I have plenty of 44 mag ammo to shoot out of my guns, however it gets confusing on 44 special for TARGET SHOOTING. Any advice appreciated. Looking to buy in bulk. The options seem unlimited. Price is a concern since it is not competition.I guess the type of bullet and weight is what I am looking for. Thanks!
Best 44 Special Ammo For Target Shooting?
- Thread starter AC Man
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240 grain lead; whatever you can find at the best price should work just fine. Really easy round to load and lots more pleasant than 44 mags, so much so I rarely shoot mag loads in my revolvers any more.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I make my own. 200/205 LRNFP (.429"), Win LP primer, Starline or WW brass and 4.5 HP-38/WW231 around 750 fps. I made up 500 for Cowboy Action Shooting and was very pleased of their performance. I shot about 50 each in Model 1926, Model 24, Colt New Service & Colt SAA. Then I tried them in my 8 3/8" M-29 Classic and 2 5/8" 629-10 PC. The recoil is there but very mild because of the weight! They function, feed, extract, and eject very well from my 24" 1873 too.
Ivan
Ivan
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Snapping Twig
Member
FWIW, I train/practice with what I use. I roll my own, so that's easier for me to do. When you have a powder puff load you use frequently, then switch to full power, POA and POI are not the same.
So much factory loaded ammo is made to be safe in older pistols. Therefore, pay attention to the claimed velocities.
I use 6.5g W231/HP38 under a 250g SWC for an all around load.
So much factory loaded ammo is made to be safe in older pistols. Therefore, pay attention to the claimed velocities.
I use 6.5g W231/HP38 under a 250g SWC for an all around load.
CCI Blazer aluminum-cased 200-gr hollow point ammo is excellent.
Don't let the aluminum casing scare you off, this is good stuff.
The aluminum casing can't be reloaded, so keep that in mind.
I once found this ammo (several years ago) for something like 9 dollars a box at a store that was closing out it's guns and ammo section. I only picked up a couple of boxes because I had no experience with it. After shooting it, I wished I had bought every box they had at that price.
Don't let the aluminum casing scare you off, this is good stuff.
The aluminum casing can't be reloaded, so keep that in mind.
I once found this ammo (several years ago) for something like 9 dollars a box at a store that was closing out it's guns and ammo section. I only picked up a couple of boxes because I had no experience with it. After shooting it, I wished I had bought every box they had at that price.
Honestly, whatever you can find that is priced reasonably. I buy from SGA often and for awhile there they had lots of Fiocchi 240-gr SJHP that was priced ok. That seems to have dried up- last I checked they had some PMC stuff.
44s have always been expensive. Freedom Munitions has some for just less than $40 a box. I bought a bunch of Georgia Arms specials,and magnums for $25 for 50 a number of years ago but I am almost out now. I have presses, some cases and bullets ready to reload as soon,as I can fin some primers and powder from the same online seller. I don't want to pay the hazmat fee twice.
jcs266
Member
Just find the cheapest lead bullet loads for targets. I reload but it sounds like you're asking about loaded ammo.
I also like CCI Blazer with 200gr Gold Dot HP's - excellent in every respect. They used to be pretty cheap off the shelf but now days who knows what they cost.
For CCW it's the same 200gr GDHP in nickel-cased factory Speer loading.
I also like CCI Blazer with 200gr Gold Dot HP's - excellent in every respect. They used to be pretty cheap off the shelf but now days who knows what they cost.
For CCW it's the same 200gr GDHP in nickel-cased factory Speer loading.
smithra_66
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Depends on what you mean by "Target" shooting but I assume you mean paper targets in a Bullseye-type format.
I used to use 230 gr. full wadcutters like you would see for 38 special.
They punch a huge, clean hole in the paper. About 4-5 gr. of Bullseye makes for a low recoil, accurate load.
You'll never find this from factory ammo. If you're limited to just that, you'll probably just have to take whatever is available and be prepared to pay severely for it.
If you get a small reloading setup, you could load anything you want, and even better you could use Magnum cases. I'm assuming you don't have a 44 special gun and wish to shoot these out of your Magnum. If you use light loads in mag cases you won't create that annoying burn ring in your chambers.
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Yes! Whatever you can find that's the cheapest.
Like I posted in the other thread, when you pull the trigger try not to see a $1-2 Bill go flying down range.
If you see any, consider the Cowboy Loads.
Like I posted in the other thread, when you pull the trigger try not to see a $1-2 Bill go flying down range.
If you see any, consider the Cowboy Loads.
Inland7-45
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I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk and a Model 29-2 6.5" barrel. The Ruger was my father's and it passed on to me. I found the model 29 in the mid 70s at a good price. I was 13 when I fired the Ruger for the first time. With factory full charge stuff it was no fun to shoot.
Most of the people I know who bought .44 Mags saw them as an either or proposition. On other words if you weren't going to shoot .44 mags what's the point in having such a big heavy gun. And a lot of people who bought either the S&W or the Ruger were put off by the blast and recoil and didn't hang onto them long. The first Model 29 that I owned had only 20 rounds through it.
After I started reloading I bought a Lyman # 429421 SWC mold and started loading starting weight rounds with 2400. This became my favorite round for both guns. About 15 years ago I picked up a Lee mold for a 200 gr RNFP to use in my 44-40. I sized some of these to .429 and tried them in a .44 Spl case. I like the results and will be starting another run of .44 Spl with this bullet. While I would like to find a nice model 24 or pre model number I like the way the .44 Spl shoots in the heavier .44 Mag guns. I really enjoyed firing target semi wadcutters out of a Model 25 and firing the 200 gr .44 Spl rounds out of the Ruger or the model 29 is just as much fun.
Most of the people I know who bought .44 Mags saw them as an either or proposition. On other words if you weren't going to shoot .44 mags what's the point in having such a big heavy gun. And a lot of people who bought either the S&W or the Ruger were put off by the blast and recoil and didn't hang onto them long. The first Model 29 that I owned had only 20 rounds through it.
After I started reloading I bought a Lyman # 429421 SWC mold and started loading starting weight rounds with 2400. This became my favorite round for both guns. About 15 years ago I picked up a Lee mold for a 200 gr RNFP to use in my 44-40. I sized some of these to .429 and tried them in a .44 Spl case. I like the results and will be starting another run of .44 Spl with this bullet. While I would like to find a nice model 24 or pre model number I like the way the .44 Spl shoots in the heavier .44 Mag guns. I really enjoyed firing target semi wadcutters out of a Model 25 and firing the 200 gr .44 Spl rounds out of the Ruger or the model 29 is just as much fun.
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This thread might get more responses in the Ammo forum...
...Ben
...Ben
Rodfac
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"I use 6.5g W231/HP38 under a 250g SWC for an all around load."
I load my own and by and large consider .44 Specials to be a reloader only caliber. The quote above is also my light duty load as well, for both .44 Special and Magnum...for an even better load, try one of the 200-220 LSWC's as offered by Missouri Bullet Co with the same powder charge. I cast my own and the lighter weight is more economical in alloy. Rod
I load my own and by and large consider .44 Specials to be a reloader only caliber. The quote above is also my light duty load as well, for both .44 Special and Magnum...for an even better load, try one of the 200-220 LSWC's as offered by Missouri Bullet Co with the same powder charge. I cast my own and the lighter weight is more economical in alloy. Rod
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Get what's cheap! As long as you're buying new, there's no reason to get anything else for practice.
Model19man
Member
I find the Lyman Ideal 429421 cast bullet over 7.5 grains of Unique is perfect. Try it some time.
American Handgunner The .44 Special … The Perfect Load? - American Handgunner
American Handgunner The .44 Special … The Perfect Load? - American Handgunner
CMYSIX
Member
underwood ammo, and freedom munitions,
For factory ammo, I don't reload, I look for the various "cowboy" loads that are hard to beat for pure plinking fun in the great 44spl loading.
I reload a Missouri Bullets hard cast 240 grain lead semi-wadcutter with Starline brass, CCI primer and 8.0 grains of blue dot. This is the most accurate load in my Ruger Blackhawk flat top in .44 Special.
jcs266
Member
The .44 Special is my all-time favorite handgun round. 250gr Keith at 800fps (in .44 Spl cases) for fun and 19.0gr 2400 (in Magnum cases) for when I want power.
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"target shooting"-------------------------------------???????????????????
Real target shooting------or smallest groups you and your gun are capable of? Either way, any and all of you who are shooting .44 Specials in a .44 Magnum are doing yourself a disservice-------with one exception we'll get to directly.
Accuracy is all about a bullet going through a bore and emerging in as pristine condition as possible. That shoulder sitting what---an eighth or a tenth of an inch in front of your .44 Special case mouth is going to adversely effect your bullet---a little or a lot---and any at all is too much. The extra distance your bullet travels in your chamber translates to an increased velocity when it enters the barrel---and that translates to skidding and sliding in the barrel further before the rifling gets a hold of it---and that also translates to a diminished condition when it leaves the barrel---a little or a lot.
So---what to do? The handloaders among you may very well have avoided these ills by simply using .44 Special loads in .44 Magnum brass---problems solved.
I invite any and all who are doubters to get your hands on a machine rest, and try it out for yourself-------machine rests don't lie.
Ralph Tremaine
And speaking of throat length: Some's bad, more's worse, and too much is WAY too much! S&W (and Ira Paine) were on to that awhile back---the 1880's. The New Model #3 Target in 38-44 S&W used a cartridge case that was the same length as the cylinder---with the bullet seated inside. The bullet leaves the case and chamber, and is immediately in the barrel---zero throat length. I'm told that combination set records which have yet to be broken. (I've never been able to confirm that, but I did do a test.) The gun was a Ruger Old Army (cap & ball---as in muzzle loader). My first load was 20 grains of fff black powder, Uncle Mike's Hot Shot Lubed wad, and a Speer .457 round ball. That bullet seated DEEP within the chamber---maximum throat length. Six rounds at 25 yards made a not so nice group of about 4". The last load was the same, except for 20 grains of corn meal under the wad and bullet which seated flush with the face of the chamber----zero throat length---or as close to zero as you can get. Six rounds at 25 yards were all X ring---all fit under a quarter actually. The in between loads with 5, 10, and 15 grains of corn meal (and corresponding throat lengths) produced group sizes that were almost perfectly linear between the first and the last.
The old farts like me among you will remember the hot set-up in center-fire revolvers from the big bucks pistol-smiths back in the day. K-38's with cylinders the same length as a .38 Special Wadcutter, and custom barrels set back to meet them----as in zero throat. If you didn't have one of those, you might just as well stay home; 'cause the guy next to you that does have one is going to clean your clock!!
Zero throat length makes for bullets entering barrels at the lowest possible speed----the dreaded skidding and sliding---AND deformation is reduced to a minimum. The scores go UP!!
Real target shooting------or smallest groups you and your gun are capable of? Either way, any and all of you who are shooting .44 Specials in a .44 Magnum are doing yourself a disservice-------with one exception we'll get to directly.
Accuracy is all about a bullet going through a bore and emerging in as pristine condition as possible. That shoulder sitting what---an eighth or a tenth of an inch in front of your .44 Special case mouth is going to adversely effect your bullet---a little or a lot---and any at all is too much. The extra distance your bullet travels in your chamber translates to an increased velocity when it enters the barrel---and that translates to skidding and sliding in the barrel further before the rifling gets a hold of it---and that also translates to a diminished condition when it leaves the barrel---a little or a lot.
So---what to do? The handloaders among you may very well have avoided these ills by simply using .44 Special loads in .44 Magnum brass---problems solved.
I invite any and all who are doubters to get your hands on a machine rest, and try it out for yourself-------machine rests don't lie.
Ralph Tremaine
And speaking of throat length: Some's bad, more's worse, and too much is WAY too much! S&W (and Ira Paine) were on to that awhile back---the 1880's. The New Model #3 Target in 38-44 S&W used a cartridge case that was the same length as the cylinder---with the bullet seated inside. The bullet leaves the case and chamber, and is immediately in the barrel---zero throat length. I'm told that combination set records which have yet to be broken. (I've never been able to confirm that, but I did do a test.) The gun was a Ruger Old Army (cap & ball---as in muzzle loader). My first load was 20 grains of fff black powder, Uncle Mike's Hot Shot Lubed wad, and a Speer .457 round ball. That bullet seated DEEP within the chamber---maximum throat length. Six rounds at 25 yards made a not so nice group of about 4". The last load was the same, except for 20 grains of corn meal under the wad and bullet which seated flush with the face of the chamber----zero throat length---or as close to zero as you can get. Six rounds at 25 yards were all X ring---all fit under a quarter actually. The in between loads with 5, 10, and 15 grains of corn meal (and corresponding throat lengths) produced group sizes that were almost perfectly linear between the first and the last.
The old farts like me among you will remember the hot set-up in center-fire revolvers from the big bucks pistol-smiths back in the day. K-38's with cylinders the same length as a .38 Special Wadcutter, and custom barrels set back to meet them----as in zero throat. If you didn't have one of those, you might just as well stay home; 'cause the guy next to you that does have one is going to clean your clock!!
Zero throat length makes for bullets entering barrels at the lowest possible speed----the dreaded skidding and sliding---AND deformation is reduced to a minimum. The scores go UP!!
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Model19man
Member
I don't have any revolvers chambered for 44 Magnum currently. All of mine are 44 Specials.
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Green Frog
Member
I agree with those who are lobbying for reloading. The cost and availability of 44 Spl ammo of any sort from factory sources would prevent me from shooting it at targets unless I win the lottery. If you want economy with a 44, the Keith designed Ideal/Lyman 429421 bullet has been used for well over half a century as an all purpose bullet. Keith's old hot loads of 2400 are available in many loading manuals, and the same bullet ahead of 6.5 or so grains of Unique makes a very pleasant target round with excellent accuracy. This bullet or some very much like it are available commercially if you don't cast, and if you do shoot 44 Mag as well as Spl, this is the one time proven bullet for all around use in both cases. A supply of these bullets, along with cases, primers, and cans of 2400 and Unique, and a person is set for whatever 44 shooting they want to do. BTW, the same set of dies will also accommodate both cases.
Froggie
Froggie
