Light 44 Mag loads

[BC38]

That's not a "light" .44 magnum load, it's a .44 special load.

A "light" .44 magnum load should be 240 grain slug around 1,000 to 1,100 fps! Anything LESS is well down within the .44 Spl range!

Well, I can't say I'd agree with that. Not that I'm any kind of expert, but...

For W231 with a 240gr bullet, 975 FPS isn't "well down within the 44 special range" - its just below the 44 mag range which the Winchester load guide shows as EXACTLY 8.0gr W231 with a 240gr bullet at 1021 FPS for a starting load.

There isn't even any load data in Winchesters online manual for loading a 44 special with a 240gr bullet and W231. The closest thing they list is an even lighter 220gr bullet and it shows a MAX load of 5.8gr running at only 845 FPS.

Also, if you're loading it in a 44 mag case, it would certainly be more incorrect to call it a "hot" 44 special, wouldn't it?

All that being said, what would you call it if not a "light" 44 magnum?

BTW, I'm not saying that there isn't other good valid published load data out there for 240gr bullets and W231 - I'm just referencing the most CURRENT data from the actual powder manufacturer.

As with all things reloading, YMMV.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Hodgdons current load data for the 44 special show loads using HP-38 for a 240 gr bullet , min 4.2 , max 5.2 . HP-38 and W231 are identical , they represent both companies powder . Throughout their load data they will switch back and forth . Call Hodgdons to verify .

 

[BC38]

Hodgdons current load data for the 44 special show loads using HP-38 for a 240 gr bullet , min 4.2 , max 5.2 . HP-38 and W231 are identical , they represent both companies powder . Throughout their load data they will switch back and forth . Call Hodgdons to verify .

Yessir, it does, and yessir they are. Just as I said, there are other good, valid recipes out there. Just not in the WINCHESTER load manual specifically for W231.

It is also worth noting that the Hodgdon's HP-38 data shows a MAX charge (5.2gr) as having a velocity of 858 FPS. Again, this is below the anecdotal 900-975 FPS range OR the published 1021 FPS from the manual for the "light magnums" in question.

S'all good...

 

[cowboy4evr]

To make matters worse , that load data in Hodgdons shows that velocity of 858 fps using an 8" barrel test barrel . Drop back to a 6" or a 4" and that velocity really starts dropping back . Skeeter Skelton talked about where they actually cut an inch at a time off a barrel , then recorded the velocity . He showed a loss of about 35 fps with each inch shorter barrel . Using his figures , shooting hodgdons max load data for that particular powder in a 4" barreled gun would result in a loss of almost 150 fps in velocity , maybe more . they used a " one piece " barrel instead of using a revolver with the barrel to cylinder gap to consider . I really like using the Speer loading manual as they use actual firearms (and list what it was ) to develop their load data . I appreciate your posting BC38 , discussion is always good .

 

[fredj338]

I also never saw the point of using 44sp brass in the 44mag, just put up any 44sp load in magnum brass & call it good. a 240gr bullet @ 900fps in a N-frame is a pleasure to shoot.

 

[kilroy2721]

Normally when people post youtube videos shooting their .44 Mag revolver you can see the kick and flip of the gun. When Jerry Miculek shows he can shoot 6 shots at target in 1. sec it looks like it is a .22 revolver. What is the trick? .....strong underarms?

He also has a massive sized hand.

 

[bigedp51]

Good day I have a ruger super red hawk that leads real bad within 2-3 rnds of Mo.bullet 240 gr lrn. Starts at the cylinder and all through the barrel especially the forcing cone. All different loadings of green dot from 7. to over 8 gr Greendot. It seems accurate at 30 yds but leads badly. The forcing cone into the rifling seems to have a copper color in the groves once you get it cleaned. "copper"?

Any thoughts?

Mike

Use some foam bore cleaner, it will remove the copper without any scrubbing.

Below foam bore cleaner in a 1943 No.4 Enfield rifle with a frosted and slightly pitted bore. One shot of foam bore cleaner removed all the carbon and copper in the bore.

More firearms are damaged by improper cleaning than any other reason. And foam bore cleaner greatly reduces the amount of cleaning rod time in the bore.

Spare the rod and spoil the bore.

 

[Engineer1911]

44 Magnum light

Use any MAXIMUM 44 Special powder charge load data for the bullets you are shooting in 44 MAGNUM cases with the bullets seated to 44 Mag Over All Length. You will have a mild shooting, low recoil load.

I have done this with several different bullets and powders. The loads have had mild recoil and good accuracy out to 50 yards. Powders I have used include AA #5, AA #7, Unique, and WW 231.

 

[Benchrest1]

My go to load for 44 mag is the same as tug700's.

 

[TAROMAN]

Don't laugh, but in one of the recent panics I experimented with Green Dot.

Several loads ran well, especially:
LSWC 250 Green Dot GRS 6.4 LO 865 Hi 889 AVG 876 ES 24 SD 8.77

 

[BC38]

200gr LRNFP over 5.2gr-5.4gr AA#2 is a great target load too.

 

[Carrier]

240 plated Campro with 5 grains of Bullseye makes a great load for me these days.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Elmer Keith wrote that his " gallery " load (target ) was 5.0 grs of Bullseye with his Bullet , 245 gr . I'm sure any 240 gr cast / plated would work just as well.

 

[Carrier]

Elmer Keith wrote that his " gallery " load (target ) was 5.0 grs of Bullseye with his Bullet , 245 gr . I'm sure any 240 gr cast / plated would work just as well.

That's where I got the load data from and didn't think plated would make a difference. It's a very nice and accurate shooting load out of my SBH. I've tried going up a ways but always come back to 5 grains.

 

[TAROMAN]

I have found that the Elmer 5 grain load is more consistent when loaded with magnum primers.
Guess it gives better ignition of that tiny powder charge in that large case.

 

[Carrier]

I have found that the Elmer 5 grain load is more consistent when loaded with magnum primers.
Guess it gives better ignition of that tiny powder charge in that large case.

I've used both and really haven't noticed a difference. I have way more magnum primers so thats what I use most of the time.

 

[muddocktor]

I went to the range today with my 629 (along with my 627 Pro and Beretta 92) and my chronograph, so I can give you some concrete numbers for you to look at:

Pistol - 629-3 Classic, 6 1/2" barrel
Bullet - Bayou Bullets coated 240 grain SWC
Primer - CCI 350 (all I had on hand)
Case - FC
Powder - 7.1 grains Unique
Average fps - 871
ES - 64
SD - 17
Power factor Avg - 209

These were real pleasant to shoot and shot accurately. Felt recoil was less than the 357 rounds I was shooting today, which were 158 grain Zero JHP loaded with 14.5 grains of Alliant 2400. I'm sure part of that was due to having the full lug 6 1/2" barrel as compared to the 4" flat sided barrel of my 627 Pro, but that load should shoot pretty softly in just about any length barrel 29 or 629.

 

[78Staff]

New to the 44, why would you not want to shoot 44SPL? I have 100 rounds of HSM 44SPL I picked up on sale to break in a new 629, but will reload mostly. Have dies and 240gr bullets, but no brass yet, figure I will order 500 from Starline... So it's better to load 44MAG brass instead of 44SPL regardless of load (light or std)?

 

[cowboy4evr]

78Staff , It's a subject that gets overblown . There really is no problem shooting 44spl in a 44 mag . just like shooting 38spl in 357 magnum revolvers . Everyone talks about the crud ring left behind from spl cases making it difficult to insert 44mag loads .
If you only shoot 44spl's in a range session , just clean the cylinder well afterwards and there is no problem . I use Kroil or Marvel Mystery Oil and a tight patch to clean carbon from the cylinder charge holes . Works every time. If 44spl cases is what you have , load them up and have some fun .

 

[Skeet 028]

Crud rings?? They don't present a problem for me. Not that they can't form but just clean the cylinder. I don't need a thousand 44 mag cases...or 357. I do have more than that in 38 and 44 spl. Have 6 44 mags and 5 357s. And shoot so many more specials in them.

Gotta add..44 sp cases were harder to find but I got 4000 once fired at an auction for 2 cents each. They last as long as 38 sp cases with a bit of care