44 russian load in 44 magnum brass

[Bazoo]

What would be everyones choice of powder for making 44 russian loads in 44 magnum length brass?

I imagine all that extra space wouldnt make for the best ballistic uniformity, but Im just making plinking loads.

I have 231 and unique presently, and figure 231 would be better suited for this purpose.

~Bazoo

[bpatterson84]

Well, I like 5-5.4gr 231 in Russian brass, a pretty good equivalent would be 6.5-7.5gr 231 in a mag case, and this was confirmed last week by me. And this is with a 240gr boolit.

[gunarea]

Hey Bazoo
We use that particular round regularly shooting Lawnsteel. A standard revolver load is 5.0 gr of Red dot or Promo and runs around 810 fps. Closed breech pistols of course need less propellant for the same velocity. This small amount in the 44 mag brass makes it necessary to hold the muzzle vertical and shift the powder rearward for best, most consistent and highest velocity. A couple fellows use Trailboss to avoid the position sensitivity issue. Lawnsteel is steel targets out to 75 yds and this load is pinpoint accurate with a 215gr projectile. Best of skill to you.
Roy

[JohnH]

I run 6 grains of Tite Group under the Lee 200 grain RF. My mold drops em at 217 grains using COWW. Hodgdon data calls for a starting charge of 5.8 grains under a 220 grain bullet (jacketed I'm sure) for a velocity of 807 FPS. I have run 4.5 grains of Tite Group and while I never had ignition issues that load did not group as well. That load would have been in the circa 725 FPS range. Sounds like you may either want to run S&W Russian cases or 44 Special cases. Many in cowboy action circles do this. I run 4.5 grains of Tite Group in 44 Special loads with the same bullet in an S&W Second Model Hand Ejector. Hodgdon data says 4.7 grains does 772 FPS. It is an accurate load as well. For grins and giggles Hodgdon data for Tite Group, a 200 grain bullet and S&W Russian goes from a low of 3.5 grains for 738 FPS to 4.8 grains for 963 FPS

[Old colt]

I do it with Colt loads in 454 Casull brass. Usually need to add a grain to the load to get the same velocity. I do use a small pistol primers in place of a small rifle though

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[dbosman]

To have less air space, resize .45 ACP brass in a steel .44 sizer. Carbide might work, but I'm not that brave or well off enough to try. Size all the way to the rim. A vise will probably be required and you'll have to pound them out of the die. You end up with what I call .44 extra shorts. Some rims will need a bit of peening to make them wide enough to extract. Fun and it freaks people out at the range. More fun if they see you mix the shorts with some light .44 loads.

[Bazoo]

Thanks for the replies. I would like to get some russian brass, and some special brass for that matter. If I had a steel 44 die I might try it dbosman... But I dont want to risk messin up my carbide die.

[ioon44]

To have less air space, resize .45 ACP brass in a steel .44 sizer. Carbide might work, but I'm not that brave or well off enough to try. Size all the way to the rim. A vise will probably be required and you'll have to pound them out of the die. You end up with what I call .44 extra shorts. Some rims will need a bit of peening to make them wide enough to extract. Fun and it freaks people out at the range. More fun if they see you mix the shorts with some light .44 loads.

Well that is something I have never tried, sounds like a fun experiment as I have a steel .44 sizer die.

[bobthenailer]

I regulary use from 6.0 @800 fps to 7.0 grs @950 fps of Tightgroup with the Saeco #420 200 gr tc bullet loaded in 44 mag brass , accuracy has been very good ! has tested in at least 8 different 44 mag handguns. Bullseye powder works equally well with same powder charges.

[Walkingwolf]

Seat your bullet as deep as possible, use filler to keep powder next to primer. I use small pieces of cotton balls. I light load Berry's 240 grain 44 spl target HP for my wife's CA Bulldog. 4.5 grains titegroup, 1.410 OAL, cotton ball filler, about 650fps.

[whisler]

Seat your bullet as deep as possible, use filler to keep powder next to primer. I use small pieces of cotton balls. I light load Berry's 240 grain 44 spl target HP for my wife's CA Bulldog. 4.5 grains titegroup, 1.410 OAL, cotton ball filler, about 650fps.
Would that be referred to as a "POWDER PUFF LOAD"?

[paul edward]

What would be everyones choice of powder for making 44 russian loads in 44 magnum length brass?

I have been loading 44 Russian since 1963, when it was still possible to find a few original loads in the back of old hardware stores.
My usual load was 4 grains of Bullseye in the old baloon-head UMC-UMC 44 Russian cases with a 250 grain 429336 cast bullet. With newer solid-head cases (made by shortening 44 Special brass) I like 6 grains of Unique. In the last few years I have used both loads with 218 grain SWC from cast from a Lee mold.
Nice thing about 44 Russian loads is they will work in 44 Specials as well as 44 Magnums. Starline now offers new, properly headstamped, solid-head cases.

[Bazoo]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I have a 240 grain mold. Seating it deep, so that the crimp is over the front driving band should take up enough of the extra space to make a fair shooting load until I can get my hands on some russian cases or some cases im willing to cut off.

[w30wcf]

You could just seat the bullet down to the same OAL as the 44 Russian. I have done that and it works great.
W30wcf

[RedJackson]

Trail Boss works fine.

[Bazoo]

w30wcf. That didnt occur to me, but thats a great idea. Thank you sir.