me like the bang, me like the clang

[roval]

was shooting my 357 mag reloads out of my 6 inch gp 100 at my bullseye gong at 25 yards. when one of the range regulars had me try out his 44 mag, a beautiful blued 1970s Smith and Wesson with an 8+ inch barrel that had originally started out as a 357 mag. (they replaced the cylinder and the 5 inch barrel). he had me try 2 of his loads 240 grains powder coated bullet with 2400 and some loaded with 4227. the recoil was stout although he told me they're only mid range loads. the clang from the gong and how it moved on impact was quite satisfying... it sure flipped the center of my bullseye gong even when it turns out I only hit close to the bullseye area once I checked the target at the end of the range session. made a round slight depression on my 1/2 inch ar 500 steel target.

I probable would have felt different if I shot it out of a lighter gun but as it was , it was fun to shoot.

make's me want a 44 mag. went to a new shop and checked out a ruger redhawk hunter they had on sale. considering the long barrel didn't feel too top heavy to me. felt great but will have to wait several more months likely.

looks like it's affordable to reload too.

 

[sean1129]

looks like it's affordable to reload too.

I can load full house hard cast 240 grain, Keith style for $0.23 a piece. This comes up to $11.50 per 50, and I saw a box at a store about two weeks ago for $60 after taxes. This seemed ungodly high, but I've never purchased factory 44 mag rounds before...

And I can load 44 special, same bullet, for $0.17 a piece.

 

[roval]

I was pleasantly surprised that 1000 44 mag brass was $180 from starline. with my luck if and when I get a 44 mag gun the brass will become unavailable .

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Starline is the only way to go for .44 brass. I bought 1k a few years ago. It had been loaded 4-5 times. I haven't seen a split yet. I load a 240 gr MBC Elmer K over 9-10 grains of Unique. They run about 1100fps. They bang my gongs well, but don't bang up my hands.

 

[roval]

great I just picked up 5 lbs of unique yesterday. I wonder if it's prudent for me to start ordering the brass even and bullets and mag primers even if I don't have a gun for it yet. I will load some hotter 357 mag first. I've been asking questions on the reloading forum and if I enjoy the hotter loads will go down the 44 mag path. I do like that ruger redhawk.....

 

[jdavis123]

You won't need magnum primers with Unique powder. Unique is a good all around powder for milder and mid range loads. For top velocities go with Winchester 296/H110 (same powder under two brands). For those you will want to use your magnum primers.
BTW, that single action Ruger is going to recoil differently than the DA Smith. They tend to roll up in your hand due to the grip being lower on the bore axis.

 

[MEHavey]

"...try out his 44 mag, a beautiful blued 1970s Smith and Wesson with an 8+ inch barrel that had
originally started out as a 357 mag. (they replaced the cylinder and the 5 inch barrel)."

What size frame was the 'original 357Mag' ?

 

[jdavis123]

It had to be a model 27 or 28. During the rush for model 29s in the 70s and 80s, it was not uncommon to see folks converting their "N" frame Smiths of any available caliber to the "Mighty" .44 mag.

 

[Drail]

The best "clang" you will ever hear is when you connect with a steel ram at 200 yards (or 300). And the best gun I have found for that is the Ruger Bisley.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Oy vey...

If it's the clang you like, use a hinged piece of boiler plate that swings to connect with a suspended section of 3 inch well pipe.

One of the employees has a very nice 44 magnum lever action rifle he used for deer exactly twice. Both times the ball went through the target w/o expanding and he ended up having to track the animal. While the weapon is impressive on the range, it's apparently not too big on dinnertime.

 

[Rodentman]

I love the 44. Reload a lot of them. This is a nice 44...I use it with a bipod. It's single shot.

 

[mahansm]

If you buy Winchester large pistol primers they will suffice for both regular and magnum loads. They light 296 just fine underneath my 240 grain jacketed bullets.

For real fun, though, it's hard to beat the .500 S&W Magnum.

 

[roval]

mehavey, I'm not sure but I think it was an n frame. he said the 5 inch barrel was relatively rare and if he knew it at the time he wouldn't have altered it. he said if I wanted someone to build an n frame 357 he still had the original cylinder and barrel.

jdavis the redhawk is double action.

good to know on the primers regular vs magnum

 

[BCRider]

The bigger the cartridge the more flexible it seems to be. There's heaps of information on how big boomer ammo can be downloaded to mouse fart levels. But the smaller stuff, like .357Mag, can only be loaded up so far. So the bigger rounds like .44Mag just raise the bar you can reach for that much more. It really is a highly versatile caliber.

And the best way to use the whole range of options is by reloading your own. Not to mention the cost saving over buying factory ammo! ! ! !

I know that some get good results from regular primers on H110/W296 but I've heard or read from others that say they get more consistent results with the magnum primers. One local fellow said that for his shooting some years back that he tried both and went with the Magnum primers for this powder because it gave smaller muzzle velocity deviation in the ammo. So keep it in mind.

I'm going to try this at some point too.

 

[ku4hx]

The .44 (Russian, Special and Magnum) has been one of my dream guns to reload and shoot since I got my first one circa 1973. Every level of power you'll likely even really need in a handgun. Shooting a full house .44 Magnum on a even a semi regular basis will alter forever your perception of what "snappy" recoil is.

The only problems I ever had (besides burning through a goodly amount of powder) was split case necks. Full power loads tend to shorten case life. Starline is better about that but full power and heavy roll crimping has that effect. And my favorite bullet (Lyman 429215 GC in their #2 alloy @ 228 grains) requires a heavy roll crimp when over 21.7 grains of Hercules (yes Hercules) 2400.

Once bitten by the eargesplitten loudenboomer bug, there's generally no cure.

 

[mongoslow]

Rodentman did you build that or buy it and what is it?

 

[joem1945]

I load a 240 gr LRNFP with AA #9. Makes the steel jump at 150 yds. Great fun.