Unique for 44 mag light loads

crimsondave · March 3, 2010, 03:23 PM

can you go below starting loads with unique? I'm wanting 44 special type loads out of 44 mag brass.

AlaskaMike · March 3, 2010, 04:32 PM

You can safely use .44 special loads in .44 mag brass, but I'd recommend you do so with cast bullets. It's a lot easier to lodge a jacketed bullet in the barrel with low velocity loads than it is a cast bullet.

In this specific case I also wouldn't use a starting load for .44 special--at the risk of alarming lots of folks here I'd actually recommend starting at the max load in the .44 special data and working backwards until you find the accuracy and recoil to your liking. This is normally exactly what you wouldn't do in load development, but in this case you're using .44 mag brass in a .44 mag handgun, and even max .44 special loads in the longer magnum brass are going to generate less pressure than the starting loads for .44 mag data.

When loading light charges in magnum cases, also be really careful you don't double-charge any cases. Unique is pretty bulky compared to others, but it's still something to keep firmly in mind.

Mike

Scorch · March 3, 2010, 05:16 PM

I load 11.5 gr of Unique behind a 240 gr JHP. Not quite 44 Special loads, but only about 1,050 fps, very mild. 8.0 gr of Unique behind a 240 gr cast bullet will push it out at about 950 fps, total popgun loads.

crimsondave · March 3, 2010, 09:04 PM

What about 8.0 gr Unique pushing a 240 gr JHP? I don't have any 44 cast on hand. I was given a bunch of 240 JHPs. H110 is all I've been loading in my 44. Needless to say, I need a plink round.

BurkGlocker · March 3, 2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

I load 11.5 gr of Unique behind a 240 gr JHP. Not quite 44 Special loads, but only about 1,050 fps, very mild.

This was the same load that I used out of my formerly owned Super Redhawk and was a great range load.

BG

Scorch · March 3, 2010, 11:36 PM

Quote:

What about 8.0 gr Unique pushing a 240 gr JHP?

Unique works best when you build the pressure a bit. 8.0 gr is less than minimum load. Don't load less than 11.0 gr. The extra 3.5 gr are what makes it special.

GeauxTide · March 4, 2010, 08:30 AM

I used 8-9gr of Unique with 250 cast for many years. Very accurate and light recoiling in a SBH.

AlaskaMike · March 4, 2010, 10:19 AM

8 grains of Unique with any 240 grain JHP is perfectly fine. While it doesn't provide you with that "magnum" experience, it's a great plinking load. It's pretty close to the classic .44 special load of Skeeter Skelton's, which was 7.5 grains of Unique with a 250 grain SWC.

Mike

March 3, 2010, 03:23 PM	#1
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	Unique for 44 mag light loads can you go below starting loads with unique? I'm wanting 44 special type loads out of 44 mag brass.

March 3, 2010, 05:16 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I load 11.5 gr of Unique behind a 240 gr JHP. Not quite 44 Special loads, but only about 1,050 fps, very mild. 8.0 gr of Unique behind a 240 gr cast bullet will push it out at about 950 fps, total popgun loads. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 3, 2010, 04:32 PM	#2
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	You can safely use .44 special loads in .44 mag brass, but I'd recommend you do so with cast bullets. It's a lot easier to lodge a jacketed bullet in the barrel with low velocity loads than it is a cast bullet. In this specific case I also wouldn't use a starting load for .44 special--at the risk of alarming lots of folks here I'd actually recommend starting at the max load in the .44 special data and working backwards until you find the accuracy and recoil to your liking. This is normally exactly what you wouldn't do in load development, but in this case you're using .44 mag brass in a .44 mag handgun, and even max .44 special loads in the longer magnum brass are going to generate less pressure than the starting loads for .44 mag data. When loading light charges in magnum cases, also be really careful you don't double-charge any cases. Unique is pretty bulky compared to others, but it's still something to keep firmly in mind. Mike

March 3, 2010, 09:04 PM	#4
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	What about 8.0 gr Unique pushing a 240 gr JHP? I don't have any 44 cast on hand. I was given a bunch of 240 JHPs. H110 is all I've been loading in my 44. Needless to say, I need a plink round.

March 4, 2010, 08:30 AM	#7
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	I used 8-9gr of Unique with 250 cast for many years. Very accurate and light recoiling in a SBH.

March 4, 2010, 10:19 AM	#8
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	8 grains of Unique with any 240 grain JHP is perfectly fine. While it doesn't provide you with that "magnum" experience, it's a great plinking load. It's pretty close to the classic .44 special load of Skeeter Skelton's, which was 7.5 grains of Unique with a 250 grain SWC. Mike