.44 magnum loads

[pumpguy]

I picked up a NIB model 94 in .44 mag this weekend. I have been picking up mag and special brass for a while now and have some questions.

1. Should I use my Ideal 429421 or my RCBS 44-245 KT? Should I get something else all together?

2. What is a good powder and charge for this gun in both cases?

3. Should I use the factory crimp die? I generally load one at a time.


Thanks for your help guys!

[Bret4207]

I'd use what I had and start with a good middle of the road load with Unique. Not sure you'd need the FCD. They WILL distort the boolit if over used.

[Char-Gar]

Your rifle will tell you which of your bullet/molds are best, far better than any of us can guess.

Start with some low to mid-range loads and Bret suggestion of Unique is a good one.

If you start to load full snort magnum velocities, you may find out you have gone beyond the tolerance range of a plain base bullet as a gas check is needed. The tried and true Thompson deisgned 429244 (Lyman) would be a good choice for this need.

[MT Gianni]

question 3? Do you mean you don't use a progressive press or you load your cartridges singley? I would use a FCD only if you could not chamber a cartridge more than occasionally. If they chamber and shoot well as they leave your seating die you don't need the extra sizing. Gianni

[AlaskaMike]

You might load up a dummy round with each bullet and see how it feeds. My RCBS 44-250-K is too long with .44 Mag brass for my Rossi 92, but I can use that bullet with .44 special brass. In the magnum brass I use Lyman 429244 with good results.

Mike

[crowbeaner]

The problem with the 94 is the c.o.a.l. has to be short enough to feed well. I used the RCBS 44-240-SWC in mine, as it is a gascheck design. I loaded them with 17.5 of 2400 and seated the bullet into the case to crimp just over the front driving band. This load would shoot into 1 inch at 100 with a scope. The overall length was perfect. I also loaded this bullet over 18.5 of Olin 630, same seating depth. The Lyman 429244 will work, but you may have to back the charge down a grain or so. Be aware that the Keith type bullets have a longer nose than the RCBS bullet, and you may have to seat them the same way to get them to cycle through the action. My 94 was one He** of a gun, and never failed to hit what it was aimed at. Enjoy. CB.

[beagle]

I have a M94 Legacy in .44 Mag. It feeds and shoots the 429421 over 16.0 grains of WC820 like a house afire. I had several less than 1" groups at 100 yards when I had it scoped. Yours may like something different and it depends on your use as well. I'm just punching paper and cans so I'm running these about 1300 FPS.

Since you have one, I'd start with the 429421. MIne feeds fine crimped in the crimp groove./beagle

[MtGun44]

My 94 trapper carbine feeds the 429421 in the normal crimp groove
just fine and shoots 10 gr Unique into 2.5" at 50 yds with a peep sight.
The std Elmer Keith 20 gr 2400 under the same bullet WITH A
STANDARD PRIMER will do about 1.5" at 50 yds. Mag primers will cause
fliers.

J-bullets rarely group this well, in general in this .44 mag carbine.

Bill

[MakeMineA10mm]

I picked up a NIB model 94 in .44 mag this weekend. I have been picking up mag and special brass for a while now and have some questions.

1. Should I use my Ideal 429421 or my RCBS 44-245 KT? Should I get something else all together?

2. What is a good powder and charge for this gun in both cases?

3. Should I use the factory crimp die? I generally load one at a time.


Thanks for your help guys!

1. You've got two great bullets there. You could spend a lot of time and money trying to better them. Since you've already got them, too, I'd say it is Karma/Fate, so get to casting some of both!

2. I like Herco, Unique, W231 (not ideal, but workable, and I've got a lot of it), PB, 800-X, and Solo 1250 for middle-road 44 powders. Any of the middle-speed pistol/shotgun powders should work well in the 44. For heavy loads, I like AA#9, as it's a ball powder (easy to measure and load) and is close to 2400 for velocity. I like 17.5grs under the 245 gr Keith, but after reading beagle's load of 16.0grs, I'm gonna try that one too! (Thanks Beagle!)

3. The best crimp die I've found for revolver rounds is the Redding Profile Crimp Die. It both tapers and rolls the crimp at the same time causing good alignment and evenness of the roll crimp. Enhances accuracy.

[Lloyd Smale]

there both decent bullets and the only way to tell is to shoot them. Ill go with crowbeaner though and say the rcbs 240 swcgc is the finest bullet in that style and weight that ive ran accross. it shoots great in all my 44 revolvers and feeds and shoots great in my lever guns too. It flys well at long range also. the only way i can pick it apart at all is that it has a slighly smaller metplat then most designs but the animals ive shot with it never lived long enough to laugh at it.

[MtGun44]

Add another vote for the Redding profile crimp die. Gives really nice
consistent crimp, altho I don't have enough experience to verify
improved accy in my loads. Sure can't hurt to have consistent crimp,
and it should help.

Bill

[44man]

I tried the FCD for my 45-70 and it leaves a compressed ring on fired brass I don't like. Even with a gentle crimp, this ring doesn't iron off. I am afraid of shortened case life.
It did work like a champ crimping loose gas checks on boolits.

[MakeMineA10mm]

I tried the FCD for my 45-70 and it leaves a compressed ring on fired brass I don't like. Even with a gentle crimp, this ring doesn't iron off. I am afraid of shortened case life.
It did work like a champ crimping loose gas checks on boolits.

I've often wondered why Redding doesn't make their profile crimp die for straight-wall rifle cartridges, like the 444 Marlin, 45-70, or 375 Win... I know the first two cartridges aren't EXACTLY straight-walled, but they have enough that I think it would work. I guess they question the level of sales???

[45 2.1]

I've often wondered why Redding doesn't make their profile crimp die for straight-wall rifle cartridges, like the 444 Marlin, 45-70, or 375 Win... I know the first two cartridges aren't EXACTLY straight-walled, but they have enough that I think it would work. I guess they question the level of sales???

They do.....the 4570 is my favorite.

[Boomer Mikey]

I've often wondered why Redding doesn't make their profile crimp die for straight-wall rifle cartridges, like the 444 Marlin, 45-70, or 375 Win... I know the first two cartridges aren't EXACTLY straight-walled, but they have enough that I think it would work. I guess they question the level of sales???

They make profile crimp dies for 45-70, 38-55 (same as 375), and I use a 44 magnum profile crimp die for the 444 Marlin without any problems at all. They originally didn't make them but they got so many requests for them they are a standard catalog item now. Midway stocks all of them.

Boomer :Fire:

[MakeMineA10mm]

Well, I'll be... Guess I shoulda checked on that! I need one for my 444 Marlin, pronto! Thanks guys.

[Dutch4122]

I tried the FCD.................................
It did work like a champ crimping loose gas checks on boolits.

Thanks 44man, you just solved a problem I've been having![smilie=w:

[lmcollins]

Go to leverguns.com and check out the great article by Glen Fryxell on the Marlin 1894. I think that you need a gas check bullet for levergun velosities. I think you want to go to the Lyman 429244 or the RCBS 429-300SWFNGC.

Read the article. I'd go to the Lyman since it is available in the 4 cavity. Mine cast from wheelweights checked and lubed at 265 grains.

[paul edward]

From experience based on 25 years loading 44 Magnum for a Marlin 336 and 1894:

For plain base cast boolits in the 200-250 grain range, try 10 grains of Unique.

I use 18 grains of 2400 with a 225 grain gas check SWC from an RCBS mold.

Slug your barrel so you know the right diameter to size.

For use with the tubular magazine, a good crimp is necessary. In time, repeated crimping will lead to split necks unless you anneal the cases.