Pointers on load workup for 329pd

[dla]

I'm starting process of working up loads for the 44 mag 329pd. I have some ideas and I'm looking for some feedback.

For a carry load, I'm looking at one of the following

1. Hornady 240gr XTP at ~1300fps - I've used XTP's in other cartridges and really like them. Should be a good all-around critter-whacker.
2. Cast Performance 255gr WNPB at ~1200fps - hole drillers mainly, in case I'm attacked by armor-plated grizzlies.

For a plinker I'm thinking of Oregon Trail 240gr LSWC at ~1000fps. I've had good luck with their products in the past and I can pick up from their front door.

I'm looking at Longshot, AutoComp, Silhouette, Clays and Enforcer for powders. I have lots of Wolf Large Pistol primers, so I'm going to try them first. I still have some Winchester Large Pistol and I'll try them later.

I've assembled 10 rounds each of each powder type and under-max data book loadings. I'll run them over my Chrony and see how they are accuracy-wise, (and shooting impressions), when my revolver comes back from S&W.

Am I missing anything? The 329pd is very light and I've only got 14 rounds shooting experience with it. I've got a M500 X-Frame grip for it and I'm going to get a glove for practice. But I really don't know what to expect from a practical carry load in this pistol. Heavy & slow or fast & light, etc. etc.

Your thoughts are welcome.

 

[TSQUARED]

Nothing wrong with your approach but I pitty your wrist after shooting all those rounds over the chrono. I have shot a S&W 327 JM PC which has the alloy frame and titanium cylinder and barrel shroud. I only shoot it with very mildoads and have found that it come back on target faster than my 627 PC - one case where light weight helps.

 

[Paul105]

I’ve had 3 of these guns. One is my all day every day carry gun. It is loaded with Mt Bullet Works 260gr WFN GC w/23.5gr of H110, new Starline brass and CCI 350 (Mag) primers. Depending upon powder lot, it chronos right at 1,250 fps. Due to the potential for crimp jump (bullet pull), the WFN is is a good choice – greatest distance from cyl face to bullet nose. Velocities will vary in different guns, with different powder lots and of course with temperature. For reference, the Remington factory 240gr JFP chronoed 1,244 fps in my gun. Magnum level loads are a handful.

I’ve also loaded 325gr LWNGCs from Beartooth Bullets, 300gr LBT WFNs, and Mt Baldy 300gr Keiths -- all chronoed roughly 1,050 fps. As I recall, there wasn’t any noticeably difference in recoil with these “slow”/heavy loads vs. the 260gr/1,250fps.

240s at 1,000 are still not a lot of fun in the 329, but obviously better than the 1,250 fps stuff. As I’m sure you know, the different loads will shoot to different POIs.

If you are counting on this gun for protection, then you need to be aware that “lock” problems seem to be more common in these light, fast recoiling Ti/Sc .44s. For some reason, light firing pin hits resulting in misfires seem to be more prevalent than they should be. Crimp jump can also be a problem.

For practice, I used a baseball batting glove or leather golf glove to keep the gun from slipping in sweaty hands -- the hammer is no fun in the web of your hand. Just make sure that the glove seams aren't between you and the gun -- they will cause a blister.

I haven’t used any of the powders you listed, but I am interested in your results.

Paul

 

[dla]

If you are counting on this gun for protection, then you need to be aware that “lock” problems seem to be more common in these light, fast recoiling Ti/Sc .44s. For some reason, light firing pin hits resulting in misfires seem to be more prevalent than they should be. Crimp jump can also be a problem.

Paul

Thanks for the info. The 14rounds I fired were CCI Blazer 240gr JHP, and the bullets were backing out. They had a long way to go before they could lock it up, but out they came. Then light strikes developed and back to S&W it went. The CCI Blazer fodder Chrony'd right at 975fps - not bad at all and that was with the stock rubber grip. I haven't had the revolver back to try the X-frame Hogue - folks tell me it is very helpful.

I may remove that lock just in case - it doesn't serve a purpose for me.

I'll post my results to give folks some data points with different powders.

 

[Paul105]

I had some crimp jump problems in a 386 w/Mag Tech .357s. I fixed the problem by running them thru my crimp die. I don't know if you can do this with Blazer ammo -- the aluminum cases might gall and stick in the die -- you could try one and see what happens.

I can't shoot my 329 without the Hoque 500s. The standard grips just hammer the bone at the base of my thumb -- the Wood Aherns are just plain torture.

Paul

 

[dla]

It's going to be another 2 weeks till I get my revolver back

I've put together 100 rounds for load workup. Now I'm waiting on a brass back-order.

I used the Lee FCD for all my crimping and I crimped pretty hard. Afterwards I was wondering if I needed to crimp so much - especially with the Cast Performance 255gr WFNPB. I hope there won't be much of a pressure issue. I haven't read anything about pressure problems caused by the Lee FCD.

 

[M29since14]

There are people that shoot their 329s a lot more than I do and know more about them, but based on my experience, I wouldn't bother much with anything heavier than 240-250 grains. 300 grain bullets were off the torture scale, for me.

I use 2400 in my 329 (and other 44 Magnums). For lighter loads, usually Unique or 231. I can't help with any of the powders you mention. My most common round for the 329 is a 250 Keith at 900-1000 FPS. That's plenty!

There has been a lot of discussion here about the rifling in 329 barrels. My gun does have some rather odd looking rifling and it does seem to accumulate lead in the forcing cone area much more than I am used to with my older guns. The older guns seem to accumulate lead more in the barrel, rather than the forcing cone area, which is probably less dangerous. You might keep an eye open for this, particularly if you use a lot of lead bullets.

 

[Shuz]

I've had a 329PD for a long time and have poured thousands of rounds thru mine. I have a set of Hogue 500X frame grips on it which you will also like, I'm sure. The load I've found to be the easiest for me to handle and also easy on the gun is a 225g hollow point cast bullet of my own manufacture, powered by 18g of 2400 and a Rem 2-1/2 primer.

 

[dla]

The Cast Performance 255gr WFN lead bullets are more expensive than Hornady 240gr XTP. Regular 240 LSWC is 50% cheaper yet. Works out to something like $16/50 for CP, $12/50 for XTP, and $7/50 for Oregon Trail. However I don't know that I'm going to be shooting the volume required to worry about cost, so I may not bother with lead. After I get over the initial excitement, I probably won't shoot more than a couple hundred rounds a year. I can't see blasting away with this as much as I do with the 1911s.

Lead will most likely be for plinkers and I would like to stick with some mid-range pistol powders for that - and that means I'm more likely to get flame cutting with the wrong load. But that's part of the fun with load development!

By the way, the only reason I'm using Longshot, Autocomp & Silhouette is because I couldn't find my old standbys this summer.

 

[44Steve]

Crimp

Hi Steve here . I like the the heavy slow as well as the light fast bite your hand loads. Working up the load you settle on will be easy.The crimping will be the hardest part .you must watch for bullet walk. Shoot a couple of rounds then check the case length on the remaining rounds. then do it again after each of the remaining rounds.

 

[dla]

I use the Lee FCD for my crimping. I've used it on other cartridges and I really like it. On the other cartridges I'm concerned about bullet setback, whereas here I care about pulling. If anything, I probably err'd on the side of too much crimp - easy to do with the FCD.

A little plug for Lee - they make good stuff. My reloading bench used to have blue and green equipment on it, now it is blue and red. The green stuff will go on Craigslist.

 

[dla]

All of the following loaded into new unfired Remington brass. COL = 1.6", Heavy Lee FCD crimp used. No bullet pulling/movement observed at all.

Enforcer, 240gr XTP, Wolf LP, 38*, 4" barrel

* 20.0gr - 990fps average, 68fps ES
* 21.0gr - 1058fps average, 73fps ES
* 22.0gr - 1159fps average, 114fps ES (although I think the low was the Chrony chasing shadows)

22gr generally very consistent. Lower loads had a lot of unburnt powder sprayed out in front of the muzzle. Definitely needs a magnum powder for best performance.


AutoComp, 240gr XTP, Wolf LP, 40*, 4" barrel

* 11.0gr - 1028fps average, 114fps ES - brass showed discoloration indicative of too low pressure. Might want to bump this up to 12.0gr.


Longshot, 240gr XTP, Wolf LP, 40*, 4" barrel

* 11.0gr - 971fps average, 118fps ES
* 12.0gr - 1035 average, 101fps ES - felt very consistent


Silhouette, 240gr XTP, Wolf LP, 40*, 4" barrel

* 11.0gr - 941fps average, 106fps ES
* 12.0gr - 1025fps average, 44fps ES - felt very consistent


Enforcer, 255gr Cast Performance WFNPB, 44*, 4" barrel

* 19.0gr - 1009fps average, 88fps ES - Sooty cases - no leading
* 20.0gr - 1065fps average, 150fps - better, but still in serious need of magnum primer - no leading


Conclusions: Enforcer meters well (very fine spherical) with a Lee Perfect. However, Enforcer definitely needs a primer hotter than a Wolf LP. All of the mid-range powders pretty much behave the same, but Silhouette looks to be the best. The Hornady 240gr XTP is a good bullet, with a great crimp cannelure that works well with the Lee FCD to prevent bullet movement. A 4" barrel may be too short to take advantage of the slower Ramshot Enforcer and I probably should give AutoComp a little more work as it is a little bit slower than the other mid-range powders.

The lightweight of the 329pd makes it very easy to pull shots because of crummy trigger control. Recoil isn't a problem at these velocities and bullet weights when using the X-frame Hogue grip - I shot 100 rounds in one sitting. Ultimately hitting the 240gr@1300fps/255gr@1200fps goal may be difficult unless magnum primers extracts more zip from Enforcer. The 329pd appears to have multiple sweet spots, one at around 240gr@1000fps and I think another lies out at around 240gr@1200fps or so. When I was around a sweet spot, (and did my part), the gun was shooting 1" @25yds.

Hope these data points are helpful to others pondering some different powders.

 

[M29since14]

The lightweight of the 329pd makes it very easy to pull shots because of crummy trigger control. Recoil isn't a problem at these velocities and bullet weights when using the X-frame Hogue grip...

Ultimately hitting the 240gr@1300fps/255gr@1200fps goal may be difficult unless magnum primers extracts more zip from Enforcer...

The 329pd appears to have multiple sweet spots, one at around 240gr@1000fps and I think another lies out at around 240gr@1200fps or so. When I was around a sweet spot, (and did my part), the gun was shooting 1" @25yds.

Interesting info. Thanks for giving us your experiences. The 329 is not an easy gun to shoot well. If you are doing one-inch with it at 25 yards, you are doing VERY well.

The 240 XTP is a good bullet. I have always been impressed with it, in terms of accuracy. (Know less about it in terms of use on game.)

You can probably crank out 1300 FPS with the right powders (maybe 296/H110, or 2400 - ? ), but it will probably be pushing things hard, and the gun is going to be pretty vicious.

In general, one cannot count on accuracy just because of good results in the extreme spread department, but I have always avoided any loads that show much more than 50-60 FPS of variation in the 44. It is hard to have confidence in your shooting with 100 FPS of ES.

 

[Kootny]

329PD loads

Like Paul105, my everyday carry gun is the 329PD. I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love packing it and hate shooting it. But reality is, if you carry it you must practice with it. I have settled on two loads, practice loads are 240/250 LSWC on top of 7.5 grs. W231. These don’t hurt. Carry loads (max pain I can tolerate) are Cast Performance 265 WFNGC over 10.0 Unique for 1100 fps out of my gun. These are safe (in my gun), accurate and plenty powerful for anything I might want to accomplish with a handgun.
As stated before, all loads intended for lightweight revolvers require a heavy crimp.

Have fun and be safe.

Kootny

 

[dla]

Thanks for the input folks.

I found some CCI 350 primers at a small town sporting store, so I can give Enforcer a fair test - I hate this primer shortage!

I haven't shot anything "painful" yet as I really haven't gotten the velocity above 1100fps. And I immediately went to the S&W X-frame grip - I've never shot the revolver with the stock wood grips. The Hogue X-Frame grip does make the trigger reach a bit long, but it certainly tames the recoil.

Ramshot Enforcer is nearly identical to 2400. I may try some 296 later.

I can't consistently shoot 1" with the 329pd as I'll get 3 shots in tight and then pull one - mostly due to trigger control. It could be me fighting the urge to mash the trigger - although I don't find the recoil painful the revolver does recoil very briskly. I've only got a little over 100rnds experience with it - I'm certainly no expert with it.

 

[M29since14]

I can't consistently shoot 1" with the 329pd as I'll get 3 shots in tight and then pull one - mostly due to trigger control. It could be me fighting the urge to mash the trigger...

If you usually put three into 1-inch, you're still doing pretty darned good.

The 329 is just a mean gun, no matter what stocks are on it. The more I shoot it, the more that urge becomes almost irresistible. 250Ks at 1000 FPS are the limit, for me.

A shooting glove would probably help a lot with the bigger loads, but I quit using gloves for shooting revolvers when I quit shooting silhouettes. Don't want to start on that again.