First time .44 magnum loader

[scrappletaco]

I just put back a taurus .44 magnum Raging Bull 6in. because it was a great deal here and was extremely good shape so i took the plunge into the world of .44 mag

I'm starting to get reloading components and was wondering what loads/components would be a good place to start. I do not cast as of now so preferably ready to load bullets.

It will be used for predator protection and punching paper. I do not plan on loading .44 specials for it at first since I'm a college kid and vetran so money is tight to say the least. I want to explore the versitility of this round and any and all help will be greatly appreciated. since I've found this forum I've been trying .38 loads like crazy and just love it.

Thank you in advance

[runfiverun]

well the 44 mag is basically a big 357 mag it will do everything the smaller case will only bigger in diameter.
loads from 750 fps up through 1600 fps are pretty easily obtained through the same methods as you use for the smaller case.

since money is tight stick with powders such as bullseye, win-231 through herco speed and you will find a couple of loads that do target through hunting without any drama.
now if you want smoke and fire then you'll need something more like 2400 or h-110, but burning 18-22+ grs of powder doesn't save much money and is gonna rough up that revolver.

for general fun and up to deer out to 50-75 yds I'd go with 8.5-9.5 grs of unique and a 240 gr cast bullet with a flat nose sized to .430.
that should be about as cheap and effective as you are gonna find for general all around use.
the load is shootable all day and still has some serious oomph when needed.
back it down to @7.5 grs and you are right in line with my 44 special loads, only you don't have to buy new cases and can use the same boolits.

[Larry Gibson]

R5R pegged right there. Check with several gun stores in the area for bulk cast bullets or order them from Laser-Cast or for softer cast with an excellent lube order from Desperado Cowboy Bullets.

I started out with a Lee loader for my 44 Magnum many years back.....was after 5,000+ Lee loaded rounds before I got a press and dies. I've been shooting the 44 magnum in numerous revolvers and rifles since then and my most often used load for every day use is 8.5 gr Unique under the RCBS 250 K bullet or 9 gr under the Lee TL240 SWC bullet. Handgun or rifle it does the job. However if really hunting big game I switch to the Lyman 429460 over a max dose of H110.....after all it is a "magnum".

Larry Gibson

[scrappletaco]

Thank you for all the information so far. I started with a lee loader and now have a lee handpress since space is at a premium.

I will write this down so I can check a shop that carries a ton of revolver loading supplies but has really "special" staff that can find their way out of a open field. So your knowledge will be put to use on this endevour. Thanks again keep it coming

[AlaskanGuy]

This is what you need for that taurus... The lee 430-310-rf. These work grate in every 44 mag I have tried them in. The look like this when shined up88093 on the left..... But are more commonly shot looking like this, ready to go....
88094

I can get you started with 100 of these, i will send you a PM. If you need something lighter, i can hook you up with some of those too..

AlaskanGuy

[tuckerdog]

I like the 9.5 grn unique load under a keith boolit, but don't like ringing my revolvers bell with h110. imr 4227 gives good velocity at lower pressures. you won't get the vel you would get out of h110 but 18.6grn under mihec's 300grn wfn will do any reasonable thing a 44mag can do. I shoot a ruger super blackhawk so yes it will handle h110 but just prefer 4227

[runfiverun]

scrapple:
if you wanna try some 240gr keith type old school 429241's, and/or some 240 gr rnfp's both sized to 430, shoot me a p.m. with an address and i'll send out a small box of them to get you going.

[scrappletaco]

Thank you very much guys. This is truely one of the nicest forum experiences I've ever had. Just wish I wouldn't have waited so long to join.

I will definiatly be recommending this site to my shooting buddys.

I'm kinda confused on the powders ill admit. What should I be looking for. All I've ever reloaded with was imr trailboss which has been just a close enough powder. I won't use it for this

[kevmc]

You can't go wrong with Unique!!!!
It's been a favorite for a LONG time......Elmer Keith used it regularly, and that is plenty good for me.

[AlaskanGuy]

Well, you could start with 15 grains of 2400 and work up in 1/2 grain increments to 16.5
Or
Between 16 grains of ramshot enforcer and work up the same way to 18gr....
Or
21 gr of h110
Or
21 gr of 296....... These are all for the c430-310 310 gr cast... Best thing to do for these without a minimum is to start a few grains shy and see what your gun likes by increasing by 1/2 grain till you hit the top end.. It is a very popular boolit for the 44 mag for hunting.... And very accurate...

RunfiverRun choice of the 240 gr Keith boolit is also an excellent choice... Just a bit light for the alaskan sized zombie's and mutants we have around here... I would take him up on his offer to have him send you some of the smaller Keith. He is the real deal rocket scientist around here, and when he talks, I listen up.... Might be best to start a bit smaller and work your way up to some big lead after you get more comfy with the big taurus...

Be sure that you slug your gun as soon as possible. This is very important for good boolit fit. If you need help doing this, pm me or read through the forums, or perhaps fiver could also walk you through it.

Alaskan

[TXGunNut]

Welcome to the forum, you're off to a great start! Lee moulds and a few casting tools don't cost much, just pick them up when you can.

[Pirate69]

Don't pass-up any "cheap" 44 Special brass that you come across. It will work just fine for target/plinking loads. Unique powder was suggested above. Great choice for killing those 8.5"X 11" white critters. Very cheap (that's me) for good target shooting and good accuracy. Welcome aboard!!

[Thumbcocker]

6.5 of red dot under a 240-250 boolit is a good general purpose load and yeilds over 1000 shots from a pound of powder.

[Shuz]

[ However if really hunting big game I switch to the Lyman 429460 over a max dose of H110.....after all it is a "magnum".

Larry Gibson[/QUOTE]

429460 or 429640?

[bobthenailer]

You may also want to try 7.0 grains of Bullseye or Tightgroup powder about 900 fps+ ive been using those loads for over 35 years in about 8 different 44 mags with excellent results.

[Char-Gar]

The 44 Magnum is a wonderful round that seems to just want to please and give us good accuracy over a wide range of velocities. Here are the loads, I prefer all under any decent 240 -+ plain base cast bullet.

Small game, plinking and target use - 5/Bullseye
Medium game (deer) - 10/Unique
Full snort magnum loads - 20/2400

All of these powders are ancient Hercules powders which are now made my Alliant. They have been used in the 44 Magnum since it came on line in the 50's and hold no secrets or suprises. There are plenty of other powders that can be used, but I stick with what I know and have used for 50 years. They do as good as any and better than some.

[TCLouis]

I too started out with a 44 Mag (original Blackhawk) when in college and loaded many a round with the Lyman 310 tong tool. lubed and sized boolits with it too.

Bullseye powder to start also because that way I could get the most loads per pound.

Today I would suggest starting with Bullseye, Red Dot or PROMO for minimum amount of powder or Unique for the broadest range of loads.

Put your state in your profile and you may even have some other benefactors if they know where you are.

[like it all]

The 44 mag is a great choice for a reloader. I agree with the others here that Unique is a good mainstay powder for light to medium loads. The heavy stuff can come with experience. A 240 gr at 900-1100 fps is still potent, but still a pleasure to shoot. I personally use a 250 gr GC SWC with 10.5 grs of Unique, which chronies at 1138 fps average as my all around working load. I have three 44 revolvers and two rifles, they all shoot different loads differently. Have fun with your Taurus.

[ironhead7544]

About the best deal for cast bullets in 44 is the 200 gr RNFP that the cowboy shooters use. Max loads of Trailboss give about 900 fps from a hand gun and about 1100 fps from a rifle. Nothing wrong with Trailboss in the 44 Magnum.

Unique is also good with that bullet. 10.0 will give about 1150 from a hand gun.

Right now, powder is hard to find but the 44 Mag can be loaded with a lot of powders. Plenty of loading info out there.

I started out with a Lee Loader in 44 Mag around 1972. I still have three 44 revolvers. Wouldnt want to be without one.

[N4AUD]

I'd recommend getting a reloading manual if you don't already have one, Lyman is a good one if you're going to be using CB's. Be very careful of loads you get from internet forums, even this one. Use the knowledge but be cautious.

[Blammer]

If I had to pick one powder I would use 2400 and one of these projectiles.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/44list-1.jpg (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/blammer8mm/media/Cast%20boolits/44list-1.jpg.html)

[MG34]

N4AUD, Nice looking radios, good hunting and good DX.

[N4AUD]

Thanks OM!

[big dale]

You will get a lot of advice about loading for the 44 Mag. I have been loading for it since the mid-70's and find it pretty easy to load for. I have probably shot more loads of about 9 or 10 grains of Herco behind a 250 grain cast boolit than any other load. It is comfortable to shoot and that makes it easy to shoot well. When I started casting for it, I got a .430 sizing die and that has worked fine for all of the 5 or 6 revolvers I have owned since then. If you enjoy shooting it as much as I do mine you will soon tire of buying those little one pound cans of powder.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

[scrappletaco]

Thanks guy when I get to a computer I will update my profile.

Got a update on the revolver..... not good news. The cylinder timing is shot and won't lock up tight enough. I know it will shave lead so I had to pass. Just gotta look for another 44mag probably a blackhawk used of course. Keep the information coming I am determined to get my first big bore

[waco]

MAN! You guys are making me want to switch the Dillon over to .44 and break out that Lee 310gr mold!

[waco]

88944

[NWPilgrim]

Char Gar had great info fir starting out. I would start with a 240-250 gr bullet, since that will have the most load data available.

For an all around powder Alliant 2400 is excellent. For light to medium loads 5.5 - 10.0 gr Unique works well. 10.0 is my favorite all around load giving about 1,000 fps in my 4" M29.

For magnum loads 2400 or W296/H110 are tops but AA9 is close too. While W296 will give you highest velocities you should not download much more than 3% below max. 2400 and AA9 let you back off to medium range.