[boing]

I see 231 mentioned as appropriate for light to moderate loads in .44 magnum. Is a max charge of 231 considered a "moderate power" .44 mag load? I'm shooting an M29-8 Mountain Gun, and everyone says stick with moderate loads. If a max or near max charge proves safe and I decide I want to use it, does that still count as suitably moderate for regular feeding of this gun?

[Jim Watson]

A maximum load of any powder is maximum for pressure, not velocity. So a top load of 231 generates the same chamber pressure as a top load of 296 but not the velocity. So you will be stressing the gun nearly as much with a maximum load of 231 as any other powder. Nearly, because there will not be as much recoil at the lower velocity.

Slower does not necessarily mean "moderate." Back off.

I have gotten fairly good results with low-end .357 Magnum loads with below maximum loads of Blue Dot and N105, going for Major power factor, a 158 at 1130. I couldn't do it with faster powder, extraction got sticky at max loads.

[Fatelvis]

Boing, I found 9 grains of Unique under a 240-250 grn LSWC is a great moderate load for the 44 mag. It is very controllable, on the lower end of the pressure chart, fairly accurate, and fills more of the case than 231 will. I think you would find this a favorite general purpose load for your Mountain Gun.

[Bob C]

231 doesn't take up very much space in a .44 magnum.

My one and only ( so far- knock on wood) double charge was with 231, and I am now using Unique or Blue Dot for moderate loads in larger cases.

I'm not blaming the powder, it was certainly my error, but it's easier to see a bulkier powder in the case.

[oscar]

7.0 of 231 with a 240 grain swc is a light plinking load very close to a 44 sp load. I prefer 7.0 of Unique though.

[larryw]

I've played with the same load as Oscar: 7.0gr of 231 behind 240gr SWC and RNFP bullets. When I first started working the load up, I noticed there was too much variation in velocity, probably due to the large air space and postition of powder. Moving to magnum primers to improve ignition solved that problem. Nice light target/practice load with exceptional accuracy.

[boing]

Thanks for the replies.

What I'm actually looking for is an "average" .44 magnum practice load...more than a Special-level plinker, but less than "you really need to get a Ruger." :) I was hoping I could get there with 231 because I already use it for .45ACP. I worked up to 9.5 grains under a West Coast 240 gr FP without problems, but I'm assuming this is comparatively light in the .44 mag scheme of things, with relatively high pressure and not a lot of room to go up.

And while I want to know that I'm shooting a .44 mag when I'm at the range, I also want to stay within the limits of what a Mountain Gun can digest on a regular basis. Somewhere in there is a happy balance.

I'll start looking at other powders.

[WESHOOT2]

IME you might be considering Hodgdon Universal Clays and HS6.

Not guessing....................