Well I have some acme 200 gr rnfp coated bullets to load and these 3 powders on my shelf, they will be used as mild paper punchers so not loading very hot more around 1000 FPS or so , what you guys think stick with unique or expermint with one of the others on my shelf
Midrange 44mag loads powder poll
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LUCKYDAWG13
Member
well out of the 3 that you have i would pick Unique But my first pick would be 2400 then Blue Dot for mid range loads
Sport Pistol should work well for a light load, and Unique or BE-86 should make nice medium loads. I would love to see if BE-86 is less position sensitive than Unique for that application. My gut feeling is yes, based on my medium load for .357 using BE-86.
I have used Unique with 190 grain cast SWC's... 6 grains got 745 fps avg, 8 grains avg 1035 fps, and 9.8 grains crossed screens at 1165 fps avg. Firearm is my S&W 29 w/6.5" barrel, shot in 1994 using Unique from about 1990. Not exactly your bullet weight, but it does give you some idea of what to expect. Good luck.
Ironicaintit
Member
I picked Unique, because Ive loaded 44 magnum with it, and it worked really well.
but if the list had included IMR4227, I wouldve picked that. In 44, I prefer the recoil impulse of 4227 over Unique
but if the list had included IMR4227, I wouldve picked that. In 44, I prefer the recoil impulse of 4227 over Unique
the Black Spot
Member
17 gr of 2400 is a decent midrange load
troy fairweather
Member
i like 9.2 rains of unique for light but fun loads. i use the lee dipper makes it easy.
My mid range loads for 44 magnum are loaded with Unique. In part, I Iike Unique and I have it in inventory.
I have not used BE-86 or Sport Pistol for anything so I cannot comment on them.
Some folks like 2400 and in 357 Magnum, I had too much unburned powder granules so I do not keep any in 2400 in inventory. I tend to stay away from 2400 in preference to W296 or H110.
In the past, I have had good results with Blue Dot. I have a pound can on hand. I've used it to my liking with 357 Magnum and 38 Super. I think I have a good load for 38/45 Clerke with Blue Dot but will admit that I have slept since I last loaded any 38/45 Clerke with Blue Dot.
I've been trending towards getting away from flake powders except for 700-X (45 ACP) and Unique (various cartridges) moving towards better metering powders. I like 700-X in 45 ACP so I will continue with that load. Unique is, well, Unique.
In the 1990's, I shot lots of competitive skeet. I used Unique in my 20 ga and 28 ga reloads. I am just now getting back into shooting more skeet and am interested in powder I will end up using for my reloads. The Win AA hulls I used to shoot are no longer available and once I consume my existing inventory of powder and wads, I will have to adjust to the newer hull/wad design.
I have not used BE-86 or Sport Pistol for anything so I cannot comment on them.
Some folks like 2400 and in 357 Magnum, I had too much unburned powder granules so I do not keep any in 2400 in inventory. I tend to stay away from 2400 in preference to W296 or H110.
In the past, I have had good results with Blue Dot. I have a pound can on hand. I've used it to my liking with 357 Magnum and 38 Super. I think I have a good load for 38/45 Clerke with Blue Dot but will admit that I have slept since I last loaded any 38/45 Clerke with Blue Dot.
I've been trending towards getting away from flake powders except for 700-X (45 ACP) and Unique (various cartridges) moving towards better metering powders. I like 700-X in 45 ACP so I will continue with that load. Unique is, well, Unique.
In the 1990's, I shot lots of competitive skeet. I used Unique in my 20 ga and 28 ga reloads. I am just now getting back into shooting more skeet and am interested in powder I will end up using for my reloads. The Win AA hulls I used to shoot are no longer available and once I consume my existing inventory of powder and wads, I will have to adjust to the newer hull/wad design.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I have not used the other two, but I can vouch that 10 grains of Unique makes a good mid-range .44 mag load.
After reloading for 5, 44 Magnums since '88, I have tried most powders for reloading everything from 123 gr. balls to 300 gr cast T-Rex killers. Bullseye to W296/H110.. I have gotten over my bad case of "Magnumitis" and settled on Unique and Universal as my most used 44 Magnum powder...
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
My revolver powders (.357 and .44) are Trail Boss (light), Unique (medium), and 2400 (magnum). I voted Unique.
Toprudder
Member
BE86 for me. It has proven to have the best standard deviation of any mid-range powder I have tried (powder forward test) in both 357 and 44 mag. A max charge of BE86 will be about 150fps less than full magnum loads, which is still pretty stout.
cheygriz
member
Why not buy a couple of boxes of .44 Spec brass and load it from the manual?
I still load .44 Mag max, it's my...I want to shoot something powerful caliber. I download .41 Mag as well as make full power loads, and I download .357 Mag to powder puff, as well as near max (2400 and 158 coated).
I have my .44 Spl if I want to shoot milder .44s.
That said, BE-86 did so well at midrange .357 Mag, I have considered doing that in .44 Mag and shoot them in my Astra. Save the heavier Redhawk for full power stuff.
I have my .44 Spl if I want to shoot milder .44s.
That said, BE-86 did so well at midrange .357 Mag, I have considered doing that in .44 Mag and shoot them in my Astra. Save the heavier Redhawk for full power stuff.
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