Ball Park velocity on a 44 mag hamd load?

Hey folks,

I'm hoping to take a doe this season with my 44 mag (have 5 tags to fill!) Hoping for some insight on a load I worked up for my 4" 629. The load is 14gr of 800X pushing a 200 gr JHP. While I have some accurate full house loads using H110, this 800X load is crazy accurate out to the 25-30 yards I expect to be shooting at. That said, while not a max load, it's certainly not a cream puff either. I'm not sure what sort of velocity I'm getting. Guess/hoping it's around 1100-1200 fps from the 4" pipe, which I feel would be quite adequate doe medicine. Do you think I'm in that ball park? Thanks in advance!

JeffG said:

You haven't sad how experienced with tat gun you are. If you are good with it at the range, you might want to replicate conditions on your stand: ie: shoot some deer silhouette targets to get use to picking a spot on the animal, sandbags in your stand to give you a solid rest, known distance indicators; stakes or colored marks on trees so you don't inadvertently try shooting beyond your (handgun) ability. Your load seems wholly adequate to take deer, good luck!

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Hey JeffG,

Thanks for that quick response! I've got a few 1000 rounds through the 629 and feel real comfortable with it. And good points on the stands. I have a few set up and have handgun hunted from them in the past and walked off the distances in the various shooting lanes. And yes, them shooting rests come in mighty handy! I kinda think that load will get it done, but until I can convince The Boss, that I just must have a chrono, I will pick the brains of the fine THR members for info!

Thanks again for all the insight and suggestions you provided. Much appreciated.

Be well.

JeffG said:

The closest I could come to your load, was 14.2 800x behind a 225 cast bullet for 1258fps. (Lyman) So you are right in the ballpark. Also, my experience has been 700x, 800x, and Blue and Red Dot burn more completely in a shorter barrel, than some of the spherical powders.

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Thanks for reaffirming my guesstimate. I too use a lot of Red & Blue Dot in my short barreled 44s. Really been liking 800X, downside is it doesn't meter worth a darn for me. Though not a big deal since I'm in no hurry when it comes the handloading the 44s

Thank again