With a swaged bullet you can go as low as 7gr of unique otherwise somewhere between eight and ten grains with magnum brass and a 240 gr cast bullet should be the sweet spot
Need a good medium power load for a 44 Mag.
- Thread starter hassiman
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There's always those Zero brand jacketed soft flat points. They are pretty cheap. I haven't loaded any light or medium ones yet.
cowboy4evr
Member
Leading in a barrel is usually caused by problems with the revolver . Cylinder throats too small , tight spot where the barrel threads on to frame etc . When things are correct lead bullets won't lead a barrel . You might look at plated bullets . They won't lead your barrel and should provide decent accuracy . Berry's would be my choice . Powder Valley has been my supplier for yrs . Hope this helps , Regards, Paul
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I'm having good luck with Hi-Tek coated hard cast bullets from Chey-Chey bullet company in Wyoming. I'm loading a 200 grain hard cast coated .430 sized bullet up to well over 1000fps with no leading at all. Using Titegroup and CFE Pistol, but there's no reason your favorite powder wouldn't work as well.
fredj338
Member
Slower powders will always produce highest vel, even in shorter barrels in my exp. You do pay for that in blast & flash but the vel is there. How much more is really the debate. A good medium burner will get you close, like within 50fps, with less drama.
fredj338
Member
All about proper fit when using lead or coated lead bullets. You may or may not get leading, depends on the bullet fit. The cyl throats are often the culprit if they are too small. I would look for bullet sized to 0.431" if possible, always better bigger than smaller. If they wont push thru the cyl throats with light pressure, could be an issue.
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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
A lot has changed in 40 years - a person certainly doesn't have to use Unique anymore. But I know folks are going to regurgitate loads from long-since dead white guys.
Here's some load data for 4" barrel that you might be able to glean a bit from:
4" load data
Btw, buy coated bullets from Missouri Bullet Company and you won't be worrying about leading.
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Qc Pistolero
Member
My medium .44 Mag loads are loaded in Mag brass and use a Lee 200gr RFN.I've tried it with the followings:
10gr Unique...an old standby that still works
10gr 800X...as accurate as the Unique load but more noise
12gr Power Pistol...very noisy
All 3 are accurate(hand held 4'' at 20 yds)and will get you a little more than 1000fps from your short tube.
10gr Unique...an old standby that still works
10gr 800X...as accurate as the Unique load but more noise
12gr Power Pistol...very noisy
All 3 are accurate(hand held 4'' at 20 yds)and will get you a little more than 1000fps from your short tube.
Be sure and test loads off a rest at about 25 yards. I see people post small groups shot at 10 or 15 yards but you will find things really change at 25 yards a lot of the time. This is why 25 yard groups are a standard. 50 yards is better but the sights can become a limiting factor and for me, my 50 something eyesight.
fredj338
Member
Agree, group testng at anything less than 50ft isnt going to tell the story of the load.
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I've used a lot of the aforementioned zero jacketed soft points. They are not much more expensive than the 240gr cast swc offered by many suppliers. They are easy to load and shoot clean.
Roze Distribution: 44 Mag 240 Gr JSP $ per 1000
I've loaded them in both full house and moderate loads. Here is a moderate load that averaged 935 fps at 15 long steps and 68 deg F in my 2 3/4" M69. Zero 240gr JFP over 9.0gr of Universal in multix mixed cases and cci 300s.
Paul
Roze Distribution: 44 Mag 240 Gr JSP $ per 1000
I've loaded them in both full house and moderate loads. Here is a moderate load that averaged 935 fps at 15 long steps and 68 deg F in my 2 3/4" M69. Zero 240gr JFP over 9.0gr of Universal in multix mixed cases and cci 300s.
Paul
Qc Pistolero
Member
I'll drink to that!
I've been using 8.5gr of Unique with a 240gr Hornady XTP in a 6" 629 for a couple years. It's a pleasure to shoot. Other people that shoot it are suprised how mellow the recoil is.
Picked up a 629 Trailboss last month and this same load is also a pleasure.
Love this Trailboss!
Picked up a 629 Trailboss last month and this same load is also a pleasure.
Love this Trailboss!
I'm sure there's a bunch of powders out there for medium level 44mag loads but there's nothing wrong with unique. 250gr plinking loads @ 50yds.
Now light plinking loads on the other hand, it's hard to beat 6.0gr to 7.0gr of clay's and bullets in the 200gr to 250gr weight range. Put a scope on 629 and did a quick sight-in. Was aiming at the left target. Shot 3 quick shots, moved the scope & shot 3 more. Moved the scope again and shot the 6-shot group on the left @ 25yds.
Was testing plinking loads that day. After I got the 629/scope on paper with the target above I shot this test load/group.
And this one
And this one
If your looking for cheap range play I'd look no further than clays. For a little hotter loads there's nothing wrong with unique.
Now light plinking loads on the other hand, it's hard to beat 6.0gr to 7.0gr of clay's and bullets in the 200gr to 250gr weight range. Put a scope on 629 and did a quick sight-in. Was aiming at the left target. Shot 3 quick shots, moved the scope & shot 3 more. Moved the scope again and shot the 6-shot group on the left @ 25yds.
Was testing plinking loads that day. After I got the 629/scope on paper with the target above I shot this test load/group.
And this one
And this one
If your looking for cheap range play I'd look no further than clays. For a little hotter loads there's nothing wrong with unique.
6.1 grains of Trail Boss and a 200 grain bullet.
Dear Forrest r,
Great shooting....! What barrel length? Where do you get your coated bullets?
Thanks!
The 50yd target was with a 10" contender. The 25yd targets were with a 6 1/2" bbl'd 629.
I cast and coat my own bullets
typetwelve
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I was going to say, through my 4" 629, I am loading Missouri Cowboy #3 Hi-Tek 240g projectiles:
Missouri Bullet Company
over 7g of Unique, CCI 300 primers in special brass. Very reliable, just enough "umph", easy to shoot, very accurate. I'm seeing high 800 fps range with those (mid 900 from mt 7.5" super redhawk). I was taking them to 7.5g, but it didn't really make a massive difference so I figured why not save the powder.
For lighter loads, 6g is also good for a mid/high 700 fps round...again, in special cases.
I don't fool around with light loads in a .44 Magnum, that is what my 24-3 is for and even then I don't fool around with light loads in .44's I do have a couple of decent loads I shoot through my 5" Pre Model 29 using H-110, I love the way H-110 meters. It is a powder you should not try to download, I use 22.0 grs. of H-110 behind a Speer 240gr. JHC, and bump that up to 22.8 with Speer's Deep Curl 240 gr. excellent expansion and a reasonable recoil. Another favorite is 23.7gr. of 2400 behind the 180gr. Hornady XTP. The first handgun I reloaded for was an old three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum, the guy that got me started handed me his old RCBS Partner single stage press, beam scale, non carbide dies and a can of H-110 and primers and sent me on my merry way. We used to shoot rock chucks at 50 yards, it was a blast between the knees.
