.

Roze Distribution: 44 Mag 240 Gr JSP $ per 1000

I've loaded them in both full house and moderate loads. Here is a moderate load that averaged 935 fps at 15 long steps and 68 deg F in my 2 3/4" M69. Zero 240gr JFP over 9.0gr of Universal in multix mixed cases and cci 300s.



Paul

I'll drink to that!

I've been using 8.5gr of Unique with a 240gr Hornady XTP in a 6" 629 for a couple years. It's a pleasure to shoot. Other people that shoot it are suprised how mellow the recoil is.

Picked up a 629 Trailboss last month and this same load is also a pleasure.
Love this Trailboss!

I'm sure there's a bunch of powders out there for medium level 44mag loads but there's nothing wrong with unique. 250gr plinking loads @ 50yds.


Now light plinking loads on the other hand, it's hard to beat 6.0gr to 7.0gr of clay's and bullets in the 200gr to 250gr weight range. Put a scope on 629 and did a quick sight-in. Was aiming at the left target. Shot 3 quick shots, moved the scope & shot 3 more. Moved the scope again and shot the 6-shot group on the left @ 25yds.

Was testing plinking loads that day. After I got the 629/scope on paper with the target above I shot this test load/group.

And this one

And this one


If your looking for cheap range play I'd look no further than clays. For a little hotter loads there's nothing wrong with unique.

Dear Forrest r,
Great shooting....! What barrel length? Where do you get your coated bullets?

Thanks!

6.1 grains of Trail Boss and a 200 grain bullet.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

The 50yd target was with a 10" contender. The 25yd targets were with a 6 1/2" bbl'd 629.

I cast and coat my own bullets

I was going to say, through my 4" 629, I am loading Missouri Cowboy #3 Hi-Tek 240g projectiles:

Missouri Bullet Company

over 7g of Unique, CCI 300 primers in special brass. Very reliable, just enough "umph", easy to shoot, very accurate. I'm seeing high 800 fps range with those (mid 900 from mt 7.5" super redhawk). I was taking them to 7.5g, but it didn't really make a massive difference so I figured why not save the powder.

For lighter loads, 6g is also good for a mid/high 700 fps round...again, in special cases.

I don't fool around with light loads in a .44 Magnum, that is what my 24-3 is for and even then I don't fool around with light loads in .44's I do have a couple of decent loads I shoot through my 5" Pre Model 29 using H-110, I love the way H-110 meters. It is a powder you should not try to download, I use 22.0 grs. of H-110 behind a Speer 240gr. JHC, and bump that up to 22.8 with Speer's Deep Curl 240 gr. excellent expansion and a reasonable recoil. Another favorite is 23.7gr. of 2400 behind the 180gr. Hornady XTP. The first handgun I reloaded for was an old three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum, the guy that got me started handed me his old RCBS Partner single stage press, beam scale, non carbide dies and a can of H-110 and primers and sent me on my merry way. We used to shoot rock chucks at 50 yards, it was a blast between the knees.