Titan ReloadingReloading EverythingRepackboxMidSouth Shooters Supply
Lee PrecisionInline FabricationWidenersSnyders Jerky
Load Data RotoMetals2
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: HP-38 or CFE Pistol for Light 44 special Loads from Rossi 92

  1. #1
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Posts
    94

    HP-38 or CFE Pistol for Light 44 special Loads from Rossi 92

    I have a Rossi 92 44/Special/44 Magnum with a 16 inch barrel that I bought several Months ago.
    The Carbine functions fine with HSM 44 Special 240 grain Semi-Wadcutter Ammo.

    I bought some HP-38 and some CFE Pistol powder as I could not find any Universal Powder.

    I am wanting to put together a 44 Special Load that will be Subsonic from the Carbine using one of these 2 powders using either a 240 to 260 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter or RNFP,using Starline once fired brass and WLP primer's.

    Which of these 2 Powders would be Preferable and why ?

    Thank's

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    west central Illinois
    Posts
    7,703
    HP-38 would be better for light loads. It is designed to work well for standard and light loads.
    CFE Pistol works great for higher end loads as it is designed to give a little extra velocity with lower pressure.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Targa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Unfortunately, Colorado
    Posts
    523
    I have never tried CFE but HP-38 and Universal are all that I use for light .44 loads. I typically use .44mag brass downloaded to .44spl loads but HP-38 also works very well with .44spl brass.

  4. #4
    Moderator

    W.R.Buchanan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ojai CA
    Posts
    9,885
    My standard load for .44 Special is 6.0 gr of W231 with a 240-260 gr Keith boolit.(429421) I use this in my two pistols a S&W696 and Ruger SBH Bisley. I also use a 8.0 gr Midrange load in a Magnum Case with the same Boolits.

    They work just fine in my Marlin 1894 CB24 rifle as well.

    But in the rifle I usually run my Magnum loads of 23.0 gr of H110 with a Thompson 250 gr gas check boolit. (429244) For plinking the Midrange Loads come out as they are less expensive to make.

    Randy
    "It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
    www.buchananprecisionmachine.com

  5. #5
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Posts
    94
    Thanks

  6. #6
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Posts
    94
    Quote Originally Posted by W.R.Buchanan View Post
    My standard load for .44 Special is 6.0 gr of W231 with a 240-260 gr Keith boolit.(429421) I use this in my two pistols a S&W696 and Ruger SBH Bisley. I also use a 8.0 gr Midrange load in a Magnum Case with the same Boolits.

    They work just fine in my Marlin 1894 CB24 rifle as well.

    But in the rifle I usually run my Magnum loads of 23.0 gr of H110 with a Thompson 250 gr gas check boolit. (429244) For plinking the Midrange Loads come out as they are less expensive to make.

    Randy
    Hi
    What velocity are you getting from your 6 grain 231/hp-38 load from your Marlin Cowboy ?
    I am using a Rossi 92 44sp/44mag with 16 inch barrel and would like to keep the velocity below 1050 fps with a 240-250 gr cast lead most likely,might try a 200 gr for function but y would still want to keep the velocity below 1050 fps .

    Thank’s Randy

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy Tall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2023
    Location
    Tulsa OK
    Posts
    418
    I asked a distributor what is up with Universal and Trail Boss powders? He said he has both on order but Hodgdon has not made any of either in years. They are not officially discontinued but none is available.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check