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Old May 4, 2005, 10:23 PM   #6
Sturm
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Join Date: March 2, 2005
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 584
Loads for a 3" .44 MAGNUM

almtiba,
I don't have ballistic data for the 3" barrel, but data from the Lyman 46th edition used a 4" vented test barrel and your velocity loss will not be as great if you use a faster service type powder vs. a magnum powder. These are start charges in an older manual that does not show the other powders I mentioned because most of them weren't around. HS-6 was, but with the limited number of powders shown, it was not used, so I'll list Blue Dot, Unique and W-231 even though I don't like it. You have it and I can't disagree with advice to use what you have. BTW, these would be excellent defense loads with the Sierra bullet that has the thinnest jacket of most .44 JHP bullets


Sierra 180 gr. JHC, OAL 1.610" CCI 300 Primer
Blue Dot, 17.8 grains. Velocity, 1126 FPS @ 25,800 CUP
Unique, 12.0 grains. Velocity, 1061 FPS @ 25,100 CUP
W-231, 10.2 grains. Velocity, 1077 FPS @ 22,000 CUP
Points of interest. Unique was listed as potentially most accurate. But, you can see, the best load density and highest velocity comes with Blue Dot.

Hornady 200 gr. JHP, since replaced by the XTP, OAL 1.610" CCI 300 Primer
Blue Dot, 15.7 grains, Velocity, 942 FPS @ 19,600 CUP
Unique, 10.5 grains. Velocity, 905 FPS @ 21,100 CUP
W-231 Not Listed in any of the jacketed bullet weights above 180 grs.
Unique again was listed as potentially most accurate and again load density and velocity are better with Blue Dot.

These loads would fall ballistically and performance wise between the .40 S&W and 10mm Auto and if I found them hard to control in a large (Taurus?) frame .44 Magnum, I would go to something lighter, like say, the .38 Special!

Last edited by Sturm; May 4, 2005 at 11:09 PM.
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