44 mag pistol groups

[Outback32]

hey guys I'm curious to what you consider good groups from a 44 mag pistol. with lead and shooting off hand. I'm loading the Lee 240 gn swc in a 7inch ruger sbh hunter. I've loaded 9.0 gns universal and 9.2 gn of unique. interested to see what you guys consider good groups. thanks

[andre3k]

Two inch groups or less at 25 yards with a rested handgun is good enough for me.
http://i68.tinypic.com/2jaapg7.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/dwxpc1.jpg

[Tatume]

hey guys I'm curious to what you consider good groups from a 44 mag pistol. with lead and shooting off hand. I'm loading the Lee 240 gn swc in a 7inch ruger sbh hunter. I've loaded 9.0 gns universal and 9.2 gn of unique. interested to see what you guys consider good groups. thanks

Two inch five-shot groups at 25 yards shooting offhand is good.

[Outback32]

Ok that's what il aim for thanks. il post my results. with lead and plated just to see the differences. thanks

[Outback32]

well my results were terrible in my opinion. with both unique and universal powders. both are barely in a pie plate. could it be gun or powder

[Grmps]

or shooter :kidding:[smilie=s:

I would start by getting measurements off the gun-- forcing cone & bore,

How much over the bore size is your boolit/forcing cone

what alloy are you using (is it too soft for your velocity)

what are lube/or coating you using?

I would use a rest until you get good grouping (then you know it's you, not the load when go for off-hand accuracy)

try baking down to 7.5grn unique or look at 6.5grn red dot (make sure these loads are suitable for your gun) these are favorite loads of CB forum members

Unique

6 940
7 1071
8 1187
9 1302
10 1371

[LUCKYDAWG13]

How well do you shoot 240gr Hornady's out of it My go to powder for my SBH is 19gr of 2400 under a 240gr XTP

[Oklahoma Rebel]

ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED FROM THE GUYS IN THE REVOLVER FORUM IS THAT YOUR HOLD IS EVERYTHING. AFTER LISTENING TO THEM, I CAN USUALLY HIT A DOG FOOD CAN AT 25 YARDS,FROM A STANDING POSITION, NOT A BENCH, USING A 275GR KEITH FROM NOE, AND W-296. MAKE SURE TO HAVE THE CORRECT HOLD, AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU HOLD IT THE SAME EVERY TIME. ALSO, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET IT, BUT SHOOTING FROM A BENCH, AND SHOOTING OFFHAND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. SO IF YOU SIGHT IT IN ON THE BENCH, IT WILL SHOOT TO A DIFFERENT POINT OFF HAND. I HAVE FOUND ITS A LOT LIKE ARCHERY, FORM FIRST, AND THEN JUST PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! IF I DID IT YOU CAN TOO! PS- sorry for the caps lock, I didn't loo up while I was typing! lol go talk to the guys in the revolver forum, they helped me a ton! (try searching for my posts, then look for my questions about accuracy and such)

[Oklahoma Rebel]

by the way I have the same gun. what are you sizing to? I am sizing to 431, but thinking of going to either .4315 or 432.... not sure yet.

[NSB]

hey guys I'm curious to what you consider good groups from a 44 mag pistol. with lead and shooting off hand. I'm loading the Lee 240 gn swc in a 7inch ruger sbh hunter. I've loaded 9.0 gns universal and 9.2 gn of unique. interested to see what you guys consider good groups. thanks
Shooting off hand is a real show stopper for most. At 25 yards the bullet and load are not going to be the deal maker, it's going to be your shooting ability. More so beyond that distance. Most loads will shoot "OK" at 25 yards and then fall apart from there. The vast majority of shooters cannot shoot 2" groups off hand at 25 yards with any handgun or any load. You need to separate the concept of accuracy shooting a handgun from the load you're using. Good shots and good loads go together. The best loads in unskilled hands won't give you good accuracy. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're not already a good handgun shot just finding the "right load" won't make you one. Develop your load shooting off a rest and then load that load and shoot a lot off hand to become a good off hand shooter. A really good handgun shot can shoot five shots into 3"off hand at fifty yards with the right handgun and load. That's with years of dedication to becoming a good shot.

[Outback32]

that makes a lot of sense it quite possibly is me. il shoot from a bench although I don't have a pistol vice. I've got bags you shoot rifles from. I can try that to Oklahoma rebel I'm sizing to .432 and powder coating

[243winxb]

I shoot for score. One of my better targets.https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?media/44-magnum.1354/full Oven heat treated bullets, water cooled test. Cast bullets cant be to hard. imo. No skidding or slumping.

Age 73 now. The good old days are gone.

[44Blam]

Off hand! Funny thing, I do a combat shoot every month and one guy makes up the rules for each stage.
This last month one stage was:
Loaded pistol, safety on, on a barrel.
Pick up the pistol off hand.
Alternate targets at 15 yards for six shots. Timed.

I missed one bullet... When I was walking up, I couldn't remember the last time I shot off hand... BUT, I'm kinda ambidextrous and my left eye is dominant but I shoot right handed... Oddly, it felt new but comfortable. Go figure.

[reloader28]

For no particular reason I work up my loads at 15yds on a rest. I figure that takes my shakiness from the equation. If I can get an 1 1/2 at that I figure I'm doing good.

I hate shooting paper targets. Have a heck of a time doing it. I dont know why. BUT, I can take that same load and I dont have any problem whatsoever hitting a bowling pin at 100+yds. If you really want to see how accurate your load is try 200yds. I shoot quite a bit at a 12"x12" gong at 400yds with the same pistols and loads that only give me 1 1/2 - 2" groups at 15yds and am very successful. Most generally its me and not the gun.

Like was already said, I dont sight in off a rest as the POI is always different. I just use the rest for load work up.

I should add that I size .433

[JBinMN]

Shooting off hand is a real show stopper for most. At 25 yards the bullet and load are not going to be the deal maker, it's going to be your shooting ability. More so beyond that distance. Most loads will shoot "OK" at 25 yards and then fall apart from there. The vast majority of shooters cannot shoot 2" groups off hand at 25 yards with any handgun or any load. You need to separate the concept of accuracy shooting a handgun from the load you're using. Good shots and good loads go together. The best loads in unskilled hands won't give you good accuracy. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're not already a good handgun shot just finding the "right load" won't make you one. Develop your load shooting off a rest and then load that load and shoot a lot off hand to become a good off hand shooter. A really good handgun shot can shoot five shots into 3"off hand at fifty yards with the right handgun and load. That's with years of dedication to becoming a good shot.

Good post above from among the others here, but the BOLDED is the key, IMO...
;)

I do this for all calibers I shoot. Find the load combo that is the most accurate off the sandbags/bench, then practice with that load for finding my "form" & I know that firearm is already accurate & now it is up to "me" & not the firearm to find the accuracy again, when not firing from/on the sandbag/bench.
:)

[NC_JEFF]

My best is 4-4.5" groups offhand, 2" from a rest. SBH 7.5" 4.0 gr Clays. Nowhere near a magnum load but very accurate. It feels like a target 38 load

[bluejay75]

Two inch groups or less at 25 yards with a rested handgun is good enough for me.
http://i68.tinypic.com/2jaapg7.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/dwxpc1.jpg

Andre,

Whats the velocity on the AA9 Load?

[andre3k]

Andre,

Whats the velocity on the AA9 Load?

Stats - Average 1436.86 fps
Stats - Highest 1466.3 fps
Stats - Lowest 1395.67 fps
Stats - Ext. Spread 70.63 fps
Stats - Std. Dev 24.73 fps

[Ateam]

ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED FROM THE GUYS IN THE REVOLVER FORUM IS THAT YOUR HOLD IS EVERYTHING. AFTER LISTENING TO THEM, I CAN USUALLY HIT A DOG FOOD CAN AT 25 YARDS,FROM A STANDING POSITION, NOT A BENCH, USING A 275GR KEITH FROM NOE, AND W-296. MAKE SURE TO HAVE THE CORRECT HOLD, AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU HOLD IT THE SAME EVERY TIME. ALSO, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET IT, BUT SHOOTING FROM A BENCH, AND SHOOTING OFFHAND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. SO IF YOU SIGHT IT IN ON THE BENCH, IT WILL SHOOT TO A DIFFERENT POINT OFF HAND. I HAVE FOUND ITS A LOT LIKE ARCHERY, FORM FIRST, AND THEN JUST PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! IF I DID IT YOU CAN TOO! PS- sorry for the caps lock, I didn't loo up while I was typing! lol go talk to the guys in the revolver forum, they helped me a ton! (try searching for my posts, then look for my questions about accuracy and such)

I am new to revolvers, and feel my hold is just some adaptation from shooting autos. Do you have any good reading on revolver hold types/theories? Sorry for the hyjack.

[Outback32]

shot from a rest today. 2.5 to 3 inch groups. the gun liked unique and 2400 it didn't like universal at all. so the not so great groups yesterday were 100% me. I will admit this is my first single action revolver and I don't shoot near as often as I should. Are there any other powders you like for plinking loads. I have plenty of unique just like to experimentwithother powders. thanks again for the help

[LUCKYDAWG13]

My Ruger SBH 7 1/2" likes H110 / 296 but my hands do not so i stick with 2400 Unique and Blue Dot for mid range shooting
sometimes for real light loads Red Dot

[Echo]

ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED FROM THE GUYS IN THE REVOLVER FORUM IS THAT YOUR HOLD IS EVERYTHING. AFTER LISTENING TO THEM, I CAN USUALLY HIT A DOG FOOD CAN AT 25 YARDS,FROM A STANDING POSITION, NOT A BENCH, USING A 275GR KEITH FROM NOE, AND W-296. MAKE SURE TO HAVE THE CORRECT HOLD, AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU HOLD IT THE SAME EVERY TIME. ALSO, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET IT, BUT SHOOTING FROM A BENCH, AND SHOOTING OFFHAND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. SO IF YOU SIGHT IT IN ON THE BENCH, IT WILL SHOOT TO A DIFFERENT POINT OFF HAND. I HAVE FOUND ITS A LOT LIKE ARCHERY, FORM FIRST, AND THEN JUST PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! IF I DID IT YOU CAN TOO! PS- sorry for the caps lock, I didn't loo up while I was typing! lol go talk to the guys in the revolver forum, they helped me a ton! (try searching for my posts, then look for my questions about accuracy and such)

Four words encompass 90% of pistol shooting: Front Sight And Squeeze. Focus on the front sight, and I mean CONCENTRATE on the front sight - notice how sharp the upper left-hand corner of the front sight is! Concentrate - and Squeeze...

[Echo]

I am new to revolvers, and feel my hold is just some adaptation from shooting autos. Do you have any good reading on revolver hold types/theories? Sorry for the hyjack.

One thing to remember re grip - the grip should be fore & aft, not a circular squeeze. Finger tips should be loose, even floppy...

[reloader28]

5 - 5 1/2gr Bullseye with a 250ish boolit works good for a light load for me

[Thumbcocker]

6.5 of red dot with a Keith boolit has been accurate in some of my .44s.

[Cherokee]

7 gr 231 with 255 cast 429421 Keith work great for me. AA9 for heavier loads.

[Forrest r]

Hard to beat clays for plinking loads in the 44mag. 6.0gr to 6.5gr of clays and bullets in the 200gr to 250gr range do extremely well.

Mihec 245gr hp's & 6.0gr of clays
https://i.imgur.com/QrPi70y.jpg?1

h&g #142 gc'd 220gr swc/200gr hpswc doesn't matter both bullets combined with 6.5gr of clays
https://i.imgur.com/EFjjcoZ.jpg

lyman 429303 200gr sp with gc & 6.5gr of clays
https://i.imgur.com/hyV2PpT.jpg

Cramer 200gr wc & 6.0gr of clays
https://i.imgur.com/Odat3uD.jpg

You might consider picking up a # of clays. I burn a little clays myself
https://i.imgur.com/FxXIxev.jpg

6.5gr to 7.0gr of trailboss will also shoot bugholes @ 25yds in the 44mag with bullets in the 200gr to 250gr range.

Just another opinion:
What someone can or can't do offhand @ 25yds doesn't mean a lot if they have never shot nra bullseye. You'd be better off starting @ 7yds and putting 1/2" pasters/dots on blank paper and practice hitting the dots. When you can consistently hit that 1/2" dot @ 7yds, move back to the 50ft line and work on 1 1/2" circles. When you can consistently hit a 1 1/2" circle @ 50ft you will be doing extremely well considering your using a "field grade firearm". While 1 1/2"'s @ 50ft doesn't sound like much, most of the nra shooters that spend decades honing their shooting skills end up with an expert rating.

Anyway you could just as easily start on the 50yd line as the 7yd line. A hit is a hit and a miss is a miss. The 7yd line takes the load out of play and shows instant results without breaking your position or having to use a spotting scope.

[murf205]

Outback, just a side note, if you are shooting off of your rifle rest and it has a canvas or leather bag, get a piece of leather to cover the bag. I split a front bag one time with a 44 from the cylinder blast. It will damage it over time for sure. I cut mine from an old welding jacket.

[Blackwater]

Some guns will shoot better than others, when shot by the same guy on the same day with the same loads, so there's no real answer to the original question here. Also, with the .44, there's a heaping helping of recoil, and no two people handle recoil exactly the same. Main thing when trying to get your best accuracy is to try enough loads to get one where you're satisfied, and then, just keep shooting it until the recoil isn't something that crosses your mind, and your groups should tighten up considerably. If using a single action pistol, that long, arcing hammer fall means you have to have a good follow through as well. It takes enough time for that hammer to fall that ANY flinch or inconsistency at all can move your barrel enough to widen groups considerably. One has to keep the gun stock dead still during the hammer fall, to get really consistent groups, and this is doubly true with single actions.

That should be good news to you! Just another excuse to shoot more!

[44MAG#1]

hey guys I'm curious to what you consider good groups from a 44 mag pistol. with lead and shooting off hand. I'm loading the Lee 240 gn swc in a 7inch ruger sbh hunter. I've loaded 9.0 gns universal and 9.2 gn of unique. interested to see what you guys consider good groups. thanks

In fhe original post the poster said offhand.
Please dont take in in a trolling or baiting way but you will find very few people that can shoot 3 inch and under groups consistantly off hand at 25 yard. I am not talking about the once in a while 3 inch or under group I am talking about doing it far, far more than not.
After watching many people shoot over the years and seeing great evidence of what I speak of I have come to that conclusion based on actual observation and not Hearsay.
Take what I have said as you will. It is based, as I said, on actual observation.

[fredj338]

well my results were terrible in my opinion. with both unique and universal powders. both are barely in a pie plate. could it be gun or powder

If a lead bullet wont shoot with unique, it wont shoot imo. Sub 2" offhand groups at 25y would be my goal. Of course the shooter needs to be up to it. Most of my 44mags will do that. My RBH with 2x scope will do 3" @ 100y from a rest. Plenty good for hunting out to about 125y or so.
Accuracy statrs with a good bullet. For lead, fit is king. Check the cyl throats, you do not want them smaller than bore/bullet dia.

[nun2kute]

I've decided. There is only one thing better than shooting rock-chucks at 60-100 yards with a 44 mag.

Getting PAID ! to shoot rock-chucks at 60-100 yards with a 44 mag. Boss says I can shoot all the rock-chucks I want to.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Shooting off hand is a real show stopper for most. At 25 yards the bullet and load are not going to be the deal maker, it's going to be your shooting ability. More so beyond that distance. Most loads will shoot "OK" at 25 yards and then fall apart from there. The vast majority of shooters cannot shoot 2" groups off hand at 25 yards with any handgun or any load. You need to separate the concept of accuracy shooting a handgun from the load you're using. Good shots and good loads go together. The best loads in unskilled hands won't give you good accuracy. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're not already a good handgun shot just finding the "right load" won't make you one. Develop your load shooting off a rest and then load that load and shoot a lot off hand to become a good off hand shooter. A really good handgun shot can shoot five shots into 3"off hand at fifty yards with the right handgun and load. That's with years of dedication to becoming a good shot.

This is exactly what you should be doing!

You can't develop a load and actually accomplish anything useful without shooting off a rest first. Once you've got a load that shoots well of a rest, then go shoot it offhand and have fun. That way you aren't worried about whether or not your load is performing, you only have to worry about how you are performing.

That is the way most of us do it anyways.

Randy

[44MAG#1]

This is exactly what you should be doing!

You can't develop a load and actually accomplish anything useful without shooting off a rest first. Once you've got a load that shoots well of a rest, then go shoot it offhand and have fun. That way you aren't worried about whether or not your load is performing, you only have to worry about how you are performing.

That is the way most of us do it anyways.

Randy

Again I dont mean to offend or to disrespect you or anyone else on this great site with my answer.
But I will say this. At the club I belong to is two 50 yard slowfire target shot by Hershel Anderson in 1975. The range used to host the military matches in a June military NRA bullseye match. Bonnie Harman and some other of the nations Best bullyeye shooters for the Navy, Marines, Air Force and Army shot on that range.
Those Anderson targets are a 200 point total for the two target with ten shots per target.
The 10 rings are 3.375 inch in diameter. That was the first time it was done. Not done again in the years that the military matches were held.
If it is so easily done why dont more do it. Ive seen my ex shooting buddy shoot a few 99's in practice but he was a master class bullseye shooter.
Shooting 3 inch or less at 25 yards is pretty difficult consistantly much less 50 yards.
Most people are only fair shots with a handgun overall. Sure there are some, very few, that are really good consistantly but not many.
Again I mean no disrespect or offense to anyone on this great site in any way. Just trying to keep everything grounded in reality.