.44 Special Softball Load

[ChattCat]

Working up on what I call a softball load for my .44 special, chunk a hunk of lead 240-250 gr’s. at low velocity easy on old bones load. I’m currently using AA2 with 4.2 grs of powder, has anyone experienced using AA2 and this loading.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

That should be a nice soft load that gives you about 720 ft/sec depending on barrel length and whether you're shooting 240 or 250 gr. I wouldn't go any lower. May get you into squib territory.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I use W231 in anything non-maximum! In 44 special I used 200/205 grain bullets with 4.5 grains W231, mild and accurate, with 245 #429383 4.6 grains is the recommended charge in Layman #49 Right at 700 fps. (CCI 300 Primer.

I have a 44 Special 1873 lever action that loves them.

I traded my 3" Tauras 44 Special for a 2" 629 44 Mag. Using 44 mag brass I load 240 SWC's at mid range, that I call 44 Special +P+.

Ivan

 

[fjweems3]

I prefer a 200-205 grain bullet for soft 44 Special loads.

 

[ironhead7544]

A 200 gr cast cowboy RNFP with a minimum charge of AA#2 makes a good practice load for any 44 Special.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Working up on what I call a softball load for my .44 special, chunk a hunk of lead 240-250 gr’s. at low velocity easy on old bones load. I’m currently using AA2 with 4.2 grs of powder, has anyone experienced using AA2 and this loading.

IMO AA#2 is a much better choice for soft shooting lead loads than AA#5. The faster #2 powder can be downloaded better and will deliver more consistent SD and ES numbers. I don't load for the 44 Special but I do load for the 38 Special and have used both AA#2 and AA#5 when I had to. Like above I mostly use W231 and I'm very happy with it.

If you can find any W231/HP-38 or W244 I think you will like the results.

 

[DumpStick]

200 grain RNFP with RedDot to run 750-ish fps.

I shoot hundreds of them through a Taurus M430, a 3" K-frame sized revolver.

Accurate, cheap to load, and hard hitting enough for feral dogs (and cats).

 

[Scrateshooter]

I load 240gr cast with ~4.2gr of Titegroup to shoot in the Taurus lightweight snub.

 

[Drm50]

I’m looking right now for load for 214gr HBWC in both 44sp & 44mg. I would like to use up some Win 630 powder but can use others. Will be loading in Special & Magnum brass.

 

[ironhead7544]

I’m looking right now for load for 214gr HBWC in both 44sp & 44mg. I would like to use up some Win 630 powder but can use others. Will be loading in Special & Magnum brass.

I checked my older manuals for WW630 but couldnt find any 630 loads. Try calling Winchester. I know I used to use WW630 for 180 gr JHP 44 Special loads way back.

 

[Biggfoot44]

As the common theme :

A 240- 250gr @ 720 - ish is essentially duplicating the Standard .44 Spl loading .

For meaningfully resuced recoil , try 200- ish gr bullet @ +/- 700 fps , and evaluate if the reduction meets your expectations .

 

[Skyhunter]

WW 630 loads for .44 Spl.

I’m looking right now for load for 214gr HBWC in both 44sp & 44mg. I would like to use up some Win 630 powder but can use others. Will be loading in Special & Magnum brass.

My early Lyman Cast Bullet manual lists the following .44 Special loads with WW 630 powder (not sure if it's 1st or 2nd edition because the book isn't marked!).
Using Remington-Peters .44 Spl. cases and Remington 2-1/2 primers, it shows the following:
215 gr. bullet (#429215), OAL = 1.500":
Start at 8.0 gr. = 610 fps. Max at 12.5 gr. = 930 fps.

245 gr. bullet (#429421), OAL = 1.571":
Start at 7.0 gr. = 570 fps. Max at 11.0 gr. = 870 fps.

I hope this helps.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[Biggfoot44]

Instated by OP - What gun ? Mild in M29 ( or SBH ) can have some thump in Bulldog , and midway between with M69 .

 

[Forrest r]

ww630 is a ball powder that is on the hard side to ignite, mag primers are needed. Incomplete ignition ='s forcing cone wear from the unburnt sand sized ball powder.

I remember trying it back in the 80's in the 38spl's P+ & 357mag's and didn't care for it. It burns right in the same area as AA#7 & bluedot.

Don't know if I'd want to try the 214gr hbwc/ww630 combo. Have to be a pretty hot load to get the powder to burn completely/clean.

Don't know why but I gravitated to +/- 200gr bullets for my soft shooting 44spl reloads. Always looked around at the different "cowboy action" sections of the different reloading manuals. Seems like any fast burning powder with +/- 4.0gr and any 200gr to 250gr bullet will work in the 44spl's for plinking loads.

Some powders are more position sensitive than others. When using lite loads in the big 44spl cases I like to use powders that take up more room for the same +/- 4.0gr weight. Reddot is a fantastic powder for this as is american select, any of the cowboy action powders like trail boss. My personal favorite is clays.

Glad to see reloaders are taking interest in one of those forgotten cartridges that has not only impressive accuracy. Even lite load hit pretty hard.