Favorite Plinking .44 Mag Loads

[wcwhitey]

Finished up a loading marathon due to weather (the only good thing I can say about the snow). Loaded 1m 45's and 1m 38's. Happily I discovered a box of 500 .44 240 Gr SWC hardcast bullets that I forgot I had. I have loaded .44 Mag for a while but only full house and hunting loads. I have not experimented with target/plinking loads with the .44 and see this as an opportunity. I will have to pick up powder anyway so this may be another opportunity to expand my horizons from Unique and 296. So my question is this, who has some really nice, accurate loads that would fit this catagory. The guns are a 8 3/8 M29 and a 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk that need some range time. I load from a Dillon Square Deal so powder metering has sometimes been an issue. Please include primers used Magnum vs. standard. As always thanks in advance. Bill

 

[.30-378]

Not to be a jerk here, but why not use full-blast loads? If you want a lighter load, but a lighter gun. Ammo isn't that expensive when you reload, so blast away. Either way, some clean shooting stuff is H4227 - I usually load 24 grains, but some nice things can be done about 20% less.

 

[tbtrout]

I started using Trail Boss for target loads in 38 spec and 44 mag and love it. I am using 200gr rnfp with 6.7 gr and a Rem large pistol primer in 44 mag. I loaded up some cast 240 gr but I am stuck in due to weather also. Go to IMR website and you can download the Trail Boss data. Very nice pleasant shooting. It burns very clean. I too load on a SDB and found using the magnum charging bar is better. On the other bar I had some powder leak.

 

[MCgunner]

I don't load for the .44, but have a friend that does and he uses 231. The problem with 231 is the problem with bullseye, easy to get a double charge in a big case. However, just use a safe routine and be careful. I've never overcharged a case, though I have undercharged a few. Trail boss is supposed to be bulky and address this issue, but from what I've seen, I've only seen VERY light loads listed as "maximum". For plinking it's okay, I reckon, and safe to load with.

Were I handloading .44 light loads, too, I think I'd load 'em in .44 special brass just to help differentiate hot from plinker. That's what I do with .357. In magnum brass, the Speer #11 manual lists 6.0 grains 231 behind a 240 SWC at 836 fps. They list 5.1 grains in the special brass at 642 fps.

I like bullseye, personally, but I'll admit that 231 meters better and burns cleaner. I shoot Unique in .45 Colt. It's pretty dirty at low pressures, but heck, the .45 is a black powder round anyway. LOL

 

[wcwhitey]

Not to be a jerk here, but why not use full-blast loads? If you want a lighter load, but a lighter gun. Ammo isn't that expensive when you reload, so blast away. Either way, some clean shooting stuff is H4227 - I usually load 24 grains, but some nice things can be done about 20% less.

Actually a good point! Leading was an issue when I originally loaded up some of the hardcast bullets. Second, I have been comtemplating buying another single action. I have not settled gun yet, it may well be a smaller frame and will be much shorter. I have been thinking about a Blackhawk in 4 5/8" or even a Vaquero. I would like to find a soft shooting (not powderpuff), dead nuts accurate load than can be used as a general purpose round. If it launches the SWC at 1200 fps thats great, if it is 1000 fps that puts them all in one hole even better.

 

[gwalchmai]

7 to 8 grains of Unique under a 240gr LSWC should be pretty nice.

 

[bakert]

Most of my shooting now is at an indoor range that doesn't allow full bore loads in .44 mag because it messes up the concentration of all them young fellers shooting those fine patterns with their Glocks and various other bottom feeders with high cap magazines. I use 7.6 gr of Universal Clays under a cast 240 LSWC. It is accurate and easy on the gun and just plain fun to shoot. Also a bit cleaner shooting than the old standby Unique.

 

[Leanwolf]

My favorite "plinking" load for .44 Mag. is a 240 grains SWC cast bullet in front of 8.5 grains of Unique, and a Large Pistol Primer.

Lots of fun and still has enough "whoomp" that if in a pinch, it would suffice.

L.W.

 

[LHB1]

wcw,
I use two loads in my S&W M629's. Max loads are great for hunting but for light field use and target shooting I load 11 gr AA5 behind a 210 gr H&G cast bullet using Win LP primer at about 1100 fps. This to me is a very nice load. Heavy enough to have taken a deer and a hog plus lots of target shooting. Also get no noticeable leading for 50-100 rounds at a time. For SERIOUS hunting use, I go with a max load of W296 behind 250 gr H&G cast bullet using Win LP primer at 1425 fps. This gets the job done fast on deer or hogs!

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

7.0 grains Unique behind a 240 grain bullet is perfect for me. It's a real fun cartridge. The last time I measured the groups from this load they were 5 shot groups measuring 2 inches at 25 yards. A real fun plinking load.

 

[Jacka L Ope]

I'm not much for "plinking" loads either. My 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk .44 Mag gets fed a steady diet of home-cast Kieth #429421 245 gr. linotype bullets propelled by 13.0 gr. of Unique or 18.4 gr. of Blue Dot. The Ruger handles them both very well.



Note: both above loads are MAX.

Suggested starting load for Unique is 9.8 gr. and 15.0 gr. for Blue Dot. Both of those are very comfortable for "plinking".

 

[CSA 357]

8.0 gr of unique is one of my favorite loads, if i want full power magnums i use 2400, but they are hard on the gun and the shooter, i shoot a good bit and enjoy the 8.0 gr of unique and a 240 gr cast swc, csa

 

[MCgunner]

Not to be a jerk here, but why not use full-blast loads? If you want a lighter load, but a lighter gun. Ammo isn't that expensive when you reload, so blast away. Either way, some clean shooting stuff is H4227 - I usually load 24 grains, but some nice things can be done about 20% less.

Several reasons I'd rather have a light load option.

1 It's easier on the gun

2 Do you need 1000 ft lbs to kill a tin can?

3 Accuracy can be improved at below light speeds

4 It's easier on the shooter to shoot light loads and instead of a 20 round session, it can be a 200 round session

5 If you use the gun to take small game as well as medium, a light load is better on rabbits, especially one that's accurate and pleasent to shoot.

BTW, I get superb accuracy in .45 colt with 255 grain lead flat points using Unique, 8.3 grains. So, if you have some around and don't worry about how dirty the powder is (I don't), 7-8 grains could be real nice behind a 240 grain SWC in .44 mag brass. Full power, 2400, H110, 296, AA#9, the slower powders are the way to go.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

7.1 grains of unique or clays universal works well.

Nice soft load, not too dirty. I use it for my sister in laws and wife when they want to shoot the cannon(9.5" super redhawk).

 

[wcwhitey]

Thanks guys. I am glad to see all the "Unique" responses. I am going to work some loads up this weekend starting at the 7.5 grains and working up from there. I already have some well tuned hunting loads using 200 XTP's that are closest to MOA I have ever been with a handgun. That is with both guns giving the slight edge to the Smith. The last time I went this route with the Hard Cast bullets I pushed them too fast using the 296 and leading was a problem with so-so accuracy. Looking forward to sending some fat and flat bullets down range. Thanks for all your suggestions and advice, Bill.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

A couple additions to my above post.

1. That 7.1 is VERY soft. As in I would go no lower without fear a bullet would get stuck in that long barrel. (I have very petiete sister in laws)
I don't shoot that in the 94 trapper for just that reason.

So around 8 grains would most likey be better for an "all around" plinker. Mine's more of a "special application" load

2. Forgot you asked- Standard large pistol primers.

 

[Jacka L Ope]

If you look at a lot of the "light" loads suggested here, they almost mimic the .44 S&W Special. The only real difference being the larger magnum case.

 

[Bula]

Another plus on 8-9g of Unique (8.5 is my favorrite) and any cast 240-250 gr SWC. Hits plenty hard, easy shooting. It's a bit smokey but I only shoot outside.

 

[CSA 357]

BUY the way i use 7.5 gr of unique in my 44 spec with 240 gr swc, this is the load in my 4 inch 624, and still plenty of stoping power! csa

 

[wanderinwalker]

My old standby for the 240gr SWC .44 at less-than-warp speed is a WLP primer, whatever cases are clean and about 9gr of W231. Nice, easy shooting, accurate load, from both pistol and carbine.

I like light loads in the .44 for all of the reasons MCGunner listed. I also won't trade down to a smaller gun because I want the power of the full boomers if I take either firearm deer hunting. .44 Magnum can be loaded to .357 level, but the .357 can't match the .44!

 

[Walkalong]

12.5 Grs. Blue Dot and any 240 Gr. Lead or Pltd or Jktd bullet.

 

[wcwhitey]

Thanks again Gentleman! Bill