44 mag loads - advice

[H&R12]

Just getting into loading with cast bullets. Using 255 gr. WFN BP Cast Perf. Wondering about a few loads I'm working up. 11 gr. of Unique, 11 gr. of Herco, and 10 gr. with Herco. Also trying 300 gr. WFN GC with 11 gr. Longshot and/or 11 gr Unique. Anybody have any experience with any of these loads. I shoot a 44 mag SRH with 7.5 in. bbl. I'm trying to find a 1200-1250 fps load. I have loaded XTP's alot, but want to try shooting cast. I'll be hunting mostly whitetail in Michigan. I haven't shot ant of these loads, but from the data I seem to favor Unique. Thanks.

[firechicken]

Your 11.0gr Unique load might be pushing it a little with a 255gr bullet. My plinking load for my 44 mag is 10.0 gr Unique under a 240gr SWC with CCI 350 primers. The primers are getting pretty flat with my 10.0gr load, actually flatter than with my 24.0 gr W296/240gr XTP load. The Unique load clocks right at 1200fps from my 7 1/2" Redhawk.

[Steve 48]

My plinking load for a 250 gr Keith style bullet is 7.5 grs of Unique. You may be pushing the limit on yours. Steve48

[H&R12]

An article from Beartooth Bullets list them shooting a 250 gr. WFN GC with 12 gr. of Unique with a MV of 1261. With that info, I thought I would drop a full grain with the Unique and go from there.

[Edward429451]

I loaded up to 11.0 gr Unique with the 245 gr Keith boolit and it was decidedly too hot, even in my Redhawk.

Try some 2400 if you you want them more than medium warm.

[txpete]

with my cast 245 swc's and 8.2 gr's unique will clover leaf out of my T/C 44 mag .my hunting load I use AA#9.
pete

[44 AMP]

Is a medium rate pistol powder. It reaches max pressure before you get the max velocity obtainable with slower powders. Unique is best for medium to medium heavy loads. For heaviest loads, use a different powder, one with a slower buring rate, for best results.

I use 10.0gr Unique (240gr cast) as a general purpose load in .44 Mag, but I can't give you a vel figure, as I haven't clocked it.

I also use 10.0gr Unique (250gr cast) for a heavy end load for my .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk. This load has been clocked @ 1070 avg fps from my 7.5in barrel. Heavy and accurate in my gun. I can (and have) gone heavier, but I have no real need to, and the load is not uncomfortable to shoot.

The same load in the .44Mag seems hotter (of course), but not at the painful level, unlike some other loads I have used. Next time I load a batch of plinkers for the .44, I will go a bit lighter.

One of my old Speer manuals (first book I found) lists a max of 8.0gr with the 240gr lead (swaged) for 898fps from a 7.5 in Ruger. It also lists a max of 11.0gr for jacketed 240gr bullets, with a vel of 1300+fps. 10.0gr gets you a bit over 1100fps. Just work up carefully, and be sure your cast bullets are cast hard, or you are going to have a lot of leading. Even hard cast bullets will start to lead the bore when you get close to 1200fps, generally. gas check designs let you go quite a bit faster. For the really fast stuff, shoot jacketed bullets for less trouble.