conversion to 44 special target loads from 44 mag

[gene so]

I'm afraid this may get complicated. Have had a SuperBlackhawk 44 mag since 1977. Recently I received a huge amount of 44 magnum cast bullet ammo and some Universal powder; and it shoots fine in the Ruger 44. I also, after waiting for fourteen years, purchased a S&W 44 mag , a 29-2 with a four inch barrel and easily the best trigger and sights I am aware of on a handgun. There was 300 rounds of ammo with this deal and the loading was H110 and 180 gr. jhp bullets. I tested this ammo in the Blackhawk and it was soooo powerful and in the S&W its an absolute bomb!
So, I am disassembling this ammo now and plan to create 44 Special target loads for the S&W to take advantage of that great trigger and excellent sights.
I have not handloaded for handguns since the '70's, and want to create quality ammo similar to my longrange benchrest ammunition. So, I am ending up with 44 mag brass, never fired, but primed, already with a bullet pulled from it. I would appreciate fully any sincere specific steps to convert this brass into really high quality loads with the Universal powder and the existing 180 grain jacketed Sierra bullets. The fact it will cost me nothing is a bonus.
Thank you in advance,
GS

 

[lb-ft]

GS,

44 magnum is incredibly versatile. I too have shot jacketed in front of a pile of H110/Win296 and it sure does command attention!

I wouldn't convert brass to 44 special. I would give the Universal powder a try with your cast bullets. You can assemble very pleasant, accurate loads with those components. You may find that the diameter, profile or alloy of the cast bullets might favor one of your pistols or it might lead badly in both.

SO, let me tell you what worked for me.

44 magnum TC Contender barrel with an incredibly long throat (really more of a forcing cone than a throat) and a rifling design that has a reputation for leading badly.

I wanted inexpensive, accurate, pleasant to shoot load.

I found that by tumbling the bullets in White Label Lube (mixture of minwax, acetone and liquid Alox, I bought it pre made, google White Label Lube, youtube the video, easy as pie) they no longer leaded at reasonable velocities and shot with excellent accuracy. Paired with Unique powder, I have no trouble plinking the 300 yard silhouettes in low wind and can punch the bullseye with great regularity @ 100 yards, all with an old 2x Burris pistol scope.

Enjoy your 44 magnum! With the components you already have, I bet you can create an accurate target load fun for all day plinking.

 

[CJ6]

1 of the problems I see is the removal the the bullets. Cast bullets with a heavy roll crimp can deform the bullet beneath the crimp on back when trying to "pull" them out. This will happen if you use a "hammer" style or a "collet" style puller.

 

[SSL]

GS,

I found that by tumbling the bullets in White Label Lube (mixture of minwax, acetone and liquid Alox, I bought it pre made, google White Label Lube, youtube the video, easy as pie) they no longer leaded at reasonable velocities and shot with excellent accuracy. Paired with Unique powder, I have no trouble plinking the 300 yard silhouettes in low wind and can punch the bullseye with great regularity @ 100 yards, all with an old 2x Burris pistol scope.

Enjoy your 44 magnum! With the components you already have, I bet you can create an accurate target load fun for all day plinking.

White Label is great and is all I use on any of my cast bullets. These range from .358", .431", .433" (yeah, I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk with an oversize bore) and .452". Properly sized and lubed, my results range from minimal leading to none, depending on the barrel.

 

[rockrat]

If you are just disassembling the 180gr jacketed ammo and want to make loads from those bullets, just resize the brass and bell the cases and load either a bottom end Universal 44mag load or upper 44 spec. load in the mag cases and re-seat the bullets and crimp.

 

[mikld]

44 Magnum is my favorite cartridge and I have reloaded it with every bullet from a 123 gr ball to 310 gr ingots, in both Magnum and Special brass. If I were using your components for light target use I would take a load directly form a manual for a 44 Special using Universal under a 180 JHP in Magnum brass (something I have done many, many, times). Just be aware that the pressures/velocities will be lower than the listed loads in Special brass. I have not loaded jacked bullets in quite a while as I like casting my own for my 44s (5 of them), but never stuck a bullet in the barrel either...

 

[Buzz]

If you are just disassembling the 180gr jacketed ammo and want to make loads from those bullets, just resize the brass and bell the cases and load either a bottom end Universal 44mag load or upper 44 spec. load in the mag cases and re-seat the bullets and crimp.

Exactly this. I always use 44 mag and 357 mag brass when loading light to prevent carbon buildup in the cylinder that can happen with the shorter 44 or 38 special brass in a magnum chamber. I’d try around 8 grains of your Universal powder. Should be easy to shoot but still have a little authority.

 

[rr2030]

My approach is a little different. I would find .44 special brass and low low pressure loads with them. I know the component shortage right now but it won't last forever, and you sound like a patient guy.

Now, not to ruffle feathers on New Years eve. I say save those .44 Magnum loads and shoot them. Half the fun of shooting the .44 Mag is the blast and recoil. So why swap the engine in a Corvette for an in-line 6 cylinder. Go singe some hair off your hands !

Happy New Year everyone ...

 

[Walt Krafft]

Back in the '80s I loaded 180 and 200 grain jackets with H110 for deer hunting. I would take one apart and weigh the powder. Then check several loading manuals to see if it is a safe load. What ever you do, do not use 44 Special brass and then shoot 44 Magnum loads without completely cleaning the chambers. The buildup in the chamber could crimp the 44 mag ammo and send pressures sky high.

 

[Intheshop]

My 4" early,629 dotes on 180 jacketed with "warm" loads of Blue Dot. Fine for up to the largest of Deer


But the real sweetheart load is a 200g cast swc @1000fps with any medium burning powders. IIRC it's the Lyman 429215.

 

[Laguna Freak]

I'm afraid this may get complicated. Have had a SuperBlackhawk 44 mag since 1977. Recently I received a huge amount of 44 magnum cast bullet ammo and some Universal powder; and it shoots fine in the Ruger 44. I also, after waiting for fourteen years, purchased a S&W 44 mag , a 29-2 with a four inch barrel and easily the best trigger and sights I am aware of on a handgun. There was 300 rounds of ammo with this deal and the loading was H110 and 180 gr. jhp bullets. I tested this ammo in the Blackhawk and it was soooo powerful and in the S&W its an absolute bomb!
So, I am disassembling this ammo now and plan to create 44 Special target loads for the S&W to take advantage of that great trigger and excellent sights.
I have not handloaded for handguns since the '70's, and want to create quality ammo similar to my longrange benchrest ammunition. So, I am ending up with 44 mag brass, never fired, but primed, already with a bullet pulled from it. I would appreciate fully any sincere specific steps to convert this brass into really high quality loads with the Universal powder and the existing 180 grain jacketed Sierra bullets. The fact it will cost me nothing is a bonus.
Thank you in advance,
GS

I would say that 180 gr may be bit light for H110. You would likely find 280 gr bullets are more suited to that powder.

 

[jackson1]

gene, understand your situation. Mostly fire cast bullet 44 Specials in my 29 and enjoy shooting them. Every now and then, I think about buying a Freedom Arms 454 Casull. Shooting 240 grain jacketed and H110 quickly removes that thought.

 

[Eagle1899]

For light loads in Magnum cases, I deep seat bullets with the crimp in front of the foremost driving band and use the equivalent Special loads. I'm not a fan of using shorter brass in longer chambers for a number of reasons.

 

[JSH]

Do yourself a favor, get some 44 special brass and be done with it.
I won’t go into loads or bullets as I don’t know your purpose.
I have been happy many years with Unique and 2400.

 

[powderbrake]

For my 44 mag, accuracy load, I used 16 gr of 2400.
Years ago, the indoor range would not allow Magnum cartridges, so I loaded 44 Special cases with the same load of 16 gr of 2400, and they impacted at the same point.