| Posted: Sun Feb 6th, 2005 07:36 PM |
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1st Post |
Gunrunner
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I've enjoyed loading my own ammunition for the 44 Magnum for quite a while. In fact it's the cartridge my reloading hobby started with. Of course that hobby soon became an obsession. :?
My handgun of choice in 44 caliber is the older S&W M29s. These aren't as strong as some others, such as the big Ruger Super Redhawk or Blackhawk. Because of this, I mostly shoot loads that are on the light side.
One of my favorites uses the Hornady 200gr XTP bullet over 11gs of Unique, CCI 300 primer in a WW case. Over the chrono it runs about 1,120fps from a 6" barrel. This load has shot good on paper and might be used for coyote sized animals.
For an accurate hard hitting load I like the Hornady 240gr XTP, 24gs of W296, F155 primer and Federal brass. I rarely shoot this load in my revolvers as it gives a good amount of recoil and can loosen up the guns screws if a few cylinders full are fired. I use this load mostly in a Marlin carbine, and out of the 20" barrel it runs at over 1,700 fps.
One thing I like about 44 Magnum revolvers is being able to shoot 44 Spcl in them. This allows me to shoot the guns a lot more, without the wear and tear associated with magnum loads.
For easy to shoot loads I like a 240gr SWC hard cast bullet. I've found quite a few powders that work well. Unique, W231, AA5, HP-38 and Bullseye are some I've tried. I'm currently using 6gs of HP-38, CCI 300s, and PMC cases. This is one load I have to make a lot of, because they're so much fun to shoot. The velocity is only about 750 fps.
I haven't tried loading my own shotshells yet, but I know the components are out there. So far the shotshells from CCI have worked good enough on rattlers and ground squirrels.
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| Posted: Sun Feb 6th, 2005 08:07 PM |
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2nd Post |
handload
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| Location: | Somewhere In Cyperspace In The, USA |
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Of course that hobby soon became an obsession. :?
BTDT...;)
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Only accurate rifles are interesting....Colonel Townsend Whelen
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| Posted: Sun Feb 6th, 2005 10:35 PM |
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3rd Post |
saddlesore
HB certified Master Handloading and Ballistics advisor
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| Location: | Colorado Springs, Colorado USA |
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For full loads inmy 44 Ruger handgun, adn Marlin 94, I like 2 grians of H110, crimped hard, with either a 240 grain RNFP cast, or 240 gr semi jacketed bullet. I get 2 inch groups out of the marlin at 75 yds, and about the same out of the handgin at 20 yds.
For range plinking I use 7 grains of Univeral Clays behind the same bullets.
My shotshells, I use the Speer plasticones with about 7 grains of Universal Clays and #8, or 9shot. Heck on grouse, rabbit and squirrel.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10th, 2005 12:24 PM |
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4th Post |
klallen
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My current .44 RemMag load uses 24 grs. H110, CCI350's and Speer's 240 gr. jacketed SWC's. Averages 1440 fps or so out of my Taurus.
For kicks, I ordered a couple boxes of the 320 gr. WLNGC LBT's from Cast Performance. In the near future, I'm looking to work up that heavy-for-caliber load and see what comes of it. The 395 gr. LBT's have shot real well in my .454 Casull and if they do the same in the .44 and sneak into that 1250ish fps range, I'll drop the Speer's and go with the LBT's.
I've kinda got myself into the slower velocity, heavier weight, harder hitting, deeper penetrating mode, as far as bullet selection goes in all my revolver cartridges. Next up after the .44 will be the 250 gr. LFNGC's from BearTooth for the .375 SuperMag. This should be a wonderful bullet for that cartridge, if I can get it to shoot well. Later. >> klallen
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12th, 2005 03:00 PM |
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LAH
HB Life Member
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My favorite all time 44 Mag. load is the L-429421 and 20 grs. of 2400. It does 1201 fps from the 4" M-29. Perfect speed for the Keith.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14th, 2005 03:46 AM |
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6th Post |
bea175
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| Joined: | Sun Feb 13th, 2005 |
| Location: | Kingsport & Graysontown, VA, Tennessee USA |
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I use two powders in my Smith 629 4 in. AA#9 and 2400 . I use 20 gr of 2400 and the 250 RCBS Keith cast SW.and the 300 gr cast FP with AA9 . In the photo i am carry 44 Spl Load in the speed loaders because sometime i carry this as a concealed weapon for personal protection and i like the low recoil Spl loads with Unique.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17th, 2005 01:55 PM |
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7th Post |
Fiftydriver
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I use only one bullet in my 44 Mags and that is the Speer 270 gr Gold Dot flat point. With this bullet I use a top load of 24.0 gr of H-110. This is a pretty warm load which I would only recommend for limited use in S&W revolvers. The Rugers will handle this load easy.
I use my 44 for a dedicated big game hunting revolver as it is a Ruger SRH and really to big for anything else. This load will cut 4" groups at 100 yards with a velocity of 1500 fps. It performs great on deer size game and I would not think twice about using it on elk or moose either.
THe Gold Dot SP is a bonded Core bullet so there will never be any core seperation.
GOod Shooting!!
Kirby Allen(50)
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| Posted: Sun Mar 27th, 2005 06:45 PM |
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bea175
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The 124 Speer Gold Dot is the round i carry in my Springfield XD Sub-Compact 9mm . The Gold Dot will really hold together with perfect expansion. One of Speer best bullets.
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| Posted: Thu May 5th, 2005 01:43 PM |
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9th Post |
BigBill
Master Ballistician and Handloader
| Joined: | Fri Apr 22nd, 2005 |
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I just loaded some personal protection carry rounds and i used the Speer Gold Dot 200gr jacketed hollow points, with 22.0grs of 2400 and a winchester WLP primer. Its the hottest load for using 2400 powder and it sends the 200JHP out the pipe at 1,412 FPS and has 884 FTLBS. There are hotter loads using 296, H110 or IMR4227 powder too but i mainly use 2400 for all my magnum loads. The Speer bullet has one of the largest, deepest hollow points I have seen for the 44mag. It sure is impressive and it has to be an awesome stopper. I have always shot the 44mag with full magnum loads its just a matter of practice, practice and more practice. Once the flames go away you will see you did hit what you aimed at too.(targets) The 44mag is still an impressive and managable handgun. The longer 7 1/2" barrels seem to handle the hotter loads better so you may want to cut back the load for the shorter barrels. I'm also using the larger pachmayr grips to hold on and control the ruger redhawk too. I don't like my ruger redhawk 44mg with the 5 1/2" barrel with magnum loads and I wish i purchased the 357mg or 41mg. redhawk in the 5 1/2". Also i like to use the 44 special cases for shooting 240gr lead cast bullets they have the same powder charge as the 44magnum case has but its slightly higher in performance for the same powder charge with the "lead cast bullet" only. I do the samething for my 357mag too. I shoot 357 mag rounds with magnum loads and jacketed bullets and load the 38 special with lead cast bullets too. I think its a great habit to get into because you can never grab the wrong box of bullets when your in a hurry both the magnum rounds are "JHP's" while both the special rounds are "SWC's" lead cast. Since the performance of both cases using lead cast is almost the same I figured i would save the longer magnum case for the larger powder charge with the magnum loads it just makes sense to me to do it this way. BigBill
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Live life to the fullest everday, live everyday like it was your last day on the planet.
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| Posted: Sun May 29th, 2005 05:20 AM |
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10th Post |
caz223
Handloading Master
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A quick and easy load for the big four-four that will always shoot straight.
23.0 grains H110, Hornady XTP-HP 240 grain bullets, CCI 350 primer.
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