44 spl best load
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ronnie gore
Member
44 special
use the load data in one of the reloading manuals ,DO NOT TRUST SOMEONE ELSE'S LOAD INFO. I NEVER SHOOT ANYONE'S RELOADS EXCEPT MINE AND I NEVER LET ANYONE SHOOT MINE.
use the load data in one of the reloading manuals ,DO NOT TRUST SOMEONE ELSE'S LOAD INFO. I NEVER SHOOT ANYONE'S RELOADS EXCEPT MINE AND I NEVER LET ANYONE SHOOT MINE.
You probably don't want to drive those soft lead SWCs very fast, or you'll encounter heavy bore leading. First & foremost, make sure the bullets are a good fit in the chamber throats. 7.5 grs Unique will get those 265s approaching 900 fps in a 4" bbl, and you should find that has plenty of snoose for your sporting needs. Remember, it's a Special, not a Magnum.
Shoot safe.
Larry
Shoot safe.
Larry
Snapping Twig
Member
Get some W231/HP38 and try 6 ~ 6.5g under that bullet - you'll like it.
Alk8944
US Veteran
I usually don't make recommendations on loads, but 6.8 to 7.2 grains of Unique with any cast bullet in the 245-265 grain weight is pretty much "The" standard load for .44 Special.
Paul5388
US Veteran
Speer #8 shows a maximum load for a 250 gr LSWC at 7.0 gr of Unique at 906 fps.
I'm only using 6.5 gr of SR 4756, but that's with a 215 gr WC and it's less than a starting load, probably 700 fps or so.
I'm only using 6.5 gr of SR 4756, but that's with a 215 gr WC and it's less than a starting load, probably 700 fps or so.
I think that most replies are missing the fact that LWC seat much deeper than other bullets, in any caliber. I also think that most realize that this is true when thinking of 38 spl 148 gr HBWC/DEWC. But it seems that not everyone thinks of this fact when it comes to other calibers.
I recently tried to find load data for 210gr LWC for 44 spl. In my case, the 210 LWC set in the case .185" deeper than the 200gr LRNFP that I had for comparison, that is some serious case volume reduction!
I couldn't find a thing. So, I used the starting load data for the 232gr bullets and haven't had a problem. And even then, I reduced the 44 spl. load by 1.0gr and the 44 mag charge by 2.5gr to start. That in itself is "wildcatting" my own load.
It turns out that they both shoot great, with the 44 mag load a bit more accurate.
Be careful! Don't just drop in a lower end charge for a similar weight bullet, it could get pretty hot, fast!
I recently tried to find load data for 210gr LWC for 44 spl. In my case, the 210 LWC set in the case .185" deeper than the 200gr LRNFP that I had for comparison, that is some serious case volume reduction!
I couldn't find a thing. So, I used the starting load data for the 232gr bullets and haven't had a problem. And even then, I reduced the 44 spl. load by 1.0gr and the 44 mag charge by 2.5gr to start. That in itself is "wildcatting" my own load.
It turns out that they both shoot great, with the 44 mag load a bit more accurate.
Be careful! Don't just drop in a lower end charge for a similar weight bullet, it could get pretty hot, fast!
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Not to step on any toes, but this load is hotter than a lot of 240gr SWC loads for 44 Mag! And it IS hotter than any 44 spl load that I can find for that heavy a bullet. With a 265gr bullet, not to mention LWC (seats much deeper than a SWC), this is a recipe for disaster in a 44 spl case.
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This too, is way too much. This IS a 265gr LWC after all.
Hodgon lists a max load for HP38 of 5.2gr for a 240gr SWC.
Lighter bullet, not seated nearly as deep.
Paul5388
US Veteran
So far, I've only found one load for a wadcutter and it's the Lyman 429348 at 180 gr. It looks very similar to this 429352 that weighs 245 gr.
There's also a 429398 that weighs 248 gr and looks like this:
I suppose the alloy could make the last two weigh 265 gr, if they're almost pure lead.
The solution to increased pressures is to just load them at SWC depth, more like a LBT bullet would be loaded.
There's also a 429398 that weighs 248 gr and looks like this:
I suppose the alloy could make the last two weigh 265 gr, if they're almost pure lead.
The solution to increased pressures is to just load them at SWC depth, more like a LBT bullet would be loaded.
So far, I've only found one load for a wadcutter and it's the Lyman 429348 at 180 gr. It looks very similar to this 429352 that weighs 245 gr.
There's also a 429398 that weighs 248 gr and looks like this:
I suppose the alloy could make the last two weigh 265 gr, if they're almost pure lead.
The solution to increased pressures is to just load them at SWC depth, more like a LBT bullet would be loaded.
The 210gr 44 WC's that I have were cast by a guy at my gun club. I think that it was a very old Lee mold.
I loaded/seated mine down to the crimp groove, but like I mentioned above, a lot of research and a little experimentation went into it. Penn Bullets has a 185gr DEWC that I'd like to try.
ChuckS1
US Veteran
Like Paul said, I'd seat them to the same overall length as a 240 grain SWC. My RCBS Cast Bullet manual says the min load is 5.0 grains of Unique at 600 fps. If I was doing this, I'd start with that load and work up. But that's just me.
I stand corrected and chastised ! Seems I misread the OP and was thinking in terms of SWC rather than LWC. Ceapea is quite right that the load I quoted is a good deal hotter than standard, and should be reduced to about 5.0-5.5 grs.
Mea culpa!
Larry
Snapping Twig
Member
OK, message recieved.
I made an error in ASSUMING (bad thing to do) you were using a modern N frame or a Ruger Lipsey's flat top.
Seating a wadcutter deep in the case, missed that too.
I should take more time to read and ask questions.
If you’re not sure or can’t find any reloading data for the bullets you have, look at the bullets and figure out where the crimp groove is. Then measure the bullet from the base to that crimp groove (the part of the bullet that goes in the case). From that measurement you can use reloading data from bullets that are of similar weight and seating depth. Just start with light loads and work your way up.
Here’s a Lyman 429348WC bullet and a loaded round. I’m using 6 grains of universal clays with a soft lead bullet sized to .430”. The lighter loads didn’t group at all in the 624, the 6.0, 6.2 & 6.4 grain loads all looked the same (x ring @50ft) so I went with the 6.0gr load.
Don’t be afraid to put a little heat/speed to the 44 bullets. Sized & lubed properly I’ve shot 44spl loads in the 900 to 1000fps range in several different pistols for years. Good luck & enjoy, the 44spl with a wc bullet is just as accurate as a 38spl, it just hits a lot harder.
Here’s a Lyman 429348WC bullet and a loaded round. I’m using 6 grains of universal clays with a soft lead bullet sized to .430”. The lighter loads didn’t group at all in the 624, the 6.0, 6.2 & 6.4 grain loads all looked the same (x ring @50ft) so I went with the 6.0gr load.
Don’t be afraid to put a little heat/speed to the 44 bullets. Sized & lubed properly I’ve shot 44spl loads in the 900 to 1000fps range in several different pistols for years. Good luck & enjoy, the 44spl with a wc bullet is just as accurate as a 38spl, it just hits a lot harder.
If ever there was a case (no pun) for the use of Trail Boss, this is it.
Follow the load directions in this PDF.
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf
Follow the load directions in this PDF.
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf
