44mag Unique Powder Light Loads

bird_dog · December 12, 2012, 11:38 AM

Good morning...

I've been a fan of Unique for as long as I've been reloading. My typical hunting load with the .44mag (Taurus M44 and Ruger Super Redhawk) is 10.9gr of Unique pushing a 240 grain jacketed soft point. I've killed lots of deer and targets with this load.

I have a lighter trail gun coming down the pike, and would like to stick with Unique and the 240 gr JSP's, without breaking my wrist. Any suggestions on a nice plinking / anti-coyote round. 8.5 grains of Unique? Any reason not to go even lighter than that?

I want to avoid using Special cases, as I have a massive supply of the magnums from years of shooting.

I welcome any suggestions. Thanks.

Wallyl · December 12, 2012, 12:06 PM

8.8 grains will do just fine..you can use as little as 8.0 grains.

For my light loads I use 8.0 of Promo with a 214 Lee SWC or the Lyman 215 SWC-GC bullet. I shoot a Model 29 and a Ruger Superblackhawk, both with long barrels. I prefer Promo as it is bulkier and a bit more consistent, but there is nothing wrong with using Unique.

bird_dog · December 12, 2012, 12:21 PM

Thanks Wally. I tried throwing a few charges from my Lee Auto Disk last night, and one of the apertures gives me a nice, consistent 8.3 grains.

I may try that and work up to 8.8.

jmortimer · December 12, 2012, 12:38 PM

10 grains and a 250 grain Keith SWC

bird_dog · December 12, 2012, 12:40 PM

I'd like to stick with the 240gr JSP's, since I'm stocked up on them.

rclark · December 12, 2012, 01:06 PM

8.0g to 10.0g of Unique should get you where you want to be.... Somewhere in there should be an accurate load. I personally don't shoot jacketed bullets in any of my revolvers, so no specific loads for you from any of my tests....

twobit · December 12, 2012, 02:08 PM

In my 45 colt revolver and my 92 rifle I use Unique for hunting (close to maximum loads) and use Trailboss powder for plinking / target loads. You might want to try some Trailboss in your 44 magnum as a less than maximum load option.

Axelwik · December 12, 2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

10 grains and a 250 grain Keith SWC

^^That's my general purpose/plinking load. Keith/Lyman 429421 with 10 grains Unique.

Salmoneye · December 13, 2012, 07:51 AM

Page 43/44 should help OP:

https://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catal...ntPowderSM.pdf

Rifleman1776 · December 13, 2012, 10:19 AM

For light loads in my Redhawk .44 mag. I use 180 gr. or 210 gr. hard cast SWCs and Win. 231 powder. Might be considered 'light' for a .44 mag. but still a killer load.

Ozzieman · December 14, 2012, 07:23 PM

Alliant has good loads for 240’s with Unique, one for lead is 800 FPS which is an equivalent 44 special load.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

Powderman · December 14, 2012, 08:04 PM

Two suggestions for you:

1. Start casting your own! I cast the 250 grain Keith type LSWC, out of straight wheelweights; sized to .430, and lubed with Javelina Alox. Those bullets shoot wonderfully on top of 8.5 of Unique, and are very, very accurate.

2. I'd also recommend a short barrel (4-6") for these loads. Recoil is actually not too bad, but in a longer barrel (like my 8 3/8" Model 29) there's some serious in-barrel time that will cause them to shoot quite high if the charge is too low.

For a really good, accurate fun load, you could use the 200 grain JHP on the same charge. More velocity and flatter trajectory.

Beginner 1960 · December 14, 2012, 09:10 PM

I saw on another thread that u can use 38sp data to load lite 357 target loads, is the same true with the 44sp and the 44 mag?

totaldla · December 15, 2012, 12:14 AM

Why don't you just buy a .22lr pistol? Or carry a 45acp semi-auto?

Powderman · December 15, 2012, 03:35 PM

Beginner, that is true. However, if you use that in .357 cases you might want to consider a faster powder, such as Bullseye, HP38/W231 or the like.

As someone mentioned above, I have heard lots of good stuff about Trail Boss powder.

GeauxTide · December 15, 2012, 10:38 PM

I've used 8-10 gr of Unique in 41, 44spl, 44mag, and 45 Colt under cast bullets. Very pleasant and accurate.

justsoIcanupvotethis · December 16, 2012, 02:06 AM

I'm not sure if I should say anything or not. I use 10 grains of Unique with Missouri Bullet 240 grain Elmer K lead swc. I pretty much thought of that as my "light" load. I load Nosler 240 grain JSPs with 21.0 of 2400. The 10 grain Unique loads are bunnyphart compared to the 2400 loads.

reloader28 · December 16, 2012, 01:04 PM

My light loads are 5-5.5gr Bullseye and 250gr cast boolit in a 44mag case.
Shoot good and kick like a 22 pistol.

bird_dog · December 17, 2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Why don't you just buy a .22lr pistol? Or carry a 45acp semi-auto?

I have both, and carry them quite frequently...

I'm just looking for some input on light Unique loads, using a JSP...I think the intent of my original post was pretty much overlooked!

December 12, 2012, 11:38 AM	#1
bird_dog Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Posts: 173	44mag Unique Powder Light Loads Good morning... I've been a fan of Unique for as long as I've been reloading. My typical hunting load with the .44mag (Taurus M44 and Ruger Super Redhawk) is 10.9gr of Unique pushing a 240 grain jacketed soft point. I've killed lots of deer and targets with this load. I have a lighter trail gun coming down the pike, and would like to stick with Unique and the 240 gr JSP's, without breaking my wrist. Any suggestions on a nice plinking / anti-coyote round. 8.5 grains of Unique? Any reason not to go even lighter than that? I want to avoid using Special cases, as I have a massive supply of the magnums from years of shooting. I welcome any suggestions. Thanks.

December 12, 2012, 12:06 PM	#2
Wallyl Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 56	.44 Mag Light loads w/Unique powder 8.8 grains will do just fine..you can use as little as 8.0 grains. For my light loads I use 8.0 of Promo with a 214 Lee SWC or the Lyman 215 SWC-GC bullet. I shoot a Model 29 and a Ruger Superblackhawk, both with long barrels. I prefer Promo as it is bulkier and a bit more consistent, but there is nothing wrong with using Unique.

December 12, 2012, 01:06 PM	#6
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 1,247	8.0g to 10.0g of Unique should get you where you want to be.... Somewhere in there should be an accurate load. I personally don't shoot jacketed bullets in any of my revolvers, so no specific loads for you from any of my tests.... __________________ A clinger. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes improperly referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. Ok.... the .44Spec is growing on me ... but the .45 Colt is still king.

December 12, 2012, 02:08 PM	#7
twobit Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2010 Location: Coyote Creak, SW Texas Posts: 475	In my 45 colt revolver and my 92 rifle I use Unique for hunting (close to maximum loads) and use Trailboss powder for plinking / target loads. You might want to try some Trailboss in your 44 magnum as a less than maximum load option. __________________ Twobit, LEO, NRA member, Native Texan. Shooting and hunting for over 45 years!

December 14, 2012, 07:23 PM	#11
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 4,312	Alliant has good loads for 240’s with Unique, one for lead is 800 FPS which is an equivalent 44 special load. http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx __________________ “Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.” – Thomas Jefferson. If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid, NONSENSE! If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about? Guns have only two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

December 12, 2012, 12:21 PM	#3
bird_dog Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Posts: 173	Thanks Wally. I tried throwing a few charges from my Lee Auto Disk last night, and one of the apertures gives me a nice, consistent 8.3 grains. I may try that and work up to 8.8.

December 12, 2012, 12:38 PM	#4
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,765	10 grains and a 250 grain Keith SWC

December 12, 2012, 12:40 PM	#5
bird_dog Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Posts: 173	I'd like to stick with the 240gr JSP's, since I'm stocked up on them.

December 13, 2012, 07:51 AM	#9
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 942	Page 43/44 should help OP: https://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catal...ntPowderSM.pdf

December 13, 2012, 10:19 AM	#10
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,834	For light loads in my Redhawk .44 mag. I use 180 gr. or 210 gr. hard cast SWCs and Win. 231 powder. Might be considered 'light' for a .44 mag. but still a killer load.

December 14, 2012, 08:04 PM	#12
Powderman Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2001 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,029	Two suggestions for you: 1. Start casting your own! I cast the 250 grain Keith type LSWC, out of straight wheelweights; sized to .430, and lubed with Javelina Alox. Those bullets shoot wonderfully on top of 8.5 of Unique, and are very, very accurate. 2. I'd also recommend a short barrel (4-6") for these loads. Recoil is actually not too bad, but in a longer barrel (like my 8 3/8" Model 29) there's some serious in-barrel time that will cause them to shoot quite high if the charge is too low. For a really good, accurate fun load, you could use the 200 grain JHP on the same charge. More velocity and flatter trajectory. __________________ Hiding in plain sight...

December 14, 2012, 09:10 PM	#13
Beginner 1960 Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: East TN Posts: 28	I saw on another thread that u can use 38sp data to load lite 357 target loads, is the same true with the 44sp and the 44 mag?

December 15, 2012, 12:14 AM	#14
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Posts: 576	Why don't you just buy a .22lr pistol? Or carry a 45acp semi-auto? __________________ Backcountry Camera and Video Information Obama in 2012? Seriously? Jetboil Sol Review

December 15, 2012, 03:35 PM	#15
Powderman Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2001 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,029	Beginner, that is true. However, if you use that in .357 cases you might want to consider a faster powder, such as Bullseye, HP38/W231 or the like. As someone mentioned above, I have heard lots of good stuff about Trail Boss powder. __________________ Hiding in plain sight...

December 15, 2012, 10:38 PM	#16
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 2,918	I've used 8-10 gr of Unique in 41, 44spl, 44mag, and 45 Colt under cast bullets. Very pleasant and accurate.

December 16, 2012, 02:06 AM	#17
justsoIcanupvotethis Member Join Date: June 11, 2012 Posts: 27	I'm not sure if I should say anything or not. I use 10 grains of Unique with Missouri Bullet 240 grain Elmer K lead swc. I pretty much thought of that as my "light" load. I load Nosler 240 grain JSPs with 21.0 of 2400. The 10 grain Unique loads are bunnyphart compared to the 2400 loads.

December 16, 2012, 01:04 PM	#18
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 840	My light loads are 5-5.5gr Bullseye and 250gr cast boolit in a 44mag case. Shoot good and kick like a 22 pistol.