Load Data for Light .44 Wadcutters ???

[Duster340]

Hey Folks,

I hope today is finding you all doing well. I have been scouring the my loading manuals and the internet for load data on light weight .44 cal wadcutters. Specifically 116 & 162 gr WC boolits. While I have worked up plenty of loads for the 208 grain wadcutter, and could use that as a starting point, I am curious if anyone has any data from old manuals (If so I'll track the manual down on fleebay or crackslist). Of course, any first hand experience with light weight WC's is always appreciated.

Calibers are .44 special (CA Bulldog Pug) and.44 mag (SBH)

Powders I that I have used to work up loads for the 208 gr (211 gr actual) are:
Bullseye
Unique
Blue Dot
Red Dot
800X

Thanks as always!

[35 Whelen]

If it helps, I've shot quite a few 185 gr. WC's in my old CA Bulldog. I loaded 4.5 grs. of Clays which netted 853 fps and was very accurate. Bullseye and Red Dot are similar in burn rate, so maybe that will give you a starting point.
Good luck,
35W

ETA- I have a 1958 Lyman Cast Bullet Manual and the lightest WC they list is the 429348 which I mentioned above.

[rintinglen]

123628
I have one of the light weight NOE molds. There is exactly zero tested load data published for those 110 grain dainties. Now I mostly used them in multi ball loads, 2 in a special case, or three in a magnum, I did run a box or two of them through my 44 Special. I loaded them over 4.5 grains of Bullseye but found that they hit way low compared to my usual Skeeter load with the 429-421.

I derived that load by comparing the loading data in the Lyman #45 for the 358-101, a 75 grain WC to that of the 358-495 a 141 grain wadcutter, then making a conservative comparison of that ratio to the data listed for the 180 grain wadcutter 429-348. {Powder choices were limited to basically Unique or Bullseye since those were the only two powders that were common to both.

Since I do not choose to tinker with the sights, that is the limit of my testing. The boolit meets no need of mine, but it is fun to unleash 6 shots and make 12 or 18 holes in the target.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?172910-3-little-wadcutters-in-a-44-mag-case
This thread had my report on the multi-ball load in it

[longbow]

Not quite the same but I got a 165 gr. TC mould made by Accurate for my .44 Marlin. So far I have only used 700X at 10 grs. based on some loads I found for .44-40. They shot quite well but were somewhat zippier than I anticipated. 6 to 8 grs. would likely be a better choice. No pressure signs but they sure made a crack and seemed to scoot along pretty well.

Not quite true, I did load up a few using 180 gr. loads with IMR4227 but did not get complete burn with the lightweight boolit so gave that up quick. I am thinking a faster powder is best with such a light payload.

It seems to me I found some 165 gr. load data here and indeed I did:

http://castpics.net/dpl/index.php/reloaders-reference/cast-bullet-data-lookup

Not the powders you list though.

I have some Green Dot and Unique but have not tried them yet.

Longbow

[Forrest r]

I use a 200gr wc in the 44spl/mag & have had excellent results with either clays of bullseye.

5.0gr of bullseye in 44spl
6.0gr of bullseye in 44mag

[Duster340]

35 Whelen, rintinglen, longbow, Foerrest r - Thank you all for the informative replies. I do appreciate it!

Rintinglen - I never even consider stacking light WC's. Thanks for that link. Learn something every day LOL!

Well, I'm off to work now. You all have a great day and enjoyable weekend.

[bearbud]

The Lyman handbook 45th edition contains the following for the 429348 (180WC).
44 special
BE 4.0 (691) 6.8 (1033)
Unique 7.0 (877) 11.5 (1033)
44 magnum
BE 5.0 (810) 7.0 (1003)
Unique 8.0 (918) 13.0 (1403)
I use the same boolit in both special and magnum. My favorite in the special is 7.3 of unique (856fps) and 5.5 231 (781fps), and in the magnum 9.3 231 (1045fps).
bearbud

[msp2640]

Great thread and very informative answers, been a proud owner of a 429348 for several months now, but just too many other things going on, so it's collecting dust. Will save this thread for future use - Thanks Bill in MA

[Duster340]

bearbud,

Thanks for sharing the detailed info/experience. Much appreciated! :drinks:

Regards,
Duster340


The Lyman handbook 45th edition contains the following for the 429348 (180WC).
44 special
BE 4.0 (691) 6.8 (1033)
Unique 7.0 (877) 11.5 (1033)
44 magnum
BE 5.0 (810) 7.0 (1003)
Unique 8.0 (918) 13.0 (1403)
I use the same boolit in both special and magnum. My favorite in the special is 7.3 of unique (856fps) and 5.5 231 (781fps), and in the magnum 9.3 231 (1045fps).
bearbud

[Duster340]

True msp2640. I commented in another forum that some of the folks here at castboolits have probably forgotten more about this stuff than I'll ever learn! And nice score on the 429348. It will be awhile before I can get to the range, but I'll be sure to post up the results of the loads I put together. I swear this casting/loading stuff is more addictive than crack!:lovebooli


Great thread and very informative answers, been a proud owner of a 429348 for several months now, but just too many other things going on, so it's collecting dust. Will save this thread for future use - Thanks Bill in MA

[msp2640]

I've been on this site for a while, but read here and learned alot before I actually joined. I still read a bunch and learn a hell of lot more, than I actually post. The collective knowledge base and willingness to share information, by lots of the members here, is what make this site special. Bill in MA

[fouronesix]

Hodgdon load data has several loads for lesser bullet weights in 44. Trailboss works very well in any pistol cartridge I've tried for these type loads.

[azrednek]

I use a 200gr wc in the 44spl/mag & have had excellent results with either clays of bullseye.

5.0gr of bullseye in 44spl
6.0gr of bullseye in 44mag

I also have a 200gr 44 cal full wadcutter. I loaded 4.0 and 5.0 of Bullseye in a Charter Arms Bulldog. I never went higher than 5.5 as it drifted into the uncomfortable recoil range.

[rintinglen]

A boolit that gets much more use by me is the NOE 230 grain 432-230 WC. Loaded with 4 grains of Red Dot or 5.0 Grains of Unique it is superbly accurate in either of my 44 Specials. I heartily recommend that you visit the NOE web site and ask Al to make another run of these. He made these at the same time as he made the 110 and 153 grain versions. I wish there had been a 200 +- grain version, it would have been better for the Bulldogs out there, but the 230 grain is great.