231 in 44 mag cases

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gene s

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Hello,
I want to create a load for my 29-2 , 4 inch barrel revolver, that is mild and enjoyable. I have 180-200 gr. Jhp Bullets, a lot of 44 mag brass and a large amount of 231 powder. This revolver, with full bore 44 mag loads is like a bomb going off in my hands.

So, using the cases I have, and 231 powder and 180-200 gr. Jhp Bullets. What powder loadings should I use? Right now, this pistol is so pristine with its worked trigger and excellent sights, the idea of wrecking it just really concerns me. I look forward to carrying this weapon around on hikes etc.
 
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I am not being a smart aleck when I ask what reloading manuals do you have? When I am working with a new powder I consult a couple of my reloading books and pick a midrange powder charge. The starting and maximum charges often will vary quite a bit between the different manuals so I choose somewhere in the middle. There isn’t a magical load as all guns very.

You don’t say what you are looking for defense from but I prefer a 240 gr. LSWC. The heavier bullet offers deeper penetration with reduced recoil. Truth is the 240 gr. LSWC is my do all bullet in the 44. 231 is my do all powder for 9mm, 38 Spl. and 45 Auto but I don’t like it for the Magnum and 45 Colt cases.
 
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Well, per Hodgdons 10.0 - 11.9 gr WIN 231 will do the trick with a 200 gr Nosler JHP...

That's straight from the horse's mouth!

CHEERS!
 
Fast powders work fine for low end 44 Mag loads. Just be careful to check for procedure errors as pressures will skyrocket even with modest overloadings, and a double charge will be catastrophic.
 
HP38/W231 is a little faster than Unique and can be used in 44 Magnum cases, just be careful, double charges will more than easily fit without completely filling the cavernous 44 Magnum case. Another thing is that you really don't want low velocity loads with jacketed bullets. It is possible for a low velocity jacketed bullet core to shed the jacket in the barrel, leaving an obstruction for the next bullet to hit.
 
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Well, as mentioned above, consult your reloading manuals and begin a load work up with suggested starting loads. The annual Hodgdon magazine/manual has lots of W231 loads for 44 Magnum. Usually found in magazine racks and around $10.00...

I don't quote powder charges on line because my of Rule #1, that I also recommend to new reloaders; I pay no attention to any load data I see on any forum, or pet loads website, or hear from any range rat, gun counter clerk, good intended friend, or gun shop guru. I get 98% of my load data from published reloading manuals and a bit from powder manufacturer websites. In over 40 years of reloading this has worked extremely well for me as in 1970 I had a squib an no Kabooms...
 
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Double charges should be much more rare (rarer?) when not using a powder drop or a progressive press. As should the more common "no powder " squib.

A primer ONLY load usually leaves a bullet in the forcing cone of a revolver and is not sufficient to work the slide on most semi-automatics... A kind of built-in safety mechanism. Not all the time, but most often...

The ultra-low (by intention?) or partial load (by accident) is, to me, much more likely to cause a real problem.

Just IMHO.

CHEERS!
 
mikld said:
Well, as mentioned above, consult your reloading manuals and begin a load work up with suggested starting loads. The annual Hodgdon magazine/manual has lots of W231 loads for 44 Magnum. Usually found in magazine racks and around $10.00...

I don't quote powder charges on line because my of Rule #1, that I also recommend to new reloaders; I pay no attention to any load data I see on any forum, or pet loads website, or hear from any range rat, gun counter clerk, good intended friend, or gun shop guru. I get 98% of my load data from published reloading manuals and a bit from powder manufacturer websites. In over 40 years of reloading this has worked extremely well for me as in 1970 I had a squib an no Kabooms...
Click to expand...


The problem here is the novice loader does not know enough to interpolate loads and the powder companies and most loading books only give magnum level loads for use in Magnum ctgs. The man just wants to load some lighter loads to shoot in his 4" .44Mag.

The thing he needs to know is how little an amount of powder in a mag case can he load and not stick a jacketed bullet. I wouldn't load less than 8.5gr of W231 or HP38 in a Mag case with a 180 or 200gr jacketed bullet. Then he can move higher if he wants as long as he doesn't exceed powder co max.
 
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I have been using 231 in the 44 magnum since it was introduced a long time ago. I cannot ever recall using it with jacketed bullets but may have. I mostly use it with cast bullets in the 200-240 grain weights and keep away from the upper end loads suggested. With mid level loads you will not wreck your revolver nor your hand. Lately I have been using a cast bullet I make for my 44/40 and size .429. Mild loads with 231 shoot very good in both my Model 29 and my 69 and I can shoot many rounds through either without wearing out my hand and economically.
A lot of worries here about double charges. I do not use a progressive press. I charge all the cases and set them in a loading block as I charge them. After charging I all I visually check all the cases to prevent double and no charge cases. This only takes a few seconds. Any variances are readily observed. Use good loading procedures and 231 works acceptably well in the 44 magnum.
 
If a 44 Magnum shooter can't handle the recoil/muzzle blast of starting loads with lighter bullets, perhaps he should just go with 44 Specials. I've seen a lot of threads concerning 44 Special data in 44 Magnum brass, and this method is pretty common. I have a lot of experience with 44 Magnums and starting loads of W231 under a 200-240 gr jacketed bullet are tolerable and fun with no interpolation needed.

Recoil doesn't bother me but sometimes I'd start off a shooting session with 44 Specials, 20 or 30 to get "warmed up" for my 240 gr SWCs over heavy loads of 2400 and WC 820 (Ruger BH, S&W 629, Dan Wesson 44 H, Contender w/10" bbl.)...
 
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Mean while the man has; .44 Magnum brass, 180 and 200gr jacketed bullets and Universal and W-231 powder. He asked for help in using the components he has and said that full factory loads were more than he wanted to shoot until he has a chance to practice. He has no cast bullets, no .44spl brass and no other powders. He said he wanted to use what he has on hand. Everyone here refuses to just give him a little help on a starting load.............
 
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200 gn gdhp, 44 mag win case, fed 150 primer, 629 mt gun, hard lfc
9.0 gns 231 for average 1067 fps, ex accuracy. 1025 fps from 3 incher ex accuracy

rem 180 sjhp, fed 150 primer, 44 mag rem case, hard lfc, 3 in S&W bounty hunter
10.5 gns hp-38 for average 1160 fps, very good accuracy. Lighter loads using the 180 sjhp were not as consistent.

Light jacketed bullets at moderate velocity's are certainly doable, but you may not have enough adjustment in your sights for poa=poi at 25 yds.
 
ddixie884 said:
Mean while the man has; .44 Magnum brass, 180 and 200gr jacketed bullets and Universal and W-231 powder. He asked for help in using the components he has and said that full factory loads were more than he wanted to shoot until he has a chance to practice. He has no cast bullets, no .44spl brass and no other powders. He said he wanted to use what he has on hand. Everyone here refuses to just give him a little help on a starting load.............
Click to expand...

Please refer to my previous post: Hodgdons (the powder manufacturer's) load data using WIN 231 and a similar JHP bullet. The "horse's mouth" was not mine...

"...per Hodgdons, 10.0 - 11.9 gr will do the trick."

His powder, the same type bullet, the same weight...

I tried.:eek:

Cheers!

P.S. In his 44 Magnum brass, as well.
 
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My all-time fav .44mag "walking around load" is 8 grains of WW231 over a 250 grain cast bullet. I would NOT hesitate to use this same load with any 180-200 grain jacketed bullet. This load is mild, low report and very accruate in my 4" M629..The risk of having a "squib" block the barrel with this powder is significantly less than with low charges of something like WW296...
 
ddixie884 said:
Mean while the man has; .44 Magnum brass, 180 and 200gr jacketed bullets and Universal and W-231 powder. He asked for help in using the components he has and said that full factory loads were more than he wanted to shoot until he has a chance to practice. He has no cast bullets, no .44spl brass and no other powders. He said he wanted to use what he has on hand. Everyone here refuses to just give him a little help on a starting load.............
Click to expand...
Yep, I "refused" to post load data because he already got the best answers; Check a reloading manual (or Hodgdon site). IMO, it's silly and iffy to use load data from an anonymous screen name, especially if one is inexperienced enough that they have to ask about load data. When I started reloading (pre-web) I didn't have much free cash so I went to the local library for my load data (I had listened to the old gun shop "experts" and decided I wanted real, tested load info)...
 
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mikld said:
Recoil doesn't bother me but sometimes I'd start off a shooting session with 44 Specials, 20 or 30 to get "warmed up" for my 240 gr SWCs over heavy loads of 2400 and WC 820 (Ruger BH, S&W 629, Dan Wesson 44 H, Contender w/10" bbl.)...
Click to expand...

Funny,I just do the opposite.I start with the full throttle loads(275gr+H110)and after aprox 50rds I step down to milder stuff.It works for me since I can concentrate more easily at the beginning of a shooting session.
Different strokes for different folks applies here I guess!
 
44 special loads in 44 magnum cases is not a problem , as just posted . If in doubt , add 1/2 - 1.0 grs of powder to the load data . 231 powder will work just fine . Regards Paul
 
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