I do reload. Maybe I will look at .44 spedial rounds to look at reloading. I guess I will have to get a set of rubber grips that cover the backstrap... Oh well this weekend it is full power and wood grips. I will let you know how it went or hurt!!!!
First .44 what should I expect?
- Thread starter paigecm
- Start date
44 Loads
Over the years, I have come to find the following kinds of loads for 44's:
1) The rocket loads that are awesome in power but that most of us cannot hit
with, especially without regular practice.
2) The midrange 44 loads that most are accurate with and are failry useful
3) The 44 special loads that nearly all like for extensive taget practice and plinking.
4) The 44 shot loads for snakes and birds that make a 44 pistol great for pigeons
and rattlsnakes at close range.
Afet you get over the hand cannon loads, try the others and, in my opinion at least,
you will find the 44 (particularly in the Model 29) to be an extremely useful and
versatile cartridge. Have Fun!
Over the years, I have come to find the following kinds of loads for 44's:
1) The rocket loads that are awesome in power but that most of us cannot hit
with, especially without regular practice.
2) The midrange 44 loads that most are accurate with and are failry useful
3) The 44 special loads that nearly all like for extensive taget practice and plinking.
4) The 44 shot loads for snakes and birds that make a 44 pistol great for pigeons
and rattlsnakes at close range.
Afet you get over the hand cannon loads, try the others and, in my opinion at least,
you will find the 44 (particularly in the Model 29) to be an extremely useful and
versatile cartridge. Have Fun!
smith revolver cop
Member
Great advice. The .44 mag is a hot round. Fun to shoot a couple of cylinders full, but pretty punishing after that. Shooting the .44 special is a joy. I have a 29 in 8 3/8" barrel, and it's just a *****-cat to shoot with specials... feels like even lighter recoil than a .38!
Just remember that shooting lead Specials will leave a lead ring buildup in the chambers that needs to be throughly removed before shooting magnums. Although I sometimes shoot Specials in magnum chambers, I prefer to load magnum cases with lighter loads for the .44 Magnum and shoot specials in .44 Special chambered guns.
It IS a great all round revolver and great fun. Every shooter should have at least one!
It IS a great all round revolver and great fun. Every shooter should have at least one!
cmort666
Member
I always clean my guns thoroughly after using them, so I don't have any such problems.
I use low volume powders, mostly Bullseye and Unique. Smaller volume cases work better with them.
Frank V
Member
You will really like the .44 Specials in that 29! Congratulations. Frank
SharpshooterOPD
Member
What everyone else said! The one thing I notice with my Mountain Gun is more torque than with my other 29/629's when I shoot full power loads. That being said, I think the Mountain Gun platform and the 240 SWC/7.5 gr Unique (aka the Skeeter Skelton load) is a match made in Heaven. Enjoy!
HRF
HRF
I have several .44's that I shoot. Doing my own reloading I like 15.0 gr of 2400 with a 250 gr LSWC. This one you can shoot for awhile with no damage to you.
To be honest I haven't shot 1 .44 mag factory round in any of mine.
To be honest I haven't shot 1 .44 mag factory round in any of mine.
stevieboy
Member
I've fired my friend's .44 magnum Mountain Gun with relatively light loads. He's put X-frame Hogues on the gun and, with them, shooting it is absolutely painless. The felt recoil is about equivalent to the recoil on my 27 when I fire 125 gr. magnum rounds through it.
He is talking about shooting both during the same range trip... You want to shoot Magnums first, and then switch to Specials. Just not Specials, and then make the move to Magnums. It will just be harder to get the casings out of the cylinder in that order.
Evil One
Member
I liked my 6" 629-1, but I LOVED my M21-4.
I always brought rounds to the range that were like a small version of opening up the gates of hell... but generally shot a LOT of the skeeter load.
I had the target stocks, and 2 sets of Pachs for the 629... and a wood hogue monogrip on the 21. I LOVED the wood monogrip.
Let the revolver jump.. but keep it under control.
Jim
I always brought rounds to the range that were like a small version of opening up the gates of hell... but generally shot a LOT of the skeeter load.
I had the target stocks, and 2 sets of Pachs for the 629... and a wood hogue monogrip on the 21. I LOVED the wood monogrip.
Let the revolver jump.. but keep it under control.
Jim
I'd wear shooting gloves.
On the topic of reloading for the 44, while I don't reload for that caliber anymore, I used to, and presently do a great deal for 357 Magnum, and also for 500S&WMagnum, and am a strong proponent of using full chamber-length brass in these guns to avoid the build-up of lead or crud in the forward portion of the cylinder chambers. It's a PITA to clean out and can verge on being close-to-impossible. If a person doesn't reload, then to shoot reduced or 'mid-range' loads you need to go to Specials, but the better plan is to create your own full-length Specials in Magnum brass IMHO. I generally start out by finding a good accurate Special load in one of the manuals, then maybe up it just a little to compensate for the longer case.
Let us know how your adventure goes for you!
conchmariner
Member
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I was told the exact opposite ie shoot Specials first and then Magnums.
Well, just consider it...
The Specials are shorter than Magnums. Firing Magnums, you won't have a ring of powder in any area that the Special casing will hit. The casing of the Magnums passes that point.
If you fire Specials first, the rings will be within the reach of the Magnum casing. I forget the difference, but I want to say the Magnum casing reaches an extra 3 or 4mm past the Special's case. That is where it will start to stick.
Now, that isn't saying that a new shooter would want to go that route (Magnums, then Specials). I'm sure some would want to start lower, and work up. Either way, cleaning the cylinder will solve the issue.
cmort666
Member
In my experience that's an exaggeration.
If you have THAT much trouble, you're not cleaning your firearm properly.
conchmariner
Member
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The rationale behind what I was told is that if you shoot Specials first, firing the Magnums next will clear out that ring of powder (since it really hasn't had time to set in yet) making cleaning afterwards much easier. When I bought my 629 the salesman made a big point of that.
Pondhill
Member
How would it compare to my 360sc with 357 loads?
mbdorfer
Member
Interesting thread. I'm kinda new to the different types of ammo.
I just got some .44 mag 240 gr semi wad cutters from my local reloading supply. Would these be considered a lighter load?
I just got some .44 mag 240 gr semi wad cutters from my local reloading supply. Would these be considered a lighter load?
cmort666
Member
There's no way to know without more information.
We don't know the powder type or charge. THAT'S what matters. It could just get the bullet out of the barrel or it could be hotter than a proof load.
That's a first... which is likely why I won't take it as fact. The only way I could see it doing anything to those rings would be because of the case getting stuck, and you forcing it out.
Even if it was true, you are still going to have the issues of Magnum cases sticking in the cylinder. Cleaning isn't hard, just get some solvent.
Hi ! Do these grips fit to round butts as well as square butts ? I mean a friend of mine proposed me to buy his original grips from his S&W 500 to put on my sooncoming round butt M29 Classic...
Joni_Lynn
US Veteran
Expect the beginning of an addiction.
