Favorite load for 44mag

[grubbylabs]

I am going to pick up a 44 mag tomorrow. It is a 329pd (very light 26Oz) so it wont be a range toy. I will primarily use it for bear, and wolf defense while archery hunting. It is has a 4" barrel.


So what are some of your favorite loads, bullets and powders. I have Blue Dot and power pistol already. I have been loading for my 45acp and the power pistol does not work well with it, but the blue dot does. I would like to be able to use one powder for both. However, the convenience of only having one powder is over ridden by the desire to have a round that functions well.


Thanks for all your input.
Steve

 

[buck460XVR]

I doubt if you would enjoy shooting my favorite .44mag load outta your 329, (23.5 gr of H110/W296 under a 240 gr JHP/JSP), I know my son doesn't. But I do load a round for him that shoots well outta his 329, isn't painfull to shoot, allows for a quick and accurate follow-up shot and one that he's feels confident with against both 4 legged and two legged varmints. It's 9.8 gr. of Unique under a Speer 240 gr JSP. I also use a lot of Unique in loading for my .45ACP.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Well, considering that all my loads were for a Ruger Vaquero, a Marlin 1894 and a 629-2, I doubt you'd find them pleasant in the featherweight 329 (and they'd probably beat it to death in short order). Think 300 grainers at 1,260 from the 5.5" Vaq

I'd say a 240 grainer over 22 grs. H-110 would be a nice compromise. That shows 1250 from a 7.5" tube, so probably 1150-ish from your 4 incher. That's 700 ft/lbs.

Just a thought, but since you haven't bought the gun yet, there may be better (and cheaper) options for woods carry. Example:

I have a Tanfoglio Witness Compact 10mm. Holds 12+1 and has no problem with loads that develop 740 ft/lbs from the 3.5" barrel. The guns cost about $400, weigh 30 ounces empty, and are dimensionally smaller than the 329.

The Witness Compact compared with my recently acquired 3" 629-2:



Obviously not visible in the photo, but the Witness is much thinnner. At exactly 1" slide width, and 1.3" at the grips, it carries flatter than the 1.7" cylinder of the N-frame .44's.

I have pleny of love for my wheelguns, but the fact is an autoloader offers something that carries easier with higher ammunition capacity. Throw the 10mm (or .45 Super) cartridge into that equation, and you get the power, too.

Just a thought, take it FWIW.

 

[grubbylabs]

I have thought long about the 10mm and it is appealing, but I just feel like I should get the 44.

I suspect that if I find the right round for it, I should be able to come up with something comparable to a 454 or Ruger 480 in recoil given how light the gun is.

I have a XD45c for extra round capacity and I think I have a good load to send a wolf rolling, sure hope I get the chance to find out.

 

[454PB]

Bluedot is my favorite powder in .44 magnum for midrange loads, in fact it can come within 10% of the velocity of full house loads.

In a light weight revolver, I'd start out with a 240 gr. bullet and 13 grains of Bluedot. Work up as your recoil tolerance allows. In my Redhawk, 15 grains is my sweet spot.