My .44 Special brass is here!

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Get the can of Unique down off the shelf Mike, load 6.5-7 under a 240-260 LSWC, preferably a Keith style.

That IS an order btw:D .
 
Just one at a time Mike ....... and make best use of MkI eyeball.!!

I've added a clip-on light over my bench ...... so as to illuminate right into the cases .. well, as best one can ... I have always tried to look at each after a powder throw .. but for some reason ... reckon I will be tightening that discipline! :p
 
I forgot about your powder measure Mike, I wouldn't use Unique in it either. I don't like Universal with lead bullets, so 231 or Titegroup is the new Rx. Get busy!!
 
Mike,
4.5 gr of 700X under just about any cast bullet (Lyman 429421 or 429348 my favorites) is a nice mild accurate load that I have been using for many years. Quantrill
 
C'mon, Mike, get back on the horse!

I need a good .44 Special load for my 696, I've been shooting factory stuff and saving the brass. It's time for me to reload my own .44 Special ammo. Since my old-reliables of WST and 231 might scare you off, I'm willing to let you work up a load using 2400. (Thinking back, there are no other suitable .44 Special powders in the Gewehr98 powder locker) Let me know when you've tested a bunch. :D
 
Two questions if I may.

IIRC, Mike has been using a Lee Auto-Disk. Yes? Why not good for Unique?

Second, can the load cited by HSSmith be transposed into a 44 Mag case without adjustment? I imagine that velocity will be slightly lower -- is that all?

If I can sneak a thid one in...what are the factors in using a magnum versus a standard primer in loads of this type?

Thanks!
 
IIRC, Mike has been using a Lee Auto-Disk. Yes? Why not good for Unique?
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Yes he was ..... whilst I don't use Unique a lot ... it is similar in appearance to Red Dot for instance .. quite a large flake powder and not the best for metering. Mind you, I would personally think that with larger throws this becomes less important than will small loads. I have metered Red Dot well enough thru the Lee.
Second, can the load cited by HSmith be transposed into a 44 Mag case without adjustment? I imagine that velocity will be slightly lower -- is that all?
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Well, all other things being equal ... bullet weight mainly .. just the same load but slight case size difference. I used to use a load for long range which was to all intents somewhat of a .44 spl load .. which was 8.5 grains Red Dot in the mag case ... pushing a 250 grain Keith cast SWC. Doubt the velocity would be noticed as much lower, unless chrono'd.
If I can sneak a third one in...what are the factors in using a magnum versus a standard primer in loads of this type?
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Opinions vary here and there but the general assumption usually made is that the ''hotter'' burn of the mag primer would initiate the charge more vigorously and so encourage a better burn ... equating to a slight increase of pressure. IMO a std primer is all that's needed for these loads. I think care is needed with mag primers and max loads.... when ''pushing the envelope''!

Just some 2c input.:p
 
Jnewell, bump it up to 8-9.5 for the magnum. A good plinking load, 850-950 FPS or so with a 250 grain bullet in most guns.
 
Unique and VV-N350 work very well for duplicating or slightly exceeding factory velocities using Speer's 200 gn GD. The loads are on Speer's website. They also work well with 180 jhps. Hp-38 and 200 gn lrnfps can replicate their POI at about 800 fps from 696.
 
240 grain cast SWC over 15 grains of 2400 shoots like a rifle out of my 4" Model 29.

Mike: Take it easy. You were unhurt, the gun was unhurt. Learn from your mistake, get the grieving period over with and return to business as usual.
 
Mike, have you done any more work at the reloading bench yet?

I bought a bunch of .44 Special brass and 500 cast 200gr .44 SWC's today, so I'm ready to start comparing notes. ;)
 
Gew,

No, I haven't, and I probably won't be able to do so for some time.

I'm busting my butt with this new job. I'm on a 2 month probationary period, and I intend to make sure that when it's evaluation time, I'll be sticking around.

I've been banging my head on an article for the past several hours, and have been for much of the weekend.

I've not done this kind of writing/editing for a long time, and I'm having trouble getting the mindset back.
 
Intune,

Thanks, but advertising and copywriting are several jobs behind me.

I'm now working for a five fold every other month 4C/SC newsletter that goes to roughly 10,000 people in my business unit and several hundred, if not thousand, customers.

As I said, it's just been awhile since I've done this kind of writing & editing.
 
Ok, Mike, I understand.

I'm just glad to be sitting in front of a reloading press again. I've started a batch of 200gr .44 Special loads, I'll share what I've come up with later. Hope SAIC doesn't sap the life outta you. Truth be known, I've been offered a staff position at a certain office near Chantilly, VA myself, and I may take it, although I'd lose flight pay. ;)
 
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