Best Powder 44 Special/44 Magnum

[cladd1]

I will beginning to reload for my soon to be acquired S&W 44 Magnum Performance Center 629. I have reloaded for quite a few years for benchrest rifle shooting in addition to currently reloading 9mm and 45ACP cartridges. I want to select a good all around powder that I can use for both 44 Special target loads and 44 magnum hunting loads (will use for deer hunting). Would appreciate advice on a good all purpose powder.
Also looking for a good 185 grain target bullet for the 44 Special and a good 240 grain hunting (whitetail deer) bullet.

All thoughts and opinions appreciated!

Thanks

 

[SLT223]

Welcome cladd1! I load both .44 Mag and 44 SPL ballistics both in 44 Magnum brass. I don't own a 44 SPL gun, so no sense in complicating my inventory. For 44 SPL I use fast powders like Hodgdon Clays and Winchester 231. Unique and Universal work very well also. I typically load these under 200gr plated or coated slugs.

For full power I use W296/H110 and IMR4227. 4227 doesn't get as high velocity as 296/110, but it is single base, and bit easier on the gun.

Load data for all the powders I mentioned above except Unique are on the Hogdgon Reloading Data site.

If you're willing to go to 200gr for the target load, I would suggest keeping eye on free shipping deals from xtreme bullets. It will be one of the best deals on slugs you'll find. I've shot about 10k of them at this point.

 

[Fishinfool]

I like Win-231 and Red Dot for reduced power target loads. 2400 and Win-296 work well for heavy hunting loads, with 2400 being a little more versatile as it can be loaded down some, where 296 shouldn't be.

For a 240 grain deer bullet, I would look hard at the 240 grain XTP. I have used this bullet on a fair number of deer with complete satisfaction.

Larry

 

[fixitfred]

To answer your question with a non-answer I will say generally you can't use the same powder for light target loads and heavy magnums.

Your lighter loads generally use faster burning powders and your heavier mag loads use slower burning powder.

When I first started loading for 357 and 44 mag I only used Unique and 2400. If I had to pick only one powder to 'TRY' and do it all it would be Unique.

Ultimately to get the best out of both cartridges I would go with at least 2 different powders.

 

[arjay]

Using 44 mag brass and 240 gr bullets,Unique gives me 750-1100+ fps.2400 will push em faster

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I want to select a good all around powder that I can use for both 44 Special target loads and 44 magnum hunting loads (will use for deer hunting). Would appreciate advice on a good all purpose powder.

As has already been stated, one powder for both will be a compromise for both. I'd suggest a moderate speed power like Power Pistol as the compromise. You won't get the maximum speed with it in the 44 Mag but in 44 Spcl. it'll give good performance in all but the lightest of loads.

.

 

[Wise_A]

I agree--Unique will serve you well for all your paper-punching needs. With a lighter (185- or 200-grain) bullet, recoil will be quite manageable. And you can have quite a bit of fun with a 240- or 255-grain SWC and a heavier charge, while still keeping costs down. Your .44 Magnums won't cost much more to shoot than .45 ACP.

2400 will be superior for your hunting loads, and you won't mind the primary drawback (22 grains of powder costs a lot more than 10 or 11) in such low volumes.

I would suggest that you stick to Magnum brass. .44 Remington Magnum is an incredibly versatile cartridge. A lighter bullet and a faster powder will be a real kitten to shoot--just take your pick. I would wager that you could even get excellent results using the same 240/255-grain SWC from the full-power target loadings.

Simply put, it's not worth the potential of developing carbon rings in your cylinder.

 

[Drm50]

I use Unique for cast target loads
2400 for 240 JHP for Ruger SBH
H-110 for 240 Jsp for Marlin 1894
All loads in Magnum brass.

 

[daniel lawecki]

Titegroup is a good powder .44 special for magnum loads H110. As for bullets I shoot cast .250 -300 grain.

 

[Amp]

I like Hornady XTP bullets, both 200 and 240 gr.
Used lots of Blue Dot meters well and clean and accurate.
Others may push the bullet faster if you really need that.

 

[scattershot]

As a compromise powder for both, Unique does a pretty good job. 7 grains will get you about 850 fps with a 240 grain lead bullet, and 12 grains behind a 240 Hornady JSP will go 1200. That's pretty hot, but I haven't had any problems with it.

Best bet, as always, is check reloading manuals.

 

[29aholic]

I like 700X for both. In a mag case I use 7gr of 700X and a 240gr LSWC. Out of a 6" barrel I get about 985fps, which has been more than enough to kill a truck load of deer over the years. Not a mag load, more of a manly 44spl load.
I drop it to 6gr with the same bullet in a spl. case.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Blue dot will get you in magnum territory using less powder . I'm a real fan of IMR 4227 . I loose a little in velocity but have great accuracy . It's single base powder , burns cooler easier on the gun .
Winchester Super Field in 44magnums for great mid range loads and Super Target in 44spls are the 2 powders I use the most though .

 

[101Voodoo]

I know you asked for a single powder, but I think to get the best out of both cartridges two powders are warranted.

For top end .44 Special and mid-range .44 Magnum, Alliant's Power Pistol is an outstanding powder. You can get excellent speed (1000 fps) and still keep the pressure at SAMMI levels in the Special.

For top end .44 Magnum loads Ramshot's Enforcer is my favorite. Just a bit slower than 2400, Enforcer meters like water and gives me very low SD and ES numbers. Its very clean to boot.

 

[Skeet 028]

I load both. I use Unique cause I have a lot. For the Mag either 2400 or 4227 for up there loads. And as far as "crud rings" a swipe in the cylinder with a bore brush and it comes right out. Not like your gonna shoot 500 rounds at a time without cleaning a little bit. And the loads in a 44 sp case are so easy to make. and you can easily see if you have a double charge. Never have but the special is easy. And if you want to use one powder..Unique will get you over a 1000 ft per second..with the right bullet enough for even the big bears. Heck my bear load in the 41 mag(what I carry in b'ar country) is a 250 gr cast WFNGC bullet at about 1050. I have used H110/296 in the past and do have plenty but use it for my 410 loads..Max velocity but also max pressures. So if I really need hot loads 4227 or 2400. Much easier on the shooter and the gun.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Unique or 2400 if you can't do it with one of these you just don't need to do it at all .

Eddie

 

[eb07]

Unique or 2400 if you can't do it with one of these you just don't need to do it at all .

Eddie

That's all I use. I second this.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I use either the 240gr XTP or the bulk box Nosler for jacketed bullet loads . I cast my own 250 grain lead Keith bullets as well as the Thompson 230244 Lyman gas check bullet . No experience with the 185gr bullets .Never saw the need .

Eddie

 

[cladd1]

Thanks for all the terrific responses - great ideas. I really liked the suggestions about using 44 mag cases for both magnum and 44 special target loads. This makes perfect sense however it just did not occur to me until I read this. I just ordered my
S&W Performance Center 629 with 7.5 inch barrel and compensator. Now need to order some dies/brass/bullets and primers (need to order I assume magnum large pistol primers?) ( :

Thanks again!

 

[cowboy4evr]

Magnum large pistol primers ? That depends on your choice of powder / powders . I use " full magnum " primers with IMR 4227 . Other wise I use exclusively Winchester LPP's . Alliant says even 2400 does not need mag primers . Unique , W231 , Power Pistol , Blue Dot etc does not need mag primers . The powder co's list the primers used in developing their load data .