light .44's

[fearless leader]

I recently acquired an 8" Model 629. I have been shooting 200 grain 44 specials in it, as the local range doesn't allow 44 magnum loads.
I had a nice soft shooting, almost pellet gun like, load in 44 magnum brass, but I'm told there is folly in loading down H110; something about a "pressure curve." I would load the magnum brass with 14.1 gr. of H110 with a 240 gr. Keith SWC, and while I didn't have a chronograph, they were quite mild, and reliable in that gun; evidenced by thousands of them fired without a hitch. I last used this load during the 1990's on steel plates. It didn't get the gun very dirty, either.
I like to start large bore newbies off with light recoiling stuff, so they don't develop that infernal flinch, like I did. My first handgun experience was a aluminum framed Dan Wesson with full powered 158 gr. 1960's vintage 357 magnum (HOT!) rounds, especially for a 12 year old. They were so hot, I could feel burning on my forehead whenever I shot! I got a terrible flinch that it took years to cure.
Does anyone have some soft shooting loads they have had good success with in this arena? Stories to tell?

Disclaimer: the load I listed is not, to my knowledge, listed in any approved loading manual; use the data at your own risk. It worked in 3 of my guns, but they were strong, well maintained, and in good condition. I don't know about yours.

 

[Saw-Bones]

During the early 80s our range offered competition in PPC. There were several very high ranking competitors, so I participated just for the fun of it. I used my 4” S&W 29 and I developed a very low recoiling load.

I used a .430 diameter, 180gr. wadcutter and around 3gr. of Win. 231. It was soft shooting and accurate and there was an advantage of the bigger than .38 diameter bullet cutting a larger circle for the same POI with the possibly of cutting a scoring line for a higher score. I did well with it, but I always was behind the top guys.,, okay by me and I had a good time.

Disclaimer: the load I listed is not, to my knowledge, listed in any approved loading manual, so use the data at your own risk.

PS - The bullets were made by a local caster who has since gone into the sunset, so no further info about them is available to me.

 

[Gtscotty]

I like to shoot my 629 with 240gr cast over a medium-light load of HP-38/W231, I'd have to check, but I believe I use 8.2gr. Velocity is around 1,000 fps, but in an N frame, its a nice casual plinking load.

 

[theleo]

Trail Boss works great for plinking loads and fills the case. Clays makes some nice mild loads as well. I personally go through a lot Tight Group, Universal, and Unique for general every day loads in my 44 special. For a pellet gun type recoil though, I use Trail Boss.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm told there is folly in loading down H110; something about a "pressure curve." I would load the magnum brass with 14.1 gr. of H110 with a 240 gr. Keith SWC, and while I didn't have a chronograph, they were quite mild, and reliable in that gun; evidenced by thousands of them fired without a hitch.

Yes there is folly in loading H110/W296 light. It's called poor ignition resulting in a stuck bullet. Not only that, but one can get the same or better performance from a faster powder and get 2-3 times more ammo from a pound.

 

[murf]

had a bunch of 38 special rounds loaded up with h110. shooting these rounds was quite interesting: some fired fine, most had a weak report and left a light brown dust all over the revolver, after the second stuck bullet in the barrel i pulled all the bullets and dumped the powder, didn't have any hangfires, but was expecting to at each pull of the trigger.

suggest you don't down-load h110.

luck,

murf

 

[Smilin Jack]

Have had great luck in my Taurus Raging Bull Titanium 4" using 2400 at the minimum listed charge behind cast 255gr SWC Keith. The Trail Boss sounds like it might be a nicer load.

Dave

 

[Malamute]

9 grs Unique or Clays Universal makes a very pleasant medium powered load with 200/240/250 gr bullets. Have shot vastly more of that load than any other in 44s over the years. Runs about 1000 fps on average.

 

[Buck13]

I have some of these on order:
http://westernbullet.com/saeco944.html

I don't see any .44 wadcutter data in my three manuals, or Hodgdon's website. Since I do have data for a .44 Russian with a 200 grain RNFP at a COAL slightly shorter than .44 Mag brass, and a 200 grain RNFP should be slightly longer than a 200 grain WC, I expect loading the WC flush with the .44 Mag case mouth should give close enough to the same case volume below the bullet. I'm going to try a .44 Russian charge of HP-38.

If I have a bad leading problem with those, I'll give up and try a 200 gr JHP, seated to the cannelure, of course, and a .44 Special charge. Not such a popgun, but I don't want to go light enough to worry about sticking a jacketed bullet.

 

[Malamute]

If I have a bad leading problem with those,...

Did you get them sized to fit your gun?

 

[atblis]

Trailboss works nicely. Makes my 329pd tolerable.

 

[CraigC]

Yes there is folly in loading H110/W296 light. It's called poor ignition resulting in a stuck bullet. Not only that, but one can get the same or better performance from a faster powder and get 2-3 times more ammo from a pound.

See, we agree every now and then.

H110 is the wrong powder for light loads. It needs volume and it needs pressure to operate properly. You WILL get better performance with a faster powder and more loads out of each pound.

 

[Buck13]

Did you get them sized to fit your gun?

He makes any size you want, as long as it's 0.430" His other bullets push through the throats of my revolver with moderate finger pressure.

I've considered asking him if I can order a few hundred unsized and just tumble-lube them myself. If they leaded, I'd assume at that point that I have a thread crush constriction.

 

[TfflHndn]

I regularly use 4.3 grains of Clays/Clay Dot under a 200 grain RNFP coated bullet and it's mild and accurate. I also use RimRock wadcutters with 4.0 grains of Clays/Clay Dot and just won my club's TopGun match with it, so obviously I like the results with that load and I haven't had any leading issues. I also like HS-6 a lot in .44 special loads, but I use the 240 grain bullets and go a mid-range load to get it to burn a bit cleaner.

 

[theleo]

If you load your 44 special brass with Trail Boss you'll be dropping down into the realm of the 44 Russian. In my 44 special Black Hawk it's a little pop gun load. In a 8" 629 the recoil would be so light to be almost laughable.

 

[mdo]

I agree with the Trail Boss suggestion. Turns the .44 mag into an easy shooter.

I have also found that a soft cast 240 grain SWC over 6.0 grains of Bullseye to be a really pleasant and accurate shooter out of my .44s. It is an all day shooter in my Ruger SBH and recoil/noise is practically nonexistent in my Marlin 1894.

 

[Saw-Bones]

@Buck13 - Thanks for the link to the Saeco 200gr wadcutters. It will come in handy when my stash of 180gr. wadcutters run out...... Doc

 

[Shaq]

Trail Boss works great for plinking loads and fills the case. Clays makes some nice mild loads as well. I personally go through a lot Tight Group, Universal, and Unique for general every day loads in my 44 special. For a pellet gun type recoil though, I use Trail Boss.

Trail Boss is my favorite as well. Great in both my 629 Classic and Marlin 1894. Great 100-yd. accuracy.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

Trail Boss is a lot of fun in my .44 magnum lever gun.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

light 44 mag load look for some RedDot 4.5 gr 6.5gr under a 240gr bullet works in my SBH

 

[gonoles_1980]

I have loaded 6.6 grains of Unique with a Speer LSWC 240 gr bullet. About as soft as the 44 spl loads I make for my wife.

 

[doctorjohn]

9 grs Unique or Clays Universal makes a very pleasant medium powered load with 200/240/250 gr bullets. Have shot vastly more of that load than any other in 44s over the years. Runs about 1000 fps on average.

I've used the Unique load get about the same speed. My go-to light load.

 

[Buck13]

@Buck13 - Thanks for the link to the Saeco 200gr wadcutters. It will come in handy when my stash of 180gr. wadcutters run out...... Doc

He's sometimes a little slow to ship, even on things shown as being in stock, so order a couple of weeks before you really need the bullets.

FYI, I think he says his alloy is BHN 12.

 

[Saw-Bones]

^^

Good to know. I appreciate the follow up….. Doc

 

[Drop45]

15 degrees and sunny in NW Indiana today and just got done shooting the same gun as you. 6gr Unique topped off with a 240gr lead pill. Shoots like a .38 in such a heavy revolver.