Need a good medium power load for a 44 Mag.

[hassiman]

Hi!
I have a 3" 629-4 Trail Boss which is Magna ported. Problem is I can't find a good commercial 44 Mag load that is fun to shoot!
I would like a recommendation for a good clean burning, accurate medium power loading for a 240gr Hard Cast SWC bullet that would be fun to shoot and plink with.

I used to load with 2400 but in such a short barrel maybe Unique would be better?

Any recommendations would be appreciated... since I have not reloaded in 40 years I was also wondering which primers and brass would be best to start with.

I love the gun but a day spent with some high-velocity factory Remington 180gr 44 Mags made me realize I have to start to reload again if I want the continued use of my hand

 

[WR Moore]

Well, you could step down to the Lyman 429421 bullet, 7.5 gr of Unique, Federal or WW LP primers in .44 Spl brass. Otherwise known as the "Skeeter load". If you're going to use Magnum brass, bump the load up to 8.5-9 gr of Unique.

Anybody's brass would be fine, recycle the brass from whatever, you've been shooting.

 

[bigedp51]

Bullet: Tru-Cast 240 grain Semi-Wadcutter hard cast bullets
Brass: Starline 44 Magnum
Powder: Winchester 231
Powder Charge: 5.2 grains
Primer: Wolf Large Pistol

Range Report – 44 Special Hard Cast in the Smith and Wesson 629 – Ultimate Reloader

 

[cowboy4evr]

Ok , a medium velocity load using 44 magnum cases . Using a commercial cast 240 gr cast bullet or plated bullet here is some recommendations .
1. 8.0 grs of HP-38 / W231
2. 8.5 grs of Unique
3.6.0-6.5 grs of Red Dot
4. 5.5 grs of Bullseye
Any of the above loads should do well . The above loads will also work well with a 215-225 gr cast bullet for a little less recoil . Good Luck , Regards, Paul

 

[Peak53]

If what you are wanting is a mid-range MAGNUM load behind a 240 g. lead bullet, I've had good success with 10.0 g. Unique. Accuracy in my Model 29 is outstanding and felt recoil is enough to know that you have left Special territory but haven't quite gotten to "that makes my wrist hurt."

Edit: magnum cases

 

[Fishinfool]

A favorite of mine with a 240 grn cast is 6.5 grains of Red Dot, 44 mag case, CCI regular primers. About 900 to 950 fps, depending on the gun. Accurate in the dozen or so .44 mag handguns I have. Similar in power to a hot .45 acp load, and will shoot thru a buck broadside.

Larry

 

[dogdoc]

25 yards in a Smith 29-2 4” 6 shots off rest
44 special case
Lyman 421429 250 Keith bullet
13.5 grains 2400
CCI 300 larger pistol primer

Good all around load for heavy duty revolvers like 29s or 24s

 

[fredj338]

8-9gr of unique is pretty much the medium power load. You can also go with 9-10gr of wsf, be86 wpuld be another good choice. Faster powders are not really midrange loads, but target loads.

 

[oysterer]

thee is no better load for me than:
CCI 350 mag primer
44 special case
somewhere around 8-8.4 gr. HS-6 (consult your books first and don't exceed)
something around a 200 - 220 gr Sierra JSP if I recall.

the MOST accurate load and I have tried many many in the 44 spl.
perfect mid power and again in the same hole.

 

[amazingflapjack]

***Unique***

 

[Wise_A]

You won't lose anything by sticking with 2400. But if you find the recoil objectionable, either HP-38 or Unique will do just fine, with HP-38 delivering (in my experience) a little more felt recoil than Unique.

I might also suggest a large-frame .357 Magnum if you want a loud, pushy plinker. I thoroughly enjoy my M&P R8 with bottom-to-middle loads of 2400 under 125-grain JHPs.

 

[Carrier]

HS-6 makes a great midrange load and meters really well. A magnum primer is a must with it I have found.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I also have a 3" 629, but mine is not magna-ported. It is best to keep those two factors in mind when selecting ammunition. The slower-burning powders will never produce top performance in the shorter barrels, but they will produce massive muzzle blast, flash, and recoil without providing the hoped-for ballistic performance.

I stick with stout .44 Special loads, usually a 240-grain cast SWC with 7.0 grains Unique. Very accurate and controllable. It has also proven capable of shooting through a 200-lb. mule deer, so it is not just a powder-puff plinking load.

Same load works very well in my 4" Model 29, 6.5" Model 29, S&W Model 1950 Target, and Colt Single Action Army .44 Special.

I don't recall purchasing or shooting .44 magnum ammunition for at least 20 years. A good .44 Special load does everything I need without the noise, blast, and recoil.

 

[oink]

Bullet: Tru-Cast 240 grain Semi-Wadcutter hard cast bullets
Brass: Starline 44 Magnum
Powder: Winchester 231
Powder Charge: 5.2 grains
Primer: Wolf Large Pistol

.
That's pretty close to what I've shot a bazillion of. I used Win primers and Midway brass, which was probably Starline. But it's not mid range, it's light but a pleasure to shoot.

 

[kingrj]

My favorite for many years is 8 grains of 231 and a cast 245 grain SWC...Very low recoil and muzzle blast but reasonably powerful...Very accurate...

 

[Jdavis]

There isn’t much that I can add to the above reloading advice. However, if you don’t wish to invest in equipment to start reloading once again, you should buy commercial .44 special loads. Commercial .44 special ammunition would help to tame the recoil of your 3” barrel. You might enjoy the .44 Speical Cowboy Action loads offered by several companies.

 

[stansdds]

Something in the neighborhood of 8.0 to 9.0 grains of Unique under a hard cast 240 grain LSWC makes a really nice, very controllable, and usually accurate reduced power load in 44 Magnum.

 

[The Norseman]

Red is good

A favorite of mine with a 240 grn cast is 6.5 grains of Red Dot, 44 mag case, CCI regular primers. About 900 to 950 fps, depending on the gun. Accurate in the dozen or so .44 mag handguns I have. Similar in power to a hot .45 acp load, and will shoot thru a buck broadside.

Larry

My current, go to, plinking 44 Magnum reload is;

240gr Lead Semi Wad Cutter Laser Cast bullet
5.6grs Alliant Red Dot, CCI LP #300 primer
Brass is Winchester, Remington, Federal, Starline.
Crimp is what I call medium roll crimp.
FPS approximately 825.

Bullets tumbled lube with Ben's Liquid Lube,
for Lead free barrel performance.

Primers no where near flat. Appears to be accurate
in my two Model 629s.

Other powders I've used and like are; Bullseye, Unique,
American Select (bulky and very clean),
Long Shot (not much info out there on this one),
and IMR Trail Boss (not much luck with this powder).

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

 

[hassiman]

Thanks for all this great info...!

I will be using a neighbors reloading equipment... Is there one best HC SWC bullet that is less likely to lead up my barrel? I used to load 1/2 copper jacket SWC bullets that seem to have fallen out of favor....

 

[29aholic]

For several decades 7gr 700X in a magnum case and a 240 LSWC