44 spl in 44 mag case

DennisD · January 14, 2008, 12:21 PM

Anyone load light loads using a 44 mag case? I am talking about plinking loads. I thought about using the maximum recommended load for 44 spl in the 44 mag case. It would make for easy plinking but without the ring you get when using 44 spl in a 44 mag chamber. I guess the same would apply to the .357 case with .38 spl load.

Hammer1 · January 14, 2008, 12:30 PM

Loaded thousands of cases like this.

Need to be rigorous in keeping record labels on boxes so as not to fire the plinking loads at a charging Alaskan brown bear.

DBotkin · January 14, 2008, 01:24 PM

Ditto. Pretty much all my Dad loaded for the .44 was Special loads in the Mag case. Did the same thing with .38 as well, though mostly he had .38 SPL cases.

If you shoot lead bullets, you may look at seating them deep enough to get the Special case volume. I found some notes in Dad's reloading records calculating that he could seat the cast .38 SWC bullets he was using to the shoulder, still crimp them fine, and get the proper .38 SPL case volume for those loads. I don't bother with that - in both .44 and .357, the lighter loads do just fine.

I do find that my Rossi .357 lever rifle does not like light loads or .38 SPL. It really likes a "medium-hot" Magnum load, so that's what I use now. For the .44, though, I still like a lighter load.

kingudaroad · January 14, 2008, 04:24 PM

I use Unique powder in my 44mag plinking loads as they can be safely reduced for less recoil. There are other powders that will work also.Maybe Blue Dot though I haven't tried any yet.

Be careful reducing slower burning powders like H110 or Win 296. Too small of a load with these powders can result in unsafe pressures.

AlaskaMike · January 14, 2008, 05:00 PM

I love 7.5 to 8 grains of 231 under a 250 grain Keith. Makes a little more than 800 fps out of a 4" barrel and are wonderfully accurate.

MIke

T. O'Heir · January 14, 2008, 05:29 PM

"...same would apply to the..." Yep. Shot bullseye for eons using .357 cases loaded to .38 target velocities.
"...thought about using the maximum recommended load for..." Work up the load like you do for anything else. There's no reason to assume a max or near max load will give you the best accuracy.

DennisD · January 14, 2008, 08:34 PM

Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention, I'm will be using the reloads in a Marlin .44 mag rifle with a 20" barrel. I'll probably double check with the powder manufacturer on their recommendations.

zxcvbob · January 14, 2008, 09:15 PM

Try about 9 grains of Herco (assuming 240-ish grain bullets) This is quite a bit more than a .44 Special, but a lot less than a .44 Magnum. Should develop about 21000 psi peak chamber pressure, which will burn nice and clean.

slotracer577 · January 14, 2008, 10:31 PM

I have been doing light loads of blue dot, 12g vs max of 15g with a 240g bullet. Not a special load, which is 9g max, but less recoil than comercial loads. I have almost 300 rounds of once fired 44 mag, so I figured I should use it.

John

tbtrout · January 14, 2008, 10:37 PM

I am using Trail Boss for my light loads in 44mag. I love the stuff.

WESHOOT2 · January 15, 2008, 08:26 AM

240g cast LSWC
CCI350
sized case
OAL 1.600--1.610", based on groove location
7.3g Universal Clays
Redding Profile Crimp die; experiment

Edward429451 · January 15, 2008, 09:51 AM

8.0 gr of Unique under a 245/250 gr lswc and a standard primer will do what you ask also. Might be slightly warm compared to 44 special loads but is a great load. I get ~953 fps from my 7.5" RH with this load

<based on groove location>

You mean based on short brass don't you? I don't think I've ever seated a LSWC to book length. It always falls out under.

DennisD · January 15, 2008, 03:45 PM

Thanks for the recipes.

I like to use Acurate Arms #5. Any one have any thoughts or sugessted loads for 240 grain copper plated (not FMJ but electroplated as in Rainier)?

My manual has the recipe for .44 mag with that combo but not for .44 special. The closest would be 245 grain lead with #5.

crowbeaner · January 15, 2008, 11:18 PM

My plinking load for my old M29 was 8.0 of Red Dot in a magnum case and an RCBS 245 SWC sized to .430. It shot 1 ragged hole groups; a little smoky for indoor ranges though.

January 14, 2008, 12:21 PM	#1
DennisD Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 365	44 spl in 44 mag case Anyone load light loads using a 44 mag case? I am talking about plinking loads. I thought about using the maximum recommended load for 44 spl in the 44 mag case. It would make for easy plinking but without the ring you get when using 44 spl in a 44 mag chamber. I guess the same would apply to the .357 case with .38 spl load. __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed" do you not understand?! NRA Life

January 14, 2008, 05:29 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...same would apply to the..." Yep. Shot bullseye for eons using .357 cases loaded to .38 target velocities. "...thought about using the maximum recommended load for..." Work up the load like you do for anything else. There's no reason to assume a max or near max load will give you the best accuracy. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 14, 2008, 08:34 PM	#7
DennisD Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 365	Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention, I'm will be using the reloads in a Marlin .44 mag rifle with a 20" barrel. I'll probably double check with the powder manufacturer on their recommendations. __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed" do you not understand?! NRA Life

January 15, 2008, 08:26 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	44 Special Magnum 240g cast LSWC CCI350 sized case OAL 1.600--1.610", based on groove location 7.3g Universal Clays Redding Profile Crimp die; experiment __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 15, 2008, 03:45 PM	#13
DennisD Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 365	Thanks for the recipes. I like to use Acurate Arms #5. Any one have any thoughts or sugessted loads for 240 grain copper plated (not FMJ but electroplated as in Rainier)? My manual has the recipe for .44 mag with that combo but not for .44 special. The closest would be 245 grain lead with #5. __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed" do you not understand?! NRA Life

January 14, 2008, 12:30 PM	#2
Hammer1 Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2004 Posts: 214	Loaded thousands of cases like this. Need to be rigorous in keeping record labels on boxes so as not to fire the plinking loads at a charging Alaskan brown bear.

January 14, 2008, 01:24 PM	#3
DBotkin Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 302	Ditto. Pretty much all my Dad loaded for the .44 was Special loads in the Mag case. Did the same thing with .38 as well, though mostly he had .38 SPL cases. If you shoot lead bullets, you may look at seating them deep enough to get the Special case volume. I found some notes in Dad's reloading records calculating that he could seat the cast .38 SWC bullets he was using to the shoulder, still crimp them fine, and get the proper .38 SPL case volume for those loads. I don't bother with that - in both .44 and .357, the lighter loads do just fine. I do find that my Rossi .357 lever rifle does not like light loads or .38 SPL. It really likes a "medium-hot" Magnum load, so that's what I use now. For the .44, though, I still like a lighter load.

January 14, 2008, 04:24 PM	#4
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	I use Unique powder in my 44mag plinking loads as they can be safely reduced for less recoil. There are other powders that will work also.Maybe Blue Dot though I haven't tried any yet. Be careful reducing slower burning powders like H110 or Win 296. Too small of a load with these powders can result in unsafe pressures.

January 14, 2008, 05:00 PM	#5
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I love 7.5 to 8 grains of 231 under a 250 grain Keith. Makes a little more than 800 fps out of a 4" barrel and are wonderfully accurate. MIke

January 14, 2008, 09:15 PM	#8
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Try about 9 grains of Herco (assuming 240-ish grain bullets) This is quite a bit more than a .44 Special, but a lot less than a .44 Magnum. Should develop about 21000 psi peak chamber pressure, which will burn nice and clean.

January 14, 2008, 10:31 PM	#9
slotracer577 Member Join Date: December 6, 2007 Posts: 25	I have been doing light loads of blue dot, 12g vs max of 15g with a 240g bullet. Not a special load, which is 9g max, but less recoil than comercial loads. I have almost 300 rounds of once fired 44 mag, so I figured I should use it. John

January 14, 2008, 10:37 PM	#10
tbtrout Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 234	I am using Trail Boss for my light loads in 44mag. I love the stuff.

January 15, 2008, 09:51 AM	#12
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	8.0 gr of Unique under a 245/250 gr lswc and a standard primer will do what you ask also. Might be slightly warm compared to 44 special loads but is a great load. I get ~953 fps from my 7.5" RH with this load <based on groove location> You mean based on short brass don't you? I don't think I've ever seated a LSWC to book length. It always falls out under.

January 15, 2008, 11:18 PM	#14
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	My plinking load for my old M29 was 8.0 of Red Dot in a magnum case and an RCBS 245 SWC sized to .430. It shot 1 ragged hole groups; a little smoky for indoor ranges though. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.