Worn_Holster
Member
I just picked up a 1958 pre 29 four screw with a 6" barrel, and I want to work up a light load to shoot at the range. I bought some hard cast 240gr Keith style boolits cast on a Lyman 429421 mold from a 90-5-5 lead alloy with the square grease grove lubed with Jake's purple lube. I have plenty of W231 powder that I use for 9mm and 45acp loads, so I will start with using that for my 44 loads.
My first question is should I use 44 Special or 44 Mag cases? From Hodgdon's reloading data, I saw that the W231 equivalent powder HP38 has a range of 4.2 to 5.5 grains for estimated velocities of 717 to 858 fps, and for 44 mag W231 and HP38 load ranges between 5.5 to 11.0 grains for velocities of 800 to 1334 fps.
Is there any advantage to using a magnum case over a 44 Special case besides acheiving higher velocities? Any advantages of a 44 Special over a 44 mag case?
Does having the bullet closer to the barrel throat make a difference?
Does anyone have a preferred load that they would like to share?
Any preference in primers?? Magnum or standard large pistol primers?
I know that loading W231 in such large cases requires extra vigilance since a double charge could be easily made and would not be visibly detectable which could have catastrophic consequences.
My first question is should I use 44 Special or 44 Mag cases? From Hodgdon's reloading data, I saw that the W231 equivalent powder HP38 has a range of 4.2 to 5.5 grains for estimated velocities of 717 to 858 fps, and for 44 mag W231 and HP38 load ranges between 5.5 to 11.0 grains for velocities of 800 to 1334 fps.
Is there any advantage to using a magnum case over a 44 Special case besides acheiving higher velocities? Any advantages of a 44 Special over a 44 mag case?
Does having the bullet closer to the barrel throat make a difference?
Does anyone have a preferred load that they would like to share?
Any preference in primers?? Magnum or standard large pistol primers?
I know that loading W231 in such large cases requires extra vigilance since a double charge could be easily made and would not be visibly detectable which could have catastrophic consequences.
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