44 Mag Defensive loads

[NE450No2]

I just found some 210gr HP Sierra, and a few Hornady 200gr HP bullets, both partial boxes.

I think I will load them with @12 gr of Unique in some new cases I have and use them for defense loads.

That should give them about 1200fps which should give a powerful enough load without too much recoil.

While I recommend factory loads for defense most of the time, when I load defensive, or Dangerous game loads for my self I can be sure EVERYTHING is done correctly.

 

[44forever]

210 grs at 1200 fps

Sounds like Winchester's Silvertip .44 mag load.

 

[Jellybean]

I doubt you'll have any problems, but you might want to check their manuals, if you know the exact bullet you have, to make sure they will perform as you hope at the target velocity. I've seen several, from different manufacturers, that, although they were supposed to expand at slower speeds, they didn't do it very well and even less reliably.

 

[cp1969]

I would think 900-1000 fps would make a better defensive load.

That's hotter than a .45 acp which has an excellent reputation and would be a lot more controllable for follow-up shots.

 

[NE450No2]

Gents, I agree with both of your posts.
However if I am only going to load to 900 or 1000fps I would use a 240 lead SWC, as I do not think I will get any exapansion with these bullets at that velocity, and I hate to "waste" jacketed bullets at low velocities.

I might not get very much expansion @1200 fs, but if I go much hotter then the recoil will be too much.

I recon these loads will be about like the Cor Bon 165gr and the WW 210 Silver Tip load which is not that bad recoil wise for an exerienced 44 Mag shooter.

I am just trying to fine a "useful" use for some of the stuff I have laying around.

 

[GregG]

Montana Bullets offers a 220 grain wide flat nose that has a .400" meplat.

At 900-1000 fps it would make a very decent defense load.

 

[dla]

If the Hornady's are the XTP-series, then they will reliably open up at the velocities you're targeting. I've zero experience with the Sierra-fodder. When I think "defensive", I think two-legged varmits, and the light-weight Hornadys would be my choice.

Or you could stick with your beloved HC so that you shoot a bad guy in heal and recover the slug from his mouth.

 

[NE450No2]

No these are the older Hornadys. I have probably had these bullets 18 years or so. Some body gave them to me.
I have always loaded 240gr jacketed bullets, with the exception of a some 180gr Sierras back in the late 1960's.
I loaded the 180's with 30 gr of H 110. It was a screamer, but after I shot a jackrabbit, and found only a foot,, I shot the rest up and stuck with 240's.

 

[Snapping Twig]

For SD, something @ 900fps in the 240 ~ 265g area with a big metplat should suffice. Anything more does two things - first is recoil. Too much power and recoil becomes an issue for follow-up shots. Second issue is wasted energy. You'll blow through the target and loose all that extra smashum.

 

[RidgwayCO]

Years ago, CorBon loaded the Hornady 180gr HP/XTP to a velocity of 1200 fps in .44 Magnum for SD. This is an easy load to duplicate through handloading, and makes quick double-action follow-up shots much more attainable. I imagine the 200-210gr bullets at about 1150 fps would be comparable (a Hornady HP/XTP flyer shows the 200gr bullet nicely expanded at 1183 fps).

 

[Jellybean]

Gents, I agree with both of your posts.
However if I am only going to load to 900 or 1000fps I would use a 240 lead SWC, as I do not think I will get any exapansion with these bullets at that velocity, and I hate to "waste" jacketed bullets at low velocities.

I might not get very much expansion @1200 fs, but if I go much hotter then the recoil will be too much....

That's what I was getting at. In Sierras 50th Anniversary edition, they state that bullet #8620 is intended for larger game but can be used on deer sized game. They also claim it will expand and maintain accuracy between 950 to 2400 fps.

I have velocity reccommendations for XTPs, but since you said your bullets are pre-XTPs the best I can do is look at Hornady #2. They don't list velocity ranges, or product numbers, but for their .430 cal. 200 gr. HP, they list data for it in the .44 spl. chapter with velocities as low as 950 fps.

 

[NE450No2]

I shot a few different loads today in a 629 Mountain Gun, with Hoague wood grips.

Here are my thoughts on the recoil of them.

From lowest recoil to highest.

Speer 200gr Short barrel load
Corbon 165 HP
Corbon 180HP
These 3 loads were by far the easiest to shoot.

Speer 200gr HP [an older load]
Mag Tec 240 SP
The below loads show an increase in recoil. Fast double action work would be difficultfor an inexperienced 44 Mag shooter..
RP 180 SP
WW 210 Silvertip
Then my reloads with the 200gr Hornady, and the 210 Sierra with 12 gr of Unique.

The 12 gr Unique loads were "snappy". A bit much for Double action work, but would be OK for someone that is "old school" and shoots, their "rapid fire stuff" single action.

 

[cp1969]

Single action and defense shooting, at least at close range, seem mutually exclusive.

Any load that can't be handled double action is, in my opinion, to hot to use as a defensive load. You don't need that much power in a defense load. A .44 caliber bullet at 900 fps is PLENTY.

 

[NE450No2]

cp for outdoor use say at 20 yards and farther, single action defensive shooting has its place.

 

[cp1969]

I can shoot double action well enough at 20 yards that I am not going to take the time to use single action to fire at someone who is shooting at me.

To each his own.

 

[Superflywimpy]

7 gr red dot with a Federal 155 primer

And thats capped with a west cosat 240 grain fp plated bullet. Gives me about 1000 fps. More than enough pow for a home protection. Now if you were fishing in a stream in Alaska I would go with a h110 powder and a xtp type bullet. I dont have the load handy but it would be a hot load about 1560 fps. Against a bear you have to really have some power and a premium bullet that will not separate when it hits.You will just piss the bear off more,you dont need him pissed you need him dead.

 

[hamourkiller]

If you want 1000 fps and expansion in your revolver, cast a SWC hpt out of 1/20 tin-lead mix. This bullet will expand and penetrate. Rotometal sells this and other mixes. For defensive ammo I would buy the mix to ensure the bullet is malleable and will expand not shatter. The antomony in wheel weights causes the lead to be brittle.
Examples: