Mitch52301
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I have just bought a S&W 629 classic, and was wondering what would be a better cartridge to shoot with, and what your opinions were on the 240gr vs. 185gr??
240 grain vs. 185 grain
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9mmsubgun-m11
Well-known member
Been loading 240's over 5.5gr of 231 for a mild load you can shoot all day. If your talking store bought,the 185's should have less recoil.
Welcome to the forum!
I look at the 180gr bullet as a special application bullet in the 44 Mag. It definitely has less felt recoil but also a lower point of impact than the standard weight 240gr. Possibly harder to find too, depending on whether you're talking commercial loaded or handloaded. I'd suggest going with a moderately loaded 240gr bullets for general practice, if that's what you're asking about. Otherwise you need to be more specific in what you'll use them for.
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I look at the 180gr bullet as a special application bullet in the 44 Mag. It definitely has less felt recoil but also a lower point of impact than the standard weight 240gr. Possibly harder to find too, depending on whether you're talking commercial loaded or handloaded. I'd suggest going with a moderately loaded 240gr bullets for general practice, if that's what you're asking about. Otherwise you need to be more specific in what you'll use them for.
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In the usual factory loads I've found the 180gr to have more recoil and way more muzzle flash. Some of the Remington UMC 180/185gr (don't remember the weight exactly) loads are about insane, even out of a rifle.
629shooter
Well-known member
I have a few different bullet weights at my disposal for 44s. But, I honestly can't tell you the last time I used/shot something other than a 240 gr. projectile.
In contrast, my uncle preferred 180 gr. loads. He managed to take a few deer with his "pet" 180 gr. XTP handload.
In contrast, my uncle preferred 180 gr. loads. He managed to take a few deer with his "pet" 180 gr. XTP handload.
twodog max
Well-known member
I think the muzzle blast and perceived recoil from the 180's is sharper. I don't use them much for that reason. When I first started shooting the 44 back in the early 70's I tried them a lot and have gradually settled on 240's for everything from mild to magnum. For what it is worth I cannot ever remember using factory loads but it has been a long time. Years back I ran across a real deal on 200 grain Noslers in bulk and bought them. I still have quite a few left. Same impression as with the 180's.
cmj8591
Well-known member
90% of my 44 loads are 240 grain. You can load 240 grain lead bullets really light for general shooting and practice. You can use jacketed bullets to get the most power for hunting and decommissioning old engine blocks. The 44 Magnum was designed using 240-250 grain bullets and those are the most efficient for just about anything you will use this caliber for. When I fool around with the 180's, it seems I'm always trying to drive them as fast as I can (Don't ask me why!) and they never seem to shoot as well as the 240's.
AveragEd
Well-known member
Agreed! I hunt with Hornady XTP factory loads (no sense setting up a loader for a shell I will only shoot three of a year if I'm lucky) and have both 180-grain and 240-grain on hand. The 180s have a lot more felt recoil and muzzle flash. Even though the heavier bullet "should" produce more recoil, I think the 180-grain load reaches the point where muzzle velocity overcomes bullet weight in the recoil-generation department.
Ed
DR505
US Veteran
I stick with 240-270 grain bullets in my .44 magnum loads. I use a variety of powders, but always seem to come back to 2400 or H110. Lighter loads call for Unique or another similar powder.
Kid44
Well-known member
I tend to shoot factory loads, 240-255 gr, which includes JHP, JSP and hard cast. I don't live where I have to keep any eye open for bears but if I lived where the bigger bears live, Alaska, WY and MT I most likely would opt to carry a bigger gun, such as my .454. The .44 has probably killed every game animal on earth at one point or another but why be asking yourself "did I bring enough gun"? If black bears were a concern I would definitely feel comfortable with a .44 magnum, probably only a .357 too.
MichiganScott
Well-known member
About 30 years ago I got on a velocity kick and loaded some 180gr. bullets over a max load of WW296 for my 8 3/8" 29-2. The bullets impacted so low that I ran out of elevation on the rear sight before I could zero the gun at 25 yards. I got smart and went back to 240gr JHP for hunting and 240gr SWC for practice and never changed.
The 44 mag is a great round for us reloaders. So far I've fed my 4" 629 162gr and 208 gr Wadcutters along w 172gr Roundnose cast at 44 special to low end 44 mag levels with great success.All are easy shooting, accurate loads. Stepped up 214, 240 and 255gr cast SWC loaded at standard mag levels are fun general purpose loads i.e., stout, accurate. (So far I've worked up loads using Unique, Red Dot, Blue Dot and 800X....but seem to always gravitate back to Unique 
) Fullhouse loads of H110 under 200 gr Nosler JHP and 240 gr XTP are a blast to shoot, accurate as heck and plenty for whitetail at the ranges I hunt.
Be well folks
) Fullhouse loads of H110 under 200 gr Nosler JHP and 240 gr XTP are a blast to shoot, accurate as heck and plenty for whitetail at the ranges I hunt.Be well folks
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
I load Speer 200gr. JHP's 2400 powder for ccw loads. I load 240gr swc lead cast for target loads with unique. Hunting loads are 240gr jsp for the Redhawk. I have 270 & 300grs for the super Blackhawk. The s&w goes to the range only.
If I go back ccw the 44mag again ill load the 300gr jhp hornady. If ya have to sit'em down do it quickly.
If I go back ccw the 44mag again ill load the 300gr jhp hornady. If ya have to sit'em down do it quickly.
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AveragEd
Well-known member
For what it's worth, I've found that all four of my 629s shoot to the same 25-yard point of impact with the 240-grain Hornady XTP factory load and my target handloads of a 240-grain cast semi-wadcutter over 10.0 grains of SR4756. I'll bet you can find hunting and target loads that do the same for you.
Ed
Ed
TAROMAN
US Veteran
240 just works better for:
Deer
Silhouettes
Target shooting
I load my own, so tailor the load to the mission.
But, 240 it always is.
Have 180s, 185s, 200s, 205s, and 210s that were tried. now just sit on the shelf.
Deer
Silhouettes
Target shooting
I load my own, so tailor the load to the mission.
But, 240 it always is.
Have 180s, 185s, 200s, 205s, and 210s that were tried. now just sit on the shelf.
joe44va
Well-known member
I use the 240s and 245s in my 629 but load down a bit with 200s for my 69.
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Agreed. As I previously mentioned, I save the 180gr & 200gr bullets for my 396NG. Definitely less recoil than the 240s, & a little more speed, without pushing the limits too much in this lightweight .44 Special.
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