looking for a slow 44mag load for rifle

drew2 · January 17, 2010, 08:51 PM

Hello all,
Would anybody have a load for a ruger M77 44mag bolt gun that is subsonic?
The gun has an 18inch barrel and 1in20 inch twist, i'm told that it will stabilise 240gn proj. running subsonic but probably not heavier proj. unless barrel is faster twist.
Anyway, I thought that trail boss would be a good powder for this.
Thanks for help,
drew

here is the nice little rifle...

B.L.E. · January 17, 2010, 09:18 PM

Nearly any .44 special load or "cowboy action" .44 mag load should be sub-sonic out of a rifle.

Believe it or not, that extra foot and a half of rifle barrel only adds about 150-200 fps to the velocity obtained with a pistol when shooting .44 special equivilent loads. Fast burning pistol powders are completely burned up in a pistol barrel.

Cult .44 · January 17, 2010, 10:54 PM

Quote:

it will stabilise 240gn proj. running subsonic but probably not heavier proj.

That barrel should have no problem stabilizing a 240 gr bullet at supersonic velocities. My Marlin has a 1/38 twist and is quite accurate with my deer hunting load which pushes a 240 gr HP-XTP around 1700 fps. I've also have gotten good accuracy with Buffalo Bore's 270 grain loads. In fact, the Buffalo Bore site says that 270 grains is the heaviest bullet the Marlin will stabilize unless you re-barrel it to a 1/20 twist. You're already there with the M77.

drew2 · January 17, 2010, 11:33 PM

OK, that sounds good. I got the idea that i needed the 1:11" twist for the M77 ruger 44 mag from SRT website, but they just mention accuracy is improved.

hickstick_10 · January 17, 2010, 11:34 PM

make friends with the powder TRAILBOSS

quiet to

AlaskaMike · January 18, 2010, 10:46 AM

I agree with the Trail Boss recommendation.

Something else though--be careful if you use jacketed bullets because they can stick in the barrel much easier than cast lead if the load is too light. It would probably have to be a very, very light load, but still it's something to keep in mind.

Mike

stump shooter · January 18, 2010, 02:21 PM

I have a buddy who swears by trailboss for his reduced .44Mag loads.
I don't know the specifics but out of an Ace Dube insert for his NEF handi rig, you can practically chase the thing down range

drew2 · January 22, 2010, 06:28 PM

I've got a heap of cast flat nose 240gn projectiles and decided to try some trail boss. I'm going to start some loads at 9.0gn and go up to 10.5gn. I'll use the chrony and put my targets at 50 metres. I'll post my results in case anyone interested, but unfortunately i won't get time to try this for a while.
Thanks, drew

whitedogone · January 22, 2010, 07:42 PM

Hornady's got a "bunch" of cowboy loads for the 44

drew2 · January 23, 2010, 08:13 PM

Thanks Whitedogone, I didn't see any loads on Hornady's website but did find some on Hodgdon's.
Hodgdon's website has some listed in the pistol section only:
240 GR. LSWC CAST, 6.0gn Trail Boss gives 828ft/s & 19,100 PSI; and 7.3gn Trail Boss gives 917 ft/s & 21,600 PSI as a maximum load.
Looks like the loads which were suggested to me are much higher than what Hodgdon's website recommends, I'd better start much lower than 9.5gn

I've seen a post on THR from someone using 9.0gn Trail Boss with 250gn Sierra proj, which were all around 1000fps

ThomasT · January 23, 2010, 08:29 PM

You can use Unique, 231 or Universal for good reduced loads with lead bullets. Most of those powders will use a charge of around 9grs with a 240gr bullet. Like the other poster said don't do this with jacketed bullets or they may stick in the bore.

I have used 6grs of Red Dot or Bullseye for reduced loads in my blackhawk and Marlin 44 rifle. I don't know the speed but they are pleasant to shoot.

Full power loads with the 357 and 44 mag will usually gain 300-400fps in a rifle length barrel.

January 17, 2010, 08:51 PM	#1
drew2 Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Posts: 5	looking for a slow 44mag load for rifle Hello all, Would anybody have a load for a ruger M77 44mag bolt gun that is subsonic? The gun has an 18inch barrel and 1in20 inch twist, i'm told that it will stabilise 240gn proj. running subsonic but probably not heavier proj. unless barrel is faster twist. Anyway, I thought that trail boss would be a good powder for this. Thanks for help, drew here is the nice little rifle... Last edited by drew2; January 17, 2010 at 11:43 PM. Reason: add picture

January 17, 2010, 09:18 PM	#2
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	Nearly any .44 special load or "cowboy action" .44 mag load should be sub-sonic out of a rifle. Believe it or not, that extra foot and a half of rifle barrel only adds about 150-200 fps to the velocity obtained with a pistol when shooting .44 special equivilent loads. Fast burning pistol powders are completely burned up in a pistol barrel.

January 17, 2010, 11:33 PM	#4
drew2 Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Posts: 5	OK, that sounds good. I got the idea that i needed the 1:11" twist for the M77 ruger 44 mag from SRT website, but they just mention accuracy is improved.

January 17, 2010, 11:34 PM	#5
hickstick_10 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 477	make friends with the powder TRAILBOSS quiet to

January 18, 2010, 10:46 AM	#6
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I agree with the Trail Boss recommendation. Something else though--be careful if you use jacketed bullets because they can stick in the barrel much easier than cast lead if the load is too light. It would probably have to be a very, very light load, but still it's something to keep in mind. Mike

January 18, 2010, 02:21 PM	#7
stump shooter Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Posts: 61	I have a buddy who swears by trailboss for his reduced .44Mag loads. I don't know the specifics but out of an Ace Dube insert for his NEF handi rig, you can practically chase the thing down range

January 22, 2010, 06:28 PM	#8
drew2 Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Posts: 5	I've got a heap of cast flat nose 240gn projectiles and decided to try some trail boss. I'm going to start some loads at 9.0gn and go up to 10.5gn. I'll use the chrony and put my targets at 50 metres. I'll post my results in case anyone interested, but unfortunately i won't get time to try this for a while. Thanks, drew

January 22, 2010, 07:42 PM	#9
whitedogone Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2010 Posts: 100	Hornady's got a "bunch" of cowboy loads for the 44

January 23, 2010, 08:13 PM	#10
drew2 Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Posts: 5	Thanks Whitedogone, I didn't see any loads on Hornady's website but did find some on Hodgdon's. Hodgdon's website has some listed in the pistol section only: 240 GR. LSWC CAST, 6.0gn Trail Boss gives 828ft/s & 19,100 PSI; and 7.3gn Trail Boss gives 917 ft/s & 21,600 PSI as a maximum load. Looks like the loads which were suggested to me are much higher than what Hodgdon's website recommends, I'd better start much lower than 9.5gn I've seen a post on THR from someone using 9.0gn Trail Boss with 250gn Sierra proj, which were all around 1000fps

January 23, 2010, 08:29 PM	#11
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	You can use Unique, 231 or Universal for good reduced loads with lead bullets. Most of those powders will use a charge of around 9grs with a 240gr bullet. Like the other poster said don't do this with jacketed bullets or they may stick in the bore. I have used 6grs of Red Dot or Bullseye for reduced loads in my blackhawk and Marlin 44 rifle. I don't know the speed but they are pleasant to shoot. Full power loads with the 357 and 44 mag will usually gain 300-400fps in a rifle length barrel.