keith5008
Member
I'm about to buy a S&W .44 mag pistol. Thinking I can load .44 spl loads. I load 9mm, .38spl, and .45 acp today. Havent done much research. 240gr bullets? Can I get brass? I have win231 and imr 700x powder. Thoughts?
.44 Special Reloads
- Thread starter keith5008
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Mad Chemist
Member
Look for a can of Unique. It's the cat's ass for .44spl and works very well for 9mm and for shooting lead from the .45acp.
HammeringHank
Member
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700 X is a good light target load for .44 Special reloads. Buying brass should not be a problem. You will have to do extra cleaning on in the cylinders. Good luck and have fun.
slamfirev10
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i use universal clays, fine target loads, brass lasts many loads
ArchAngelCD
Member.
W231 is a very good choice for loading the 44 Special especially since that's what you have.
I'm a fan of the 200gr bullet in the 44 Special over the 240gr bullet. IMO it just shoots better. Save the 240gr bullets for the 44 Magnum. lol
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=0&category=5&secondary=12
I'm a fan of the 200gr bullet in the 44 Special over the 240gr bullet. IMO it just shoots better. Save the 240gr bullets for the 44 Magnum. lol
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=0&category=5&secondary=12
4895
Member
I have used Win 231 and it works well. I prefer Unique but as stated before, better to try out 231 since you have it and maybe pick up a lb. of Unique if you happen to find it. I wouldn't spend any time driving around looking for it but if it was on the shelf when I stopped in the LGS I would advise you to try it. It works great for .44 mag cast bullet loads as well. If you wanted to try some 240 grain SWC bullets in 44 mag, I think 10.0 grains of Unique is a popular load (my favorite plinker), and it would save you from finding 44 special brass and cleaning the cylinder anymore than usual. Just my .02
YMMV.
P.S. You can safely download the 44 mag to 44 special levels if you can't find brass. Unless you have a range restriction, I wouldn't bother looking for special brass.
YMMV.
P.S. You can safely download the 44 mag to 44 special levels if you can't find brass. Unless you have a range restriction, I wouldn't bother looking for special brass.
Vihtavuori powder works really well in .44 Special. The N320, N330, N340, and N350 line depending on what bullet you are using. I have had good success with N350 with the 200 grain XTP and 240 grain LSWC.
In my Dillon 550b it meters very consistent, and I mean on the money or +/- .1 of a grain. Generally it is right on the money ever throw.
Here is the load data:
http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/6/22
A lot of people have had good luck with Unique, but I have not in the .44 line. My .44 Mag nor my .44 SPC like Unique. For 9mm it works great. I'd rather use N350, Trail Boss, or 2400 in the .44 SPC. I haven't tried Win 231, but I would like to. Especially since I am going to be loading for .45 ACP.
In my Dillon 550b it meters very consistent, and I mean on the money or +/- .1 of a grain. Generally it is right on the money ever throw.
Here is the load data:
http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/6/22
A lot of people have had good luck with Unique, but I have not in the .44 line. My .44 Mag nor my .44 SPC like Unique. For 9mm it works great. I'd rather use N350, Trail Boss, or 2400 in the .44 SPC. I haven't tried Win 231, but I would like to. Especially since I am going to be loading for .45 ACP.
RealGun
Member
I use 200 gr XTP and 240 gr SWC, both with 8.5-8.6 gr HS-6 and magnum primer. I like fullish power in the .44 Spl, so your preference may be different.
SR4756 at 7.5 gr works too, again with the mag primer to help get a clean burn.
Trailboss is always good in a big case. That one I'll bet you can find right now. I bought a jar at a show last Sat and at the show before that.
SR4756 at 7.5 gr works too, again with the mag primer to help get a clean burn.
Trailboss is always good in a big case. That one I'll bet you can find right now. I bought a jar at a show last Sat and at the show before that.
700X is great with lead in .44 Spl, but W-231 is also very good and will work with plated or jacketed as well, so you are good to go there.
If you cannot get .44 Spl brass, use Mag brass and bump the charge .1 or .2 Grs.
I like 200, 215, & 240 Gr bullets in .44 Spl, but anything from 180 to 240+ will work.
If you cannot get .44 Spl brass, use Mag brass and bump the charge .1 or .2 Grs.
I like 200, 215, & 240 Gr bullets in .44 Spl, but anything from 180 to 240+ will work.
blarby
Member
You are in good territory.
From the Hornady 6th :
180g lead : COL 1.490
700x : 4.4gr at 700 FPS to 6.4g (MAX) at 900fps
w231 5.2g to 7.2g for same
240g Lead COL 1.490
w231 4.9 for 650 to 6.2 for 800
Both on WLP's, no mag primer needed.
If you are interested in a great bullet for 44spc, I'm gearing up for another casting run, and I'm sure more of these are gonna be falling out.
I'd be willing to part with a few for testing, for only the cost of postage once you get your foot a little more firmly established in the nuances of 44spc, and want something a little different/better.
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For .44 Special, I've standardized on the Skeeter load. 7.5g of Unique/Universal under 240g SWC . Basically all I shoot in mine now. One exception is my .44Spec CA Bulldog where I drop to 6.0g of Unique/Universal. I've tested a lot of other powders too and they work well, but I just gravitated back to the o' standby. Never tried 700x, but mine shot well with 6.0g to 7.0g of W231 under 240g SWC bullet. For that matter, there was only a few loads I found that my test revolver didn't like after all my load testing. .44Special seems to be special that way! Never cared to shoot lighter bullets either. Personal preferece I suppose. 240g SWC for both .44Spec and the .44Mag. All I shoot is lead (no jacketed stuff here). BTW, all my .44Specs are Ruger flattops and New Vaqueros with the exception of the Bulldog. My .44Mag revolvers have fallen into the only 'occasional' usage catagory 
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Salmoneye
Member
You can load .44spcl 'level' loads in .44 mag brass just fine...
This avoids the carbon buildup that can sometimes make chambering .44 mag ammo difficult after shooting a number of .44spcl loads...
This avoids the carbon buildup that can sometimes make chambering .44 mag ammo difficult after shooting a number of .44spcl loads...
Master Blaster
Member
You can make a .44 special LEVEL load with a lead bullet in a .44 mag case. I use trailboss. Trailboss fills the case better and makes no smoke or leading in a low pressure load. Look for cowboy data a 240 grain bullet at 750-900 fps. .44 mag brass is easier to get and will not leave the ring you MAY need to clean before you fire a magnum length case.
RealGun
Member
I load .44 Special for a gun that shoots only that caliber. Your new .44 Mag can easily enough use tamer loads than full up magnums without worrying about .44 Special cases and a separate die setup. The loads might be stouter than .44 Special though. The Lyman book is a good place to start, if loading lead. Otherwise, I am partial to Hornady 9th Edition.
moxie
Member
If you use 180 gr. bullets watch for possibly very low bullet impact.
Buck13
Member
W231 in .44 Mag brass will do fine for light loads. I've shot 240 gr plated or 250 grain lead on 6 gr (very light; .44 Special pressure) or 8 gr (still moderate, but a little more magnumish) HP-38, which is the same powder as W231. If you run out of that, 7 grains of Trail Boss or Red Dot is also a nice light load.
You might also want to spend a few minutes (or days) reading this:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=679964
I've tried using very light bullets (165-190 grain) and didn't like it much, because the POI was about 8 inches lower at 25 yards than with 250s. IMHO, in revolvers powder and velocity have a fairly small effect on POI, while bullet weight seems to affect POI more drastically.
Have fun! The .44 Magnum is a wonderful thing for a handloader. Don't sprain your thumb!
You might also want to spend a few minutes (or days) reading this:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=679964
I've tried using very light bullets (165-190 grain) and didn't like it much, because the POI was about 8 inches lower at 25 yards than with 250s. IMHO, in revolvers powder and velocity have a fairly small effect on POI, while bullet weight seems to affect POI more drastically.
Have fun! The .44 Magnum is a wonderful thing for a handloader. Don't sprain your thumb!
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Kurastduuks
Member
I use 6gr of clays under a 240 cast swc in my 44 spl loads. Soft recoil and a lot of fun
I've loaded the .44 Spl for a few years now. My favorite powders are Universal and 2400. I used to use Unique but switched to Universal because of metering problems with Unique.
My 2 favorite loads are 7.5 gr of Universal and 15.0 gr of 2400 with a 250 gr LSWC.
My 2 favorite loads are 7.5 gr of Universal and 15.0 gr of 2400 with a 250 gr LSWC.
Zeke/PA
Member
Ditto on the Unique choice! I use in in the .44 Mag also.
RealGun
Member
I have never seen any Universal for sale. Clays is nonexistent too. I try to suggest things that have a chance of being available, which isn't much admittedly.
kerreckt
Member
I have used #AA7, 800X,700X,VN350,Titegroup,Clays,Blue Dot and probably some others I cannot recall off the top of my head. I load nothing but bullets that I cast. These are 215 LSWC and the classic Elmer Keith 240gr SWC. Mine are actually about 245gr. It is a fun gun to reload for and there are many options. The one thing I don't do is load to the extreme limits using 2400 that Elmer Keith wrote about. At least I think they are extreme.
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