44 special loads in magnum brass
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steveno
Member
chronograph some of the loads and see if this is the power range you are looking for. I use the same powder charge and bullet in 38 special and 357 magnum cases and there isn't enough difference to worry about.
Marksman
Member
I shoot the "Skeeter load" of 7.5gr. Unique in my .44 Magnum. I mostly use 200gr. RNFP bullets with this load, sometimes 240-250 SWC though. Skeeter developed this load for the .44 Special, it works well for me in the .44 Magnum. Enough power, accurate and pleasant to shoot.
TSQUARED
Member
I shoot real light loads with the Lyman #429421 and Trail Boss powder.
MikeChandler
Member
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I loaded up a bunch at 7.4 gr Unique using the Redline 240 gr hard cast LSWC in magnum brass with standard large remington pistol primers.
I'll be taking my chronograph with me to the range today - first I've got to find a replacement rod or dowel. My wife hit one of the support rods with her 9mm. It was a definite LOL.
I'll be taking my chronograph with me to the range today - first I've got to find a replacement rod or dowel. My wife hit one of the support rods with her 9mm. It was a definite LOL.
Aticus
Member
Try Hornady's 8th edition manual page 983 or Speer's 14th edition page 946. You might find what you're looking for.
Pecos
retired2006
Member
Look on Hogdon's reloading website, they have "cowboy loads" data listed that should help you out, if you are loading cast bullets.
Curt Blunt
Member
I typically bump up the Special load half a grain with the faster powders (Red Dot and Unigue, for instance). Seems to work well.
BoDog
Member
Just rember accuracy trumps velocity any day, you have plenty of gun try several loads.
lscocoa
Member
I use 4.5 gr. of Trail Boss in .44 mag. cases . It's a fun lite load that shoots great in all my .44's , mainly used in my mountain gun .
sixshot
Member
Usually takes about 1 more grain of the same powder to duplicate the same load in the larger case. 7.5 grs of Unique in a 44 special = 8.5 of Unique in the 44 maggie, not exact but close.
Dick
Dick
Most reloading manuals, recommend NOT using any loads in 44 Mag. brass, lighter than the loads in the manual for 44 Mags. They've been known to cause explosions, if you do.
EarlFH
Snapping Twig
Member
In a magnum case, Lyman 429421 over 7g W231.
Try it, you'll like it.
Try it, you'll like it.
Titegroups
Member
You can increase it a bit but pretty much a moot point as you'll discover.
7-10 gr of unique with a 240 gr lswc will give you a nice range of loads from 700-1000 fps.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
When I load a "Special" pressure load in a magnum case I usually use the Max charge from the Special load data in the Magnum case. That seems to work very well for me...
An Old Ranger
Member
There are very few powders that react badly that we use, for the most part, if we have just a hint less than what is 'The Norm"...however, I've seen were some try to reverse this thought! Now that's dumb!
Knew a fella some years ago that would not listen to ANY oldtime reloader and he insisted that he knew what he was doing....famous last words...he "knew" that if he loaded mag loads in a spl case it was just all fine and dandy...This idiot destroyed a hand built fully engraved Colt SSA in .44Spl with a very hot mag load of powder crushed into a spl case! He was unharmed, but his weapon was trashed. He asked me to rebuild it for him. I instructed him the closest directions toward the gates of hades...I don't associate with morons that have firearms!
Thank goodness we have good folks here that use their heads and understand safe practice...That's why I like it here. Our folks LOOK way ahead before they ever think of a leap into the unknown. Good on all of ya'll!
Wade
Knew a fella some years ago that would not listen to ANY oldtime reloader and he insisted that he knew what he was doing....famous last words...he "knew" that if he loaded mag loads in a spl case it was just all fine and dandy...This idiot destroyed a hand built fully engraved Colt SSA in .44Spl with a very hot mag load of powder crushed into a spl case! He was unharmed, but his weapon was trashed. He asked me to rebuild it for him. I instructed him the closest directions toward the gates of hades...I don't associate with morons that have firearms!
Thank goodness we have good folks here that use their heads and understand safe practice...That's why I like it here. Our folks LOOK way ahead before they ever think of a leap into the unknown. Good on all of ya'll!
Wade
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I just looked @ pg. 946...very nice! .2gr more unique in the Mag case w/ the same 240gr bullet, slower, but good to go.
98% wrong. Only with powders such as W296 / H110 is there such a warning, and it is very true in that case. But, with the vast majority of powders, and especially Unique, this is not an issue. Other than ultra-slow ball powders, if a load is strong enough to propel a bullet out of the barrel, there is no risk of a detonation or "SEE" event.
My standard moderate-to-light 44 Magnum load is 7.0-7.5grs of W231 under a 225gr-270gr lead bullet. This gives me around 850-950 fps out of handguns and just under 1100fps in rifles. It's very mild, pleasant load with decent power - just about what most people are looking for in a 44-Special-load-in-a-44-MAG-case.
