who uses 44 mag cast loads in 160-200 gr?

[m657]

re: such discussions as 'lighter boolits/faster velocity' I was recently exposed to a buddy's new recipes for his 44 magnum.

It's rather eerie how accurate they shoot, and very pleasant as well.

Somehow I've missed the velocity/powders, but we did try a few loads with 160 grain RNL and 200 RNL. The 200g was packed with Trail Boss, unsure of the other.

 

[DWalt]

Back in my CAS days, I always used 180 and 200 grain Cowboy lead bullets (flat point) with 7 grains of Bullseye in .44 Mag cases for both revolver and carbine. They always worked fine for me, and was within CAS MV limits. Never used Trail Boss and I never will. A very uneconomical propellant.

 

[fredj338]

I used to do a lot of jackrabbit smacking out in The desert. I shot full bore 180gr running 1450fps. Effective to as far as you could connect. Also used to run a 200gr full wc for light/accurate plinking loads.

 

[Dennis]

180 lswc hardcast. A long time ago. An amount of 2400 that I don't remember right now.
But accurate and FAST!
An aside... Sierra 180 gr jhp works better. LOL

 

[m657]

An aside... Sierra 180 gr jhp works better. LOL

thanks for the tip, can you elaborate on this observation?

Mainly (98%) use cast lead of various design.

 

[Dennis]

The Sierra will blow a Western Jackrabbit in 2 pieces (a few bits holding it still sort of together) at 80 paces.
The hard-cast 180 leads usually just blow a 44 caliber hole through any small game animal.
I have even shot ground squirrels with a 180 hard cast out of a model 24-3 (.44 Special) with a stout load. All it does is punch a hole through 'em.

 

[SuperMan]

Yes...

180 Sierra for high velocity deer loads.

200 grain Speer Gold Dot HPs for medium velocity (1050-1200 fps) self-defense loads. Perfect for a 4" Mountain Gun or 3" 629...

Bob

 

[Confederate Tyrant]

I've used 200gr RNFP from Missouri Bullets with ~7gr of Trail Boss. I have not done any accuracy testing but this a very low recoil load.

I also load 200gr Speer Gold Dots with ~9.4gr of Vihtavuori N340. This is very pleasant to shoot. Haven't verified the expansion, but I can say the 1 gallon water jug was blown apart with this combination more so than the PMC factory 125gr .357 Magnum JHP.

 

[m657]

Despite enjoying the package and the act of shooting it, in range target use I was unable to get much accuracy out of my 3" 629, sorry to say.

It was hard to find a powder that didn't produce objectionable fireball as well.

What worked better for me was a 4" 629.....almost like an entirely different species. Considerably different creature even with the same recipe loaded....but alas, I was unable to rely on it for bowling pin accuracy.

While I long favored 45LC/200 cast/Trail Boss, never really appreciated TB in the 44 mag/special loads I built.

Will be experimenting with it this fall.

There's so much range of performance in the 44 mag realm.

 

[glenwolde]

Back in my CAS days, I always used 180 and 200 grain Cowboy lead bullets (flat point) with 7 grains of Bullseye in .44 Mag cases for both revolver and carbine. They always worked fine for me, and was within CAS MV limits. Never used Trail Boss and I never will. A very uneconomical propellant.

I understand as reloaders we are...economical. But Trail Boss doesn't add that much to the cost (about 50¢ a box for me in .41) to bother with if you're getting the results you want.

 

[m657]

"A very uneconomical propellant."

Trail Boss is marketed by volume. Others are sold by actual weight. Trail Boss is fluffy and not so much weight to fill up what is otherwise a "1 pound container". It doesn't take much to fill up a cartridge either.

Long ago I too was concerned about the appearant premium cost for TB.

I delved into making various cost/volume; cost/weight; and cost/shot in a given container. While that was circa 2001 or so, and I have lost the actual math process I used, the 'per shot' cost difference was not worth my financial concern.

At the time was doing SASS at least twice a month for a total of maybe 6000 rounds/year. Add the cost of 4 guns/leather/gasoline/match fees, whiskey for my posse and beer for my horse, the cost of Trail Boss was minimal. Given the other desirable characteristics of the powder, I was pleased to use it in preference to others. YMMV.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Back in my CAS days, I always used 180 and 200 grain Cowboy lead bullets (flat point) with 7 grains of Bullseye in .44 Mag cases for both revolver and carbine. They always worked fine for me, and was within CAS MV limits. Never used Trail Boss and I never will. A very uneconomical propellant.

And I might add that it kinda smells stinky.
Qc