Looking for a watered down 44 mag suitable for home defense...
- Thread starter Balrog
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If I had wanted a 44 special load, I would have asked for it. I want a light 44 mag load, specifically I want it loaded in 44 mag cases, not 44 special cases. But yes, technically you are correct. What I am looking for is a 44 special load in 44 mag cases.
David E
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Buffalo Bore makes a "reduced .44 magnum" load, but it's a 255 grain SWC @ 1350 fps.
Don't dismiss the .44 Special loads so easily, they appear to solve your stated problem. If you're worried about carbon build up, it's a non-issue. Just brush the chambers out when you're done shooting.
Don't dismiss the .44 Special loads so easily, they appear to solve your stated problem. If you're worried about carbon build up, it's a non-issue. Just brush the chambers out when you're done shooting.
I reload 44 magnum, not 44 special. If I find a factory load I like in 44 mag, then I can then reload those cases. I am not going to load 44 special. I don't have the time or inclination to play around with it from a reloading standpoint. So, 44 special fired cases are useless to me for anything other than trading or scrap.
Actually I think I found what I am looking for. The Winchester Silver Tip is a 210 g bullet @ 1250 fps... a little faster than i would really like, but not too bad.
Actually I think I found what I am looking for. The Winchester Silver Tip is a 210 g bullet @ 1250 fps... a little faster than i would really like, but not too bad.
David E
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When I load .44 Special brass, I simply screw the dies in a bit more. takes all of 20 seconds.
I like to use the Special brass to help identify at a glance which is the full load and which is the light load.
I suppose in a self defense shooting, it would sound "nicer" in court if you used "light .44 Special" ammo as opposed to "Full power .44 MAAAAAGNUM ammo, just like Dirty Harry!"
(yes, I know in "Magnum Force," he admitted to using "light Specials," but the jury won't know that.)
Glad you found the round you were looking for.
I like to use the Special brass to help identify at a glance which is the full load and which is the light load.
I suppose in a self defense shooting, it would sound "nicer" in court if you used "light .44 Special" ammo as opposed to "Full power .44 MAAAAAGNUM ammo, just like Dirty Harry!"
(yes, I know in "Magnum Force," he admitted to using "light Specials," but the jury won't know that.)
Glad you found the round you were looking for.
sebtool
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I'm no expert, but I'd be leery of using a handload for home defense. From all reports, the prosecution can have a field day with that.... Just my .02.
shibby
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^even if they dont, why give that option?
the prosecution, that is.
the prosecution, that is.
Problem is there are NO such REPORTS it's all nothing but some gunwriters imagination gone wild and spread like wildfire across all forms of print media and then lastly the internet forums .
The number 1 question you need to be concerned with whether it was a shooting or if you just stood there and let your dog/s rip someones throat out in your home is going to be was the whole thing justifieable according to your local laws regarding self defense !
In plain English was your or someone elses life in immendent danger of deadly force being used on them .
If the answer is NO it wont matter what your level of training is or ammo used you're in deep DO DO and may spend the rest of your life in prison , now if the answer is yes "which we all know the standards for that vary greatly with the political realities of every locallity" your basically home free regardless if you were using home made ammo , because quite frankly in todays world with all of these Specialty loads "where the components aren't even available for you to purchase" for self defense chances are your Home made job is going to be ballistically inferior to 90% of those loads you could have bought off the Average gunstores shelf marked "For Self Defense" .
Glockman17366
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Just watch for squibs if you reload a "reduced" .44 magnum round.
I'm with the .44 SPL guys...if you want a reduced load, go with the .44 SPL.
I'm with the .44 SPL guys...if you want a reduced load, go with the .44 SPL.
Sport45
Member
I don't think he's trying to reload anything. He wants a light .44mag production SD round and I believe he found it with the 210gr Silvertip.
That said, folks really don't typically blast through enough premium SD rounds that large accumulations of brass are a problem. In that regard I wouldn't discount the .44 special SD ammunition. So what if you wind up with some brass you can't use?
That said, folks really don't typically blast through enough premium SD rounds that large accumulations of brass are a problem. In that regard I wouldn't discount the .44 special SD ammunition. So what if you wind up with some brass you can't use?
Reloading for home defense? Where did I say I was going to do that?
I was specifically looking for a light factory load for home defense. I will reload the once fired brass for the range.
I guess I have not been clear enough. I want 44 magnum because I reload for it, already have loads developed, and don't want to have to sort 44 special from 44 mag brass.
Also, as for the warning about squibb loads in light 44 mag, what are you talking about? A 44 mag round with enough powder to go 1100=1200 fps isnt going to be a squibb.
wheelgunslinger
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Remington express.
240gr 1180 fps. SP bullets.
240gr 1180 fps. SP bullets.
buck460XVR
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That's internet B.S. If a shoot is justifiable, a shoot is justifiable. When is a standard JHP/JSP reload any more deadly than the overhyped "Critical Defense" type factory ammo? Especially when it's downloaded from .44mag to .44spec. velocities. My suggestion to the OP is to use his bullet of preference at the range and load them with Unique.....mild, accurate and dependable.
That said, I'm a firm believer in using the same ammo in the gun when it's on the nightstand that I use when I'm at the range or in the woods.......cause I know where they shoot, and it just keeps things simpler.
I understand what you want to do with the .44mag to .44special velocities.
I load and carry my own ammo, despite what is normally said about carrying handloads.
I have never had any misfires with ammo I have loaded. I can't say that about factory ammo.
Beside with the argument of factory vs homemade, I load DOWN from .44 mag, So I can always say I wasn't loading a Hot Shot Cop Killer Ammo.
The .44mag is my favorite round, but it is overkill when used for two legged defense.
I have an assortment of different brass, including some nickle brass.
My load is 200gr Hornady XTP JHP, on top of 9.2gr of Unique, in my Ruger Alaskan.
I don't have a chrono, but by doing the math, my estimates are I'm getting from 950 fps to 1000 fps, which produces muzzle energy of about 500 ft lbs to 575 ft lbs. That's about the same muzzle energy of a 45acp + P.
I use the nickle brass for my downlaoded .44mag, that way at a glance I can tell what is what. If you use separate brass, you can use a red, or any color sharpie to color the rim so you can tell the difference.
I load and carry my own ammo, despite what is normally said about carrying handloads.
I have never had any misfires with ammo I have loaded. I can't say that about factory ammo.
Beside with the argument of factory vs homemade, I load DOWN from .44 mag, So I can always say I wasn't loading a Hot Shot Cop Killer Ammo.
The .44mag is my favorite round, but it is overkill when used for two legged defense.
I have an assortment of different brass, including some nickle brass.
My load is 200gr Hornady XTP JHP, on top of 9.2gr of Unique, in my Ruger Alaskan.
I don't have a chrono, but by doing the math, my estimates are I'm getting from 950 fps to 1000 fps, which produces muzzle energy of about 500 ft lbs to 575 ft lbs. That's about the same muzzle energy of a 45acp + P.
I use the nickle brass for my downlaoded .44mag, that way at a glance I can tell what is what. If you use separate brass, you can use a red, or any color sharpie to color the rim so you can tell the difference.
woad_yurt
Member
CCI Blazer offers a 700-750 ft lbs hollowpoint .44 magnum loading.
loop
Member
I read all the way through this post and have decided it is yet another pointless post.
Every ammo maker has its specs available online. Do your due diligence and find one that suits your needs.
It ain't rocket science!
Every ammo maker has its specs available online. Do your due diligence and find one that suits your needs.
It ain't rocket science!
svtruth
Member
I'm no expert, but
my copy of Lee's Modern reloading lists a 210 gr loading @985 fps, a 200 gr @1160 fps, a 225gr @1100, etc.
Good luck.
my copy of Lee's Modern reloading lists a 210 gr loading @985 fps, a 200 gr @1160 fps, a 225gr @1100, etc.
Good luck.
zxcvbob
Member
Your favorite 240 grain bullet, and about 7 to 7.5 grains of Red Dot.
Use cheap 240 SWC's for practice.
If you want factory ammo, might see if anyone makes .44 magnum "cowboy" loads. (they probably do because .44M is a popular chambering for lever-action carbines)
Use cheap 240 SWC's for practice.
If you want factory ammo, might see if anyone makes .44 magnum "cowboy" loads. (they probably do because .44M is a popular chambering for lever-action carbines)
saltydog452
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WW Silvertip was a kinda/sorta 3/4 44 Magnum load. Maybe it still is, dunno.
It didn't want to play nice in a Ruger 44 Deerslayer Carbine, so maybe it really was a less than Magnum load. I never clocked it.
Other than lead SWCs previously mentioned and Silvertips, I don't know of anyone advertising a reduced power 44 Magnum cartridge.
salty
It didn't want to play nice in a Ruger 44 Deerslayer Carbine, so maybe it really was a less than Magnum load. I never clocked it.
Other than lead SWCs previously mentioned and Silvertips, I don't know of anyone advertising a reduced power 44 Magnum cartridge.
salty
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