whats your favorite 44mag mid-range load

[JO JO]

so far for me unique with 8.5gr and 240gr swc and 9gr 200 rnfp, great for paper punching , been considering trying be86 next
not sure about downloading 2400, fairly new to reloading the 44 so far good times,
so what do you all like for 44 mid range loads

 

[frankmako]

In my marlin 1894 I use 9.5 grs of unique with a 240 gr bullet for pistol cartridge silhouette matches. Cast lead, plated, and/or fmj bullet they all work the same. Easy shooting and groups great out to 100 meters. At 150 meters the group opens up more. At 200 meters the group is the size of a 55 gallon drum opening. Thus making the 44 mag not worth using for big bore lever action silhouette.

 

[troy fairweather]

i use 200 lee powder coated, with i think it's 9.2 of unique witch is the lee 1.0cc dipper shoot good from my 1894 and a super blackhawk.

 

[murf]

unique powder with any bullet. same for the 45lc.

murf

 

[murf]

In my marlin 1894 I use 9.5 grs of unique with a 240 gr bullet for pistol cartridge silhouette matches. Cast lead, plated, and/or fmj bullet they all work the same. Easy shooting and groups great out to 100 meters. At 150 meters the group opens up more. At 200 meters the group is the size of a 55 gallon drum opening. Thus making the 44 mag not worth using for big bore lever action silhouette.

slow twist in that rifle?

murf

 

[Bat Rastard]

240gr lead swc, over HS-6

 

[frankmako]

The marlin 1894 44 mag has a slow twist rate. It is 1:38 twist. If marlin would change the rate it would be the best lever action rifle made. No matter what I tried I could not make the rifle group at 150 and 200 meters. I tried different bullets, bullets weights, and powders. Also tried my cast lead bullets at different sizes. Heard marlin made some 1:20 twist rate barrels for testing 10 years ago. But anyway my two 44 mags 1894 don't group after 100 meters.

 

[Walkalong]

been considering trying be86 next

Based on my results in midrange .357 Mag I would agree that is a good idea. I have only used Blue Dot way back when to load less than full power .44 Mag, but haven't done that in ages since I discovered .44 Spl.

I have been using True Blue for midrange .41 Mag and it works well, but have been meaning to try BE-86 there one of these days.

 

[Galil5.56]

6.7 gr Red Dot and any well sized 240 gr LSWC for a load as accurate as you can hold. Right at 880 fps in a 6.5" M29. same bullet with 6.5 gr International gets 915 fps avg.

How about a bunch of data for an oddball 190 gr LSWC, from my 6.5" M29:

6 gr Unique = 735 fps

8 gr Unique = 1035 fps

9.8 gr Unique = 1175 fps

4.8 gr Bullseye = 730 fps

6.3 gr Red Dot = 920 fps

9 gr WW 231 = 1120 fps

 

[JO JO]

Based on my results in midrange .357 Mag I would agree that is a good idea.

I was thinking of testing some 200gr rnfp Acme starting at 9gr be86 , but alliant does not list a 200gr , what do you think ?
or should I just order some 240gr rnfp to match aliants data ?



44 Rem. Magnum 180 gr JHP Federal 1.55 7.5 Fed 150 BE-86 14gr 1,551 -
44 Rem. Magnum 240 gr JHP Federal 1.565 7.5 Fed 150 BE-86 11.6gr 1,252 -
44 Rem. Magnum 240 gr Cast RNFP Federal 1.58 8 Fed 150 BE-86 11.8gr 1,289 -

 

[alfsauve]

240gr Copper Plated over 10gr Power Pistol gives me ~1040fps
240gr Copper Plated over 10gr CRE Pistol gives me ~1050fps
200gr Copper Plated over 6.5gr Unique gives me ~ 758 if you really want light.

YMMV depending on COAL, primer and case volume.

 

[k4swb]

I've shot a lot of .44 mag with WST. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to do that but it works wonderfully for me.

Next will be W244 when the weather gets better.

 

[Walkalong]

I've shot a lot of .44 mag with WST.

I bet it works well, it is one of the least position sensitive powders I have tried in big cases.

 

[Walkalong]

I was thinking of testing some 200gr rnfp Acme starting at 9gr be86 , but alliant does not list a 200gr , what do you think ?

Sounds reasonable.

 

[JO JO]

just ordered some RMR 240gr rnfp plated to try along with the 200gr rnfp acme I have ,
will try a few loads with be86 and see how they fly as midrange target loads

 

[PapaG]

My belief is that a 44 mag mid range load needs to be more than a 44 special substitute. My two loads are either the 429421 or 429244 and 17 grains of 2400. 9 grains of Unique also works.

 

[JO JO]

17 grains of 2400. 9 grains of Unique also works.

how does 2400 burn at 17gr is it diry/unburnt powder or clean enough at 17gr ?
was not sure how 2400 burns down loaded

 

[troy fairweather]

how does 2400 burn at 17gr is it diry/unburnt powder or clean enough at 17gr ?
was not sure how 2400 burns down loaded

you can go down pretty low with 2400, on load i do is 20.gr 2400 with a 200 coated cast. burns good

 

[Orcon]

8.5 grains of Trail Boss and a 240 SWC makes for a pleasant shooting experience, even the Mrs doesnt mind shooting it.

 

[lightman]

My mid range load is a Keith type SWC weighing between 240-260 grains over 7.5 to 8.5 grains of Unique. Any case and any primer.

 

[mavracer]

10.0 of Unique with a 240 LSWC, Keith's practice load.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
I use Unique for my practice/ general purpose/target load in the .44Magnum revolvers.
10gr of Unique over a commercial cast 240gr LSWC works very well in all four of my .44Magnum revolvers.

 

[cfullgraf]

I load 44 Mag with Unique and 240 cast SWC. Velocity is 950 fps or so.

 

[mavracer]

Always see a bunch of recommendations for Unique in "medium power straight wall revolver load" there's a reason. If your revolver won't shoot lead SWCs at 800-1000ish FPS with Unique something is wrong with your revolver lol.

 

[RealGun]

so far for me unique with 8.5gr and 240gr swc and 9gr 200 rnfp, great for paper punching , been considering trying be86 next
not sure about downloading 2400, fairly new to reloading the 44 so far good times,
so what do you all like for 44 mid range loads

Definitely AA#7.