.44 Special loads in .44 Mag brass

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I find that as my age increases my tolerance for recoil diminishes. I want to keep shooting my Model 29-2, but full-power mag loads begin to hurt about the second cylinder. I have a bunch of .44 mag brass, and would like to load a top .44 Special load without risking a detonation because of too much empty room in the cartridge. I have a bunch of magnum powders such as W296 and 2400 as well as CFE Pistol, Titegroup, Clays, Unique and of course, Bullseye. I see in my loading manual a 44 Mag load using Titegroup that, at the same powder mass used in .44 Special, a slightly (ca. 25 fps) faster. The load gives approximately 850 fps, which seems about ideal. Th problem is Titegroup. I use it in .32 ACP, .380 and sometimes in .38 Special with HBWC target loads. I am kinda afraid of a 6+ grain charge of this stuff as I have seen a big-time KaBoom in a 9mm with Titegroup (probably a double charge, but that is an error any of us can make - and probably have made without such disasterious consequences).

What I am looking for is guidance, not so much a "canned" recipe. What would be suitable powders, what pressure levels should I stay under, etc.

Thanks for your help.
John
 
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I load all my loads in .44 Mag brass. You won't have to worry. The magnum case is what, 1/10 inch longer than the special? And the special is a black powder case anyway, so smokeless powder of almost any kind will only fill up a fraction of either case.

Most of the time I load for my 629 what I call a middle load--240 grains of hardcast going about 1000 or 1050 fps. I use AA#5 powder. AA does not list such a load for .44 magnum. But it does for .45 Colt. The case capacity and bullet weight of the two cartridges are close enough such that I could extrapolate and it worked out just fine. I'm well within SAAMI spec for that powder in .45 Colt, so I know I'm OK in .44 magnum. NOTE: this kind of thing is NOT for beginners. I only did it because I have the experience to know what I'm working with.

Run all your loads in magnum brass. You'll be fine.
 
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Try 6 grains of Red Dot in a .44 mag case, regular primer, and a 240 grain cast SWC bullet. About 875 fps, or so, depending on the gun. I have used that load for years in well over a dozen .44 mag revolvers with complete satisfaction. Red Dot powder is a bulky flake type powder that fills a case enough to notice a double charge. That load is listed in most reloading manuals for verification. Unique works well also, but is a little dirtier with reduced loads than Red Dot. Not sure about the others, as I tend to stick to the powders that have always worked well for me in the past.

Larry
 
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Checking my records that go back to the 70's I have had good luck with between 8 and 9 1/2 grs of Unique using 240 t0 260 grain SWC 's. These were fired through 4",5",6" & 6 1/2" M 29's using CCI # 300 primers. 8.2 to 8.5 grs gave the best accuracy out of the 4 " guns w/ no recoil .
 
2400 can be reduced....

Try 2400 in reduced loads up to about 20% less than maximum. 2400 makes that 'pine pollen' dust at lower loadings but it's a steadier performer than the slowest magnum powders in reduced loads.

Unique is also your friend.

Bullseye and Titegroup both use tiny charges.
 
There's nothing wrong with 6.0gr of titegroup in a 44mag case using 160gr to 240gr bullets.

Myself I like to use 6.0gr of clays to 6.5gr of clays with any 160gr to 240gr bullet in the 44mag cases.

Clays is extremely soft shooting along with excellent accuracy. I have yet to see any powder equal the accuracy of clays in the 44mag cases with the large # of different bullets.

I shoot a lot of my home cast 200gr wc's with 6.0gr of clays in a 6" bbl'd 629 practicing nra bullseye @ the 25yd line.

NRA bullseye ='s 1 handed or extremely soft shooting

Not hand/cherry picked targets by any means. Nothing more then the test targets used doing a test pc'd bullets vs traditional lubed. The goal was to do head to head testing same cast bullet/same powder. Which would hold 1 1/2" 6-shot groups or less @ 25yds.

This is my 200gr wc bullseye load
Odat3uD.jpg


More clays/44mag loads
hyV2PpT.jpg

EFjjcoZ.jpg


Seems 6.0gr of clays for plain based bullets and 6.5gr of clays with gas check bullets work.

This was the 1st target shot that day. Shot 3 quick shots, for center of group and moved the scope oal left. Shot 3 more quick shot & added more left. Shot that far left bughole with flier testing a keith 240gr swc hp.
QrPi70y.jpg


Lok-up cowboy action loads you'll find the loads using clays pictured above in that reloading data. Soft shooting (1 handed) and accurate
 
I would recommend 7 to 10 grain of Unique in 44 Magnum brass, a 240 grain hard cast LSWC, and a standard large pistol primer. No need for a magnum primer with Unique. Odds are, somewhere in the 8 to 9 grain area you will find a sweet spot for accuracy and mild recoil.
 
For reduced power 44 Mag loads, I've found that 9.0 grains of Unique is great for me with both cast lead and jacketed bullets. It has just enough recoil to let you know it's there but not enough to beat on you. I have that load with Zero jacketed 240 JSP bullets across my chrono at about 850 ft/sec. And Unique is fluffy enough to make a double charge immediately apparent.
 
I’ve been running 9.0 grains of Unique beneath a 218 grain (my cast bullet) SWC, since the early ‘80’s. Great in my 629! memtb
 
I'm sure there have been a number of good loads suggested here, but I'll offer another suggestion...some of the older Lyman books have light data developed in .44 Magnum brass. The Bullseye loads include some as light as 5 grains with the popular #429421 (around 250 grains) giving a muzzle velocity of 790 from a 6.5" test barrel. I wouldn't load any lighter than that.

Another 5 grain Bullseye load is for the #429215 (around 215 grains); muzzle velocity is 765. Again, a minimum load that probably should not be reduced. The 5 grain load is a minimum with all bullet weights from 180 grains through 250 grains. Maximum charge weight listed on all these bullets is 7.5 grains. With that charge, muzzle velocity with the #429421 is listed at 1020, but I believe I could find a better, slower powder than Bullseye if I wanted to load to that speed.

Just a reference, and a very rough one at that, my notes indicate a .44 Special load in .44 Special brass using the #429421 bullet and 5.5 grains Bullseye; muzzle velocity from a 6.5" Model 24-3 was chronographed at 863. I'm pretty sure I've tried 5 grs. Bullseye with this bullet, but couldn't locate that one. Good luck-
 
Since you have 2400, my all day load is 16.5gr 2400, a WLP primer, and a 240 LSWC. In a magnum case. Any less powder, accuracy drops fast.

Tumble your bullets in a light coat of liquid alox.

Once you get all the copper fouling out, a couple passes through the bbl with a dry brush is all it takes after afew boxes at the range.
 
I have used titegroup in 44 magnum cases, no problem . 6 grains would be a pleasurable load using a 240 gr cast bullet . Lightly tumble lube them for easier clean up . Regards Paul
 
If you're paranoid about the , in my opinion unproven , detonation effect (Speer couldn't re create it in their lab) Load them with Trail Boss , Red Dot or Unique .... as long as don't double charge a case there will be no detonation with those powders .
I've used the last two for 50 years and Trail Boss was designed to fill a case .
Gary
 
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When I began reloading, all I did was 44 special brass. Now, I've moved to light loads in magnum brass for my magnum revolver. Like many are saying, Unique is your bro with light loads in magnum cases, I have superb results with it.

2400? Not so much, light 2400 loads = not so clean burn and crud all over the place when shooting.
 
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For years, I tried a variety of powders in .44 Special loads. Best accuracy was with Unique and Bullseye, regardless of the bullet, all of which were between about 200 and 250 grains. I seldom use anything now but a 200 grain flat nose cast from a SAECO mould. Several years ago, I experimented with Herco powder. From an accuracy standpoint, the mild Herco loads (about 900 fps) were better than those using Unique and Bullseye. Herco is no longer very popular for handgun loads for some reason, but it continues to work well.
 
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