Loads for Missouri .44 240gr Elmer K SWC?

[Legionnaire]

So what are some of your favorite loads for this bullet? I'm looking to load some light for targets, some as "heavy" .44 spls for defensive carry, and a few full bore .44 mags for hunting. The first two will launch from a 3-inch 629, while the last will run through either a RH or a SBH, both 5.5-inch. All are going to be loaded in .44 mag cases.

 

[Hanzerik]

Winchester or C.B.C (Magtech) Brass
Winchester WLP Primer
Chey-Cast 240gr LSWC .430
8gr Unique

This is my .44Mag plinking load, which I fire in my two Puma .44Mag lever actions.

 

[flipajig]

i like W231 or HP38 for my 44mag i use this also in my 38spc,357 mag,and 9mm one pdr for all 4 guns. when it comes to plinking loads.

 

[wcwhitey]

10 to 10.5 Grains of Unique in the .44 Magnum. 7.5 Grains in the .44 Special. Both are classic Skeeter loads and will deliver excellent accuracy and decent power. The magnum loading will do just over 1100 fps in my 5" Ruger SBH. This is good for range use and is what I use when carrying the revolver in the field. Plenty capable of taking white tail at 25 yards.

The .44 Special load does 900 fps from the same revolver. This load is really what the .44 Special should be factory loaded at. The Lyman manual puts the max load at 6.9 grains. Just not enough to properly expand the brass and it shoots dirty for me. The 7.5 grain loading is a tack driver and takes out metal bowling pins at 50 yards with much more authority than my .45 1911.

These are my only two handloads for the the .44 Mag any more. I enjoy shooting both so much and they cover all the bases that I don't go crazy stocking other powders and bullets for the .44 Mag. Hopefully this works for you as it did me. The big bonus is that these loads shoot to the same POA/POI at 25 yards. I haven't touched the rear sight in quite a while.

Regards, Bill

 

[warnerwh]

9.0 grains of Unique under a 240gr. bullet is a nice mid power load. It's perfect for my 4 5/8" SBH. As a matter of fact that is the only load I use in that .44. With Unique you can load to fairly light to approaching max loads.
In my DW I like Winchester 296/h110 which are the same powder. With 23.5 grains it is a max load. In case you're unaware these powders cannot be loaded more than 3% less than max. The296/H110 require a magnum primer. If you're looking for the highest velocity 296/h110 is considered by many the best powder. If you want to run a bit under max Alliant 2400 with 18.0 grains of powder is a good load. These loads are all with 240 grain bullets. With the Unique mid power load I use hard cast bullets and jacketed bullets in the other 2 loads.

 

[Legionnaire]

Thanks! Looking forward to picking up some powder and primers this weekend. Everything else is in hand. Now just need some dedicated time ...

 

[Hanzerik]

Hopefully you can find a good source for primers, I have to go down into Colorado to buy primers in bulk. Up here there is only one shop that seems to ever get WLP primers in, and they limit you to 2 sleeves at $5 a piece. I can get a whole brick for $35 down in Colorado which is still high...I sure miss buying a brick for $20 or so. I just got into reloading a couple years ago and wish I would have done it sooner. I would have stocked up on components.

 

[Randy1911]

My favorite load is 10.0 grs. of W231. It is very accurate and mild on recoil.