.44 mag 240grn swc

[JM531]

I just came into a handful of .44 mag 240 grain cast swc. Was going to work up some loads to plink/target practice with. Will shoot them out of both a revolver and lever gun.
I have a few powders to work with, bullseye/2400/unique/231/titegroup.
Anyone have any favorite recipes and/or speeds to report?

 

[lightman]

Out of the powders that you listed I probably would start with the 2400. Unique would would be my 2nd choice. Bullseye and 231 are pretty fast burning to use in a case that large, in my opinion. The suggested starting load for 2400 or Unique should be comfortable to shoot in your revolver. Some lever guns won't reliably feed SWC's so don't be too disappointed if you have problems there. I had to go to a flat pointed round nose in my rifle.

 

[JJFitch]

What is your intended purpose?
For plinking use the faster powders at around 850 FPS. For magnum recipes use 2400 and magnum primers!

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I had good luck with Titegroup at around 1100fps for a mild load.

Go with 2400 if you want more power.

 

[.38 Special]

This post contains load data which exceeds modern recomendations and may be dangerous to use.

The absolute classic load with that bullet is 22 grains of 2400, as per Elmer Keith. That has always been a very hot load - and there is some argument that today's 2400 is hotter than Keith's 2400 - so it probably is wise to consider 21 grains as maximum. And unless your gun has better-than-average dimensions, and your bullet happens to fit the gun, the load may cause more leading than you want to deal with. In general, 19 grains makes for a very good all-rounder which may be less demanding of the gun/bullet.

Another old classic with that bullet is 10 grains of Unique, which should be safe and under maximum in a good revolver. I also have found that 8.5 grains makes a pleasant and consistent mid-range load, and for plinking may be just the ticket.

I haven't found any loads with Bullseye or 231 that worked as well as I'd like, and I don't have much experience with the cartridge in rifles, so all of the above should be taken as information for use in heavy revolvers.

 

[JO JO]

depends on what you like
Unique works great for mid level loads or 2400 for more of a magnum flash bang load

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I like Unique with a 240 cast.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I just came into a handful of .44 mag 240 grain cast swc. Was going to work up some loads to plink/target practice with. Will shoot them out of both a revolver and lever gun.
I have a few powders to work with, bullseye/2400/unique/231/titegroup.
Anyone have any favorite recipes and/or speeds to report?

They’re bevel base bullets. And probably a very hard alloy - lots of tin for good fill and to keep them pretty after getting bounced around in shipping. Use W231 or Unique at the middle load range for a generic “Keith-style” SWC. If you push them too hot they will leak around the base and you will get leading. You will also get a lot of smoke as that wax lube burns off.

Good bullets for plinking but I would keep them down to .44Spl velocity.

 

[derek45]

plinking -
6.5gr win231

warm-
10gr Unique or 9.0gr Universal

max
24gr H110/win296

 

[vanfunk]

I’d echo .38 Special’s suggestion and go with 19 grains of 2400 behind those SWCs. That’s my go-to load and is very accurate in all my .44s. It’s definitely in magnum territory but isn’t punishing.

 

[buck460XVR]

Will shoot them out of both a revolver and lever gun.

Some of the Marlin levers with Micro-groove don't like lead and .44 rifle chamber dimensions are different than revolver, so sometimes what shoots well outta one doesn't shoot worth a darn outta the other. Do you know the diameter of those bullets?

 

[.38 Special]

I’d echo .38 Special’s suggestion and go with 19 grains of 2400 behind those SWCs. That’s my go-to load and is very accurate in all my .44s. It’s definitely in magnum territory but isn’t punishing.

I missed the part about the bevel bases, and am almost at the point of retracting my suggestion. While I generally think 19 grains of 2400 approaches perfection, I'm betting that load with those particular bullets leads pretty badly. If the OP tries it, I hope he will report back.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

For a mild load, I like 10 grains of Unique.
For a heavier thumper, 18-20 grains of 2400.

My favorite load is with H110/W296. I know it's not on your list, but if you can get some in the future, it's awesome. It's for full throttle loads.

 

[handyman163]

All these are in 44 mag cases, Federal Large pistol primers (NOT magnum) and 240gr Hi-Tek Coated LSWC that measure out to 13 brinell hardness. I've gotten exactly zero leading in any of these loads I've tested with 0.430" dia bullets. These were tested in 4.2" Ruger Redhawk and 7.5" Ruger Super Blackhawk.

6.0gr Bullseye are a lot of fun at ~850fps (4" bbl) and 865 (7.5" bbl) VERY mild
8.0gr HP38/Win231 steps it up to ~965 (4"bbl) and 1000 (7.5" bbl) These are a real sweet spot for me - fun and not tiring to shoot at all.
7.5gr HP38/Win231 is also 965fps (4" bbl) when the LSWC is deeply seated and crimped just ahead of the front driving band. I plink with these now to save powder.
8.5gr Unique gives 960fps (4" bbl) and 1040fps (7.5" bbl) Great load - VERY consistent velocities and great accuracy.
19.0gr 2400 with a normal Large primer is good for 1215fps in 4" bbl and ~1300fps in 7.5" bbl. These are amazingly accurate!!!

I tried the classics (Unique and 2400) first, and they're real good performers. I tried the HP38/231 loads because I had a lot of it, and they work great for plinking, but are somewhat position-sensitive for velocity at all charges that i tested. However, you'd need a chronograph to see that...it doesn't show up on paper at 10-25yds. I tried the bullseye load to get a real mild 44spec-level load, and it worked out great. Hopefully something here will help you dial it in and have some fun.

 

[Riomouse911]

9.5 to 10.0 Unique has been my happy zone for .44 Mag/240 gr swc since I started reloading in the mid-1990’s.

Stay safe.

 

[Bazoo]

I like 10 grains Unique for a general purpose 44 Magnum load.

 

[LV Gun]

I just came into a handful of .44 mag 240 grain cast swc. Was going to work up some loads to plink/target practice with. Will shoot them out of both a revolver and lever gun.
I have a few powders to work with, bullseye/2400/unique/231/titegroup.
Anyone have any favorite recipes and/or speeds to report?

My 2 powders I use most for that bullet are Blue Dot and 2400 when can’t find them I use Ram Shot Enforcer but I have also used W296/H110 all with great results.

 

[Palladan44]

9gr. Unique - general purpose- 900fps
Not starting here would be blasphemy.

20gr. 2400 - Medium game
1250fps ish. Pllllennnty of power, I've never had the need to go hotter than this. Just as accurate as the target load.
Again, if you have 240gr LSWC and 2400 on hand you MUST use this combo. Not doing so is, well you

Only thing is you may get more leading in the barrel w/ the 2400 load due to velocity and how well the slugs fit the bore, etc. etc. But I have a feeling Elmer is looking out for you.

 

[JM531]

I got around to loading some rounds with 10gr Unique. Out of my 6” 629 they are shooting an average of 1164fps. 1.60” COL.

Have not tried in the lever gun yet.

 

[dobedo]

I got around to loading some rounds with 10gr Unique. Out of my 6” 629 they are shooting an average of 1164fps. 1.60” COL.

Have not tried in the lever gun yet.

Typically, when shooting pistol ammo from a rifle depending on the barrel length and twist you could gain up to an additional 300 fps.

 

[Targa]

I use 231 for mild and moderate 240 grain loads. Not that 231 is the best powder but it is the only one of your available powders I have tested with. Out of a 5.5” SBH 6.0 grains showed 791 fps and 10 grains produced 1161 fps through my chronograph. For magnum loads I have only used H110, AA9 and Enforcer.

 

[black mamba]

I like 9.0 gr. of HP38 (W231) for about 1050-1100 fps depending on barrel length. This is where the pressure was enough to shoot clean, lighter loads left a lot of soot on the cases.

 

[JM531]

I got around to loading some rounds with 10gr Unique. Out of my 6” 629 they are shooting an average of 1164fps. 1.60” COL.

Have not tried in the lever gun yet.

Put them through lever gun today, average velocity was 1351 fps.
Out of super Blackhawk the average was 1185 fps.

 

[Shooterbob]

How was the accuracy out of the guns you fired

 

[GRIZ22]

Another vote for 10.0 grs of Unique. Gives me about 1000 fps. I use 296 for full power loads.