Light Keith Style 44 Mag Bullet Load Data

[$porting]

I've inherited a significant number of Keith style SWC cast lead bullets that look like they dropped right out of a Lyman 429421 mold. They all are lubed and weigh right at 233 grains which appears to be significantly lighter than any load data I'm able to find for that style bullet. Any suggestions on where I might find 44 magnum load data for a 233 gr SWC cast lead bullet?

 

[243winxb]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Lyman #429360 , 232 gr. Work up to NEAR maximum. Dont load the listed maximum. They are a little on the to hot side. IMO.

View attachment 1007573 Data from Lyman 45 reloading handbook.

 

[$porting]

243winxb, thank you for that information as that will be a great starting point.

 

[Walkalong]

Any suggestions on where I might find 44 magnum load data for a 233 gr SWC cast lead bullet?

Use 240 Gr lead data

 

[v8stang289]

Use 240 Gr lead data

Exactly what I was going to say. I'd probably run 8-10gns of Unique and call it a day.

That's what I load under both 215 swc and 240swc in 44 mag.

 

[$porting]

Thank you Walkalong & v8stang289 for your responses. Good stuff.

 

[forrest r]

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade.

Had that 429360 bullet mold years ago, a 4-cavity I picked up with a bunch of other molds in a buy out. I cast a bunch of those bullets and never cold get them to shoot accurately in anything I tried them in.

Hopefully you have better luck then I did.

 

[BWS]

Will second V8's.... 8-10g of Unique. Somewhere in there,you're going to find a very nice balance of, X ring accuracy,power,and shootability.

One other "area" of loading is,lighter loads using faster,typically bullseye target type powders. Be careful not to go too low(sticking bullets)...... but some of these "target loads" can be stunning. I'm sitting on a LOT of 700X powder. And ain't hurting for lead supply,or moulds. With some judicious tuning/testing, my 44's can tear an X ring up with very mild recoil. You don't hear about target loads out of 44's much anymore,but there was a day when they were king of the hill on accuracy. It can really do wonders for your revolver shooting..... if say you wanted to go big game hunting,with more power in the Fall.

Good luck with your shooting,nuthin better than seeing someone tearing up the X ring stroking a 44.

 

[black mamba]

11-12 grains of HS6. I know many, including Linebaugh, tout HS6 for less than max loads in the 45 Colt, but I've found it to be even better in the 44 mag. It's a dense, low volume powder, and has better case fill in the smaller 44 case.

 

[derek45]

I'd load those up with 10gr UNIQUE or 9gr UNIVERSAL

 

[Bazoo]

Not having specific data for the bullet you have, it's best to load at a level lesser than full bore magnum. You can use any special load in magnum cases, and in general .5-1.0 increase in powder will give you equal velocity.
I've loaded lots of special level 44 mags with 6.0 grains bullseye, as well as 5-5.5 grains. And as suggested I've used plenty of 9-10 grains unique. Starting magnum loads are pleasant and accurate normally.

 

[Targa]

My load data that I shot through a chronograph through a 5.5” Blackhawk with a 240 grain LSWC was 9.8 grains of Universal at an average of a 1146 fps and 7 grains of Universal at an average of 847 fps. The latter is .44spl recoil.

 

[Bazoo]

I've been working with a ranchdog 432-265-RF. Lately I've been using 4.6 bullseye in special cases, out of a 44 special blackhawk. But I have run it with 5.5 bullseye out of magnum cases, as well as full bore loads with 296, out of a SBH. Wrist breakers, they were.

But a heavy special load sure hits hard I'm finding out. And for interest, I'm running those 432-265-RF through my lubesizer with 50/50 lube. And they weight 270 grains from ww+sn alloy.

The special load of 4.6 will cloverleaf at 15 yards when I'm able.

 

[Bazoo]

I'd load those up with 10gr UNIQUE or 9gr UNIVERSAL

View attachment 1007735

Nice looking SBH. What have you done to the front sight?

 

[derek45]

Nice looking SBH. What have you done to the front sight?

It started out as a dull ruger ramp, . . . I carefully filed it to try and get a better, blacker, sight picture.

Later, I installed a fiber optic

 

[Bazoo]

Cool, thanks for the info. I wish all the Blackhawks had that removable blade.

 

[$porting]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Lyman #429360 , 232 gr. Work up to NEAR maximum. Dont load the listed maximum. They are a little on the to hot side. IMO.

View attachment 1007573 Data from Lyman 45 reloading handbook.

243winxb, the load data you provided proved to be very useful and the Unique load was quite comfortable to shoot and accurate as well. I was wondering what you think might be the issue with the load data in the included table and why it is so very different from the data in the Lyman 45 handbook you provided which was very close to the velocities I was getting with my revolver. All of the velocities in the table below are sub 1,000 fps and are taken from "The Complete Reloading Manual for the .44 Magnum" . Even the 2400 powder loads are way off of the velocities I was seeing at 18 & 18.5 grains. In order to crimp the bullet at the cannelure of the cast bullet, my COL turned out to be only 1.631" Would that .024 of less COL impact velocities that significantly? Any ideas on what might be at issue with this data being so very underrated in velocity?

 

[243winxb]

Any ideas on what might be at issue with this data being so very underrated in velocity?

Can only guess. Powder from lot to lot may be different as much as 10% ? Testing methods different ?

More modern loads may list pressure as PSI, not CUP.

 

[$porting]

Probably a combination of all those things. The Lyman data indicated the test gun had a 4 in barrel and my revolver barrel is 7-1/2 in, so that would have some effect. I loaded the minimum on both Unique & 2400 and got consistent chronograph readings that were upwards of 30% & 40% faster than the loading data indicated. As mentioned earlier, they were more inline with data in the information you provided. Oh well, thanks again for your information and input.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I run 10 grains of unique for my 44 mag loads. 180 UP TO 240 grain coated cast boolets. I have a SBH with the 7.5 inch barrel and a CVA rifle.

 

[$porting]

I run 10 grains of unique for my 44 mag loads. 180 UP TO 240 grain coated cast boolets. I have a SBH with the 7.5 inch barrel and a CVA rifle.

What kind of velocities are you getting with that 10 grs of Unique across those different bullet weights? Do you find those to be accurate and comfortable to shoot for extended periods?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I did chronograph the them in my rifle this past winter. I forget the exact numbers. but the were 1200-upper 1400's. They grouped tight out to 75 yards. In the rifle they were comfortable to shoot for awhile. I'll usually run a 100 rounds through it per session. In the SBH i can shoot 5 cylinders through before i get tired and sloppy. If i shoot them in my neighbors SW 29. I can shoot them longer. The 29 has less felt recoil.

 

[$porting]

I did chronograph the them in my rifle this past winter. I forget the exact numbers. but the were 1200-upper 1400's. They grouped tight out to 75 yards. In the rifle they were comfortable to shoot for awhile. I'll usually run a 100 rounds through it per session. In the SBH i can shoot 5 cylinders through before i get tired and sloppy. If i shoot them in my neighbors SW 29. I can shoot them longer. The 29 has less felt recoil.

I'm definitely a believer in the Unique powder loadings. I'm going to load up some more variations for test rounds and get my revolver & rifle dialed in to what they like best. Thanks for your input & good shooting.