Who is the 44mag reloading expert?
- Thread starter Dusty Stevens
- Start date
Dusty, Alliant has PP loads posted online; it looks a little fast for full-house loads in magnum, but there's a lot of Alliant data in 44 S&W special.
Agree that I shoot cast most of the time, and a great place to look is a 240+gr Keith style and I'd recommend a flat base not beveled; bevel loads easier; but obfuscates less... At this point I'd say go for any you can get and try them out.
Special loads in Mag Cases are light.
If you want full-power Mags; find some 2400, H110/W296 or I found some MP330.
-Mac
Agree that I shoot cast most of the time, and a great place to look is a 240+gr Keith style and I'd recommend a flat base not beveled; bevel loads easier; but obfuscates less... At this point I'd say go for any you can get and try them out.
Special loads in Mag Cases are light.
If you want full-power Mags; find some 2400, H110/W296 or I found some MP330.
-Mac
Elmer Keith
Old Navy
Gold $$ Contributor
That was Elmer Keith's go to load.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I did and surprisingly they answered on a holiday. They said power pistol is good, they used to recommend it more often but found better alternatives. They told me to try 13.0gr PP - 1.575 OAL with my speer JHP
I have a snubby 44 mag and I have loaded 240 jhp’s over bullseye using 44 special data and it works very well for a low flash low- medium power load. I would think power pistol might be somewhat volitile like H110 and would need to be a near compressed at least touching the bottom of the bullet but as fast as power pistol is there’s no way that you can achieve that load density safely.
I have been offering up my powder locally and swapping around a pound here and there. The best for the 44 mag is H110 around 20-21 grains
2400, IMR 4227, my favorite is H110 it’s stupid accurate and meters perfectly.
I have been offering up my powder locally and swapping around a pound here and there. The best for the 44 mag is H110 around 20-21 grains
2400, IMR 4227, my favorite is H110 it’s stupid accurate and meters perfectly.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
I’ll tell ya that the best bullet I’ve used for accuracy are 300gr Hornady XTP. From sand bags with open sights, my 44 Mag with 8-3/4” barrel will put 6 rounds in 2.5”-3” groups at 100 yards.
I also shoot the 180gr Hornady XTP in my 40 S&W and two different 10mm autos with excellent accuracy. There must be something that’s just right with the XTP design that makes them fly great in everything I try with them.
I always loaded 21.5 grains of Hercules 2400 with 250g lead semi-wadcutters, but the Alliant 2400 burns hotter...saw somewhere 20.5 as a max. load....shot same load with 240 grain jacketed bullets...H110 alway did pretty good too. As said above 4227 and 296 will work, but my choice would be the 2400 or H110 if you can find it....
Also the the Lyman 44th and 45th edition has some good info on most all the the bullet weights that you will be shooting.
dave@aDave
Gold $$ Contributor
Refresh my memory.
I started reloading about 1965 for my S&W 44 Magnum. Here is the question.....
I seem to remember that my reloading manual (Speer ?) listed a ''normal'' load as 22.0 gr of 2400 and a 240 gr jacketed semi-wad cutter or hollow point. Maximum load of 24.0 gr with same powder and bullets..
Now it seems about 22.0 gr is max.
Is this lawyer talk, respect for some flame-cut top straps on older guns, or improved data?
WARNING!!! Do not try information below. Dumb youthfulness is amazing.
We loaded some to where the empties had to be removed from the cylinder with a stick and a rock, (might be why the S&W needed to be re-timed), My friend's Ruger is still chugging along.
I started reloading about 1965 for my S&W 44 Magnum. Here is the question.....
I seem to remember that my reloading manual (Speer ?) listed a ''normal'' load as 22.0 gr of 2400 and a 240 gr jacketed semi-wad cutter or hollow point. Maximum load of 24.0 gr with same powder and bullets..
Now it seems about 22.0 gr is max.
Is this lawyer talk, respect for some flame-cut top straps on older guns, or improved data?
WARNING!!! Do not try information below. Dumb youthfulness is amazing.
We loaded some to where the empties had to be removed from the cylinder with a stick and a rock, (might be why the S&W needed to be re-timed), My friend's Ruger is still chugging along.
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
Bought my first 44mag back in the mid 80's it was a Ruger Redhawk 7.5 barrel. Back then Hornady used to make what they called a 240gr jacketed silhouette. I think what they have now is a different version of. I shot countless rounds of 22.8gr 2400 and that 240gr Hornady through that Ruger Redhawk and it was probably the most accurate revolver and load I've ever shot. I have a S&W 629 44mag now and hardly ever shoot it.
DShortt
Gold $$ Contributor
I've been shooting 429421 RCBS 250 grain cast bullets in both my S&W 629 and my Ruger Super Blackhawk in front of 10 grains of Unique for over a decade with no leading in either pistol. If you have leading you'll probably need to increase the sizing die .001"-.002" unless you are tumble lubing and shooting as cast. In that case you need to have someone with pin gauges check your cylinder throat vs barrel diameter and check the barrel for constrictions. .44 Mag is usually very cast friendly.
Inspector Callahan is who I’d call 
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
2400 is a tad bit hotter formulation now than in previous years. The old 22 grain load (max) for 250-grain cast bullets is now recommended as 20 grains. I usually run 20 grains under my cast 250-grain bullets and they chronograph statistically the same as my former loads.
CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
Think it was 55 years ago I started using 24 gas. of 2400 with a 240 JHP in my Marlin 336 44 mag RIFLE. Still use that in the rifle today with lots of deer kills accounted for. NEVER try that in a handgun.
in my S&W 44 I did try that. Pressure was so much you could not eject the cases. It also was very unpleasant to shoot. 22 grains was tops for ejection.
My old Ruger 44 mag was very unpleasant to shoot. It would smash the lower knuckle in my middle finder out to the bone. SOB was unshootable. You can still see the damage today. In fact, all those big handguns, shot full power, are unpleasant to shoot. My Model 66 and Colt Python in 357 are fun to shoot. Was just shooting the both at gongs here in Georgia at my hunting camp.
357= fun. 44 mag or the like = hang on and fake it as fun. Think it is an ego thing.
in my S&W 44 I did try that. Pressure was so much you could not eject the cases. It also was very unpleasant to shoot. 22 grains was tops for ejection.
My old Ruger 44 mag was very unpleasant to shoot. It would smash the lower knuckle in my middle finder out to the bone. SOB was unshootable. You can still see the damage today. In fact, all those big handguns, shot full power, are unpleasant to shoot. My Model 66 and Colt Python in 357 are fun to shoot. Was just shooting the both at gongs here in Georgia at my hunting camp.
357= fun. 44 mag or the like = hang on and fake it as fun. Think it is an ego thing.
dellet
Gold $$ Contributor
Late to the party as usual but,......
Page 45 in the manual, 53 in the pdf file.
Great resource for older manuals.
Page 45 in the manual, 53 in the pdf file.
Great resource for older manuals.
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