Ammo Choice for 629PC -- 240gr or 200gr JHP Fiocchi .44 Mag

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

I have a PC 629UDR 2-5/8" .44 Which would be the better ammo to get for it. The 200 gr or the 240gr. And what is the difference in the shooting of it and any recoil difference?
Thanks,

 

[Andy Griffith]

I'd probably go for the 200gr. in that short a barrel. 4" or longer I'd go with the 240's- buy some of each! Can't have to much ammunition!

 

[RedBerens]

If you're not stuck on Fiocchi, look at the Winchester 210gr Silvertip HP. It's controllable in my UDR, and accurate.

 

[Mule88]

I use Speer 200 gn Gold Dots in my 2 1/2 629 with great results. The 210 gn silvertips Red Berens mentioned would be an excellent choice as well.

 

[Dump1567]

Not sure your intended use, but for SD, the Cor-bon 200 Gr. DPX in .44 spl. look like a winner. It's just expensive.

From Gary Roberts:

.44 Special 200 gr GD vs. DPX

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.44 Sp Speer 200 gr Gold Dot JHP; ave vel=783 fps (S&W 629 5")
BG: pen=13.0", RD=0.68", RL=0.49", RW=199.6 gr
4LD: pen=19"+, RD=0.42", RL=0.62", RW=200.7gr (should represent lack of expansion in 4 layer denim)

.44 Sp Corbon DPX 200 gr Barnes XPB JHP; ave vel=1039 fps (S&W 629 5")
BG: pen=18.0", RD=0.63", RL=0.63", RW=200.2gr
4LD: pen=14.2", RD=0.62", RL=0.66", RW=200.8gr

For .44 mag:

.44 Magnum General Purpose Loads

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In 2003, we tested a variety of .44 Magnum loads to determine the best general purpose load to be used in both revolvers and carbines for self-defense, field use, and hunting.

The following loads were fired out of a 5” barrel S&W 629 revolver and 16” barrel Marlin 1894P carbine:

Federal 180 gr JHP (C44B)
Federal 240 gr JHP (C44A)
Federal 240 gr JHP Hydrashok (P44HS1)
Federal 300 gr LWC Cast Core (P44E)
Hornady 180 gr JHP XTP (9081)
Hornady 240 gr JHP XTP (9085)
Hornady 300 gr JHP XTP (9088)
Remington 180 gr JHP (R44MG5)
Remington 275 gr JHP Core-Lokt (RH44MGA)
Speer 270 gr JSP Gold Dot (23968)
Winchester 210 gr JHP Silver Tip (X44MS)
Winchrester 250 gr JHP Partition Gold (S44MP)

Recovered bullets from shots made into bare gelatin out of a 5” 629:

The load with the clearly superior performance in BOTH the handgun and carbine was the Hornady 300 gr XTP, with 20+ inches of penetration, consistent expansion in excess of 0.70” and superb weight retention. Here are a few random comments--the Hornady 240 gr and 180 gr loadings also performed well and would be good alternate choices, the Remington 275 gr Core-Lokt was also a good overall performer, the Remington 180 gr and Winchester 210 gr Silvertip loads had excessive muzzle flash, the Hydrashok fragmented badly, the Silvertip did well in the revolver and not the carbine, conversely the Gold Dot did well in the carbine and not the revolver, the Cast Core has VERY deep penetration, but no expansion,

Bottom line—BEST overall general purpose .44 Magnum load was the Hornady 300 gr XTP:

.44 Mag Hornady 300 gr JHP XTP #9088 bare gelatin:
5" 629: vel=1120 f/s, pen=20+", RD=0.71", RL=0.67", RW=299.5 gr
16" 1894P: vel=1338 f/s, pen=20+", RD=0.71", RL=0.59", RW=291.5 gr