lloveless
Member
I use Corbon .44 spcl 165 gr hp in my maggie.
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.44Mag Self-Defense Loads (Factory)
- Thread starter roo_ster
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Manco, I use a heavier solid in winter months for penetration. Most hollow points will clog with clothing and fail to expand. I change loads because most HP's are lighter and lose penetration as you add layers of clothing.
This is my opinion only and I have no real tests to confirm my thoughts other than shooting into phone books that I kept adding clothing to, not very scientific I know, but the best I can do.
This is my opinion only and I have no real tests to confirm my thoughts other than shooting into phone books that I kept adding clothing to, not very scientific I know, but the best I can do.
Grey Morel
Member
I'm confused...
These statements seem mutually exclusive: In one sentence you say the HP will clog with fabric and not expand, yet in the very next one you say clothing will reduce its penetration?
I think you have that backwards: failure to expand virtually always results in DEEPER penetration in every caliber known to man.
Look at the actual data: even a light weight 180gr hollow point will still average 13" of penetration after expanding to 3/4". If this bullet were to "clog with clothing" as you say, the penetration would be even deeper. The 240 grain factory loads expand just as big (3/4") and penetrate 20+ inches of tissue.
I seriously doubt the puffy jacket from local thrift stores will provide your attacker any protection from a 44 magnum; every properly placed shot is going to penetrate to vitals, regardless of bullet weight; anyone attacking a man with a 44 magnum had better be 100+ yards away wielding a RIFLE.
Why are so many people worried about 'penetration' with a .44 magnum? This seems like a non issue to me.
These statements seem mutually exclusive: In one sentence you say the HP will clog with fabric and not expand, yet in the very next one you say clothing will reduce its penetration?
I think you have that backwards: failure to expand virtually always results in DEEPER penetration in every caliber known to man.
Look at the actual data: even a light weight 180gr hollow point will still average 13" of penetration after expanding to 3/4". If this bullet were to "clog with clothing" as you say, the penetration would be even deeper. The 240 grain factory loads expand just as big (3/4") and penetrate 20+ inches of tissue.
I seriously doubt the puffy jacket from local thrift stores will provide your attacker any protection from a 44 magnum; every properly placed shot is going to penetrate to vitals, regardless of bullet weight; anyone attacking a man with a 44 magnum had better be 100+ yards away wielding a RIFLE.
Why are so many people worried about 'penetration' with a .44 magnum? This seems like a non issue to me.
tex929rr
Member
roo ster I have been shooting a load very much like you describe for years in my 629 - 44 mag case with a 240 SWC loaded to 44 spl specs. It's pleasant to shoot and will seriously tear stuff up (armadillos in particular). I also loaded the same bullets for a S/W Nightguard in 44 spl, although it feels a lot more stout in that lightweight revolver.
44 spl is so hard to find (and expensive) I just figured I'd stay with this load and not worry about factory ammo. I bought a huge box of those bullets about 15 years ago and have not used them up yet.
44 spl is so hard to find (and expensive) I just figured I'd stay with this load and not worry about factory ammo. I bought a huge box of those bullets about 15 years ago and have not used them up yet.
I thought about hand-loading one of the low/med power .44mag bullets (Gold Dot, Hydra-Shok, etc.), but I could not find that the manufacturers sold them as components. I found plenty of tough hunting .44mag pills, though.
I think I will try out these two, with no guarantee that I will convert to factory fodder:
Fed Premium Personal Defense .44mag
240gr jhp @ 1210fps
Hydra-Shok
Corbon Self-Defense DPX .44mag
225gr @ 1350fps
DPX all-copper
I bought a box of 20 of the Corbon DPX retail at a local gun shop and about had a coronary at $51.xx + tax.
For the love of all that is holy, $2.50/round is tough to swallow.
I am seriously considering just switching out the hard-cast 240gr LSWC for the Hornady swaged 240gr LSWC-HP and seeing if it has a similar POI to the 240gr LSWC I currently use
http://www.hornady.com/store/44-Cal-.430-240-gr-SWC-HP/
I think I will try out these two, with no guarantee that I will convert to factory fodder:
Fed Premium Personal Defense .44mag
240gr jhp @ 1210fps
Hydra-Shok
Corbon Self-Defense DPX .44mag
225gr @ 1350fps
DPX all-copper
I bought a box of 20 of the Corbon DPX retail at a local gun shop and about had a coronary at $51.xx + tax.
For the love of all that is holy, $2.50/round is tough to swallow.
I am seriously considering just switching out the hard-cast 240gr LSWC for the Hornady swaged 240gr LSWC-HP and seeing if it has a similar POI to the 240gr LSWC I currently use
http://www.hornady.com/store/44-Cal-.430-240-gr-SWC-HP/
Couldn't find the Federal cartridges or the Hornady swaged LWSCHP bullets to save my life.
The solid gold--er--copper 225gr Corbons hit dead-on (POI=POA) at 7 yards with my sights adjusted for my handload and 6" high at 25 yards. Also, they gave a teeny-tiny group. Recoil was more zippy than my handload, but not bad.
I still want to try the Feds and the Hornady swaged LSWCHP. I think a .44mag / .44spl+P "FBI Load" would be just the ticket.
The solid gold--er--copper 225gr Corbons hit dead-on (POI=POA) at 7 yards with my sights adjusted for my handload and 6" high at 25 yards. Also, they gave a teeny-tiny group. Recoil was more zippy than my handload, but not bad.
I still want to try the Feds and the Hornady swaged LSWCHP. I think a .44mag / .44spl+P "FBI Load" would be just the ticket.
Taurus 617 CCW
Member
You may want to take a look at the Nosler 250 gr Partition handgun rounds. I have seen some pretty impressive results from those rounds on medium game. They are loaded by Winchester and are called Partition Gold. They may be a little too hot for your intended purpose but I thought I'd throw another rock in the pond for you. Here's a link to some more info:
http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/partition_0611/index.html
http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/partition_0611/index.html
Taurus 617 CCW:
Oddly enough, I use the .357mag version of that in my titanium Taurus snubby 651 and it makes an honest 1000fps over my chrony 10' from the muzzle. The Win Partition Gold was the only .357mag where POI was anywhere near POA. It is also crazy accurate/consistent. Your article claims 17" though gelatin at 1200fps, which is right in the 12"-18" zone. I have a review/test of the Win Part Gold here on THR.
As for the Win Part Gold .44mag, Win claims 1230fps out of a 6.5" bbl. I bet it would be a little over 1000fps out of my 4" 629. That is the neighborhood I'm looking for.
I'll give the .44mag a try, since the .357mag has served me well.
Oddly enough, I use the .357mag version of that in my titanium Taurus snubby 651 and it makes an honest 1000fps over my chrony 10' from the muzzle. The Win Partition Gold was the only .357mag where POI was anywhere near POA. It is also crazy accurate/consistent. Your article claims 17" though gelatin at 1200fps, which is right in the 12"-18" zone. I have a review/test of the Win Part Gold here on THR.
As for the Win Part Gold .44mag, Win claims 1230fps out of a 6.5" bbl. I bet it would be a little over 1000fps out of my 4" 629. That is the neighborhood I'm looking for.
I'll give the .44mag a try, since the .357mag has served me well.
"You seem to have ruled out the 165 gr Cor-Bon, but that is my carry load, I like the C-B because it has less muzzle flash than most other brands plus you can also get it in .44 Spl. " Batman
Also, out of a 629 Mtn. Gun I find the recoil and recovery about the same as shooting a 125 gr JHP out of a 4" medium frame gun.
Also, out of a 629 Mtn. Gun I find the recoil and recovery about the same as shooting a 125 gr JHP out of a 4" medium frame gun.
NMGonzo
Member
Has anyone chronographed a any load moving over 1200 fps from a 4" barrel?
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Yes. The load I usually carry is a .429" Hornady XTP over some quantity of Herco in a .44 Spc. case @ 1,250 fps.
That's from my 4" 629.
That's from my 4" 629.
The_Pretender
Member
^ I'm glad Sam mentioned the XTP. That thing is scary. I load it in .44 mag and .357 mag. Sometimes there is jacket separation, but most of the slugs we dug up were still whole. And the expansion was easily 2x. Granted it was my loadings and my guns.
That being said, I still wouldn't probably carry a .44 mag load. It would be a .44 special load. Matter of fact, that is what I have had at the ready in the past. 180gn Hornady XTP .44 specials. They are very controllable, and I'm most certain would be a deterrent to most people. (Hell just hearing it go off oughtta be enough to end it)
I know we all get caught up in numbers and performance - it's what we do in what I call the "down time". That is, we aren't in a battle situation so we have the opportunity to discuss issues such as this. We seldom if ever have to prove it, so we go nuts with this as it is our outlet. I've recently been pouring over stats for 9mm loadings. And I always arrive at my same conclusion that appears at the bottom of this post.
I am more than certain, and unashamed to announce to you all that ANY .44 mag slug that hits me in the chest will convince me I should have been elsewhere. I would go one step further to say that no matter what we all opine to be the "best" load, no one here would want to be shot by any of them.
That being said, I still wouldn't probably carry a .44 mag load. It would be a .44 special load. Matter of fact, that is what I have had at the ready in the past. 180gn Hornady XTP .44 specials. They are very controllable, and I'm most certain would be a deterrent to most people. (Hell just hearing it go off oughtta be enough to end it
)I know we all get caught up in numbers and performance - it's what we do in what I call the "down time". That is, we aren't in a battle situation so we have the opportunity to discuss issues such as this. We seldom if ever have to prove it, so we go nuts with this as it is our outlet. I've recently been pouring over stats for 9mm loadings. And I always arrive at my same conclusion that appears at the bottom of this post.
I am more than certain, and unashamed to announce to you all that ANY .44 mag slug that hits me in the chest will convince me I should have been elsewhere. I would go one step further to say that no matter what we all opine to be the "best" load, no one here would want to be shot by any of them.
scottishclaymore
Member
I have a 4" bbl Taurus Tracker that I am doing some work on for a friend. I like the gun a lot and I'm seriously thinking about making him an offer on it. If/when I do, I'll be using it as a carry gun, so this is of interest to me as well. Sounds like the Remington Express .44 Magnum ammo might just be my best bet.
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