.44 magnum light loads

Does anyone have any good light plinking load recipes for a 44 mag handgun?

I use almost nothing but AA #9 powder in my 44 mag revolvers. #7 should give you a much lighter recoil. Try 17 grains of #7 under a 200 grain jacketed bullet. I use 20.5 grains of #9 under a 250 grain cast lead bullet with a gas check for 1380 fps. The recoil is mild in my 629 (8" barrel)
gary
 
I load 8 gr. Unique with 240 gr. laser cast swc. This is a light easy shooting load.
 
I load 8 gr. Unique with 240 gr. laser cast swc. This is a light easy shooting load.

I tried Unique with my 45LC's, and the stuff acted like it was made of coal dust! The #5 thru #9 burns very clean. Recoil with a 250 grain bullet (@ 1380 fps) wasn't all that much heavier than a 255 grain bullet out of a Blackhawk with 875fps.
gary
 
I usually use tightgroup or trueblue for mid range 44 mag loads. I was ****ing off a guy shooting a 222 with a varmint scope a year ago shooting my srh at clay birds. The wind was about 30 mph and I was hitting every bird at 100 yards off-hand. We both went out to 200 meters and were working on a few clays left out there. I was just about as accurate out there as he was with all hit wind buffeting using a little 22 cal pill. Never underestimate a 200 grain semi- wadcutter starting at 1200 fps in a good revolver.
 
I usually use tightgroup or trueblue for mid range 44 mag loads. I was ****ing off a guy shooting a 222 with a varmint scope a year ago shooting my srh at clay birds. The wind was about 30 mph and I was hitting every bird at 100 yards off-hand. We both went out to 200 meters and were working on a few clays left out there. I was just about as accurate out there as he was with all hit wind buffeting using a little 22 cal pill. Never underestimate a 200 grain semi- wadcutter starting at 1200 fps in a good revolver.


I've only loaded about 200 rounds for my 629. So far I've used 200 grain xtp backed by 28 grains of H110. I have some Titegroup that I use for .45 ACP and .40s&w. I'd like some lighter loads just to go out and plunk around with. What kind of load have you worked up with the Titegroup?
 
I've only loaded about 200 rounds for my 629. So far I've used 200 grain xtp backed by 28 grains of H110. I have some Titegroup that I use for .45 ACP and .40s&w. I'd like some lighter loads just to go out and plunk around with. What kind of load have you worked up with the Titegroup?
Just use the hodgdon data. Be careful as you could possibly get a double charge with this powder in the 44. I'm using either 9.0 gr. Tightgroup with a 225 cast or 10.0 with a 200 cast. I was using a 225 cast with 9.0 grains for the long range work with the srh.
If I were going full house I'd seriously think about alliant 2400 and a 260 cast. With a proper charge for your bullet, that powder is capable of fantastic accuracy.
 
I've only loaded about 200 rounds for my 629. So far I've used 200 grain xtp backed by 28 grains of H110. I have some Titegroup that I use for .45 ACP and .40s&w. I'd like some lighter loads just to go out and plunk around with. What kind of load have you worked up with the Titegroup?

I would absolutely avoid using H110 in the 629! That action won't last under that kind of pressure. 28 grains of H110 is considered to be a near max load in any revolver, but still suitable for the Redhawk. In a 7" barrel Redhawk, Hornaday actually saw higher velocity with #9 (they used 23 grains). I actually use 21.5 grains of #9 in an 8" barreled 629 for 1380fps (250 grain cast Keith style bullet with a gas check). Recoil is mild, and the rounds group at 1.5" at 50 yards effotlessly. Cases seem to last forever (I've got cases that have close to 20 loadings on them). On the otherhand I tried #9 with a 255 grain bullet in my Blackhawks, and it was a serious handfull! (20 grains). Probably due to the smaller grip frame.
gary
 
I would absolutely avoid using H110 in the 629! That action won't last under that kind of pressure. 28 grains of H110 is considered to be a near max load in any revolver, but still suitable for the Redhawk. In a 7" barrel Redhawk, Hornaday actually saw higher velocity with #9 (they used 23 grains). I actually use 21.5 grains of #9 in an 8" barreled 629 for 1380fps (250 grain cast Keith style bullet with a gas check). Recoil is mild, and the rounds group at 1.5" at 50 yards effotlessly. Cases seem to last forever (I've got cases that have close to 20 loadings on them). On the otherhand I tried #9 with a 255 grain bullet in my Blackhawks, and it was a serious handfull! (20 grains). Probably due to the smaller grip frame.
gary


28 grains of H110 behind a 200 grain xtp yields ~33,000CUP. That pressure is well below 50% of the loads listed on Hodgens website. I respect your Ruger anchor but don't be a troll.
 
28 grains of H110 behind a 200 grain xtp yields ~33,000CUP. That pressure is well below 50% of the loads listed on Hodgens website. I respect your Ruger anchor but don't be a troll.

tomorrow morning call S&W and ask them. 28.7 grains of H110 was developed in a Ruger Redhawk, and that's a different beast. Hogdon used a 7" barreled revolver, and that also tells you that it was probably a Redhawk as well (just about all the manuals spec a Redhawk by the way)
gary
 
28 grains of H110 behind a 200 grain xtp yields ~33,000CUP. That pressure is well below 50% of the loads listed on Hodgens website. I respect your Ruger anchor but don't be a troll.
The 29/629 guns are known to loosen up if fed with a long term diet of full house loads. We've got one in the family and my mother really doesn't feed it a lot of full speed stuff. It's her's afterall.
I know what happens when you take after a smith with high pressure loads for thousands of rounds; I did it to a 586 357 mag. It grew to 12 thou. cyllinder gap from about 4 thou.
 
Warning! This thread is more than 12 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top