Who reloads for pistol 44 mag/44 special

[Bearcatrp]

Been reloading for 308 and 40 S&W for a few months now. Time to start for my 44's. After about a week of reading what powder is best to use, and getting a headache, time to ask you folks here who reload for it. After getting a pretty good deal here on dies, I have my brass cleaned up and almost ready. So, from what I have read so far, use large pistol primers. Not magnum primers. Correct? Seems allot of opinions on powder. Would like to use powder I have for other rounds I reload for but looks like I might have to buy for the 44 mag/special. I have 2 rugers. One readhawk with 4.2 barrel, the other is the alaskan with 2.5 inch barrel. I don't mind shooting a few full 240 grain loads with the alaskan but shoot more special out of it. Picked up a box of Hornady 200 grain HP XTP for the special. Currently researching some berry bullets but haven't decided yet.
If you have reloaded 44 mag/special for awhile, would appreciate your opinion on good powder to use.

[LarryFlew]

Primer depends on the powder you use. IE for full magnum loads I use H110 which uses magnum primers. For a lighter load I use Unique which uses regular primers. Although I have been a CCI primer user for a long time I am switching my 44 mag primers to Winchester as their LPPs are good for both.

[Shipyard]

+1 on the Win LPP - pretty much all i run for everything becuase it's just easier.

44 is a really nice round for hand loading because it's so incredibally versitile. i've loaded cowboy loads with unique and a 240 gr cast lead that run about 900 fps. i';ve loaded 240 gr jacketed hollow points out of my Marlin 1894 rifle at a smokin 1850 fps. no pressure signs at all - but i decided not to get cocky

for low power/special plinking loads unique or even titegroup will work just fine - then you don't have to double up on multiple powders. i've found the varability invelocity and the accuracy suffer withthe fast burning powders.

the most consistency for full power has been with WIN294. it's a little more expensive as you have to use more powder, but it's not that much and you get a really wicked fireball even out of my 6" smith 629. most accurate load IIRC was 24.0 gr under a 240 slug.

[cobb]

I use H110 in my .44's with a 300 grain Hornady XTP bullet. My Ruger Super Redhawk just didn't group well with the 240's I tried, someone recommend going to the 300 and they shot excellent over a near max load of H110. For plinking I use and cheap bullets over Hodgdon's Universal Clays.

[Bearcatrp]

I currently have tight group, bullsey, power pistol, H700X, in the gun cabinet. Been shooting Hornady 200 grain 44 special out of the alaskan mostly which shoots real good. Want to try to mimic that but maybe a tad bit higher. Hardly any recoil with that load so would be comfortable with a little higher. Haven't decided on the redhawk load yet.

[Seismic Sam]

With 44 mag, the powders of choice are H110/296, which are the same powder in different containers. The one BIG danger is that for a 240 grain loads, the max is 24.0 grains, while the min is 23.0 grains. ??????? Yeah, them's the specs. H110 and 296 have a nasty reputation for detonating with reduced loads, so you pretty much run the gun full power all the time. This is trivial for Redhawks and Blackhawks.

Now the bad news. Fired up my copy of Quickload, and did a calc for a 5" BBL gun shooting a 240 gr JHP with the stock load of 24 grains of H110. Got a velocity of 1255 FPS, which isn't bad. With a 2.5" barrel with the same load, the velocity drops to 902 FPS!! So you're giving away 350 FPS by going to that snubbie, which if TSHTF, is probably en extremely unwise choice in an area where the wildlife considers you a tasty animal.

[Bearcatrp]

Wouldn't even think of using the snubby against big critters. The read hawk 4.2 inch barrel or my 308 shorty will be with me out in the woods. What does your calculator show for 4.2 inch barrel? The snubby would be for the 2 legged critters.

[OldmanFCSA]

I use H110 in my .44's with a 300 grain Hornady XTP bullet. My Ruger Super Redhawk just didn't group well with the 240's I tried, someone recommend going to the 300 and they shot excellent over a near max load of H110. For plinking I use and cheap bullets over Hodgdon's Universal Clays.

Am I saying this, I agree with COBB.

But I don't recommend these H110 or WIN296 loadings for his short pistol barrels.
For lighter loads, I use Unique or 2400, especially for cast bullets.

I have supplies if you need more............................

[Bearcatrp]

Looking at the hornady reload book, for 44 special I can use bullsey (6.1 gr max @850) or power pistol (8.5 gr @900) for 200 gr HP XTP. Since I have this powder already, will load this 1st until I can find other powder to try. Don't have powder for a 240 gr HP XTP but if I get ahold of 240 gr cowboy, can use tightgroup or bullsey thats on hand. I see lil gun allot in the book but have read this stuff burns real hot. Have never used winchester primers when reloading my 308 or 40 S&W. CCI only. Are winchester that much better? Think its only a buck or 2 more from CCI.

[Xscream]

I'm surprised that nobody is running 2400. That's been my go-to for all my 44 needs.

[Seismic Sam]

4.2"BBL gets you 1176 FPS, so you're losing about 75 FPS for .8" of barrel...

[Bearcatrp]

4.2"BBL gets you 1176 FPS, so you're losing about 75 FPS for .8" of barrel...

Thanks

[LarryFlew]

Are winchester that much better? Think its only a buck or 2 more from CCI.

Not better, universal so you can use them for light loads AND magnum loads. With CCI you will need regular LPP and magnum LPP.

[Rodentman]

I don't shoot full house loads out of this one:



But I do out of this one:



The load comments in this thread are consistent with my alleged experience.

[Bearcatrp]

You should shoot full loads out of that little one. I shoot 240 gr out of my Alaskan periodically. Everyone at the indoor range stops to see who is shooting the flame thrower. Wakes everyone up.