50th ann. 44 loads

[unclebill]

i may as well take advantage of all the experience here.
what are your suggestions for my ruger n.m.black hawk .44mag 6 1/2 bbl.
with these boolits?
316 gr.
and 255 gr.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l272/billhedges/zsmithwesson27-2-32.jpg
thank you once again.

p.s.
i would really like to use the unique i have.

[unclebill]

???????

[jack19512]

unclebill

I have not shot my 50th Anniversary 44 mag since getting the Ruger 7 1/2 in Blackhawk and the Ruger 10 1/2 SBH but have found that for my Lee 310 gr. boolit 20 gr. of 296 shows potential. Those 2 boolits you have pictured look just like my Lee 310 gr. and 240 gr. boolits. Unlike a lot of others I have not been able to do much good with the Unique powder so far. I'm not sure what I could be doing wrong with this powder.

[unclebill]

thanks jack,
so far i have found
310 gr. starting load 7.2 unique @965 fps
250 gr. starting load 11 unique@ 1200 fps.
my boolits are 316
and
255

[jack19512]

I checked my data and I was using 10 gr. Unique for the 310 gr. boolit.

[unclebill]

I checked my data and I was using 10 gr. Unique for the 310 gr. boolit.

how was that workin for ya?

[Larry Gibson]

unclebill

I've had a Ruger 50th Anniversary .44 since June of '06. I've shot it quite a bit since then. Can't help you out on the heavy bullet. With the lighter bullet I use 9 gr of Unique under the RCBS 44-250K. It gives 1050 fps out of my 6 1/2" barreled Ruger with very good accuracy. It is my most often used load as the power is adequate, accuracy very good and it is pleasant to shoot. You might try it under that 255 gr bullet.

You might also work up to 24 gr H110 with that bullet. Velocity will be around 1400 fps and accuracy should be good with that GC'd 255 gr bullet. That would be an excellent hunting load.

Larry Gibson

[unclebill]

thank you larry.
did you end up with the 9gr. load after a bit of trial and error?
to tell the truth
i have only tried a few loads with this one before i sent it back to ruger to get the sights fixed.
i get it back tomorrow.

[jack19512]

how was that workin for ya?





So far the Unique doesn't seem to do as good as the 296. At least with me and my 310 gr. and 240 gr. boolits.

[Larry Gibson]

unclebill

I guess you could say it was by trial and error. I've been shooting .44 magnums (I own 4 right now) since '68. I've always found with the Keith bullet that between 8.5 and 9.5 gr is a good load when the velocity is right at 1050 fps. I just loaded up until 1050 fps was hit and never looked back. I have many times put 12 shots (twice around the cylinder) into less than 2" at 25 yards and 4-5" at 50 yards with the new RFT. I know thats not up to 44man's ability but these bullets are cast and loaded without a lot of attention out of a 2 cavilty mould and I now have the GB 6 cavilty Keith mould to use. I load them on a Dillon SDB. Pretty much just production type ammo. That suits my tired old eyes ok for practice and fun. However, I do take a lot of care when loading my hunting loads. They are loaded on my single stage press with much inspection of the bullets and other fastidious preparations in the loading. I most often use the Lyman 429244Gc mould for those or the Hornady 240 XTP.

The RCBS 44-250K at 1050 fps with Unique out of my 8.3" barreled TC Contender w/1.5X scope will shoot into 2" at 50 yards from a sand bagged rest. So it is a good load. My eyes just don't do as well with the iron sights on the Ruger like they used to.

Larry Gibson

[unclebill]

ok larry
if you been shooting these things since i was 5
maybe i should listen to ya huh?:mrgreen:

i wasnt trying to be condesending or anything.
i figured if someone else has already gone down this path.
i better ask for some tips.
and you gave me some.
ive got quite a few of these boolits and 16 lbs. of unique.
im following your lead!
thank you sir.
bill

[unclebill]

larry
i went back to when i 1st brought this gun home and found these loads of yours.
WLP primers
Javelina lube
All cast bullets in W-W cases
XTP bullets loaded in PMC cases with

Lee 200 gr cowboy bullet
Any alloy/.430
6 gr Bullseye
940 fps

RCBS 429-250-K
WWs +2-3% tin/.430
22 gr 2400
1330 fps

RCBS 429-250-K
WWs+2-3% Tin/.430
9 gr Unique
1060 fps
Photo is of this load. Twice around the cylinder. Target did not give a real defining aim point but I was pleased with the results.

Lee TL429-240-SWC
Any alloy/.430
5 gr Bullseye
795 fps
WRA .44 Special cases

I've a GB keith mould of 429421 style but haven't tried it yet.

Hornady 240 gr XTP
24.5 gr H110
1427 fps

PMC factory 180 gr HPs
1660 fps

[44man]

I use one load only with the heavy boolits.
21.5 gr of 296
Fed 150 primer
No other load matches it and the heavy boolit does NOT like to be shot slow.
By the way, youngsters, I have been loading the .44 since 1956! :drinks:
For the lighter boolit I just use 7 gr of Unique for can shooting. I don't like them for hunting anyway.

[Snapping Twig]

My heavy boolit is the 429244 which casts at 265g from WW. I use 22g W296 and it's excellent. Been using that combo since 1983.

Light loads with 429421 is 7g W231. Right @ 950fps and a sweet shooter. I'd hunt with it if I ran out of the magnums, but there's little chance of that. :)