Need help with .44 Mag. load Data

[mosquito]

What powder's do you use for .44 Magnum and what min/max do you have for them. The data for .44 Mag. is all over the place. Hodgden's site lists a start load for Titegroup that one of the load manuals I have says is way over Max. I have H110, Red Dot, Titegroup and Unique! I loaded some test rounds tonight with a 240 gr. jacketed Soft Point. I used 23.5 grs. of H110 (smack in the midpoint of the min/max (23/24 grs.) and 7.3 grs. of Red Dot (middle of the 6.9 to 7.7 grs. data that I found for this bullet), which the data is all over the place on this powder. I have Red Dot, Bullseye, Unique and H110 that I want to use up......I also have Titegroup but I think the others are better suited to .44 Mag!

I know that H110 is for high power loads and must be used within the 23/24 min/max that the data states. I am more interested in mild "target" loads, as I do not hunt, and want to enjoy shooting my .44 I really am looking for some confirmation on the Red Dot load , as this load data seems to be very inconsistent around the web.

I will be shooting these primarily in my 629 V-Comp and, to a lesser extent in a Winchester Saddle Ring Lever Action Carbine!

 

[JohnM]

Your right on with both Red Dot and H110. I too use Red dot for target and fun shooting and save the full house H110 loads for hunting and serious shooting.

 

[mosquito]

John,

Are the loads I listed within what you load for Red Dot/H110 and a 240 JSP? I would appreciate any data you could give me!

G

 

[tappedandtagged]

I've only loaded jacketed bullets (Hornady XTP 240 grain) with 10 grains of Unique. Well, actually, I did load a few with 11 grains, but like the 10 better. I have been loading AA#9 lately, but have only used it with 240 hard cast (18.5 grains seems to be just right for me).

If you are going to get new powder, try 2400, H110 or AA 9 for full magnum. If you want to use what you have 10 grains of Unique should do well with what you want to do. If you want even more mild, go down to 7 grains of Unique. But I got a lot of suit in that low pressure loading.

 

[mosquito]

T&T,

Thanks....I do have 4 pounds of H110 BUT, I like loading the smaller volume powder as you can get a lot more loads out of a pound than you do with H110. I have 5 pounds of Red Dot and 2 pounds of Unique that I want to use up!

G

 

[Hook686]

Alliant shows a pretty soft load for 240 grain LSWC bullets.



Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

and a fairly soft load for 240 grain GDHP bulletes.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

I use 9.5 grains of Unique in my S&W 329PD

 

[TAROMAN]

And each gun has its own personality.
For example, my 4" Model 29 is at its best with a 180 grain bullet pushed by Green Dot, of all things.

 

[mosquito]

I'm just looking for light to medium plinking loads that I can use the powder I have, with!

G

 

[Mikie]

For medium power 44 mag loads (357 mag for that matter) I really like Unique with either a 180 gr JHP, 240 gr JHP or 240 gr SWC(moly-coated). I lighten the full power charge by 10-15% and I get a comfortable but not wimpy magnum load.

 

[venomballistics]

I've always felt the penny pincher school of thought of maximum rounds per pound to be a poor one. there are better places to save money, like casting your own bullets from wheel weights and or range lead.
cast between 200 - 240 grains over Unique makes for some good loads, useful for far more than just punching holes in paper. 240 on up over 2400 or H110 are certainly business class loads which will pretty much eliminate most of your desires for anything jacketed save a few 180 - 220 grain hot rod hollowpoints.

 

[amazingflapjack]

I "plink" and everything else with the same loads, it works out better for me to shoot the load I would need to shoot, if I really had to shoot it! In my 44 mag's I use a 240gr HCLSWC over somewhere between 10 and 11 gr of Unique with a visit to a Lee Factory Crimp Die, with good results. I know some folks that load the same combo to about 6 grains, but there can be smoke, and at that level a 44SPL would seem to be a better fit to me. Go safely, Regards, Flapjack.

 

[alde]

I really like 8.5 grains of Unique with a hard cast 240 grain SWC in a 44 mag case and Winchester LP primer. It makes a great range load and would do well for most other needs at reasonable distances.

 

[mchech]

I've been having fun shooting 6.5 grs of Red Dot behind a cast 200gr RNFP in my 4" 629. That is my current favorite plinking load. My supply of RedDot is left over from the 1990's. In the past I have shot 7.5 grs of RedDot and a Speer swaged 240 gr bullet without any problems. Data for RedDot in a 44 mag does vary I agree and the loads I shot were from my loading log book entries in the 90's. The source escapes me but was probably from an older Alliant booklet. These are my plinking/target loads.

In my 6 1/2" 629 I shoot 23.5 grs H110 and a 240XTP for a deer hunting load. If memory serves me it is danderous to shoot a reduced load of H110 in a 44 mag. so I definately would steer clear of H110 for a target load. A dozen or so of these H110 loads are all I care to shoot in one range trip.

 

[venomballistics]

I've been having fun shooting 6.5 grs of Red Dot behind a cast 200gr RNFP in my 4" 629. That is my current favorite plinking load. My supply of RedDot is left over from the 1990's. In the past I have shot 7.5 grs of RedDot and a Speer swaged 240 gr bullet without any problems. Data for RedDot in a 44 mag does vary I agree and the loads I shot were from my loading log book entries in the 90's. The source escapes me but was probably from an older Alliant booklet. These are my plinking/target loads.

I used to find myself gravitating to similar loads ... 200 at around 700 to 850 FPS ... pleasant little bunny buster. Then I started comparing it to other calibers ... My god if that isn't a ballistic dead ringer for a 45 auto.
ifn's ya think about it, and wander to similar conclusions as I have ...well ... your welcome to use it as the same excuse I used to smoke it past the missus

 

[mosquito]

I've always felt the penny pincher school of thought of maximum rounds per pound to be a poor one. there are better places to save money, like casting your own bullets from wheel weights and or range lead.
cast between 200 - 240 grains over Unique makes for some good loads, useful for far more than just punching holes in paper. 240 on up over 2400 or H110 are certainly business class loads which will pretty much eliminate most of your desires for anything jacketed save a few 180 - 220 grain hot rod hollowpoints.

My reasons for using certain powders have nothing to do with Penny pinching and everything to do with enjoying shooting a specific gun, MORE! Hot, high power loads over H110 are not what I am looking to shoot all the time at the range. Since I have a ton of other powders, I want to see what works best, FOR ME, and that is why I have asked for some advise as to what others are using. As for casting my own, not interested in breathing in lead or spending the time to do it. I actually spend more time reloading than I even do shooting....both of these are things I really enjoy! The rest of the time is left for my woman, the kids and riding our Harley's. To each his own!

G

 

[venomballistics]

My reasons for using certain powders have nothing to do with Penny pinching and everything to do with enjoying shooting a specific gun, MORE! Hot, high power loads over H110 are not what I am looking to shoot all the time at the range. Since I have a ton of other powders, I want to see what works best, FOR ME, and that is why I have asked for some advise as to what others are using. As for casting my own, not interested in breathing in lead or spending the time to do it. I actually spend more time reloading than I even do shooting....both of these are things I really enjoy! The rest of the time is left for my woman, the kids and riding our Harley's. To each his own!

G

interesting .... totally missed that 200G - 240G cast over Unique part didnt ya ... as for the lead exposure thing ... check out what primers are made from ... something about lead styphnate. thoughtcha might like ta know

 

[mosquito]

interesting .... totally missed that 200G - 240G cast over Unique part didnt ya ... as for the lead exposure thing ... check out what primers are made from ... something about lead styphnate. thoughtcha might like ta know

I didn't miss anything and I know what primers are made of!

 

[mchech]

I used to find myself gravitating to similar loads ... 200 at around 700 to 850 FPS ... pleasant little bunny buster. Then I started comparing it to other calibers ... My god if that isn't a ballistic dead ringer for a 45 auto.
ifn's ya think about it, and wander to similar conclusions as I have ...well ... your welcome to use it as the same excuse I used to smoke it past the missus

I cut the Reddot back to 4.0gr to loop the 230's out of the 45's a 1911 & 625. Makes big holes in the paper, rings the gong and darn easy to reload. Gosh I like to make big holes in stuff!!!!

PS... the missus loves to thump stuff with the Kimber whilst I prefer the 625 or 629. After 3 spinal surgeries I don't chase brass

 

[dirty gary]

I load 240 gr JHP using H110 for full tilt stuff (23.8 gr), which is plenty hot and will cycle a Desert Eagle. I also load the same bullet with HS-6 (14.5 gr) which is comfortable in my wheel guns. The H110 is fun, but soots up the cases quite a bit. Have some test rounds loaded with Titegroup starting with 9.0 gr., hope to try them next time out.

 

[mosquito]

I load 240 gr JHP using H110 for full tilt stuff (23.8 gr), which is plenty hot and will cycle a Desert Eagle. I also load the same bullet with HS-6 (14.5 gr) which is comfortable in my wheel guns. The H110 is fun, but soots up the cases quite a bit. Have some test rounds loaded with Titegroup starting with 9.0 gr., hope to try them next time out.

I also loaded some test rounds tonight with 9.5 grs. of Titegroup!

G