Favorite Lead 44 magnum loads?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have just begun to search for cast loads in my 44 as well. The last trip out, I loaded from 17.5 through 20.5grs of 2400 looking for the best groups. I was shooting rested through a chrono and the target was at 50yds, as I was also trying to recover my bullets in a 6gal bucket filled with sand.

The best group came with 18grs so far, but I'm are not quite there yet. I will revisit the same testing using different primers as I feel the Winchester's might have been a tad hotter than needed.

I am looking for a hunting, and with my own cast HP's I want accuracy over velocity. After shooting almost one hole groups with both my 45 Colt and my 41 mag, I feel the 44 is lacking to say the least. The 18gr load was just over 3" at best. This might sound good, but the 45 Colt load shoots just over 5" at 100, and just over 1.5" at 50, and I feel these can be improved upon with a better effort on my part. .
 
429421 wheel weight, Alox lube, 17.5 2400. Nice mid range load. (sized to chamber throat dia.)
 
Being that the 240gr SWC bullets from SNS casting are a non gas check design, I'd probably steer clear of H110 and 2400, concentrating on Unique (I have no experience with Blue Dot or Titegroup in .44 Magnum). I've gotten some pretty bad leading with H110 and 2400 pushing plain base bullets at higher velocities.
Work up a load with Unique until you reach the power level you want combined with decent accuracy. In my experience, Unique has to be loaded so that it has enough pressure to burn cleanly before it will give good accuracy long term, I usually hit that "sweet spot" somewhere around 10 grains or a touch more.
Swampman
 
Two of my favorite loads for the 44 mag:

240 gr. SWC pushed by 10.5 grs. Unique.

240 gr. SWC pushed by 20.1 grs. 4227.

Accurate, nice shooting.
 
Sorry to be a dummy but who is SNS casting? Never heard of them. I look for new bullets to try. My 44 mag load is lyman 429244 a 240 gr. gas check cast hard over 22 gr. 2400 powder. Gives 1400 fps in 8.5" t/c. Have fun and bangaway.
 
Powder: 7.5.0 gr A-A No.5
Brass: W-W
Bullet: 200gr Mid-Kansas LRNFP
Primer: Various
OAL: 1.575"
Type: Light

Velocity: 750 fps (guessing) from a 5.5" revolver.

This is basically at low level .44 Spl load in a .44 Mag case, bullet seated deeply to achieve the short COAL.
 
44 Special with 240 or 250gr lswc-Alliant Unique Powder

Got a 629 but only .44special brass could you load 10gr unique and 240gr lswc in that special case?
Click to expand...
NO Alliant Data shows 6.9 gr maximum. Lyman cast shows 8.0gr Maximum. Start at 6.0 gr. and work up as always. :)
 
Since the mid 1970s: 255 grn swc from a Saeco mold over 18grns of 2400. 1200fps in my Smith and a little more in my Super Blackhawk. ACCURATE!
 
Thanks to all for the recipes, I FINALLY was able to get out to the range with a couple I made

240SWC over 4.9gr TiteGroup
240SWC over 8.2gr TiteGroup
240SWC over 9.5gr Unique

Oddly enough, the Titegroup loads worked best in my revolver, and had a lot less smoke than the Unique load. The Unique load was really smokey (though the only thing I have to compare it to was the TiteGroup loads). Some streaks and stuff at the forcing cone and alone the barrel, but I think that might just be the lube of other stuff since one round of a 180gr XTP over 31gr H110 cleaned it up perfectly. Overall a positive day.

Best part of the day was the Wife was with me, and she shot some of the 4.9 TG loads. And with them being rounds 3-9 that she's ever fired from a 44, she had a dinner plate sized group around the bull at 14yd's (I'm so proud :D)

Oddity, with the 4.9gr of TG loads, when she was shooting them, they looked like tracers when viewed from an off angle in bright sunlight, I could see them go through the air and hit the target.
 
20gr. Hercules 2400, 429-421 RSBH 7.5in. Gets your attention!
 
This is a .45 Colt +P load that I really like: 255 grain cast bullet, 12.2 grains of Herco.

An equivalent .44 Magnum load would be 12 to 12.5 grains of Herco with a 240 cast bullet. I would classify it as "medium plus"

Also try 7.5 to 8.0 grains of Red Dot or Promo for a "low to medium" magnum load.
 
20gr. Hercules 2400, 429-421 RSBH 7.5in. Gets your attention!



This load is snappy in my Contender. It also clocks over 1500FPS out of my 10in. bull barrel.
 
Got a couple :

240g LTFC, 10.5g Unique

245g GCLSWC : 22.0g H-110, Magnum primer.

When I get my 44 back though, I'm gonna have to continue my research on HS-6....as it is used on my buckshot loads too, and I love multi-purpose.
 
There is more published data found everywhere for a 240gr bullet (jacketed and cast lead) in 44 Mag caliber than any other combination I know of.

But if you want to ask, I'll bite too. I have an old Lyman manual from the 70's that lists 22.5gr of 2400 behind a 240gr gas check cast lead bullet.

Also, 6 to 7 gr of Bullseye is very pleasurable and very accurate.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
Favorite .44 Magnum loads - all three flavors!
Replies
22
Views
5K
Bula
Bula
C Younger
  • Locked
Missouri Bullet Co. vs Laser Cast
Replies
2
Views
936
C Younger
C Younger
H
  • Locked
240 Gr Lead 44 special loads
Replies
9
Views
718
mdi
mdi
Olon
  • Locked
First Venture in Lead Centerfire
Replies
8
Views
452
PapaG
P
C
  • Locked
Looking for a 44 magnum bullet
Replies
18
Views
2K
Legionnaire
Legionnaire
Back
Top