Good 44mag Home Defense Load

[Judan_454]

Im thinking on using my SW 629 44 mag for home defense I was wondering if I should with a 44 special round or with a home brewed downloaded 44mag load.
Opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Dan

[Reload3006]

personally I dont think in a 44 it will matter the 44 is going to go all the way through most of the walls in your house and probably go out side and could even go into your neighbors house too. may as well do it right get the 44 mag why worry about loading down?

[44man]

Really a poor choice. You would would be better with a shotgun.

[Ole]

200 grain Speer gold dot should work well for what you're suggesting.

Click here for loading data:

http://www.speer-bullets.com/pdf/ReloadingSupplementalDATA/44_200GD.pdf

[williamwaco]

Really a poor choice. You would would be better with a shotgun.


Ditto.

[beagle]

When I was experimenting with round ball loads, the two ball .44 Magnum shot really well and I think would make a great round for home defense if you just have to use a .44 Magnum and it gives you a "twofer"./beagle

[Iron Mike Golf]

How about a 200 gr RNHP, pure lead?

[Snapping Twig]

I like a magnum case, Lyman 429421 over 7g W231. This is @ 900fps and ought to do most anything you'd need.

[Reload3006]

My first choice is a shotgun. hands down the best home defense glad Missouri has a castle law. Basically if you break in my castle I can render you lifeless and harmless. I will not get shot in the back running away ... Aint gonna happen.

[bobthenailer]

load the Speer gold dot 210 gr bullets made for the 44 special or get some Barnes 200gr TAC-XP FB for the 44 special and load in 44 mag brass to your desired velocity for self defence, in the 900 to 1100 fps range

[subsonic]

Something hollowpoint and light, 180-200gr or so, moving around 900fps should do it. Cor-bon makes a .44spl load like this.

Plus one more for a long gun of any kind as well. 12ga or 20ga is good with buck and so are .223 carbines, but indoors the .223 is LOUD!

Both are good, or all three are better.

[222]

Lyman HP loaded to about 850 - 900 fps.

[Larry Gibson]

If you're going to get factory ammo look at the Fedearl 225 gr LSWCHP. It is quite accurate and performs very well.

Larry Gibson

[bones37]

How about the CCI Blazer 44 special ammunition loaded with the Speer 200 grain gold dot? It's advertized velocity is around 875 fps. This is very close to a standard 45 acp loading.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I agree with the shotgun choice but if you have to use a .44 then these would work.

The one on the left should open up at about 600 fps. The one on the right will go completely thru your house at 900 fps.

"Over Penetration" is your biggest problem and that's why everyone tells you to use a shotgun with bird shot for indoors use.

.44 shotshells also come to mind, but they are hardly up to shotgun levels of power. OK for snakes or small rodents, for big rats like might infest your house in the middle of the night, back to the shotgun.

Randy

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

definitively something down loaded or 44spl

240 gr 44 mags JHP pass right thru deer and 8 inch trees

unless your house is very thick logs , concrete or brick your probably going to pass right thru with a full power 44 mag

not to mention the flash and the absolutely defining roar

if you have ever shot a 44mag inside , you wouldn't do it twice without hearing protection if given the choice

remember any energy the boolit has when it leaves the target is wasted energy

if it was what i had at hand i am sure i would use it , but i might have to go get hearing aids the next week. better deaf than dead i suppose.

there is a reason they call it magnum

not saying 40 , 9, 38, or 45 are quite but they are sure not as loud as a full power 44 mag

[firefly1957]

You do not really give the information that we need:
Do you have neighbors nearby?, Your house construction is? And this may sound silly but what do you think you may be defending against? (some places bears are a possible problem)

A couple people suggest down loading hollow points make sure the bullets you choose will open up at low velocities otherwise you might as well shoot a FMJ! Look into frangible bullets if there are no legal issues with them where you are. I always thought the .451 Speer flying ash tray sized to .429 would make a heck of a good 44 bullet loaded above 1100 F/S.

[jwp475]

Im thinking on using my SW 629 44 mag for home defense I was wondering if I should with a 44 special round or with a home brewed downloaded 44mag load.
Opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Dan



The Remington 180 or 240 grain SJHP (Semi Jacketed Hollow Point) is about as good as it gets in the 44 mag. The 240 grain SJHP is a thin scalloped jacket with a soft lead core. This bullet penetrates about like a 45 ACP FMJ. The expansion is dramatic and damage is extensive and isn't overly penetrative for a 44 mag load

I use them in my 44 mag for home defense

[Ed K]

http://www.surplusammo.com/product_images/c/993/CB_44mg_165g_JHP__38487_zoom.JPG

[MtGun44]

I like firefly's thinking. I would add one more question. How many people are in your
home - and are any in rooms that could concievably be downrange in a plausible
self defense situation? If so, I would really think hard about that choice. I once
observed a JHP factory 9mm round penetrate 3 sheetrock walls and nearly exited a house
in an accidental discharge (NOT me!) and it was quite sobering, since there was a small
apartment complex "downrange" that had sliding glass doors in all the units on that
side, so likely to break one if the round had made it out (stopped in exterior wall,
moderate dent in STEEL siding).

Bill

[snowwolfe]

An attorney who was talking at the concealed carry class told us to NEVER use your own reloads in any weapon for home defense. His arguement was if you were ever taken to court the victims attorney would have a field day telling the jury how you reloaded with the intent to kill someone.
If you must use your 629 for home defense just make sure you buy factory ammo for it.

[Judan_454]

I did also read articles where Massad Ayoob who writes for American Handgunner Magazine and testifies in shooting cases recommends against using reloaded ammo but thats only in iffy shootings in a clean selfdefense case it would be much harder to prove some kind of mulish intent. I do live in a state where we just passed the castle law so you dont have to retreat if someone is breaking in to your house if he does not belong there at 2 am you can shoot and be justified.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

An attorney who was talking at the concealed carry class told us to NEVER use your own reloads in any weapon for home defense. His arguement was if you were ever taken to court the victims attorney would have a field day telling the jury how you reloaded with the intent to kill someone.
If you must use your 629 for home defense just make sure you buy factory ammo for it.

was he able to give a case where this was used


and in this case he would be down loading it , not up loading it

this is an argument heard over and over , but since lethal force is lethal force whether it is deployed with a tazer, ,a 38 , a 45 , or a 12 ga , even a 470 nitro African double rifle. if it is a good shoot , it is a good shoot

if it is in your home in Wisconsin, where the op is asking from , and the invader had no business being there it is presumed a good shoot


could you be inviting extra scrutiny , maybe , but it is difficult to see where a good shoot becomes a bad shoot just because you left the boolits you took hunting or target shooting in the gun.

now if you were doing something goofy like putting garlic powder as buffer in your buck shot loads , you would be inviting a mess

[waksupi]

Masaad has been figured a boob, with nothing to back him up on this topic.

[Ed K]

Could you keep a box of these around and suggest that in choosing to use handloads you had a degree of concern for the intruder?


http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r151/DennisB_photo/44Blacktalon.jpg

[scattershot]

Second the Gold Dot .44 special load, or WW Silvertip .44 special. The flash and blast of a .44 mag at night, in your house, would blind and deafen you.

I know some folks wet their pants at the thought of using handloads for self defense, but I wouldn't worry a lot about it, myself.

[Judan_454]

As for the 44 mag as a home defense gun I was never thinking about using full power loads in it, something on the level of 44 special, 45 acp or 45 colt. I was thinking of the 629 just because then I would not have to buy a new gun, a charterarms or a taurus 44 special.

[Reload3006]

As for the 44 mag as a home defense gun I was never thinking about using full power loads in it, something on the level of 44 special, 45 acp or 45 colt. I was thinking of the 629 just because then I would not have to buy a new gun, a charterarms or a taurus 44 special.

even 44 special is going to go through your intruder and probably through a wall or two. If the 44 is all you have use it and dont worry about it. If your worried about home defense IMO go go the local gun shop or pawn shop and get a used cheap single shot shot gun for around 50 to 75 dollars saw it off to the shortest legal length and then if you need it its going to do the job + you won't mind losing it for a while while the shoot is being investigated.
My .o2 if its worth that.

[suba]

My opinion is if you need deadly force don't play around. One shot one kill. Words I've always lived by.

[Ed K]

As for the 44 mag as a home defense gun I was never thinking about using full power loads in it, something on the level of 44 special, 45 acp or 45 colt. I was thinking of the 629 just because then I would not have to buy a new gun, a charterarms or a taurus 44 special.

Sorry - couldn't help myself with the Black Talon comment when the use of handloads were questioned but seriously: the Cor-Bon load in post #20 is intended for what you speak of: effective yet manageable and without any more penetration than a typical 9mm or 40S&W load (but definitely +1 in the effective department).

[Matthew 25]

To add a little on Suba's logic.

The concern over a bullet accidentally leaving your house/room and injuring an innocent person are valid and must be taken into account.
The odds of this happening are (where I live) pretty low.

So compare this to the odds of you getting killed or injured if there is an intruder in your house...the odds are very high.

Do you want to down-load your ammo to decrease the odds of an accidental injury and at the same time decrease your odds of making it through a life-threatening situation?

There is no single answer for this, as mentioned it depends on where you live, type of house etc. But at least consider the reason you are discharging a 44 magnum in your house...it's because someone is trying to KILL YOU!

I have full-house 240g XTP in a lever 44. That's a one shot per target proposition. There's an argument that a heavy load may be safer than a light load due to less rounds discharged.

And finally...you can have an accidental pass-through and injury with any legitimate caliber. If your ultimate goal is the absolute safety of your neighbors, don't shoot in your house.

[gunfan]

Everyone aboard is on the right track. The .44 S&W Special loads (180-200 grains @ 900 fps) would be a relatively safe bet. Any faster, and you will wind up with overpenetration issues.

Scott

[GRUMPA]

I get this question asked by the women folk, I just tell them to go get those shotshell loads they offer at the stores. Those aren't known to go through to many walls if you miss, and you don't have to aim with those you just point. But not a recommend round for anything other than a revolver.

[Tar Heel]

http://www.surplusammo.com/product_images/c/993/CB_44mg_165g_JHP__38487_zoom.JPG

A picture is worth a thousand words isn't it.

[suba]

A picture is worth a thousand words isn't it.

Yes it is....

[Matthew 25]

I get this question asked by the women folk, I just tell them to go get those shotshell loads they offer at the stores. Those aren't known to go through to many walls if you miss, and you don't have to aim with those you just point. But not a recommend round for anything other than a revolver.

Everyone gets to choose their own...but goodness. I wouldn't shoot a grouse with those, much less a 220 pound wacko. Same goes for the Judge with 410 shot. I think if you can't kill a chicken-sized bird with it, it shouldn't be relied upon for home defense!

[rexherring]

How about using the Glaser Safety Slugs?

http://www.shopcorbon.com/Glaser-Safety-Slug/44-SandW-Special-135gr-Glaser/03800-04000/500/Product

[JayinAZ]

I get this question asked by the women folk, I just tell them to go get those shotshell loads they offer at the stores. Those aren't known to go through to many walls if you miss, and you don't have to aim with those you just point. But not a recommend round for anything other than a revolver.

I sure wouldn't recommend that to anyone. Can you imagine the flock of lawyers beating down your door if you blinded some poor innocent criminal?

[rexherring]

I sure wouldn't recommend that to anyone. Can you imagine the flock of lawyers beating down your door if you blinded some poor innocent criminal?
That's why you empty the gun.:smile:

[Blammer]

I'd use this loaded to about 800fps.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/DSCN7432.jpg
or this (the HP ones)
about 300gr
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/44Cal/DSCN8067.jpg

[Tar Heel]

I'd use this loaded to about 800fps.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/DSCN7432.jpg
or this (the HP ones)
about 300gr
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/44Cal/DSCN8067.jpg

Darn Blammer....just throw a 55 gallon drum at them.

:kidding:

[dmize]

Masaad has been figured a boob, with nothing to back him up on this topic.
I am not a Masaad fan,but the article this reference came from was about a man that had down loaded 38 specials for his wife to use for self defense,she had arthritis or something that prevented her from using factory power loads.
She later used the gun and ammo to commit suicide. The husband was arrested for murder because the powder burn did not match that of a contact wound, ie. low power/low residue=shot from farther away. According to the article the guy almost went up the river.
Although the "malicious intent" is thrown around a lot and I to believe it to be fertilizer,the ease of duplicating a questionable shooting seems pretty logical to me.

[tuckerdog]

I haven't seen anyone bring up round ball loads yet. I load 2 45 cal rb sized 430 over 7 grn unique. at room distances they hit within 1.5" of each other and if placed center mass will end a badguys career right smart. not sure about velocity but imagine it's around 850fps. they wont penetrate like a hunting boolit.

[Rick R]

My Mountain Gun likes Winchester's 250gr Platinum Tip

http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/medium/816/816160.jpg

I shot one of these into a block of 20% ballistic gel at an ammo demo and even the Winchester rep seemed impressed at the damage. He is a law enforcement oriented rep and I don't believe that he's seen the load before.

It's just the "Black Talon" rebranded with a silver coating. Complete penetration thru 24" of gel with a cavity you could stick your fist thru. Recoil and muzzle blast aren't bad for a magnum load.

My closest neighbor is about 100 yards away with a hill between us, my wife and I live alone and we have "Castle Doctrine". 8-)

[ColColt]

A picture is worth a thousand words isn't it.

My feelings exactly.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3609.jpg

[firefly1957]

I like Corebon and use it in my 45acp and 44 special but if I have a 44 magnum I consider their 165gr 44 mag load on the slow side . That is the reason I asked what he may have to defend against A rural person may have bear problems and I would want penetration.

[suba]

Personally I'd hate to get hit with anything but these are particularly mean....

[Whitworth]

Double Tap makes a 225 grain XPB load that I keep mine loaded with.

[krag35]

My Redhawk is loaded with 2 .437RB over 8 gr of Unique. At 20' the 2 rb make one ragged hole. I would have no question about the loads ability to end a fight.