Load 44 special in 44 mag case

[RedPaint]

Sounds like I can do it as long as I use a powder that is good with not taking up the entire case. Any thoughts on the matter?

[racepres]

Only powder I know of that will take up alot of volume, is Trail Boss..
Note that 44 special loadings will be very mild indeed, in 44 mag cases.. won't hurt anything tho... unless you go so light that you stick a bullet.
If your experience level dictates that you ask such things... you may be a candidate to start at the book loads..

[waksupi]

I use 17.5 gr. 2400, that Elmer used to use. Works fine for me.

[RedPaint]

Yes, very new. Having a “blast” loading 44 mag rounds but want some easier rounds for my wife to shoot.

[racepres]

Yes, very new. Having a “blast” loading 44 mag rounds but want some easier rounds for my wife to shoot.

Welp... lets start with... What Boolit...and What Powder you have...
Light loads can be...Easy.

[RedPaint]

From Missouri bullet
44 Elmer K - Hi-Tek
.430 Diameter
.44 Magnum
240 Grain SWC
Brinell 18
Bullet OAL .747 +/-
Keith-style, but with bevel-base
for reloading ease
Hi-Tek 2-Extreme Coating
I only have H110 and magnum primers. I know I’ll need a new powder and large pistol primers.

[mdi]

BTDT; many, many times. Two thoughts; don't use extra light Special loads loads in Magnum brass, rare possibility of bullets stuck in barrels. Remember the manual listed Special loads will be higher velocities than what you will see with the load in Magnum brass (larger case capacity, lower pressures)...

[RedPaint]

Can also get a different bullet

[44MAG#1]

I use a 250 "Keith" notice the quotation marks, seated in 44 Magnum cases to the same OAL as 44 Special and crimped over the front drive band and 7.5 grains of Unique works fine.
8.3 to 8.5 grains of Power Pistol is roughly the same.
A lighter load is 5.5 grains W231/HP-38 or 5.2 of Bullseye.

[justindad]

You are going to want a different powder. A chrono will help you ensure that you don’t go too light. 800fps should be more than enough to ensure the bullets always leave the barrel, but also be light on recoil.
*
What gun are you using? A 2” snubby isn’t great for low recoil.

[racepres]

That boolit seems plenty hard.. For light loads, I like a bit larger diameter, and softer... those do Not go together... so Shop around.
for light loads.. 240 gr boolits is OK... But 200 is Lighter.
The softest shooting Powder, for me, is Trail Boss...hands down... very mild.
I prefer Red Dot.. just for economy, and that Bit sharper..
Can Never go Wrong with Unique... Ever!!
That H-110 with those Harder Boolits, will be great for full power loadings...

[RedPaint]

5.5 inch ruger red hawk

[Charliemac]

Titegroup works well for me. I load a 185gr. WC with 5 - 6grs. for easy shooting.

[P Flados]

I have loaded many thousands of mid range loads for magnum pistol rounds.

I recommend you get something faster than Unique for this application. You will get cleaner burning, you will use less powder per round and you should not have any ignition issues with the faster stuff. Right now, the ball powders seem to be more available and less overpriced than flake or most extruded powders. For a fast burning pistol powder, you should be able to find something like AA-2, HP-38/Win 231 or Titegroup.

A lighter bullet is also a good idea.

However, most load data sources do not provide light bullet mid range power 44 mag load data.

To get 44 Special performance from a 44 Magnum case requires more powder due to the longer case. I used Quickload to estimate that it takes about 0.5 gr more to get the same velocity.

C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !


Cartridge          : .44 S&W Special (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .429, 225,             432-224-SWC PB BW2
Seating depth      : .320 inch
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.478 inch = 37.54 mm
Barrel Length      : 7.3 inch = 184.2 mm

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Accurate No.5                       38.8      8.6     0.56     993    91.0    13562    3050   0.990  
Alliant BULLSEYE                    42.5      6.1     0.39     961    99.7    13562    2556   0.996 
Accurate No.2                       47.3      6.7     0.44     948    98.4    13562    2491   1.000 
Winchester 231 / HP-38              38.6      6.3     0.41     920   100.0    13562    2095   1.017 
Hodgdon TiteGroup                   30.8      5.4     0.35     875   100.0    13562    1761   1.037

Cartridge          : .44 Rem. Mag. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .429, 225,             432-224-SWC PB BW2
Seating depth      : .320 inch
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.600 inch = 40.64 mm
Barrel Length      : 7.3 inch = 184.2 mm

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------

Accurate No.5                       34.8      9.2     0.60     991    91.1    12500    3354   1.018
Alliant BULLSEYE                    38.0      6.5     0.42     959    99.7    12500    2806   1.022
Accurate No.2                       42.6      7.2     0.47     949    98.5    12500    2760   1.025
Winchester 231  / HP-38             34.5      6.7     0.43     919   100.0    12500    2311   1.043
Hodgdon TiteGroup                   27.6      5.8     0.37     875   100.0    12500    1947   1.061

[justindad]

I’m sure it goes without saying, but make sure you shoot at least 50 of those light loads before she does.
*
As heavy as your gun is, you might be able to stay within normal .44Mag loading, just pick the lowest book velocity with the lightest bullet. No risk of a learning event there. Or start there, and work a load down until you think she can handle it.

[44MAG#1]

Here is an example of the Skelton load in 44 Mag cases seated to the same bullet base depth as the 44 Special using a Lyman 429421 as a guide.
Smith and Wesson M69 2.75 inch 872 fps. A 4.2 inch M69 938 fps.
5.5 HP-38 in the M69 2.75 inch 719 fps.
5.2 Bullseye M69 2.75 inch 734 fps. 4.2 inch 782 fps.

[Larry Gibson]

Yes, very new. Having a “blast” loading 44 mag rounds but want some easier rounds for my wife to shoot.

If you can get Red Dot, Bullseye, 700X or a similar fast burning powder and load 6 gr in 44 Magnum cases under those 240 gr bullets. That will pretty much duplicate a classic factory 44 SPL load. Also, if those bullets cause any leading problems a light coat of LLA that's dried thoroughly will cure the problem.

[HWooldridge]

I’m a big fan of 231 in light loads. 5.5 to 6.5 grs is just about right with a Keith style, could even go to 7.0 grs in a 44 mag.

[farmbif]

as well as winchester 231 is a good candidate for what OP is after and mid south currently has lots of it in stock and since it is a ball powder those mag primers you have will go to good use.

[44MAG#1]

Oh yes, with the 2.75 inch M69 Smith 4.6 of Bullseye ran 695 fps with a deep seated 250 "Keith" again in quotation marks.