Loading for my pre 29

[Worn_Holster]

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.

 

[jwh32]

favorite 44 mag plinking load

have had 3 s&w mags thru last 30+ years, and my favorite plinking load is 7.5 gr Unuque. fills the case better than 231. I always use mag cases as the cylinder is easier to clean.

 

[CWH44300]

I'd stay away from the shorter cases. No sense in leaving a carbon ring down were a magnum case could get a hold of it. Has far as loads go you could try my favorite 9gr of unique under a rcbs250k lit with a standard primer. When I bring a new 44 home thats the first one that gets tried it will go 975-1000fps in most of my 6" guns. Hope this helps

 

[wantmoresmiths]

My favorite load is 10 grains of AA#5 under a 240 grain lead SWC. It pushed the bullet at 975 FPS. AA#5 has a burn rate very close to Unique, but meters a little better. If you can't get the AA#5, Unique is a great alternative.

 

[Satoken]

Do not shoot unknown hardness, unknown sized cast bullets with light charge of fast powder out of M29s, if you care about the value of the gun. I know, almost everyone recomend Unique, W231, and other fast powders for light to medium loads. Also, since many handloaders don't cast their own, they rely on commercial or friend's cast bullets. Yeah, those mild loads are nice, accurate, fun to shoot BUT, I would like to ask those who recomend them; How many rounds of those loads have you shot out of Pre M29s? My experience is, if you shoot them extensively, you'll see erosion not only around the forcing cone and top strap, but also around the cylinder face. May be your gun is different and will never see anything like that after going through thousands of light loads but I wouldn't do it. My recomendation is simple. If you want to shoot that pre M29, cast your own and size to the cylinder throats, stick with slower powder, like H110/W296 and don't shoot them too much. Want to shoot .44 spl? you should get M24 or such. Want light loads? shoot .22 or .38 spl.

 

[Worn_Holster]

Satoken's comments are dead on and I have read additional postings regarding the oversize thoats on early 29s. I'll be measuring my pre 29's throat before I go any further on my reloading effort. I am not set up for casting my own, but it makes sense if I want to shoot my pre 29 very much. I found the Montana Bullet Works online that sells oversized cast bullets for the 44 Mag, which I will likely try out after I measure my 29's throat and before I start buying the equipment needed to cast and size my own.