How slow is safe for 44 plated?

I bought some .44 240 grain flat point copper plated bullets from West Coast bullets. (I actually thought I was buying jacketed.) I'm using Unique powder.

Ranier's/Midway's website says the lightest charge is 9.8 grains. However, the opinion on THR seems to be that anything ok for lead is ok for plated.

How light can I go as a beginning load? The guns are a Smith 29 with 6.5 inch barrel and a Ruger Super Redhawk.

Thanx.

Personally I wouldn't go below their recommendations since you may run the risk of getting a bullet to lodge itself in the bore. Are you finding the recoil objectionable? If so you might consider going down to 180 grain bullets. Additionally you might find that low powder charges in large cases leads to inconsistent ignition which results in vertical stringing on the target.

I'm not sure why you want to load your 44 so light but you could probably load down to 44 specials. Here is a link to Alliant powder call then to make sure.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/about/contact.php

Unique is one of my favorite powders for the .44 mag. I cast my own 250 grain Keith-style LSWC's, and use this load:

8.5 Unique, or

9.0 of Herco;
Almost any primer will do; Federal is a personal favorite, but I have had great results with Winchester primers, too.

Be aware that the plated bullets WILL lead the bore. I highly recommend purchasing a Lewis lead remover if you plan on shooting a lot of cast bullets.

Interestingly enough, one of the most accurate lead bullets I have used was the 240 grain swaged lead bullet, which used to be made by Hornady. I haven't seen them in a long time, though.

I'm not sure why you want to load your 44 so light but you could probably load down to 44 specials.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=137960

OK! Forget that last post of mine, then--the loads with Unique and Herco are a bit stout. While they are not full power loads, they will get your attention--and possibly cause pain.

You will want to decrease the load quite a bit. I would also recommend a faster burniing powder for light loads.

PinnedAndRecessed,
Read your other thread. Hope your wrists get well. I'd forget shooting 44 Mags for awhile. You can contact any powder manufactor and tell them which bullets your shooting and ask for some 44 Special data. If your wanting to use 44 Mag cases (for 44 Special loads) make sure you tell them this. Good luck.

You can contact any powder manufactor

Thanx. Good idea. I use Unique exclusively so I'm giving Alliant a call in the A.M.

Please let us know how this turns out.

I called Alliant. Their tech guy said 8.0 grains Unique would be minimum. I talked to the new owner of West Coast Bullets (he's in Idaho: Accurate bullets, they're muzzle loading bullets) and he said 7.0 grains would be fine.

So I loaded some at 7.0 grains and I'll load some at 8. I see how much difference in groups.

I have loaded as low as 6.5 grains of unique under a 240 jacketed bullet (XTP)to give about 750 fps with no problems at all using a non magnum primer and 44 mag brass. This is in a 77/44 supressed rifle with ~6 inches of barrel.