44 mag with unique

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being wussy load and 10 being a full tilt kickass load.

Where would you say a 255 gr Kieth style boolit over 9.5 gr Unique rates (1.700)? Just curious?

And is this load a good lead boolit (non gas check) hunting load (whitetails at 50 yards max) with a Ruger SBH 7.5". Or do I need to get hotter?

Thanks

 

That load is about an 8....it would probably go through a deer all the way from front to back.

 

My general purpose load is 9.6gr Unique pushing a 240 gr cast WFP or PFP. I shoot a ton of these. Not nearly what I'd consider hot, but stout enough to have fun. And as ColtPython noted, would most likely punch through most deer.

 

Great load! 8-9 on the good load scale

 

Likely a very nice load to shoot...but on the scale of performance I'd give it about a 6-7. Max for Unique and 250 Kieth is about 1200 fps where 2400 or 296 can deliver another 200 fps or more. I'd guess your load is going to be around 1000fps unless the barrel is very short. Not that you need more for even a big deer as the Kieth bullets penetrate well and I agree that your moderate load would probably have trouble finding a deer able to stop it from just about any angle you hit it.

 

[QUOTEOn a scale of 1-10, with 1 being wussy load and 10 being a full tilt kickass load.][/QUOTE]

10. Max H110
9. Min H110
8. 1200 fps with 2400 or 4227
7. 10.5 gr Unique
6. 9.5 gr Unique
5. 8.5 Unique
4. 7.5 Unique
3. 6.5 Unique
2. 44 Special cowboy loads
1. 44 Russian loads

 

Thanks for all the great info.

I especially like Haxby's scale. Looks like I'm at about 60%. I'll bump Unique up a bit on next go round, maybe 10.0/10.5 . I also already have 2400, 4227, and H110 on my shelf, so the next step is easy. H110 is the only one I have never used.

My ultimate goal is to insure I have both accuracy and sufficient whitetail knock down energy at 50 yards.

Again thanks for all the help.

 

Whoa slow down there that load you have is plenty for a deer you have H110 and 2400 give them a try myself I like 19gr of 2400
under my RCBS 245gr Boolit I also like 10gr of Unique under the same H110 is for full tilt magnum loads if that is what your looking for
I never had any luck with IMR 4227 in a 44 mag or in my 454
good luck

 

h110 - strongly suggest you use a magnum primer with this powder.

murf

 

Remember that with handgun cartridges (particularly with SWC's) it's much more important to hit the creature exactly where you need to rather than worrying about a bit more velocity maybe working better. Once your bullet can through and through it....another couple hundred FPS isn't going to make any difference in how dead you make it, unless that additional velocity has made the gun harder to shoot (which it does) and it throws off your ability to be accurate. If you shoot the mild load well....for sure try the hotter ones if you want to experiment but be certain that you can deliver them at the same level of accuracy or you're going to hurt your chances of success rather than help.

 

Murf, now I have a reason to use up those pesty magnum LPP I acquired in an estate sale! Great!
Looks like 9 -10 grains of unique is a favorite of many.
I have seen the 19 grains of 2400 used by others in the past. Wonder if that was an old Kieth recipe?

 

I think the kieth load was 22 gr of 2400
But not 100% sure

 

The load you have is more than enough for deer at 50 yards. If its accurate, no need to go hotter. By all means experiment. You may find increasing the charge may provide more accuracy. But the charge you have now gives you more than enough "power".

 

I am of the opinion that 8.5 grains Unique with a 240 lead bullet is an accurate and powerful load in the 44 Magnum. Any load that pushes a 240 grain bullet 1000 fps is plenty powerful for anything except 700 lb animals.

Code:

S&W M629-4 Stainless, 5" Barrel

                                                                                                                            

240 LSWC 8.5 grs Unique  thrown, Midway Brass WLP                              
25-Nov-04                      T = 58 °F                                                                   
                                                                                                                            

Ave Vel =                        1023                                                                          
Std Dev =                        25                                                                               
ES =                                99                                                                               
Low =                              958                                                                             
High =                             1057                                                                          
N =                                   30                                                                               

                                                                                                                                          

240 LSWC 20.0 grs 2400 thrown, lot 406 Midway cases, Wolf primers                   
T ≈  60-65 ° F                  19-Apr-09                                                                              

Ave Vel =                        1155                                                                                        
Std Dev =                        32                                                                                            
ES =                                 128.4                                                                                       
High =                             1213                                                                                        
Low=                                1084                                                                                        
N =                                   30                                                                                            

240 LSWC 20.0 grs 2400 thrown, lot 406 Midway cases, WLP nickle                     
T ≈  60-65 ° F                  19-Apr-09                                                                              

Ave Vel =                        1120                                                                                        
Std Dev =                        16.09                                                                                       
ES =                                 44.49                                                                                       
High =                             1148                                                                                        
Low=                                1103                                                                                        
N =                                   11                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                    

250 LSWC 22.0 grs 2400 Midway cases, Fed primers                                           
1-Oct-95                          T = 75 °F                                                                                 
    
Ave Vel =                        1336                                                                                         
Std Dev =                        39                                                                                            
ES =                                 108                                                                                          
Low =                               1286                                                                                        
High =                             1394                                                                                        
N =                                   6                                                                                               


240JHP R-P 24.0 grs H110 Midway cases WLP
9-Oct-05                          T = 66 °F               
                                                                        
Ave Vel =                        1228                       
Std Dev =                        21.47                     
ES =                                 70.16                     
Low =                               1268                       
High =                             1197                       
N=                                    22                           

 

I've shot a bunch with 8.5 under 240 cast and its a great mid level load.

 

No 255 on Alliant's site, but there is a cast 250 Keith(that doesn't matter though). 9.5 of Unique is a bit below minimum(9.9 being minimum, so it's not by much. Difference between manuals accounts for it.) out of a 7.5" barrel.
Oh, that makes it wussy. snicker. Mind you, if it's accurate it'll do. Nothing says a deer load has to be nuclear. Lots that says it has to be accurate though.

 

I am just starting to get back into reloading. I can tell you with authority that you can take white tail deer with a lot less than max loads. Last year I took 4 deer with 6 shoots of 44 special silvertip. The rest of the story is the shots were under 40 yards and from my back porch, but the light loads did the job. After I have found the load I want for a new 44 special I will load some 44 mag and the above info is useful - thanks. Do you find the Unique overly dirty?

 

If you use Unique at a higher pressure it is not very dirty at all

 

Double post

 

My best load is 25 grains 4227 with the same RCBS 245 SWC. The load is compressed. Don't know if that helps or not but it works for me. Unique is more like 8.5 or 9 grains and same bullet. These in SBH, 29, or 1894 Marlin.