Another .44 mag reloading question

[aslap]

I just loaded up 100 rounds with a 240 gr jacketed soft point on top of 9 gr of Unique and lit with a CCI 350 primer. I used a Lee taper crimp die to crimp them up. Is this a good way to crimp? I seem to remember using a roll-type crimp back when I made my first foray into reloading many years ago. I know that this is a light kind of a load but I'll start here.

Thanks

Tony

 

[Snapping Twig]

As a general rule of thumb, taper crimp for semi auto, roll crimp for revolver.

Not going to hurt anything with that pleasant load, but when you kick it up a notch, a roll crimp will offer a better retention of the bullet.

Also, case tension AND a tight crimp help in ignition of slow burning powders.

 

[bwickens]

Another rule of thumb is to use minimal case neck expansion (for neck tension), even if you have to reduce the diameter of the expander, then flare the case mouth only as much as necessary to get the bullet started. For years I used to do this by using a .41 mag expander die to load .44 spec. and .44 mag. Basically, I wasn't expanding the neck at all, just flaring the case mouth.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Tony,
I use a bullet just like that when I load for folks and their hunting rifles here in Indiana. It has taken a bunch of deer in the last few years and a gazillion ground hogs! One guy grabs it first when he sees one! Says they don't move much when he hits them!

Of course, they are traveling a lot faster than what 9gr of Unique will ever push them!

Around the 1800fps mark or so with a full load of Lil' Gun or H110/W296.

I use the same amount of Unique for my 45 Colt 250gr - 285gr plinking loads. Sure makes stuff dance around when you hit them! They will knock tennis balls clean over the berm and golf balls, let me tell you what those big hunks of lead do to them! haha

 

[venomballistics]

you will prefer a roll crimp on this caliber.
the load you have is in the ballpark of a good one.
8-9G unique behind a 240 cast makes for a good general all around mid range load to play with, though I favor a little lighter bullet out of personal preference.

I'd also advise loading your jacketed bullets in take no prisoners mode over H110, lilgun or 2400.
a mild load is far better served in cast.
after your ammo stash grows, the jacketed bullet will tell you at a glance whether its loaded for business or pleasure

 

[m657]

Let me rise to speak well of "Trail Boss" in the service of a "gentle moderate load" for 240 g 44 mag OR special.

Mucking about for accurate and mild, it's amazing how pleasing 950-1200 fps worth of Trail Boss can be in a proper 44 caliber....eerily almost too gentile...yet the reloading books tell me it's alright...

 

[fredj338]

Let me rise to speak well of "Trail Boss" in the service of a "gentle moderate load" for 240 g 44 mag OR special.

Mucking about for accurate and mild, it's amazing how pleasing 950-1200 fps worth of Trail Boss can be in a proper 44 caliber....eerily almost too gentile...yet the reloading books tell me it's alright...

TB is recommended ONLY for lead bullets.
The taper crimp is a poor performer for a revovler. It just doesn't hold the bullet in place during recoil w/ heavy loads. You may be fine w/ such light loads, but it isn't the correct crimp. BTW, you do NOT need mag primers w/ Unique in any 44mag load.

 

[aslap]

Thanks!!

I'm going to be looking into the cast bullets. I'll chrony this load and see what it does.

A friend gave me the magnum primers so I just used those.

I forgot that the regular Lee seating die would be used for the roll crimp. I seated a few with that then backed out the seater and crimped them and they look great with the rolled crimp.

Thanks, again!

Tony

 

[fredj338]

I'm going to be looking into the cast bullets. I'll chrony this load and see what it does.

A friend gave me the magnum primers so I just used those.

I forgot that the regular Lee seating die would be used for the roll crimp. I seated a few with that then backed out the seater and crimped them and they look great with the rolled crimp.

Thanks, again!

Tony

TOny, you can use the mag primers, they just aren't needed. SOme shooters think becasue they are reloading a magnum that they must use mag primers, just not the case. Mag primers are powder specific, but if tha tis waht you have, load em up.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Tony, you can use the mag primers, they just aren't needed. Some shooters think because they are reloading a magnum that they must use mag primers, just not the case. Mag primers are powder specific, but if that is what you have, load em up.

Correct, you only need magnum primers for powders that are hard to ignite Ball Powders like HS-6, HS-7, W296/H110 and the like. You might also want to use a magnum primer if you are going to use the ammo in VERY cold weather.

BUT, like said above, you will do no harm so use what you have...

 

[ILLWIND]

I ran similar loads through my Pro-Chrono. 9 gr Unique and a 255 gr Lee bullet (SWC no gas check). With my 3" 629-1 I got 975 fps. With my 7.5" 29 I got 1050 fps. Both very accurate.

 

[aslap]

Nice!

I'm hoping to get to the range this Sunday with the chrony to check them through my gun. I'll post results when I do.

I've got the 8 3/8" barrel so I should be right around that 1K number with 240 grain pills. That's just the kind of load I was looking for.

Tony S.

 

[aslap]

Did chrony this load today

240 grain JSP; 9.0 grains unique; CCI large pistol magnum primers; 29-2 w/8 3/8 barrel.

1040 fps average out of 12 ( high 1074; lo 1029) shots and, as expected, mild recoil. I'm still learning how to shoot this gun so I have no accuracy reports on the load. Next time out for that.

Tony S.

 

[fredj338]

240 grain JSP; 9.0 grains unique; CCI large pistol magnum primers; 29-2 w/8 3/8 barrel.

1040 fps average out of 12 ( high 1074; lo 1029) shots and, as expected, mild recoil. I'm still learning how to shoot this gun so I have no accuracy reports on the load. Next time out for that.

Tony S.

At those mild vel, I would be switching to a 240grLSWC for my shooting. Easier on the gun, sometimes more accurate, certainly cheaper.

 

[cjw3]

240 grain JSP; 9.0 grains unique; CCI large pistol magnum primers; 29-2 w/8 3/8 barrel.

1040 fps average out of 12 ( high 1074; lo 1029) shots and, as expected, mild recoil. I'm still learning how to shoot this gun so I have no accuracy reports on the load. Next time out for that.

Tony S.

That sounds reasonable. I use 10.0/Unique with a 240 grain LSWC and get 1118 fps in my 629. The extra grain of powder and the slicker lead bullet account for the speed in the 4" barrel.

As fredj says, a cast bullet of the same weight should work well for you if this is the velocity range you are interested in.

With the above bullet, I did not get the accuracy I was looking for in my gun until I got to 10 grains. I believe I was not getting good obturation, or upset, of the bullet until I got to that velocity/pressure level.

 

[dla]

You shouldn't need a magnum primer for that put-put load.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Tony,

Good for you! You took a load that you were considering shooting, made them, asked for input, shot them and then, brought back a report! That dear friend is perfect!

What did you think of your load other than it was light recoil? That 240gr JSP will work fine at that velocity, JHP, not so much. I load for some 44Mag rifles that throw that thing at 1700fps and I can tell you it REALLY works at that velocity! Of course, even a Hornady 240gr XTP works at that velocity!

See what that thing will do for accuracy @ 25 yards. You said you are still learning how to shoot it. I understand, but it is no different than any other revolver and with this load, recoil should not be a factor, remember that, light recoil. Shoot from support or a rest to determine "POSSIBLE ACCURACY". That is the accuracy that COULD be obtained if everything is done just right. The group may be high, low, to the right or left, but shoot for a one hole group as best as possible. THEN take the same load and try to duplicate your shooting circumstances in real life. This will give you "PRACTICAL ACCURACY", which will factor in all of the other things associated with shooting, breath control, trigger control, sight alignment, hold, and a host of other things. Things that are pertinent only to you and your shooting.

The first kind of shooting needs to be done with each load to let you know that the round CAN be as accurate as you want, the second shows you how much you need to work on stuff that affects that accuracy.

Hope this helps! Have fun! Be safe! Enjoy!

 

[aslap]

Thanks, Skip!

Yep. That is the next stage. I was working on some other loads in a different caliber and I just put 12 through to make sure all seemed OK. It was.

I don't hunt and just target shoot. I know the gun is capable of great accuracy and I'd like to be able to shoot it to the limit of what I can do.

At this 1000 fps velocity, would the hard-cast lead bullets work well and not lead up? I'm looking for a less expensive alternative that the JSP'S. I was given the magnum primers so I'll use those until they are all used up.

Tony S.

 

[cjw3]

Yep. That is the next stage. I was working on some other loads in a different caliber and I just put 12 through to make sure all seemed OK. It was.

I don't hunt and just target shoot. I know the gun is capable of great accuracy and I'd like to be able to shoot it to the limit of what I can do.

At this 1000 fps velocity, would the hard-cast lead bullets work well and not lead up? I'm looking for a less expensive alternative that the JSP'S. I was given the magnum primers so I'll use those until they are all used up.

Tony S.

There is a good discussion of choosing bullets of the proper hardness here:

Missouri Bullet Company

I like to deal with what little leading I get by using a little bronze wool wrapped around a copper bore brush every few cylinders full. Cleanup when done is MUCH easier than if I have let it build up.

 

[aslap]

Good link

Thanks, CJ.

This is probably the best I've seen so far for explaining the cast bullet differences. I'll be getting some of these.

Tony S.