Need a little help with The .44 Mag load.

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Big7

Big7

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Need a little help with The .44 Mag load.

Have a friend on GON (Georgia Outdoor News) forum
that is new to loading.

He has seen all my post' about handloading.
.44 Mag. is one of very few I don't load.. Because I don't have one.

Anyhoooo..

I need to get him a LISTED load that he can work with.
I DO not post any of my loads that are not listed and the .44 is not a favorite
so I have zero experience.

I have fed him a few (other calibers), LISTED that I do load and he is counting on me to hook him up.

PLEASE PM or post.

Thanks!
 
He should get a single caliber reloading manual for 44. I have one and it has most,if not all the manufacturers of powder and most of the common bullets in it. Or the Lyman 49, Hornady 9th, etc. Just went through this myself and these resources are priceless.
 
I don't mean this wrong but if the load is "listed" then you really don't need us. Just look up loads in your manual and have at it. Better yet, have you friend buy a manual, I recommend Lyman 49th Edition.

It's very good you want to help your friend but you will help him more buy getting him on the right path of finding data for himself. He will be safer that way, as you already know.
 
Hodgdon has all their load data for the rather massive line of powders they sell listed in the Reloading Center on their web site. Why would he need anything more than that?

For full power loads I've gotten good results from H110/W296 (same powder, different labels), 4227 and 2400.

For lighter loads closer to .44Spl I've used Titegroup using the max charge for .44Spl. Given the additional volume this equates in the end to more like a bit over a mid power .44Spl. All of the data, other than for 2400, was in the Hodgdon data.
 
There is no shortage of load data around for 44 magnum. Tell him to buy a manual. I like Lyman.
 
Big 7 .... As a fellow GON member(BriarPatch99) and also a .44mag shooter ...

There is plenty of data online from the powder companies and bullet makers ... there are some Data manuals that can be downloaded as PDF files ...

I personally have a large three ring binder that I put downloaded data in and print out for each caliber that I reload .... that way I can keep up with the "newer" powders that would take time to reach a printed manuals ... please keep in mind that I also purchase the printed manuals ....
 
Not meant to be snarky, and FWIW; I started reloading .44 Magnums in '88. I have used data from reloading manuals for 99.9% of my reloads. I pay no attention to any forum expert, range rat, gun counter clerk, pet loads web site, or gun shop guru. I have 5, .44 Magnums and have successfully and safely reloaded thousands of rounds for them using just what data is in my reloading manuals.

If you want to help your friend, buy him a Lyman's 49th Edition Reloading Handbook and instruct him to buy more manuals...
 
The main confusion I've had with a 44 mag with listed loads was the Speer SWAG lead BHN 12 vs the harder 18 BHN leads (don't know if it's BHN or the different lead cooling methods). But the different in load data was different between a Speer and other lead type bullets of the same time.

Outslide of that, there are a lot of good recipes listed on the powder sites or manuals.
 
If he does not have a manual to look up loads himself, he has no business reloading.

And if you are giving him the recipe and something goes wrong (almost inevitable with someone like that), you could find yourself fighting a liability case.
 
Mauser69 said:
And if you are giving him the recipe and something goes wrong (almost inevitable with someone like that), you could find yourself fighting a liability case.
Click to expand...
But, but, but, good-ole-boys never get sued! :banghead:

Big7, maybe better to ask here for favorite combinations of bullet and powder, depending on what velocity range you want (plinking, medium or high), and you can help your friend look up valid loading data on the powder (or bullet) manufacturer's website.

Spoiler alert: for maximum power and accuracy, the answer will always be H110/W296. Has the weird but convenient characteristic that minimum and maximum loads are very close together. Do not reduce from minimum! If you don't want goin'-hell-for-leather, get a different powder.
 
Again, let him look up the powder charge himself. With that in mind, Trail Boss behind 240 grain LSWC (Missouri Bullet Mfg) makes a good mouse fart load, suitable for women, children, and novice shooters. It's accurate and makes nice round holes in the paper.

For real magnum performance, H110/W296 gets it done.
 
The .44 Mag is one of the easiest calibers to work up a good load for IMO. I will echo what has already been posted- W296/H110 for full power jacketed loads. Unique works well for a nice midrange load with a 180-240 cast or jacketed bullet, and Trailboss and cast or swaged bullets for some light plinking loads.
 
(Hint)

Have your friend buy used old reloading manuals. Data does not change much from edition to edition. Use d manuals.don't.have much resale value so he can save $$.$$. Along with a shelf full of past edition manuals I even have one from the 1930's.
 
Thanks.. I already sent him listed data per

Hodgdon
IMR
Winchester

231
296
700-X
800-X
AutoComp
CFE Pistol
Clays

I use almost exclusively Hodgdon Powder in my rifles.
Alliant Red Dot and Blue Dot have served me well in pistol/revolver
calibers.

He does load.. I DID SAY "NEW" loader. MY BAD. Just looking for some not much kick in .44.
Thanks for the input. I won't let him hurt himself.. :D
 
Last edited:
I just got out of 44 mag last year. I have Lyman 47 and it was very helpful on figuring out a load. Also, pretty much every powder manufacturer has a database where you can see their data. Figure out what powder he is using and try the manufacturers site.
 
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Alliant 2400 yet. Great for medium to max loads. H110 is only good for max loads. I'm getting a small 44 mag pistol soon, so I'm interested in reduced loads as well.
 
Light 2400 loads burn dirty, in my experience.
The oldscool .44 Mag load; 240gr hard cast in front of 8.0gr Unique. Hits hard out to 100yds, won't beat up you or your gat.
Accurate and efficient as one oldscool manual says. ;)
 
if he is loading for a Marlin rifle. keep him in the jacketed loads, or make sure he gets .431-.432 bullets. H110 for full power, and Trailboss for plinking loads.
 
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