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Loads in shooting magazines???

cocopuff

Hello from N.E Pa...I am in the process of reloading for my 44m special and 44 mag..
My revolver is the Taurus model 44..Stainless..I have a few manuals on hand for cast
bullets..Lymans..etc..Wanting to load specials for up coming deer season..
My question is this..Are the loads I see listed in the magazines safe to use in my revolver?

I see some loads for the LSWC Keith type bullets are hotter than the ones in the Lyman manuals.
Maybe i'm wrong in thinking that the loads should be at least 900 to 1000 fps for 50 to 75 yard
deer hunting..I have no experience with this..I know I have a good accurate load for the 44 mag
but would also like to have a good excellent load for the 44 special..

Any thoughts on this subject are appreciated..The season is fast approaching..Thanks John
 
Having loaded both rounds for years, I'd stay away from any magazine article suggestions as well as any other suggestions. Consult your reloading manual and start at the midway point with two or three different powders. For the 44 Special I'd recommend HS-7, 2400, or 4227 and for bullets the flat point hard cast bullets of 245-250 grain are excellent for hunting. These powders will also work well with jacketed bullets. For the 44 Magnum I'd recommend trying H110 or Win 296 with 240 grain jacketed and cast bullets. Again, start at the mid way point between the starting load and the maximum loads. Don't try to jack up velocity on your 44 Special loads. You have a 44 Magnum if you want more velocity. Cast bullets should be sized to .429" but some of those old revolvers for the Special have odd bore diameters. Best to have the bore slugged and find what bore diameter you have on that old gun.
 
I enjoy shooting cast bullets in all my revolvers. You may be able to safely drive your bullets at charge weights listed in a magazine, but leading issues may rear its head. My advice would be, to use loads with the specifications of a reloading manual, rather than magazines. Personally prefer accuracy over velocity. Being cheap and not wanting to over stress my revolvers I as a rule stay on the lower side of the curve. Jacketed bullets and Winchester 296 or H-110 are exceptions, with a small safe loading window. Good luck and always check cases for double charges before seating bullets.
 
LCazador said:
Having loaded both rounds for years, I'd stay away from any magazine article suggestions as well as any other suggestions. Consult your reloading manual and start at the midway point with two or three different powders. For the 44 Special I'd recommend HS-7, 2400, or 4227 and for bullets the flat point hard cast bullets of 245-250 grain are excellent for hunting. These powders will also work well with jacketed bullets. For the 44 Magnum I'd recommend trying H110 or Win 296 with 240 grain jacketed and cast bullets. Again, start at the mid way point between the starting load and the maximum loads. Don't try to jack up velocity on your 44 Special loads. You have a 44 Magnum if you want more velocity. Cast bullets should be sized to .429" but some of those old revolvers for the Special have odd bore diameters. Best to have the bore slugged and find what bore diameter you have on that old gun.
Click to expand...

lol this is a new revolver,,where did you get old from...
 
appreciate your replies..i just don't want a wounded deer running away to die..guess I will call Taurus and talk to them..john
 
I've been shooting .44 Mag since '74, almost all cast. When I do shoot jacketed bullets I usually go to bullet manufacturers data. I don't usually load my Smith's as hot as I do my Blackhawks and I tend to stick with manual data.
 
Hodgdon powders has a good reliable website that lists appropriate loads for almost all modern handguns and some older. I tend to use more Hdgdon powders and have had good results with their posted loads. The same data is out in print as well-available thru most LGS or even Amazon. They list thier test pressures for most of their loads as well.
 
Below is the link by Brian Pearce on the three type loads for the .44 Special and I have used all three pressure loads at this link.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk flat top Bisley .44 Special, a Ruger GP 100 .44 Special and a S&W Model 29-5 .44 Magnum.

The three .44 Special loads are 15,500 psi, 22,000 psi, 25,000 psi and the .44 magnum maximum pressure loads are 40,000 psi. Meaning your 44 Special loads fired in a 44 magnum will take the highest pressures listed below. In my .44 specials I mostly shoot the Skeeter Skelton load of 7.5 grains of unique with a 240 to 250 grain cast bullets.

Bottom line, the loading data in any reloading manual will be for the oldest and weakest action it will be fired in. And for the .44 Special that is 15,500 PSI but many modern made 44 Specials can be loaded to 44 magnum pressures.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwj7m6Xis5XlAhWFg-AKHdkrC3sQFjAAegQIARAC&url=http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian Pearce on the 44 Special.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1wCQygpoNWcznkyUKnljYP

Index of /44_Special_Articles
http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/

Below a S&W model 29 .44 magnum cylinder.

XIdBB4d.jpg


Below my heavy duty Ruger GP100 .44 Special cylinder. (built Ford Truck Tough)

kkvXXid.jpg
 
Last edited:
Loading what you read or shooting other peoples Hand Loads in your Pistol or Rifle is "NUTS" ...
I don't care if this is a National Record Holder ...

Point in fact . I helped a Guy out with Two rifles . .308 and .223. On Barnard Action ( Tanks).

Took a load from a Article for F-Class shooter ? Burned the bolt face out ?
On the .223 used free Ammo from a Service Rifle ?? Bolt face pitted ?

It's only Money ?
 
The writer is not a handgun user BUT the answer is the same.The problem with the internet is that there is NO control. At least in a Magazine an Editor would have cast a jaundiced eye over any suggested loads and may have rejected them outright. The man is right, use only trusted sources such as a reputable manual and a chronograph to keep you of trouble. Its one of the reasons that gun writers continue to repeat the safety message- it is ignored by some.
 
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