.44mag+P

tstr · July 26, 2000, 08:43 PM

Anybody have load data for a .44mag+P?

tstr

M16 · July 26, 2000, 09:52 PM

I have never heard of anyone loading the .44 Magnum to +P levels. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me. What are you after that you can't do with a bullet range from 180 to 300 and beyond with custom bullets? What type of gun are you planning on using these loads in? About the only ones worth considering are the Ruger Super Redhawk or the Freedoms Arms five shot versions.

[This message has been edited by M16 (edited July 26, 2000).]

Clark · July 26, 2000, 10:04 PM

I have never needed anything extra from my 44 mag. I think that others have. I have a light wieght SW 29 and those that like +P have the heavier Ruger.

I don't think there is any official +P for 44 mag. If SAAMI spec 44 mag at 40,000 cup, then +P would be around 44,000 cup.

Robert the41MagFan · July 26, 2000, 10:19 PM

May I suggest that you change cartridges beyond the 44 Magnum realm.

http://www.sixgunner.com/taffin/beyond44.htm

Robert

tstr · July 26, 2000, 11:16 PM

I just bought a new Super Redhawk and I love it. There were two factors though which led me to ask the question about .44+P.

1) I noticed at the store that Ruger’s .44mag is built about as thick and tough as Ruger’s .454causal, which leads me to think that the gun could handle a lot more punch than it’s getting.

2) The last time I fired a .44mag before this new purchase was many years ago and I remember the kick being a lot stiffer. It was my neighbor’s gun and he had said it was loaded with +P ammo. I assumed it was a factory round, but it could have been some hot thing he’d loaded up himself. Anyway, the kick on my new gun seemed too tame to me and I wanted to recapture that thud (a.k.a pain

) I felt when I fired his.

tstr

Paul B. · July 27, 2000, 12:43 AM

TSTR. Look at what the .44 Mag. was loaded to, velocitywise, back in the 1950's when it first came out. My old Stoegers catalog shows the 240 gr. gas checked lead factory load at 1570 FPS. That same load today, according to the Guns & Ammo 1999 Annual, shows 1270 FPS, 300 FPS less. The fastest 240 gr. load shown today is a 240 gr. JSP at 1375 FPS.
Kind of looks like the liability lawyers have struck again. Actually, it may not have been a bad idea. The S&W 29 is based on a design that came out in 1905. I have an S&W 629, that literally needs an overhaul of the hammer and trigger after about 200 to 250 rounds of current factory ammo. I don't shoot that gun much anymore, much prefering my Super Blackhawks, only because the hold up under some very stout reloads that I would not dare use in the S&W.
My loads mostly consist of a 250 gr. hard cast lead bullet at 1450 FPS and a 300 gr. cast lead bullet at about 1300 FPS. I could probably go a touch higher, but brass life is great and recoil is tolerable. Stout, but tolerable.
BTW. They did the same thing with the .357 Mag., downloading it almost 250 to 300 FPS. The original loads were, I hear, literally eating up model 19's. I load .357 Mag. to the old standards as well, and they are no fun in a model 66 S&W 4 inch.
My 150 gr. cast lead loads kick about a third harder than 158 gr. Federal factory, and the kill jackrabbits a lot quicker as well. I shoot those in big "N" frame S&Ws.
So now you know why the .44 Mag. does not seem to kick as hard as they used to. It's because they can't.
Paul B.

WESHOOT2 · July 29, 2000, 06:40 AM

tstr,

There is no such thing as a +P 44 Magnum, just loads with too much powder.

Your SR will handle much; what do you want it to do?

------------------
"All my ammo is factory ammo"

July 26, 2000, 08:43 PM	#1
tstr Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2000 Location: Oregon Posts: 233	Anybody have load data for a .44mag+P? tstr

July 26, 2000, 09:52 PM	#2
M16 Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 1999 Posts: 490	I have never heard of anyone loading the .44 Magnum to +P levels. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me. What are you after that you can't do with a bullet range from 180 to 300 and beyond with custom bullets? What type of gun are you planning on using these loads in? About the only ones worth considering are the Ruger Super Redhawk or the Freedoms Arms five shot versions. [This message has been edited by M16 (edited July 26, 2000).]

July 26, 2000, 10:04 PM	#3
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have never needed anything extra from my 44 mag. I think that others have. I have a light wieght SW 29 and those that like +P have the heavier Ruger. I don't think there is any official +P for 44 mag. If SAAMI spec 44 mag at 40,000 cup, then +P would be around 44,000 cup.

July 26, 2000, 10:19 PM	#4
Robert the41MagFan Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1999 Posts: 1,233	May I suggest that you change cartridges beyond the 44 Magnum realm. http://www.sixgunner.com/taffin/beyond44.htm Robert

July 26, 2000, 11:16 PM	#5
tstr Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2000 Location: Oregon Posts: 233	I just bought a new Super Redhawk and I love it. There were two factors though which led me to ask the question about .44+P. 1) I noticed at the store that Ruger’s .44mag is built about as thick and tough as Ruger’s .454causal, which leads me to think that the gun could handle a lot more punch than it’s getting. 2) The last time I fired a .44mag before this new purchase was many years ago and I remember the kick being a lot stiffer. It was my neighbor’s gun and he had said it was loaded with +P ammo. I assumed it was a factory round, but it could have been some hot thing he’d loaded up himself. Anyway, the kick on my new gun seemed too tame to me and I wanted to recapture that thud (a.k.a pain ) I felt when I fired his. tstr

July 27, 2000, 12:43 AM	#6
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,801	TSTR. Look at what the .44 Mag. was loaded to, velocitywise, back in the 1950's when it first came out. My old Stoegers catalog shows the 240 gr. gas checked lead factory load at 1570 FPS. That same load today, according to the Guns & Ammo 1999 Annual, shows 1270 FPS, 300 FPS less. The fastest 240 gr. load shown today is a 240 gr. JSP at 1375 FPS. Kind of looks like the liability lawyers have struck again. Actually, it may not have been a bad idea. The S&W 29 is based on a design that came out in 1905. I have an S&W 629, that literally needs an overhaul of the hammer and trigger after about 200 to 250 rounds of current factory ammo. I don't shoot that gun much anymore, much prefering my Super Blackhawks, only because the hold up under some very stout reloads that I would not dare use in the S&W. My loads mostly consist of a 250 gr. hard cast lead bullet at 1450 FPS and a 300 gr. cast lead bullet at about 1300 FPS. I could probably go a touch higher, but brass life is great and recoil is tolerable. Stout, but tolerable. BTW. They did the same thing with the .357 Mag., downloading it almost 250 to 300 FPS. The original loads were, I hear, literally eating up model 19's. I load .357 Mag. to the old standards as well, and they are no fun in a model 66 S&W 4 inch. My 150 gr. cast lead loads kick about a third harder than 158 gr. Federal factory, and the kill jackrabbits a lot quicker as well. I shoot those in big "N" frame S&Ws. So now you know why the .44 Mag. does not seem to kick as hard as they used to. It's because they can't. Paul B.

July 29, 2000, 06:40 AM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	tstr, There is no such thing as a +P 44 Magnum, just loads with too much powder. Your SR will handle much; what do you want it to do? ------------------ "All my ammo is factory ammo"