.44 Russian

[MI2600]

I'm working on reloading the .44 Russian. I ordered some 200gr LRNFP from Missouri Bullet and they arrived today. The only data I could find online notes the AOL as 1.43".

My preliminary loads, with the bullet crimped at the cannelure, measured at 1.255". I'm wondering if the difference could be explained by the flat nosed bullet? The only photos of the originals depict round nose bullets.

My next problem is to find powder data for the 200gr bullet. The original was 246gr. Anyone?

 

[oldpapps]

Looking at an old copy of 'Cartridges of the World' 3rd Edition from 1972...

Page 167 list the .44 Smith &Wesson Russian.
246 grs bullet - 6.0 grs of B'eye - 770 MV - 324 ME - Dup. fact. ball.

Being an original black powder round, I would be concerned with so many things. The weapon. The brass - were these loading for use with the old balloon head brass. ????

Dropping the bullet weight by 46 grains would not brother me, actual, it would make me feel a little better.

If all of your bases are covered, proceed with great care. If not, stop and study more. A great old classic weapon can be replaced, well hands can also but they just don't look the same.

With great care.

 

[MI2600]

I have some eclectic tendencies. I'm actually looking at various calibers I can shoot in my Ruger .44 Magnum. There's the .44 Spl, .44 Colt and the .44 Russian...so far.

I can trim .44 Spl cases down. The .44 Colt is only .06" shorter than the Spl. The Russian is .19" shorter. However, load data for the .44 Colt and .44 Russian is scant even with my old manuals. I did obtain some meager data on the .44 Colt on another site.

My current concern is the AOL for the Russian.

 

[Walkalong]

Roll crimp into the crimp groove and that is the correct OAL for that bullet.

Take your OAL into account when using data with a different OAL. If yours is deeper (Hard to know without knowing the length of the bullet they used.) then you need to stop a bit short of max data. If it is seated less deep (Same caveat) then you can go to max, and maybe a bit more. If the bullet style is very similar, you can figure it is close to the same length.

 

[MI2600]

Thanks.

I was able to find a little more info. But, no one seems to want to commit on an AOL for the various loadings/bullets.

I'll stick with the cannelure as stated.

 

[Walkalong]

No one can tell you the proper OAL for a certain bullet unless they have that bullet to check. Crimp into the cannelure or crimp groove and that is the correct OAL for that bullet with that brass.

Since we also do not have a lab we can't tell you exactly how much to adjust the powder charge, just that if you seat deeper it raises pressures and vice versa.

The only data I could find online notes the AOL as 1.43".

If the data used the same exact bullet, it should be very close. If not, crimp into the cannelure or crimp groove and call it good. Adjust the charge from there if needed.

My preliminary loads, with the bullet crimped at the cannelure, measured at 1.255". I'm wondering if the difference could be explained by the flat nosed bullet? The only photos of the originals depict round nose bullets.

Absolutely.

My next problem is to find powder data for the 200gr bullet. The original was 246gr. Anyone?

Hodgdon online data shows 5 loads for a 200 Gr lead bullet in .44 Russian. Alliant shows 4 loads with a 200 Gr lead bullet under their Cowboy loads in their online data. That should get you started.

 

[Sam1911]

Roll crimp into the crimp groove and that is the correct OAL for that bullet.

INDEED! I load that same bullet by the 1,000s in .44 Spc. (and have also in .44 Russian brass) and you don't have to worry about OAL at all. When you seat, crimp it firmly into the groove. I've even found that crimping firmly into the groove will self-correct for OAL, as the groove is significant enough to pull the bullet down against the case mouth.

As for the charge weight? 6 gr. LESS bullet won't matter at all.

 

[PistolPete45]

You will find that having the shorter brass is kind of a pain sorting Mag Special and Russian . From here on out I will not buy Russian and in 10 or 20 loadings I will be done with those shorty brass casings .. I shoot mostly 44 Specials .. like you I have Magnum guns and 2 5 shot 44 specials .. Picked up a Ranch hand in 44 mag and it screws up with the Russian brass . shoots just fine ejects fine but FTF is common .