Powder puff loads

Critch

Critch

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Last night I reloaded 100, 240 grain Keith style LSWCs in mixed brass with 9 grains of Unique and large pistol primers...basically a powder puff target load. I was shooting these in my S&W Model 29-5. Tonight I'm going to go up 1 grain to 10 grains.

These low powered loads are very accurate and clean and will probably handle anything I'm likely to run across here in the Ozarks.

I don't like shooting hot loads all the time, plus, I have lots of Unique and 240 grain cast bullets.
 
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My standard load is a 240 grain Lead SWC over 10 grains of Unique. I shoot it out of my Ruger SBH.
 
I have loaded many, many 429421s over 9.5 to 11.5 gr Unique for my 4, 44 Magnum handguns. Lower loads of Unique seem a bit dirtier but perform well. About 8 gr of Unique under a 240 gr. SWC in Special brass was a light, fun load...
 
Had a friend tell me one time that he understood the M29's would handle hot loads. But why beat up a Cadillac with the hot loads when a Chevy will do the same. He was referring to the Ruger Super Blackhawks. So I transitioned to moderate to lighter loads for my 29 and left the very robust loads to the SBH. The was well before the RedHawks were out.
 
Miracle Man said:
I've been finding the older I get the more I'm into powder puffing. Plus like has been said why beat your guns up with full power stuff all the time?
Click to expand...

I used to like shooting heavy magnum loads just for fun. The older I got and the more my hands hurt, the lighter loads seem to be much more to my liking...

I don't like getting old but ain't nuthin I can do about it...
 
Last edited:
ArchAngelCD said:
I used to like shooting heavy magnum loads just for fun. The older I got and the more my hands hurt, the lighter loads seem to be much more to my liking...

I don't like getting old but ain't nuthin I can do about it...
Click to expand...

My hands and wrist will not take the pounding for long anymore.
 
I have a couple of lbs of Hodgdon's Titegroup powder and wondered about using it in the 44 magnum . Checking their website they listed a load of 5-10 grs with a 240 gr bullet . I have tried 10 in the past and felt it was too much boom-blast-recoil for what I got . This time I dropped down to 8 grs --- Bingo , we have a winner ! It could easily become my everyday carry load using H&G 503 ( Keith swc) . Very accurate , clean and enough power to let you know it can / will take of business if needed yet not over powerful . A real pleasure load . Regards Paul
 
cowboy4evr said:
I have a couple of lbs of Hodgdon's Titegroup powder and wondered about using it in the 44 magnum . Checking their website they listed a load of 5-10 grs with a 240 gr bullet . I have tried 10 in the past and felt it was too much boom-blast-recoil for what I got . This time I dropped down to 8 grs --- Bingo , we have a winner ! It could easily become my everyday carry load using H&G 503 ( Keith swc) . Very accurate , clean and enough power to let you know it can / will take of business if needed yet not over powerful . A real pleasure load . Regards Paul
Click to expand...

One of my pet 44 mag loads is titegroup and 240 LSWC, mild. My H110/296 days are coming to an end.
 
Critch said:
Last night I reloaded 100, 240 grain Keith style LSWCs in mixed brass with 9 grains of Unique and large pistol primers...basically a powder puff target load. I was shooting these in my S&W Model 29-5. Tonight I'm going to go up 1 grain to 10 grains.

These low powered loads are very accurate and clean and will probably handle anything I'm likely to run across here in the Ozarks.

I don't like shooting hot loads all the time, plus, I have lots of Unique and 240 grain cast bullets.
Click to expand...

Those are certainly not powder puff loads. Powder puffs would be more like 5 grains of Bullseye with the same bullet.
 
I think you would be surprised at how a 429421 will penetrate at the 6.5 to 7.5 gr speeds. I have never recovered one when I launched it at the 1000 fps threshold and I've killed quite a few white tails at some less than broadside angles. Faster launch speeds only make a deeper hole in the ground on the far side as long as the ranges are less than 100 yds.
 
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I wouldn't consider 9.0 to 10.0 grains Unique behind a 240 grain cast LSWC bullet a "Powder Puff " load ... that bullet should be moving at around 900 to 1000 fps !
A 240 gr. bullet at 1000 fps ain't no powder puff ... let's call it a nice accurate mid-range load .
I totally agree with you ... they are accurate , less punishing to shooter and revolver , get the job done and much more enjoyable to shoot !
Unique and cast bullets go together like peanut butter and jelly .
Over the last 50 years I've worked up these kinds of loads in 357 magnum and 41 magnum with perfect satisfaction ... but lets not call them powder puff .
Gary
 
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