| Posted: Tue Sep 1st, 2009 07:09 PM |
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quiet jake
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Don't need the basics, and have lots of manuals.
Looking for "best recipes" on mid-range 44 mags for pistol.
I seem to have best accuracy with cast lead in the 900fps range for plinking/informal target stuff.
Have HP38-Trail Boss-N320-Tite Group-700x & a few others on hand.
Love the soft recoil of the Trail Boss but seem to get better accuracy from Tite Group.
Got any favorites?
Using 4" & 8 3/8" 629s on this caliber.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 03:45 AM |
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OldManMontgomery
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I used to do a 240 grain lead bullet and 8 - 10 grains of Unique. That was years ago and I'm not sure Unique still burns the same. Do be cautious.
Currently, WW231 (very similar to HP38) seems to be a bit faster than Unique, but should work. Consult your local manual for details.
What you cannot do - and you probably already know - is to load half charges of 2400 or H110. They burn very erratically at low pressures.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 03:54 AM |
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quiet jake
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thank you OMM....I haven't been able to get 231 around here for about a year....but I did run across a deal on some HP38, so I'm using that....so far so good.
Yes, the 2400 has particular loading demands. I used to use it in hot IHMSA 44mag loads, and haven't shot it in decades. Until recently. Still, I don't care for it's blast & recoil even at moderately reduced levels.
Unique has been real spotted to find lately. Also I rather migrated to using either Tite Group or Trail Boss instead. Both are cleaner than Unique. Unique did serve me well for many years, but I don't use much of it anymore.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 04:08 AM |
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klallen
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been loading for the .44remmag for years. dabbled with light weight bullets in the beginning. never did low velocity. any more, 320 lbt's at a comfortable 1330 (+/-) fps are what i prefer in my revolver.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 09:02 AM |
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wheezengeezer
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I have tried 180 gr jhp's with 29.3 gr H110 pushin 1900 fps to 300 gr cast with about 20 gr H110 at 1350 fps.Only deer I hit and lost was with a 180.I started out in 82 with a 240 gr GC mould and was happy with 24gr H110.But I wanted to small game hunt with it cause I didnt have a 22 at the time. 7 gr WW231 behind a 240 makes a dandy small game load that punches a nice hole even in a coyote at moderate ranges.I didnt like using a gas check on a light load and I had to readjust my sights to keep from shootin over their heads at 25 yards.So I bought a RCBS 200 rnfp mould,used the same 7gr of 231 behind it and come up with a good shootin load that hits the same point of impact at 25 yards as the heavy load.I have adjusted my sights on my SBH 1 click in 25 years.The first year I had my SBH I was laid off and shot 90 lbs of lead.Straight WW works pretty good but a little dab of tin makes them purtier but isnt needed.I only pan lubed the 200 grainers with stick wax.Hundreds of shots could be fired without any lead buildup.My heavy load now is a 250K pushed with 24 gr H110. Last edited on Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 09:03 AM by wheezengeezer
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 12:01 PM |
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quiet jake
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klallen: re: "320 lbt's at a comfortable 1330" Great Scott!!!
I haven't even SEEN a 320 g cast 44 mag!!! While I'm not recoil-sensitive, I just haven't
been able to maintain any kind of accuracy at that end of the spectrum. What kind of revolver? Ruger, surely.... I bet there are some heavy thump marks around your part of the country.
wheezengeezer: you too are in a range I've never tried. Never loaded H110 (yet), nor 180 lead. Nor those 300g level slugs!!! In my old IHMSA days when I'd fiddle with hot loads for my Redhawk, anything over 1600fps would give me serious lead or copper fouling.
Since I'm retired from hunting big game, moderate loads hold my current interest.
I'll be at the range this week to try my recent development loads of HP38. Last time I did load up to 10.9 g but wasn't comfortable shooting it. Now I'm set from th low 6 to 8.1 g HP38 under 240 JWC.
When I get this figured out, I've got a brace of 41 mags to exercise. Got some tips on that too?
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 03:18 PM |
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JMS437
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I still load for a 44mag ruger redhawk and blackhawk, but don't shoot them often. I also load and shoot 45colt. A new toy, 454 casull super redhawk to play with now. I am finding that the 454 is quite a handfulllll!
I have mold for a .430 300 gr cast but do not use it any longer. Used 2400 powder at 980 feet and IMR 4227 at about same velocity, with OK results.
I like Alliant 2400, Vitha N-110, and IMR-4227 I must refrain from giving powder charges, although none of my loads are maximum and are quite above min. H-4227 does not give same results as IMR-4227. Vihta Vouri powders are hard to locate and quite expensive.
My Favorite load for the 44 mag revolver with a cast is 245gr Lyman hardcast using alliant 2400 powder at 1162 fps. I size to .429 and use a moly lube. I have used 240 gr hornady with good results but for jacketed bullets the 265 Hornady flat point at 1256 fps was my favorite for hunting. I use IMR-4227 with magnum primers. This load gives great results in a ruger rifle as well.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 2nd, 2009 03:44 PM |
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miestro_jerry
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For my 44 Mags:
210 gr CB
Powder Start Max
2400 19gr 22gr
unique 10gr 13.5gr
IMR-4227 22gr 26gr
231 8gr 12gr
260 gr CB
Powder Start MAX
2400 18gr 21gr
H110/296 21.5gr 23gr
IMR 4227 20gr 25gr
231 8gr 11gr
300 gr CB
Powder Start MAX
2400 13gr 16gr
IMR 4227 16gr 19.5gr
231 8gr 10.5gr
325 gr CB
Powder Start MAX
h110/296 19gr 22gr
231 8gr 10gr
2400 12gr 16gr
These are all loaded with a Magnum PISTOL primer. All standard disclaimers apply to this data.
If you are shooting a very heavy frame pistol of a Contender/Encore you may be able to increase the loads slightly.
My alloy is WWs, with a little extra Tin, I cast only gas check bullets, using Hornady or Gator checks.
Hope this helps,
Jerry
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| Posted: Thu Sep 3rd, 2009 01:06 AM |
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klallen
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quiet jake wrote: re: "320 lbt's at a comfortable 1330" Great Scott!!!
I haven't even SEEN a 320 g cast 44 mag!!! While I'm not recoil-sensitive, I just haven't
been able to maintain any kind of accuracy at that end of the spectrum. What kind of revolver? Ruger, surely.... I bet there are some heavy thump marks around your part of the country.
cast performance makes the bullet i'm using.
my .44's a taurus. first revolver i ever purchased. love the thing dearly.
that 320 load is a comfortable load in it. but i guess comfort is all realtive. i like my .454 and .500 in revolvers and .45winmag and .50ae in semiauto so that tends to be what i use for comfort comparisons.
good luck with your load search. k
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miestro_jerry
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I shoot very heavy loads in my Super 14 Contender, but I have the a set of Pachmayr Decelerators grips on that pistol, age is limiting how much recoil I can take in my hands and arms. I have a cast bullet molds for 390gr 444 Marlin loads that work well in the 44 Mag case.
Plus I have a 45 Win Mag barrel for my Contenders, it can be a formidable cartridge because you are shooting it in a single shot pistol. I have 400 gr and 500 gr CB molds.
Jerry
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fprefect
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quiet jake wrote: Don't need the basics, and have lots of manuals.
Looking for "best recipes" on mid-range 44 mags for pistol.
I seem to have best accuracy with cast lead in the 900fps range for plinking/informal target stuff.
Have HP38-Trail Boss-N320-Tite Group-700x & a few others on hand.
Love the soft recoil of the Trail Boss but seem to get better accuracy from Tite Group.
Got any favorites?
Using 4" & 8 3/8" 629s on this caliber.
I tend to use Unique for reduced loads in both the .357 and 44 magnum cartridge. It's probably the most versatile of any pistol powder you can use that can achieve "close" to factory ballistics using either jacketed or #2 alloy lead bullets with just about any bullet weight suitable for either caliber as well as performing well with most reduced loads.
As you are experiment with some different powder charges and bullets, you will probably find some loads to be very accurate as well.
However new powders are being offered to the reloader almost every year and you may find some to be superior to Unique, but since I've used it for years with very good results, I find it's hard to change from something I have already found several very accurate loads, so being a creature of habit, I continue to use if for a number of applications.
F. Prefect
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Black-tailed Bandit
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I have had great success with 9.0g unique and laser cast 200gRNFP they duplicate 44/40 balistics, yes it is a little smoky and messy but works good for me, at 9.0g a pound last a long time!
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| Posted: Thu Sep 17th, 2009 08:51 PM |
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bigwhiterubicon
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my favorite is a 240gr.cast swc . on 10.0gr. unique
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| Posted: Fri Sep 18th, 2009 02:46 AM |
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ccw
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Ruger Vaquero 4 3/4" bbl, 240gr HDY LSWCHP, CC350 LPM, 6.2 grain TB = 885.7 FPS chronyd. Burns clean., good cowboy action load.
Legacy Puma 20" bbl, 240 gr Speer GDSP, CC350 LPM, 22.5 grain IMR 4227 = 1600 FPS chronyd. (handgun cartridge in a carbine)
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| Posted: Fri Sep 18th, 2009 06:53 PM |
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Busted
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"Where's all the 44 MAG people?"
I'm in N.C.
In my old, original S&W 6" M29 I love Unique for mid range loads, up to 12.5 gr. under a 240 SWCGC. Above that, I go to 2400 or H-110.
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Fieldhunter
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Help...you have stumped the chump. I'm sure I'll smack my forehead when you tell me, but what is the "CB" after your bullet weight for your varied 44 mag loadings?. Thnks.
Rob
US Army (Ret)
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fryboy
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Fieldhunter wrote:
Help...you have stumped the chump. I'm sure I'll smack my forehead when you tell me, but what is the "CB" after your bullet weight for your varied 44 mag loadings?. Thnks.
Rob
US Army (Ret)
hola amigo ! and welcome aboard !
ummm pretty sure it stands for cast boolit 
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Katch1
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cb refers to cast bullet I'm sure.
I have went to trailboss for my light loads, works very well.
My mid range loads have blue dot in them, little dirty, maybe not quite enough load density?
Top loads always include h-110 or w296.
after loading this round for 22 yrs, I beleive there is little need to try and fiddle with it much, find a load your handgun likes and be happy.
If you want to shoot heavy loads buy a ruger, I have a ruger and a smith, and I won't put the ruger rounds thru the smith. That might ruffle a few feathers, but if you are after the thumper rounds, a smith will get knocked out of time LONG before a ruger will.
I used to burn unique, but found trailboss to be more accuate for me.
I don't cast my own yet, but purchase laser cast 240's for light loads, and shoot 240 gr remingtons for the rest
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fprefect
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For hunting, or personal defence for that matter, I have come to prefer a lighter bullet, producing higher velocity, greater expansion and giving a better chance the bullet and all of the kenetic energy will remain in the target.
200 gr. Hornady XTP - 27.5 gr. H110. S&W 8" 29-2
F. Prefect
Last edited on Sun Feb 7th, 2010 12:54 PM by fprefect
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12th, 2010 01:33 AM |
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mag_01
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A 255gr. boolit with 8.3 of tight group is A pleasure to shoot in 44 magnum --- heavy loads are 2400 above max. and AA 9 at max.
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