44Magnum Brass

[JoelSteinbach]

I have about 750 pieces of new 44mag brass, I find the listed loads abusive for plinking. Can I safely load the brass with 44special loads, I currently cast my own 430 240 grain SWC, The load I use for 44 special is 4.7 g of titegroup, the recommended load starts at 9.0 grains for 44 mag. I have been hand loading for about 30 years, I have only blown the grips off one 1911. I double check the condition of my brass more toughly since then.

 

[illinoisburt]

Checked the Hodgdon's website. For cast 240 grain they list 4.7 minimum to 10 grain max. The 9.0 to 10.0 load is for jacketed. With a soft cast bullet it should work fine, though may want to bump up slightly in the low 5's to avoid any potential stuck bullets.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

Thank you, I read too many Lyman publications

 

[Walkalong]

Can I safely load the brass with 44special loads

Yes, but I would stay away from the starting loads. Start at mid-range loads to help make up for the extra space in the case. You don't have to worry about pressure in Mag cases and guns with any sane .44 Spl load.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

And use a bulky powder that fills the case nicely.

 

[FROGO207]

I load at almost full power 44 SPL with 44 MAG casings and they are plenty mild compared to the 44 MAG loads. No problems with stuck bullets this way either.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

Thanks to he input
I will be loading after dinner

 

[Lafitte]

I have shot thousands of 200gr lead bullets in .44mag cases with 5.0 of TG. I like it. TG is not position sensitive nor is it temperature sensitive.

Lafitte

 

[Walkalong]

TG is not position sensitive

That is what they say, but in my testing it has proved to be average in that department as far as velocity is concerned.

 

[Rule3]

Do you have any other powders available.?

JMHO but a slower powder would be better for either 44 Special or Mag.

Not a fan of Titegroup in large cases.

 

[beees]

re 44 loads

Have used unique for years with gas checked cast bullets. Works good in a Ruger super black hawk .Usually 11/12 grains work best. Easy shooting and little recoil.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

Rule3 I have a few pounds each Unique, Bullseye, IMR 4227, AA #2,#5,#7,#9,Power Pistol, H110, N110. I have about 16 lbs of Tite group. Any suggestion, out of my list?

 

[Rule3]

In 44 Special the Skeeter Load is with Unique. It's slower but doesn't meter well for some measuring devices. One of the few calibers I use Unique in.

I like Power Pistol a lot I use it in 9 and 40 never tried it in 44 Mag or special.I do not have any of the AA powders so I can not give first hand info on those.

But seeing as you have so much Titegroup I also would be trying to use that up! That should last you forever!

As you want plinking loads and not full magnums as guess use what you have the most of and it will give you easy to shoot loads. Just be careful weighing that darn stuff out.

 

[BCRider]

There's a heap of folks I shoot cowboy action with that load 5gns of Tightgroup in .45Colt rounds with 200 and 240gn bullets. No issues and at least acceptable accuracy. And the case of a .45Colt is even more roomy than a .44Mag.

The 5gn load in .45Colt with a 200gn bullet listed in the sometimes hard to find Hodgdon cowboy loading manual shows a pressure of only 4700 CUP. The same 5gn starting load for a .44Mag with a 200gn bullet lists the pressure at 11,000 CUP. So if you don't like a measely 840 fps you could go even lighter.

Keep in mind that as the velocity falls the accuracy may fall with it. You'll want to try some various loads and see how well these perform.

Someone has the Cowboy Loading manual up for downloading. Get it now and save it!

http://www.pulverlehrgang.de/Downloads/Ladedaten/CowboyManualHodgdon.pdf