Light 44mag loads. Evaluation

northjdr · March 3, 2007, 01:58 PM

I waded through 20" of recently fallen global warming to get to the range today. Armed with my Ruger SRH 7 1/2". This was my first attempt at handloading for my 44mag. I had prepared some light loads using 6grs of Bullseye and 200gr lead Laser-Cast RNFP with light crimp. I didn't mess with my crony today because of the bright sun and snow reflection. All rounds went boom and hit paper. No pulling from cases. Since I'm new to pistol loading I don't know how to tell when a pistol load is good. Do 44 mag loads group like rifle loads (i.e., do you look for sweet spots)? If I wanted to increase my Bullseye charge at approximately what point would I be approaching maximum with these 200gr bullets.Thanks.

Crazy4nitro · March 3, 2007, 05:44 PM

I have a .41 Mag and the very first things I noticed were primersstarting to flatten. I had some cases that were not extracting as easy with a different powder max load. I'm no Reload Pro,but these were a few signs I saw.

Good Luck and Be Safe.

Crazy4nitro

Edward429451 · March 3, 2007, 06:11 PM

A pistol load is good when you can hit with it.

High or flattend primers, sticky extraction, are signs of high pressure.

If you want to go very far up the ladder with lead boolits for your 44 Mag, try some Alliant 2400 powder with regular primers. It is a real consistent powder for the 44.

cheygriz · March 3, 2007, 09:16 PM

Don't push fast burning powders to max. If you want more velocity, go to a slower powder. I use H110 exclusively in my maguns for high power loads.

And yes there is a "sweet spot" or most accurate load for pistols as well as rifles. Both for "light" loads, and for "heavy" loads.

northjdr · March 4, 2007, 01:53 PM

H110 and 2400 appear to be pretty popular for the 44mag. loads. I'll work up some higher power loads with these. In the meantime, I'll try to fine tune the Bullseye for a nice accurate light load. I think I'll move up in 1 grain steps to find a light load that groups nicely. With 6grs there's still a lot of room in the case. I've read some info about fillers. When should a person start to use (dacron?) as a filler? As I said earlier, I'm learning reloading and all my rifles loads nearly fill the case so I'm just wondering under what conditions a filler is appropriate. Thanks for the information.

cheygriz · March 4, 2007, 01:57 PM

UHHH....... Increase charges of Bullseye by POINT one grain. NOT one grain!!!!!!!

Fillers are generally frowned on by most experienced reloaders.

northjdr · March 4, 2007, 03:36 PM

My mistake. I meant to say .1grain. Thanks for the correction. If fillers are frowned on they why do some people use them in the first place?

Varmitzapper · March 4, 2007, 04:55 PM

I've been using 5.0 gr. of either Bullseye or 5.1 gr. of Red Dot with a 240 Gr. SWC lead bullet in a 44 Special case. This is a great reduced load for my S&W 629. Very acurate round, if you do your job, flys at about 750fps. I came in first place the last four years using this load.

Hotdog1911 · March 5, 2007, 08:11 PM

Listen to cheygriz.

'whoops I meant....' You get a call back on the computer; not on the range. It's those same fingers hitting the keys on the keyboard as on the reloading scale.

A fast burning powder like Bullseye, leaves little, did I say little room for erorr. The slower powders are sometimes just a little more forgiving. Point one grain and one grain is what I mean when I say forgiving. Yes, Bullseye is a good, no, an excellent powder. And yes, you can use it for .44 Remington Magnum. But Bullseye is not wise choice for beginers & 44 mag cases.

Charshooter · March 11, 2007, 06:38 PM

Yes, I use 2400 for most loads, it is like the other men have said a good 44 magnum powder. I do use H 110, but here you should stick to the published loads, not go under the same with Wnchester 296 I believe it is, same powder.
You might want to try Unique as a moderate powder and blue dot

happy7 · March 11, 2007, 09:17 PM

If you want to load light 44 magnum loads, the best thing to do would be to pick up some 44 special or even 44 russian brass. This the same case except shorter and will give you a fuller case with the lighter loads. And if you use the new Trail Boss powder, which is very bulky, I think that you will find that the 44 Special cases will fill up pretty well. Bullseye is an ok powder for light loads in the 44 magnum, but if you want normal power you will want to get a different, more appropriate powder like 4227 or 2400 or lil gun. I have not used lasercast bullets. I do not know how fast you can push them before you get leading, but certainly speeds under 1000 fps will be ok. If you switch to jacketed bullets H110 or W296 are hard to beat.

March 3, 2007, 01:58 PM	#1
northjdr Junior Member Join Date: February 12, 2007 Posts: 7	Light 44mag loads. Evaluation I waded through 20" of recently fallen global warming to get to the range today. Armed with my Ruger SRH 7 1/2". This was my first attempt at handloading for my 44mag. I had prepared some light loads using 6grs of Bullseye and 200gr lead Laser-Cast RNFP with light crimp. I didn't mess with my crony today because of the bright sun and snow reflection. All rounds went boom and hit paper. No pulling from cases. Since I'm new to pistol loading I don't know how to tell when a pistol load is good. Do 44 mag loads group like rifle loads (i.e., do you look for sweet spots)? If I wanted to increase my Bullseye charge at approximately what point would I be approaching maximum with these 200gr bullets.Thanks.

March 3, 2007, 09:16 PM	#4
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	Don't push fast burning powders to max. If you want more velocity, go to a slower powder. I use H110 exclusively in my maguns for high power loads. And yes there is a "sweet spot" or most accurate load for pistols as well as rifles. Both for "light" loads, and for "heavy" loads. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

March 4, 2007, 01:53 PM	#5
northjdr Junior Member Join Date: February 12, 2007 Posts: 7	Filler? H110 and 2400 appear to be pretty popular for the 44mag. loads. I'll work up some higher power loads with these. In the meantime, I'll try to fine tune the Bullseye for a nice accurate light load. I think I'll move up in 1 grain steps to find a light load that groups nicely. With 6grs there's still a lot of room in the case. I've read some info about fillers. When should a person start to use (dacron?) as a filler? As I said earlier, I'm learning reloading and all my rifles loads nearly fill the case so I'm just wondering under what conditions a filler is appropriate. Thanks for the information. Last edited by northjdr; March 4, 2007 at 01:56 PM. Reason: typos

March 4, 2007, 01:57 PM	#6
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	UHHH....... Increase charges of Bullseye by POINT one grain. NOT one grain!!!!!!! Fillers are generally frowned on by most experienced reloaders. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

March 5, 2007, 08:11 PM	#9
Hotdog1911 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2006 Posts: 282	North Jr. Listen to cheygriz. 'whoops I meant....' You get a call back on the computer; not on the range. It's those same fingers hitting the keys on the keyboard as on the reloading scale. A fast burning powder like Bullseye, leaves little, did I say little room for erorr. The slower powders are sometimes just a little more forgiving. Point one grain and one grain is what I mean when I say forgiving. Yes, Bullseye is a good, no, an excellent powder. And yes, you can use it for .44 Remington Magnum. But Bullseye is not wise choice for beginers & 44 mag cases.

March 3, 2007, 05:44 PM	#2
Crazy4nitro Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2007 Location: Lou-a-vul KY Posts: 142	I have a .41 Mag and the very first things I noticed were primersstarting to flatten. I had some cases that were not extracting as easy with a different powder max load. I'm no Reload Pro,but these were a few signs I saw. Good Luck and Be Safe. Crazy4nitro

March 3, 2007, 06:11 PM	#3
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	A pistol load is good when you can hit with it. High or flattend primers, sticky extraction, are signs of high pressure. If you want to go very far up the ladder with lead boolits for your 44 Mag, try some Alliant 2400 powder with regular primers. It is a real consistent powder for the 44.

March 4, 2007, 03:36 PM	#7
northjdr Junior Member Join Date: February 12, 2007 Posts: 7	My mistake. I meant to say .1grain. Thanks for the correction. If fillers are frowned on they why do some people use them in the first place?

March 4, 2007, 04:55 PM	#8
Varmitzapper Member Join Date: February 13, 2007 Location: G-Boro NJ Posts: 19	I've been using 5.0 gr. of either Bullseye or 5.1 gr. of Red Dot with a 240 Gr. SWC lead bullet in a 44 Special case. This is a great reduced load for my S&W 629. Very acurate round, if you do your job, flys at about 750fps. I came in first place the last four years using this load.

March 11, 2007, 06:38 PM	#10
Charshooter Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2007 Location: Ozarks Posts: 216	Yes, I use 2400 for most loads, it is like the other men have said a good 44 magnum powder. I do use H 110, but here you should stick to the published loads, not go under the same with Wnchester 296 I believe it is, same powder. You might want to try Unique as a moderate powder and blue dot __________________ Born pre-war and proud of it!

March 11, 2007, 09:17 PM	#11
happy7 Junior Member Join Date: January 21, 2007 Posts: 8	If you want to load light 44 magnum loads, the best thing to do would be to pick up some 44 special or even 44 russian brass. This the same case except shorter and will give you a fuller case with the lighter loads. And if you use the new Trail Boss powder, which is very bulky, I think that you will find that the 44 Special cases will fill up pretty well. Bullseye is an ok powder for light loads in the 44 magnum, but if you want normal power you will want to get a different, more appropriate powder like 4227 or 2400 or lil gun. I have not used lasercast bullets. I do not know how fast you can push them before you get leading, but certainly speeds under 1000 fps will be ok. If you switch to jacketed bullets H110 or W296 are hard to beat.