44 load recommendations

[Dakota Iron]

Looking for some good practice loads utilizing 44 mag brass &
240 gr cast bullets. I have a bunch of both. Don't want anything hot, just something to practice double action shooting
with my 4" 629 no dash. Yeah I shoot it!.

 

[flat top]

about 9.5 to 10.0 grains of Unique behind that 240.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, FWIW, I've gone from 7.0 grains of Unique up to 10.0 in .44 mag with cast 240s and 250s. 7.0 is very light, much like a cowboy-action load. 8.5 is noticeably stiffer and more accurate in my guns. 10.0 grains is about a three-quarters power load, also quite accurate.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[38-44HD45]

11-12 grains of SR-4756 will be a good load for you, too.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

8-9 grains of 231 makes a great target/practice load. That is my normal indoor range load.

 

[valkyriekl]

18.5gr 2400 behind the 240gr LSWC works for me. According to someone else, it's a "mild" magnum load, and according to my Lyman 49th manual, it's the starting load for .44 Magnum using that powder and bullet. Accurate enough to 50 yards (the maximum distance of my indoor range) to be "on call"--I can usually tell where it went on the target when I light one off, confirmed with a spotting scope.

 

[Culina]

+1 on W231

Unique can be kind of sensitive and does not always perform as should be expected. Plus W231 meters very nice.

 

[Skip Sackett]

All of these are good loads!

Can't get any better information than these folks have already given!

Any one of the Cowboy Action type of loads will work too.

For a while I was using my M629 Classic with a 5" barrel revolver to shoot PPC. There was no power factor limit so I used a 200gr LRNFP with 4.5gr of Bullseye. I think it broke the 700fps mark!

I'll tell you what it would to though, shoot one hole groups at 7 yards and keep the 10 ring @ 20 yards with these tired old eyes!

p.s. Glad you shoot your M629, that's what they were made for!

 

[flat top]

Unique "sensitive"? How so?

 

[Skip Sackett]

??????

Unique "sensitive"? How so?

I would like to know too. I have never heard this before and share FT's surprise!

It meters like bricks in some powder measures, some folks think it is dirty (don't get me started on that!) and it sure ain't new technology. Sensitive?

Just wondering!

 

[thedane]

I just worked up some loads for my 629, no dash, 4". I would recommend the 8.5 grains of Unique behind a 240 grain cast bullet. A good practice load. I also use 18.0 grains of 2400 behind a 240 grain cast and 19.0 grains of 2400 behind a 240 grain JSP. The 2400 loads are lighter than factory, but you'll know you shot a 44 Magnum!

 

[11e40]

i use trail boss or unique with cast lead. works very well. hs-6 w/ jacketed midrange load hth.

 

[Bearcat74]

I use 10grs of Unique behind a 240-250gr Cast bullet and with jacketed bullets I use 19grs of 2400, both are accurate and neither are redline loads that beat you and the gun up.

 

[hogblue]

I recently called Hodgdon and their tech recommended 10-12 gr of Unique behind 240gr LSWC. So I've loaded up some with 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5 and 11. Going to run them thru my newly re-built at the factory 6 1/2 inch 29-6 classic.

Originally sported a 6" half lug barrel. Now its "new again" with new blue and a sack full of front sights. Can't wait to break it in.

 

[Dakota Iron]

Thanks much guys, have always shot factory and its starting to get to me. Bought a Dillon and I am gonna reload and enjoy my 44's. Yeah I have several. Will get some pics as soon as I get a decent camera and take some practice shots before I
post anything here. There are some pretty decent photographers on this site, and a lot of combined experiance.
Thanks again!

 

[sonny]

Hi, here are some that I have used, similar weight cast bullet, with no problems. Note that it is a 3" barrel, so your velocities will likely increase.
Have fun, stay safe. All loads should be verified. That is the standard liability statement.


S&W 29-4 3" barrel .44 Magnum Cartridge - mid-range loads, defensive loads

powder grains fps (low to high) fps (avg) Mean absolute deviation Notes
2400 15 823-898 854 28 fps, 3.3%

Unique 8.5 863-903 881 15 fps, 1.7% good choice

Unique 9 866-944 914 20 fps, 2.3%

HS-6 9.8 766-796 780 6 fps, 0.78% excellent potential

W231 8.4 885-896 890 4 fps, 0.47% my first choice

H4227 17.1 854-870 853 8 fps, 0.98% excellent potential

H4227 18.5 886-962 912 21 fps, 2.23%

Gun in 98% condition. Barrel/cylinder gap is 0.003". THESE WORKED IN MY GUN. BE CAREFUL.
Five rounds fired for each test. Notes: All extractions of fired cases were easy.
1.72 cartridge OAL Starline case, WLP primer, hard-cast bullets
All powder loads measured within +/- 0.1grain using RCBS digital scale, verified with Ohaus balance scale.

PM44-250K .44Mag .431" diam hardcast 253grains SWC 0.300" meplat, 0.800" OAL
Leadheads Bullets, Inc., St. John, KS 620-549-6475
Leadheads Bullets,Gas Checked and Plain Based Bullets

Sonny

 

[Marksman]

I like 7.5 gr. Unique for general plinking with my M/29, 9.0 gr. if I want something with a little more punch though neither hurts your hand or the gun. I have had a situation where Unique seemed sensitive, it involved the .44 Special and the load was 6.0 gr. Unique and a 200 gr. RNFP bullet, Winchester WLP primer. Ignition seemed erratic and report sounded abnormal, I don't use that load anymore.

 

[Ron H.]

I have had a situation where Unique seemed sensitive, it involved the .44 Special and the load was 6.0 gr. Unique and a 200 gr. RNFP bullet, Winchester WLP primer. Ignition seemed erratic and report sounded abnormal, I don't use that load anymore.

Sir, small wonder--that's a very light load, well below minimum according to some data. Many powders get weird if you go below the minimum recommended charge. My own experience with Unique is that it behaves much better toward the top of the data than the bottom.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Trailboss with a heavy crimp....

 

[michael thornton]

i use 8.0 unique in the 44 mag with cast 240s, i use jsp and jhp for the hot stuff