First reloads of 44 Magnum

[Eb1]

240 Speer JHP
10.0g Unique
CCI 300 Primer
1.575 OAL
Roll Crimp

Going to try a Magnum loading today out of the Ruger SBH. I know these will be on the light side, but a Magnum none the less. Book says 1175 fps from the Speer manual. I am hoping to reach 1200. That was my goal for buying a 44 magnum. That and to also buy a 44 Magnum when my 1st son was born to give to him later in life.

So I will report back on how it was. I am not to recoil shy in rifles, but this will be a new experience. I have shot the .357 158 grain Double Tap Ammo. That was pretty stout.

I can only shoot at a small indoor range tonight. So the distance will not be that far. Maybe 15 to 20 yards.

 

[loadedround]

I hope that you enjoy your first experience with the 44 Magnum.

 

[Asherdan]

I don't know if I would have walked up that close to max (10.3g according to the 2008 Alliant data with the same components and COL) for my first test run with a new to me caliber and pistol.

I wish you the best of luck, though.

 

[Eb1]

Wow. Sounds like you guys are thinking it is going to whoop my butt. I saw on Alliants site that 10.3 was listed with this bullet.
I saw that Speer had 9.2 to 10.3 listed. I have shot many .45 ACPs and .357s. I have also shot pretty stout loads in .44 SPL out of this gun.

 

[dwhite]

Well, EB1 you still work up loads just to make sure your gun doesn't spontaneously disassemble itself when firing. Better to find out you might have a problem at 10% below max than immediately creating a problem at max.

Have you read your manual(s)?

I may occasionally start out 5% below max but NEVER go right to max. You're not right there but you're awful close. Especially being new at this game.

Be sure you take a wooden dowel and a hammer with you in case you have to beat the cases out of the cylinder.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Walkalong]

10.0 Grs of Unique and a 240 Gr JHP is not stout at all. It will be a pussycat in the Super Blackhawk.

Loaded rounds look good Eb1

 

[buck460XVR]

10.0 Grs of Unique and a 240 Gr JHP is not stout at all. It will be a pussycat in the Super Blackhawk.

Loaded rounds look good Eb

I gotta agree with Walkalong. That's just about the same exact load I roll for my son's 329.

 

[wcwhitey]

Just happened to have my Lyman Manual close from another post. 240 Speer JHP starting is 10.8 grains, max is 12.0 at 1084 fps. I wouldn't worry about it. Bill

Hey guess what, CCI 300 primers as well.

BTW, Nice looking loads, nice crimp, great photos.

 

[Eb1]

Yes, I have read my manuals, and I am not a novice reloader. Just because I say "1st 44 Mag reloads", doesn't mean 1st time loading. If I was pushing the envelope at around 1400/1600 fps I would be more apt to start down towards the starting load.


@Walkalong
Thanks for the complement.

I had an absolute blast shooting these rounds. I kick myself for not buying a 44 Magnum years ago. Knowing what I know now from rifle reloading it all makes since to own a 44 Magnum.
The rounds were not super stout. Actually you are correct that the Blackhawk ate them up. I got a real good example of how my SA Magnum disperses recoil. There was a nice roll of the pistol with a following of arm absorption as I rolled my arms up with my shoulders. Very, Very nice learning load for me.
Believe it or not, the gun is pretty clean. The brass is nice and clean. I had some loads loaded with a 1.0cc Lee Dipper to finish up the tray. I took 5 samples of that dipper and weighed them. They were from 8.0 to 8.5. I thought this was light because of the books starting load of 9.2g, but took them anyway. I had some friends coming that wanted to shoot a 44 Magnum, but did not want the recoil, and I thought if the bullets came out of the barrel and hit paper that my friends would enjoy the gun, and could say they shot a .44 Magnum. HA! Little did I know that the 10.0 grain was more fun, had more boom, and was easy to handle as I have mentioned before. They agreed, and mentioned that they want to start saving to get a SBH. Actually, a guy I was with was totally turned off to shooting his .40 cal auto. Said after shooting my SBH he wasn't interested in shooting his plastic gun anymore. Not my words. Don't flame me.

I am going to keep up the progress, and keep shooting these loads. The accuracy was decent, but I have not gotten use to the weight. I was mainly a 9mm auto shooter, and do more rifle shooting than anything else. So I did not take the Chrony because I had a crew with me, but next week I will have a few more loads to test, and will take the Chrony with me. All I had for .44 Mag was Unique, and would like to go with the Chrony when I have more loads to test.
Back to accuracy. I shot at 15 yards about a 3 1/2" 6 shot group. Really did not have any fliers. If their was one out of the group, it was me trying to balance the revolver. A totally different grip than an auto pistol. I have not settled into shooting this gun.

Any suggestions on the next go round? I think maybe up to 1300 maybe 1350 fps. What are the factory loads loaded too? I am talking Hornady/Win/Speer/Rem. Not the Buffalo bore or Grizzly type factory.

Well I loved it. Gotta have more of it. Thanks.

 

[Eb1]

Bill, thanks for chiming in. I crossed ref'd the Lymann with the Speer. Speer is calling the 240 JHP with 10.3 @ 1175.
Don't you just love the how manuals do that? The only real way to know is to Chrony it for yourself I guess. I can say that I think 12.0 grains of Unique would be a little more than 1084 fps. Don't you? That seem like a typo. Maybe it should be 1284 fps.

Thank you for the complement as well.

 

[Walkalong]

Any suggestions on the next go round? I think maybe up to 1300 maybe 1350 fps.

19.9 Grs of AA #9 and a 240 Gr JSP gives me around 1350 FPS from my 5.5" Redhawk. It is not bad in the Redhawk. 24.3 Grs of Li' Gun gave about that as well. 20.4 Grs of N110 is in the same ballpark. That one is super clean burning and very accurate. You can push it a little harder, but I find 1350ish FPS from my Redhawk to be more pleasant than 1400 FPS, or more. It is still plenty of power. I shot a few this afternoon after work, along with some .357 in a 6" Colt Trooper Mk III and a 2 1/2" 686, as well as some 7.62 X 39 in the AK. Shot some dastardly clay pidgeons on the 50 yard berm.

 

[Eb1]

I think I am going to go with your recommendation. I see a post from you back in 2008 mentioning this load. If it has worked for you that long, seems worth it. I have also done a little digging, and other across the net have good words for AA #9. I think I am going to give it a go with the Barnes Copper XPB Bullet.
Seems work a shot...

 

[Idano]

Eb1,

Nice job and glad to hear that you had a great time a the range. Don't rule out H-110, 23.4 grs behind a 240 gr Hornady works very well in my Colt Anaconda. I 'm no pistol shooter but with that load I can keep them on a paper plate at 50 yards which for me is outstanding. I chrono this load at 1366 fps and I have taken a nice 6-1/2 foot brown at 30 yds with one shot.

 

[wcwhitey]

After you experiment with the upper range give this load a try. The same 10 grains of Unique under a 245 SWC (429421). A classic load with outstanding accuracy, hits hard but not hard on your wrist. It is mine and a bunch of others standard loading akin to a .44 Special +P+. You already have the Unique and you can save a few pennies over the jacketed bullet going with lead. The .44 Mag loves this lead bullet along with the 429244 255 Grain SWC Gas Check. Both bullets can be pushed to real .44 Magnum velocities, my powder choice is 2400 but I know quite a few people that use the AA#9 like Walkalong with good results. Bill

 

[Bula]

Another vote for 2400. I load several loads for .44 mag, super versatile caliber IMO.
-214g Lee RNFP over 8.5g of Unique
-255g Lyman 429421 (Keith SWC) over 9.5 OR 20g of 2400
-312g Lee RNFP Gas checked under 21g if W296
These cover just about any situation I can think of, where one would need a pistol. All but that 312g'er will feed and shoot perfectly thru my 1894 as well-I can single feed them, but that makes this a "do all" caliber for me.

 

[Maj Dad]

After you experiment with the upper range give this load a try. The same 10 grains of Unique under a 245 SWC (429421). A classic load with outstanding accuracy, hits hard but not hard on your wrist. It is mine and a bunch of others standard loading akin to a .44 Special +P+. You already have the Unique and you can save a few pennies over the jacketed bullet going with lead. The .44 Mag loves this lead bullet...

+1 on this load. I have used it for 35 yrs in my SBH and is my absolute favorite. I load W296, 2400, Blue Dot, W630 (yes, still have some!) and others, and still come back to the old standby.

 

[bluetopper]

The most fun you will find with handgunning and reloading is with the 44 Mag. Such a wide array of powders and loadings to experiment with.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

For light loads but stronger than 44special, I call it 44special +p is 10.5grains of hs-6. It meters well and gives me about 1045fps under a 240gr LSWC. Burns really clean and shoots well in both my 629 and redhawk as well as my winchester 94 trapper lever action.

If want something stronger I go with 2400.

 

[Eb1]

Do you guys recommend Flat base bullets or Bevel Base bullets for these lead loads?

 

[Walkalong]

Flat based tend to shoot a tad better in general, but beveled base load easier, which is why most commercial cast bullets are bevel based.

 

[Eb1]

I have found some FB bullets I am going to order. I read about them on Gunblast. They are not to cheap, but not very expensive. The targets that were shot were pretty good. I figure they would be good for basic farm work. Pigs, Coyote, and whatever pest is around. Don't you figure?

 

[Maj Dad]

The Lyman/RCBS/whomever 429421/equivalent is flat based, and I always defer to it versus bevel based. If you think about pressure and gas, it's easier to get around a BB bullet than FB, thus leading is more possible with the BB. May or may not have anything to do with actuality, but it is common sensical and reflects my experience with it...

 

[Sunray]

"...on Alliants site that 10.3 was listed with this bullet..." Alliant's site gives max loads only. Why is something only they can answer. Still safe.
Reduce by 10% and work up.
"...hoping to reach 1200..." Change powders. Blue Dot, 2400, IMR4227, et al. Several Hodgdon powder's start at more than 1200 fps. with a 240 grain jacketed bullet. A Lil'Gun starting load runs 1465 fps.

 

[wcwhitey]

Flat based for sure. Others may argue but flat based bullets are my leading cure, never had a problem with any lead bullets other than beveled base. The Lyman 429421 245 grain is the best bullet I have found for the medium to heavy loads. If you are really going to push it pick up a few 429244 255 gas checked bullets. These are not cheap, still cheaper than jacketed though. These bullets can go anywhere a jacketed bullet can speed wise. The SWC with the big flat nose makes them hit hard and penetrate deep. I bought a ****load of both years ago, many thousands, at an auction for pennies. I have not needed or wanted another style bullet for either the .44 Special or .44 Magnum since. Your mileage may vary. Regards, Bill



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