Reloading 44 Mag/44 Special

[JSH]

I refuse anymore to run a short case in a long chamber, specials in a magnum. Many claim great success, never happened for me.
I have ran plenty of soft loads through 357 and 44 magnums. One doesn’t have to run full throttle all the time. My wrist just won’t take a lot of them anymore. Won’t bother me that day, but several down the road, to much abuse over the years.
Deep seating with lighter loads has tightened up groups for me on occasion.
Unique and 2400 have been a staple for my 44’s for years. As mentioned AA9 is a dandy as well.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The Desert eagle requires full power loads, I'm going with starting loads of H110, hoping for 1400.

 

[Rsadams]

You can't have to many reloading books.... If you don't own one buy a crono.... Trying to get fast bullets with the wrong powder can be dangerous..... Just bite the bullet and buy the correct supplies....

 

[sw282]

To keep it simple, I'd like to use the same bullet and powder for both 44 cartridges. Since I already use CFE Pistol for 9 mm and 45 ACP, I looked at loads for the 44 using that powder and 220 grain copper plated bullets.

I found one load for the 44 Mag starting at 8.5 grains of CFE Pistol and topping out at 10.9 grains. I was unable to find a load for that bullet and powder for the 44 special.

There are CFE Pistol loads in 44 Special for lighter bullets, both lead and jacketed, and heavier lead bullets. This is what they look like.

44 Special
240 grain lead bullet
CFE Pistol 5.6 grains

44 Special
200 grain lead bullet
CFE Pistol 6.3 grains

44 Special
200 grain jacketed bullet
CFE Pistol 6.3 Grains

44 Special
165 grain lead bullet
CFE Pistol 7.4 grains

Can I safely extrapolate this data to determine a starting point for a 44 Special load with CFE Pistol? Just doing the math, it looks like that load would be somewhere around 6.0 grains of CFE Pistol, but to err on the side of caution, I'm thinking 5.8 grains would be a good start.

44 Special
220 grain copper plate
Proposed CFE Pistol 5.8-6.8 grains

 

[sw282]

''K I S S'' is the answer Ernest when loading 44s.. Choose a powder that fills the case by at least 2/3 capacity.
This will prevent double charges and KABOOMS. My first 44 showed up in the 70s. Stick with a single weight bullet for BOTH 44mag and 44spc. 240-250gr seem to work best. Hard Cast are most efficient and accurate. 2400 or 4227 powders work well for both 44s.
Remember Ernest, the 44spcl is a black powder size ctg case. lt will hold 18gr of black powder OR smokeless powder

 

[powderbrake]

At a police department indooor range we used to shoot at, they did not allow jacketed bullets, and for a while, no magnums. So I had to shoot 44 Specials. To shoot my 6 1/2" Model 29, I used the following ( at 25 yards)

44 Mag 16 gr 2400, 240 gr Lead SWC (approx 1000fps) very accurate.

44 special 16gr 2400 240 gr Lead SWC shot to essentially the same aim point.

This is a good stout load and very accurate, no excessive recoil. I could shoot a couple hundred rounds comfortably. I have shot full power loads in 44 Mag, but for target work, they are just not fun.

 

[Ernest T]

I refuse anymore to run a short case in a long chamber, specials in a magnum. Many claim great success, never happened for me.
I have ran plenty of soft loads through 357 and 44 magnums. One doesn’t have to run full throttle all the time. My wrist just won’t take a lot of them anymore. Won’t bother me that day, but several down the road, to much abuse over the years.
Deep seating with lighter loads has tightened up groups for me on occasion.
Unique and 2400 have been a staple for my 44’s for years. As mentioned AA9 is a dandy as well.

I'm coming around to that line of thinking.

 

[Ernest T]

You can't have to many reloading books.... If you don't own one buy a crono.... Trying to get fast bullets with the wrong powder can be dangerous..... Just bite the bullet and buy the correct supplies....

I have a couple and use the data from the powder and bullet manufacturers. I've tried out 4 different powders and haven't really like any of them. I would like to use copper plated bullets instead of lead and have been trying 220 gr instead of 240 gr for the 44 special.

I have a Chronograph. I've been running a parallel exercise with 38 special and have been having much better luck with that cartridge.

 

[Ernest T]

''K I S S'' is the answer Ernest when loading 44s.. Choose a powder that fills the case by at least 2/3 capacity.
This will prevent double charges and KABOOMS. My first 44 showed up in the 70s. Stick with a single weight bullet for BOTH 44mag and 44spc. 240-250gr seem to work best. Hard Cast are most efficient and accurate. 2400 or 4227 powders work well for both 44s.
Remember Ernest, the 44spcl is a black powder size ctg case. lt will hold 18gr of black powder OR smokeless powder

I've used Accurate No. 5, Autocomp, HP-38, and CFE Pistol and none of them fill the case more than about 1/4-1/3 full. I'll have to pick up some Alliant 2400 and try that.

 

[Ernest T]

At a police department indooor range we used to shoot at, they did not allow jacketed bullets, and for a while, no magnums. So I had to shoot 44 Specials. To shoot my 6 1/2" Model 29, I used the following ( at 25 yards)

44 Mag 16 gr 2400, 240 gr Lead SWC (approx 1000fps) very accurate.

44 special 16gr 2400 240 gr Lead SWC shot to essentially the same aim point.

This is a good stout load and very accurate, no excessive recoil. I could shoot a couple hundred rounds comfortably. I have shot full power loads in 44 Mag, but for target work, they are just not fun.

Thanks, I'm going to try 2400.

 

[JSH]

Forgot to mention I tried some long shot in 41 magnum. Outstanding in my 657. It seems to be available at a lot of places.

 

[Ernest T]

I haven't seen any signs of pressure in any of my cases - no flattened primers, no primers pushed out of the cases, and no hard ejection from the cylinder. I've reached the max recommended loads in the powders I've been using, but there is black powder residue on the outside of the cases. Does that mean that I can increase the powder charge until the cases are generally clean after firing? For reference, I'm firing them out of a 44 mag gun.

 

[CJ6]

The Desert eagle requires full power loads, I'm going with starting loads of H110, hoping for 1400.

You'll be happier with VV-N110 Cleaner and you can get 1470 without any trouble with Speer 300 grainers.

 

[sw282]

2400 got lts name from the velocity of a 45gr sp bullet in Winchester's new 22 Hornet.
The Hornet is another case that originally a black powder round, the 22WCF

 

[big5ifty]

You can safely use the starting load for 200 grain bullets for your 220 grain bullets. If you prefer more caution, drop it by 0.5 grains.

I've used CFE pistol in my 44 special loads using copper wash bullets that make IPSC power factor, but I neglected to write it up in my load data file, and I can't remember exactly what I did, so I can't quote numbers.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Been looking for 2400 myself. Been burning some Trail Boss with 44spl in the mag. Super soft shooting for any age. 296 and unique is what I have for Mag loads. A full load of 296 touched off ain't no joke (yes I used some hillbilly talk). At 25yds the point of impact is the same with the spl or mags go figure.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Going to load some 44 magnum with AA7 and VV105 since that is what I have on my shelf. Using 240 Berry FP plated bullets. 15.0-15.5 of each to start with. Anyone else been down this road ?

 

[nakneker]

Good thread, lots of good pointers. I recently bought my first 44 mag, a Ruger Blackhawk hunter. Been using AA#9 and 240 grains jacketed XTPs and I’ve had a lot of fun with it. AA9 came highly recommended by someone I know and trust. I’ve also loaded a few soft loads with Trail Boss but I hate using it because I use it in a couple rifles and I’m not sure I’ll see it anymore. I also have used H110 and unique. One other powder I’d like to try is AA5744, it’s expensive but you can find it and I’m using it in a couple 45-70s and a black hunter is 45 Colt. Great fill rate, easy to shoot and some great accuracy in the 45s.

 

[DHD]

I haven't seen any signs of pressure in any of my cases - no flattened primers, no primers pushed out of the cases, and no hard ejection from the cylinder. I've reached the max recommended loads in the powders I've been using, but there is black powder residue on the outside of the cases. Does that mean that I can increase the powder charge until the cases are generally clean after firing? For reference, I'm firing them out of a 44 mag gun.

And you won't see any at the level you are loading. Depending on the revolver (in my case it's either going to be Blackhawk's or FA83's) you won't see any "classic" signs of pressure until you are way past any comfort level. In my 44 Magnum FA83, I probably would never see any pressure issue even with a case full of bullseye and a 300 grain bullet. Pick a load that meets your goals and work with it safely. What I mean is pick a bullet weight, pick a velocity, and work with that accurately. A S&W 29 will be a different critter than a stronger SA revolver but can handle medium loads (240 grain bullets and 1000-1100 fps) probably indefinitely.

I don't use lightweight bullets (with one exception in 44 Special) and I don't load pipsqueak loads. I find accuracy in the 44/45's using a standard or heavier bullet (240 + for 44's and 250 + for 45's) in the medium velocity range and hotter. I understand folk want to use what they have but the bigger capacity cases work very well with medium and slower powders (HS-6 would be my medium example and AA9/2400 would be my slower example). The examples of slower powders I just used can be played with as they don't hate to be downloaded. When you get to H110/296 range, they are meant to be rock crushing loads and can be interesting. I can be completely happy only using HS-6, AA9, and H110 for all of my revolver needs.

As others have mentioned, I only use Magnum cases in a Magnum chamber. My 44 Special cases only go in my 44 Special revolvers (same for 357/38 Spec, 327 Federal/32 H&R). Everybody does their own thing and that's perfectly fine but keep in mind a 44 Magnum case loaded with a medium burn rate powder will act just like a 44 Special case loaded with a fast burn rate powder and do it at a lower pressure and maybe better accuracy. The 44 Magnum case will also not leave fouling some place in the cylinder you don't want it. Not trying to preach (he said while preaching) but simplify as much as possible.

And lastly, yes you are seeing fouling on the outside of the cases (and in you chamber walls) because you are loading so light regardless of the "book" data. I use .5 powder grain increments with 44/45 cases. You will notice a difference in loads without danger using this increment and can then fine tune, if you will, when you start to find accuracy and cleaner case walls (and cleaner chamber walls). Sorry, did the preach thing again.

 

[Rsadams]

I have a couple and use the data from the powder and bullet manufacturers. I've tried out 4 different powders and haven't really like any of them. I would like to use copper plated bullets instead of lead and have been trying 220 gr instead of 240 gr for the 44 special.

I have a Chronograph. I've been running a parallel exercise with 38 special and have been having much better luck with that cartridge.

Copper plated bullets are different than metal jacked bullets as you probably know.... The problem with them is their best used with lead bullet data.... For instance I recently started loading 10mm , I have loaded 10s of thousands of 9mm plated bullets mainly Berry's bullets and used lead data for them because they ARE a lead bullet normally .001 oversized just like lead.... With the 10mm I was working up a load with Hornady fmj bullets and then took that data which was 10.5 grains of blue dot and decided to order some extreme coated bullets because of price.... Before I loaded them I decided to back down to 10.2 gr and was glad I did they were way faster than the fmj bullets and would have been real fast with the 10.5 - 10.6 gr loads and is exactly why I say to start off with lead data with copper plated bullets.... Start low and work up are words to live by in reloading... Worse case bullets are too slow but the other worse case is a blown up gun and missing body parts.... Be careful in new territory..... Be careful with.39spl it's easy to double charge....