Powers for 44spl and 44mag

[gonoles_1980]

As soon as I get my trays, I will start some ladder loads. The 44spl for my wife, the 44mag for me.

Seaching my manuals and online sites, these are the powders that I have on hand. I'm looking for recommendations to pick from.


44spl - Using 240 LSWC Speer
Speer Manual - Unique, Bullseye
Layman Manual - Unique, Bullseye, Titegroup
Alliant Site - Unique, Bullseye
Hodgdon Site - Titegroup


44 mag - Using xtreme 240 CPFP (assuming mid-high loads for Linotypes are the right range, could go up to mid-loads for Jacketed).
Speer Manual - Unique
Layman (used Linotype) - Titegroup, Unique
Alliant site (240 LSWC) - Bullseye, Unique
Alliant site (240 Cast RNFP or JHP) - BE86
Hodgon Site (LSWC and JHP) - Titegroup

I think I'm going to try the BE86 for the 44 mag, I have 2lbs unopened and the Titegroup for the 44spl.

Thoughts, favorite loads with these powders?

 

[Berserker]

Don't dismiss the 44 spcl as womans gun.

For my lever I use H110 full load, 240 grn XPs. For SBH I use 2400 and lead. Also use Unique for light loads.

 

[Damon555]

What's a tray? Or a ladder load?.....Just wondering...

I use Unique for 44 special and 44 mag....and 38, 357, 45 acp and 9mm.

What guns are you shooting these loads from?

H110 really makes the 44 mag shine.

 

[moxie]

For .44Spl. I like Unique.

For light .44 Mag. loads I like Unique.

For heavy .44 Mag. loads I like 2400.

The Speer and Lyman books have loads for each.

The Alliant site usually, but not always, mirrors parts of the Speer book.

I think by trays he means loading blocks.

Ladder loads are just a set way of working up loads. Working up the "ladder" as it were.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I use lots of Unique in .44 Mag with 240 gr cast bullets.

 

[Krogen]

I used Unique in my 44 Specials for years. 2400 was reserved for other rounds; usually magnums. Succumbing to a wild hair, I recently tried 2400 in 44 Special and was pleasantly surprised. Once I had moved up from the starting loads, unburned powder vanished and I found accuracy was better than Unique. Despite higher velocities, recoil with 2400 was "softer" than with Unique. So now, my favorite 44 Special powder is 2400; at least until something else catches my eye.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Moxie you have it right, I'm trying to find loading blocks, but for some reason I can't. Midway has everything but 44's.

Berserker, I'm not dismissing the 44spl as a woman's load, just it makes it easy to separate between her loads and my loads.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

My local Walmart sells RCBS trays.

 

[Damon555]

I think by trays he means loading blocks.

Ladder loads are just a set way of working up loads. Working up the "ladder" as it were.

ahhhhh. Thanks

 

[loose noose]

For a hot .44 Mag load I like WW296 using the maximum powder charge as is recommended, however the magnum primer is definitely required in order to burn the maximum amount of powder. The problem is lately I've had quite a problem locating 296. Therefore I've been using H110 with very similar results, with the 240grn. JHP.

 

[frankmako]

for all my 44 mag loads i use 2400 and/or h110. been that way for many mango seasons.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

Unique for .44 mag. I think the 240 gr Keith Lead Bullet over Unique is a great all around load and I have shot many of them over the years. Very accurate and minimal leading in my older S&W Model 29 6 1/2 inch.

 

[zerobarrier]

I use Titegroup for 44spl and H110 or IMR 4227 with mag primers for 44mag.

 

[Duster340]

Gonoles, like many others, I too use Unique for the bulk of my general 44 mag loads. (H110 for max/near max loads ). I use a lot of Bullseye for my 44 special loads, though again, Unique also works well. Not on your list, but I also like RedDot for 44 special loads. Take care.

 

[gotboostvr]

I've been using red dot for 44spl and light 44 mag, I've been using unique for medium to "hot enough" loads in 44 mag. For full power I've been using 4227 (most accurate) 2400 and H110.
I could probably get away with just using unique if I could keep it in supply.

 

[BullRunBear]

I use Unique for both 44 special and magnums with the same 240 gr. lswc bullet for both. Of course I'm not trying for full power magnum loads. Now that I finally have some Red Dot I'm going to experiment but Unique has always worked well for me.

Jeff

 

[TimSr]

Are these just target loads, or is there a special purpose? What gun and barrel length?

Unique works great for spl up to moderate mag loads.
BE86 won't offer any advantages over unique.

If you really want full magnum performance, a magnum powder is the only way to go. 296, 100, 2400, 4227.

 

[jstein650]

I consider the .44 mag pretty darn easy to feed with regard to powders.. While rifle rounds, like .223 are more sensitive to bullet weight/powder choice, big bore straight wall pistol rounds like the .44 are much more flexible in that regard. Top end loads, from light 180 gr, JHP's to heavy 300gr cast, like I sometimes use, need maximum charges of the slowest of pistol powders. H-110 (very same thing as W296) is just aces for top velocities. There are some medium velocity (pretty stiff, but not maximum level) loads that do well with Blue Dot, AA#7, & others in that burn rate on the charts.. Pretty much anything tamer opens up the list to nearly any shotgun/pistol powder out there. I've made some very satisfactory rounds using 240 gr. plated HP's, 180 & 200 gr JHP's, etc. with Herco - and they shoot fast & true out of my '92 carbine. I think perusing a few manuals from the powder makers is the best way to get a feel for what works best.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I am probably going to try the BE86 for the 44mag loafs, only because I have 2lbs of it and just one of unique. And the be86 doesn't have a load for the spl. Going to try the bullseye for the specials. Maybe I will do the unique for the mag too and see which one I like better. Darn it, I will just have to spent more time at the range testing [emoji1]

 

[reddrumtoo]

Poor fellow all that time at the range might rot your brain . Anyway I like unique for light to medium lead bullet loads & WW 296 or H 110 for heavy jacketed loads . But truth to tell I've killed several white tails w / 245 keith style lead [ cast hard ] & a healthy charge of unique . All one shot kills no lost deer. Outstanding penetration on oklahoma deer from any angle .

 

[Mad Chemist]

Notice how many people responded that they use Unique for their light .44mag and .44spl loads? There is a reason for that

 

[gonoles_1980]

Mad Chemist - So what I'm hearing is I need to buy some more unique, and in the mean time, I need to test loads with unique. I'll keep an eye out for W296 or H110, or IMR4227.

Just a question, I wonder if the lack of response to BE86 is because it's a fairly new powder and a lot of people haven't tried it?

 

[Steve51]

I prefer Unique for .44 spl and 2400 for .44 magnum but have used IMR4227 and Unique when I could not get 2400. I experience very poor accuracy when shooting Unique loaded magnums from my .44 mag rifle - accuracy is fine with 2400 or IMR4227.

 

[TenDriver]

AA #9 has become a favorite of mine. It has near the energy of W296 and doesn't need a magnum primer.

 

[joem1945]

I use AA # 9 because I have plenty of that. I did use AA # 2 but had leading issues.