.44 Mag Pistol - what's your go to load?

[mongo chicago]

18.5 grs. Bluedot - magnum primer - Speer 240 gr. Jacketed magnum softpoint. Was my load for decades. Hotter than factory. Supposed to be 1500 fps+ (didn't have a chrono back then). Not recommended for S&W - shakes them loose. Great in a Super Blackhawk, Redhawk or Desert Eagle.

 

[Sieg]

I carry a .44 with me in the mountains. I find that I am much more capable with it with a medium load. The heavy loads are fine if you can put 6 on target double action quickly but I cant. I like a 240 about 1200 fps in a 4" steel gun, 1000 fps in the light aluminum SW. I used to own a 6" and that made a big difference, much nicer with full loads. If its a range gun, go with the 6" models, the shorter barrels make them a lot nastier but nicer to carry

Good choice, totally agree with your load choices. I'd probably only shoot my 21.9g load once in a 4" gun.

In this it's not that bad, though with the stock grips it wasn't pleasant.

 

[biggun2869]

I'm with Alex, I load 240 gr jacketed in front of 16.5 gr 2400. Don't have a crono but I'd say it falls in there pretty close to the 1200 fps. Lead 240 gr in front of 7.5 gr Unique.

 

[rsmithsr50]

just to clarify, this was used in a 50 yard steel match. large steel fall down targets.
rule of steel: nothing counts unless it goes down.
I started with very fast 240/255 then 265 then 280 and finished with the custom 290/300 dual purpose mold.
started with acc number 9 and then wc820, my lot was slow.
a match could run 50-65 rounds or so.
ruger srh 7.5" aimpoint small dot

I do the opposite..i go heavy 290/300 flat point and hp
maybe 1200 fps

 

[powderbrake]

Accuracy and general shooting and plinking... 230 gr lead SWC, 16 gr of 2400, about 1000 fps. Easy to shoot all day long
Defense/hunting....….. 240gr JHP, 24.5 gr of 296, about 1350 fps (no fun to shoot)

 

[DirtySteve]

18 grains of 2400 and a RCBS Cast 250 gr Kieth bullet...

 

[Sieg]

Thank you all for the insight, responses have been great.

I'm somewhat surprised at the number/popularity of cast bullets used for .44 loads.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lead/cast vs plated/jacketed with the .44 mag?

 

[Doug Beach]

24gr 296 Hdy 240 XTP. 1300 out of 4” 629, 1850 out of Marlin 1894. Accurate in both.

 

[FeMan]

Thank you all for the insight, responses have been great.

I'm somewhat surprised at the number/popularity of cast bullets used for .44 loads.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lead/cast vs plated/jacketed with the .44 mag?

I like the hard-cast FP gas check bullets because they are accurate, can be driven to higher velocities than jacketed bullets, and they hit hard and penetrate extremely well. Some of the velocities I've gotten out of 300 and 320's are close to 44 Causal country.

For personal defense I would choose jacketed. Hunting is where I prefer the cast bullets.

 

[powderbrake]

Thank you all for the insight, responses have been great.

I'm somewhat surprised at the number/popularity of cast bullets used for .44 loads.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lead/cast vs plated/jacketed with the .44 mag?

I used lead because the indoor police department range that our club shot at each week did not allow jacketed bullets. Also the lighter loads were very accurate, and did not lead up the bore like a faster load.

 

[fatelvis]

90% of my shooting I use 250gen Keith over 8grns Unique
10% of the time same bullet over 18grns 2400.

 

[MrMajestic]

I've been on the 1050 fps 240 gr. Zero JFP kick. Unique, N-340 or Power Pistol to achieve this from my 5 1/2" Redhawk and N-105 in my 3" GP-100 .44 Special. A pussy cat in the Redhawk and barks pretty good in the GP but recoil is manageable. Accuracy is amazing and offhand 3" 5 shot groups at 50 yards are the norm. In the loads defense I don't think these old eyes and arms are capable of any better. Not a big bear load but a well placed shot on a #2 class animal and you're having sweet bread for dinner...

 

[Sieg]

I've been on the 1050 fps 240 gr. Zero JFP kick. Unique, N-340 or Power Pistol to achieve this from my 5 1/2" Redhawk and N-105 in my 3" GP-100 .44 Special. A pussy cat in the Redhawk and barks pretty good in the GP but recoil is manageable. Accuracy is amazing and offhand 3" 5 shot groups at 50 yards are the norm. In the loads defense I don't think these old eyes and arms are capable of any better. Not a big bear load but a well placed shot on a #2 class animal and you're having sweet bread for dinner...

Old eyes and open sights suck huh!

 

[alleycat]

H110 always performed better for me than 296 or 2400 for hot loads,i used unique for reduced loads,cheap to use but dirty

 

[mikeinct]

I use a moderate load of Unique powder [about 1000FPS] & a plain base cast 240gr SWC bullet. It is very accurate & pleasant to shoot. mikeinct

 

[Shaggy357]

Unique and 250 cast are in my favorite loads. I have some 300 grain LBT WFN loaded up hot, but they are definitely not a favorite load.

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

I am biased, but... I load a 300 grain hard cast, truncated cone, polymer coated bullet over a healthy charge (circa 19 grs.) of H-110. It launches out of an 8" barrel at about 1300 fps.

If you want a plinking load. I would use the same bullet and a powder like Longshot which would give me about 1000 fps.

I believe in loading heavy for caliber and getting max performance out of each load. It is called a Magnum because it is supposed to give you superior performance. The original 240 grain load from Remington gave 1500 fps!

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

19.5GR H-110 with a 300GR Nosler jacketed hollow point, works for me.

Yep!

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

I love to make the 44 all it can be......My favorite load is a 300+ grain hard cast flat point bullet sitting atop a stout charge of H110. I've found that when someone wants to try out my Super Blackhawk hunter that they are looking for the big kick in the pants.....not that the lighter bullets don't pack a huge punch too....it's just that those huge bullets will really push that gun back hard!

Yep again!

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

Thank you all for the insight, responses have been great.

I'm somewhat surprised at the number/popularity of cast bullets used for .44 loads.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lead/cast vs plated/jacketed with the .44 mag?

The advantage of a non-jacketed bullet is cost. There was a time when Jacketed bullets didn't exist. Copper costs more. Plated bullets are cleaner and cost only marginally more than plain lead.

I would buy polymer coated bullets and not worry about gas-checking them.

Here is my source...

https://tbbullets.com