How "light" can the 44 Magnum be loaded?

[pangris]

First, please let me explain my goal.

I have a D550 and have reloaded a few thousand rounds - 38, 45, and 10mm.

I have come to love the 44 more and more and have a few with bbls between 4" and 7.5".

I shoot a lot of things with relatively high volume and am seriously considering curtailing the collection in favor of shooting the same few guns all the time.

For the purposes of my revolvers, I'm thinking I'd like to reload for my 44's and shoot them rather than my 357's that are currently doing duty as 38s.

Normally when I'm shooting in volume, it is in a class of some sort - I might shoot 1000 rounds in 2-3 days. My goal is to get as close as I can to mastering the double action pull with great accuracy with those light loads.

So, all that said - can I load the 44 to be tolerable for high volume, light loads?

How slow can you SAFELY push a 200 or 240 grain bullet, and if you have a good formula, please share...

My goal would be to have the same or less recoil than a 1911 generates with standard 45 ball ammo.

Thanks!

 

[Dragon88]

A Trail Boss load with a 200gr bullet would be very, very light. The only load I have in my notes is 6.5gr pushing a 200gr cast FP, 920fps, very light recoil, so-so accuracy. Hodgdon's data goes down to 6.1gr of TB. Getting the recoil level you want should be no problem, especially in your heavier guns. Of course with any light load make sure the bullet actually leaves the barrel, but I had no issues in my 7 1/2" Redhawk.

 

[K.38]

I'm not close to my reloading book right now so I can't get the powder weight, but for light loaded .44 mag I use Unique with a jacketed bullet. Another option would be to use .44 special brass and load up some specials in the velocity range you want.

 

[AzShooter]

If you really want to shoot a light load in your .44 try using .44 Russian brass, a 200 grain Lead bullet and 4 grains of Unique. It's very accurate from my 29 and there is less recoil then my .38s.

 

[Dale53]

I use .44 Special Brass with a 200 gr full w/c ahead of 4.0 grs of Red Dot. This shoots at about 800 fps with great comfort and excellent accuracy.

If you want a more common bullet, then a 200 gr RF bullet ahead of the same charge of Red Dot.

You want to be VERY careful about shooting light loaded jacketed bullets. You can get too low with jackets and stick a bullet. This is MUCH less apt to happen with a lead bullet.

Dale53

 

[Skip Sackett]

I have a M629 Classic with a 5" barrel. I have shot competition with it and used a 200gr RNFP "Cowboy" bullet over 4.5gr of Bullseye. Gives about 700fps and is super accurate at 25 yards or less.

Dale gives a good warning about jacketed bullets.

 

[Trooper224]

A 240 grn LSWC over eight grains of Unique has proven to be very comfortable and accurate for me.

 

[max]

I shoot a 240 grain cast swc over 7.0 of Unique.

 

[GLC1]

I'm shooting a 240 LSWC over 5.5 Universal Clays. I have not chrono'd it but extrapolating from load books, it should be around 750 fps. Very, very mild. Also, very accurate.

 

[TSQUARED]

With Trail Boss powder you can produce very mild and accurate loads with lead bullets. Trail Boss has become my favorite powder for use with lead bullets in all those straight walled revolver cartridges such as 45 Colt, 44 Special & Magnum, 357 Magnum and 38 Special.
I am away from home so cannot provide sopecific loads but the Hodgdon website has plenty of data and I believe I use the lower end of their recommended loads.

 

[AH-1G]

A 240 grn LSWC over eight grains of Unique has proven to be very comfortable and accurate for me.

+1 another vg load is the same bullet with 6.0 grs of red dot in mag brass.
pete

 

[Mule88]

GLC1 +1 very good load!

 

[pangris]

I'd prefer to say with Mag brass as I'm a simply caveman, but thanks a million for all the confirmation/advice/loads!

Very much looking forward to it.

Paul

 

[vico512]

Any of you guys worked-up an lighter loads using HP38 (431)?

 

[MTKTM]

I'm shooting a 240 LSWC over 5.5 Universal Clays. I have not chrono'd it but extrapolating from load books, it should be around 750 fps. Very, very mild. Also, very accurate.

I've used a nearly identical load in 44 Mag brass with complete satisfaction. I like Universal, think it is very close to Unique in burning rate but a little cleaner.

I recall once reading an article about loading the big 44 with Bullseye which claimed good results. I don't recall quantities and haven't done it myself, but see no reason why it would work just fine and produce some good mild accurate loads with lead bullets.

 

[Titegroups]

Loaded many thousands of cowboy rounds with Trail Boss and Titegroup, 4.0g with 180-200 grain bullets at about 650fps out of a 4 5/8 barrel. Have loaded .357's down to 2.0g. No experience with low velocity jacketed bullets but getting lead bullets stuck in a barrel with powder in the case is not a big concern. There is a point where some powders like 231/hp-38 don't burn up very well though. I don't know the lower limit but you do have to keep the bullet spun up enough to stabilize it and low velocity means low rpm.

 

[pangris]

650 FPS will be even lighter than I'd want to go. I would imagine a 750-800 FPS load will be very easy to manage. I was worried about detonation, etc etc - sounds like there is plenty of experience on here with great suggestions that will allow for a very pleasurable shooting experience.

 

[noylj]

You can load as light as you want, but you should stay above 600 fps or you might stick a bullet in the barrel. You can look up loads for the .44 special, .44 American, or the .44 Russian and see how they perform. You will get less velocity since you are using a longer case. Trail Boss can be your friend. Look up some cowboy loads for the .44 special. Them cowboys are shooting the weakest loads they can get.

 

[lscocoa]

I don't know how fast they are , but my favorite plinking load is 4.5 gr. of titiegroup in a.44 mag. case with a 240 gr. wadcutter.It's accurate and pleasant to shoot in my 4'', 8 3/8'', and 10 5/8'' .

 

[AH-1G]

tell me more about your WC mold.I am looking for one right now.lee quit making their 208 gr wc which was a great bullet.
thanks
pete