what is average boolit weight ya'll shoot in 44 mag

[songdog53]

I was wondering if anyone shoots something like 210 cast boolit for plinking and carring around your place. I guess getting old but heavy bullets and loads work on my old should and hands so are gong to try lighter boolit. Getting old is not fun:groner:

[Dale53]

I have, over the years, loaded my .44 Magnums with reasonable but serious loads. As an example, my practice loads in .44 Magnum have been 23.0 grs of H110 with a 250 gr Keith cast bullet. This gives me a chronographed velocity of 1200 fps in both my Model 29 and Ruger Red Hawk. My hunting load is 24.0 grs of H110 behind the 250 gr Keith. The velocity of the hunting load is 1300 fps.

Since I have .44 Specials, I have never seriously downloaded the .44 Magnum.

If my only gun was the .44 Magnum, I would download it for "general" use. My .44 special load for general use is the Skeeter load (7.5 grs of Unique in .44 Special cases behind the 250 gr Keith). You can get the same results in the .44 Magnum case by increasing the powder charge to about 9.0 grs of Unique behind the 250 gr Keith. I believe you will find this load VERY effective and the recoil is MUCH less than full house .44 Magnum loads.

If you have access to a chronograph, you can tune the load to give you the desired velocity of 950 fps in a six inch barrel. This load will shoot through a deer at reasonable ranges and definitely not a ***** cat load but pleasant to shoot.

Dale53

[Snapping Twig]

My favorite caliber!

I like a cast 265g (lyman 429244) over 22g W296 as a general purpose hunting/plinking round.

For lighter loads, in a magnum case I load 7g W231 under a cast 250g (lyman 429421) for what EK called a "useful special". I fired them with the Skeeter load of 7.5g Unique side by side and I could not distinguish them, same POA/POI and recoil.

[Shuz]

My favorite caliber!
I seem to be using a lot of 429421 HP's and H&G 503 clone HP's over the past couple a years. The average weight is between 230 and 240g depending on alloy and moulds and/or HP pin length. 7g of Green Dot is such a nice accurate load and so easy on the guns and shooter. For hunting I step up the powder charge to either 8.6g of Green Dot, 18g of 2400, or 17g of WC820. I use these loads in Smiths and Rugers in bbl lengths from 4" to 7-1/2", so velocities will vary accordingly.

[Dframe]

Many people on this forum favor heavy bullets (some ridiculously so) but as I've gotten older I much prefer cast 200 grain bullets. They can be loaded all the way from Cowboy to roaring.

[sixshot]

I've used the Keith 250 gr slug for over 40 years, mostly with 21 grs of 2400, its taken a lot of game for me. I've also used the same slug in 44 special brass with the Skeeter load of 7.5 grs of Unique, I've taken several deer with that load & increasing it to 8.5-9 grs in magnum brass will duplicate the Skeeter load.
I do shoot a fair amount of 305 gr slugs, I like them for long distance play, they hold up great at long range, haven't shot any game with this particuliar slug.
Hollow pointing them can work great but you have to decide on a velocity first & then make your alloy the correct hardness to work at that velocity.

Dick

[telebasher]

In my Ruger SBH, 429421-ACWW with 8.5 unique will shoot to same POI to 50 yds with the same bullet and 21 gr 2400. Both loads will shoot 11/2 groups @ 50 yds easily. The Unique loads are fun to shoot and will take deer and coyotes @ 100 yds quite handily if I do my job.Also 5 gr BE with the 429421 will keep all shots in a inch at 25 yds with absolutely no recoil, great for kids or women to plink with and they can brag that they shot a 44 magnum and they liked it!

[Bula]

I like the lee 200g rnfp. Lubed they weigh in at 208g. Makes for a good plinker in handguns or lever gun. I load them w/9g of Unique. Still a very capable load.

[Larry Gibson]

I shoot lots of Lee 429-200-RFs in my 4" Anaconda. Loaded over 6 gr Bulleye in magnum cases they run 860 fps, are very accurate and are very pleasant to shoot.

Larry Gibson

[casterofboolits]

Lyman 429421 44-245-SWCKT over 18.5 grains of 2400.

[sixshot]

Now Larry, you know that 4" Anaconda is just gathering dust in your safe, why don't you send that little gem out here to Idaho....you'll never miss it!

Dick

[mold maker]

When I was young (and dumb) I loaded 300gr at near 1400' and my elbow suddenly refused to let me shoot. After a few years I realized that "dead" was dead, no mater how heavy or how fast the boolit.
Now I enjoy shooting 200-240 gr at a much milder speed, and my elbow says thank you.

[saz]

Not much to add to all this. I use the keith (saeco 441) over 9.5grs of unique for a fun load that will still take almost anything you want if the situation presents itself. BUT, I recently tried some Lee 200 RNFP's from a friend and loaded them over a full case of Trail Boss. I didnt get a chance to run them over the chrono, but they shot very well and recoil was noticably less than the unique load. All in all, a REALLY fun load to plink with.

[4719dave]

well this looks like a feeler for mihas 44 mold .Thinking im going to tag this post for my 6'' ported anaconda .

9.0 grs of Unique behind the 250 gr Keith.

[DragoonDrake]

My practice loads for revolvers are the lee 200-rf over 5grs of clays. For serious shooting and hunting the brp 434-300-rf over 14.5grs of 2400.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
Boy, I am the kook again.
Have shot 180, 225,240, 250,& 325 gr. bullets. Out of a SBH & a RH.
1,000'S of each, except the 325gr, only shot 300+ bullets, and that out of the RH.
Did not like the 325, too much recoil for me, could not get it to group well either.
Of the above list I shot the 250gr. gc Lyman Kieth style the most & liked it the best.
I started with the lighter loads many listed above & went hotter over time.
Have taken 3 deer with the 250 gr. cast SWC.

This summer I am going to do load development with the 265 gr. gc. Ranch Dog bullet, which drops out at 278grs. checked & lubed with my alloy in my mold. Have about 3,000 cast up to play with. Just got to get them all lubed ,sized & loaded. OH YEAH!!!!!!:bigsmyl2::Fire::Fire:

[oldhickory]

Might as well throw in. RCBS 44-250-K over 20.5gr. 2400. I don't feel a need for a lighter, or heavier boolit.

[songdog53]

Appreciate your input and know each has their own favorite. I was just looking for something to plink with and not shoot the heavy bullets when just for snakes and other varmints. To hunt with i like the 255 Elmer Keith style bullet pushed by some Longshot. Just looking at something wee bit easier on old rebuilt shoulder. Really don't like to go as far down as 44 special even though can load them almost 44 mag. Just doing some looking around. Just looking for a nice load for 4 inch 629. where use full bore loads in my 629 with 6 inch barrel. But don't tote it regularly when just walking the place.

[oldhickory]

I don't cast many of these, and don't shoot them often, but occasionally I use a LEE 245gr. rn boolit very much the same as the original .44spl boolit loaded to around 700fps just for fun. A very nice look'in boolit and easy on the wrist and ears just for punching holes in cans, etc.

[EMC45]

429-421 over 20gr. Hercules 2400. Ruger 7.5 SBH.

[bobthenailer]

I have several bullets weights for the 44 mag. 200gr tc / 200gr wc / 240 gr swc / 240 gr gc / 300 gr gc rfn.
the bullet i use the most is the Saeco # 420 , a 200 gr tc bullet , accuracy is excellent to 50 yards, after that the heaver bullets are a little better.
I load the #420 saeco from 800 to 1,300 fps in 44 mag brass with excellent results in over 7 different 44 mags . it is my go to bullet ! i hardly shoot the other bullet designes anymore .
For loads from 800 to 1000 fps try Bulleyse or Tightgroup they work excellent .
with the current WW delima 40 grs less lead per bullet is just the ticket ! 35 per lb vs 29 per lb .

[9.3X62AL]

I have a 200 grain boolit for the 44s (SAECO #446), but have yet to try it on the 44 Special or 44 Mag.

My go-to boolits for those calibers are Lymans #429244 and #429421. In Magnum, 90% of my shooting gets done with the Keith plain-base atop 8.5 grains of Unique for about 925-950 FPS from the 5.5" Redhawk. Very gentle in that big boat anchor, or an N-frame S&W. The Thompson GC boolit gets sent with 22.0 grains of 2400 or 25.0 grains of WW-296, both loads run 1375-1400 FPS and are quite enough for my tastes.

[white eagle]

I shoot mostly 320 gr g/c boolits out of mine
once and awhile I will shoot 250's but mainly 300+gr's
I do shoot 230's in my acp though

[EDK]

I've got one of GLL's group buy 200 grain double ended wadcutter, but it shoots way too low in the VAQUEROS...got 427666 and same problem. No problem in the adjustable sight guns.

I'm currently using the RD TLC 432 265 and the NOE clone PLUS 429352 clone and MIHEC'S 429421/H&G503 clone and MMA10MM's version. These boolits all hit pretty close to aim in an assortment of VAQUEROS at 25 yards.

Like most of us here, I'm constantly experimenting with lubes, sizing diameter, alloy, etc. I'm always looking for the "one good load" and may find it some day. I'm a 44 guy, but I never needed maximum loads.

[GabbyM]

Tried my 200 grain Saeco #446 over 20 grains AA#9 from 44 mag 6” Colt. Recoil was quite tolerable. Didn’t clock it but it’s probably 1350 to 1400 fps. From the long tube. That’s some serious smack down for no more recoil than it had. Felt much like a 357 mag since the Anaconda is heavy. Same day I shot some Lyman #429215 at 222 grains over the same 20.0 grain AA#9 load. Lots more recoil. I’d call it the edge of my tolerance for a load I plan to shoot more than a half dozen times a day. I belive the 200 grain TC bullet may be a better choice.

My hand has been busted up on a few occasions and still has some floating bones in it. I have to use my left hand for things like holding air drive impact wrenches.

I’ve a pile of 44 bullets to play with and have no favorite as of yet. Heck only had the gun twenty years. Problem is I keep buying new moulds.

Have some 185 full WC from a friends mould to play with. Those may be the go to sub sonic bullets.

Might shoot some hand gun this weekend down at Effingham Co. Sportsman club since it’s the last weekend of the month so the BPCR shoot is running on the rifle range.

What I realy like is Lar's Carnauba Red lube or My home made Felix lube. First time I used that good lube my guns bore came home cleaner than it left.

I can’t see a reason in the world for anything over a 265 grain bullet in a 44 magnum.

[DragoonDrake]

GabbyM, I like the heavier bullets for shooting further away. In IHMSA in particular, I had a problem getting enough height with some of my guns with lighter bullets (this was after changing my sights to get it to shoot low enough to even have a chance at the chickens). I switched bullets/wt and problem gone. Thinking this year I am going to try to find the best bullet for each distance for minimum sight adjustment. Say a 200gr for chickens, 245 for piggies and turkeys, and my 300gr load for rams.