Heaviest bullet you use in 44mag revolver?

[Dom]

I have a very accurate load for my 44 Ruger. It's a 280gr PC'ed ,cast SWC PB at 1100 fps. BHN 10.5. I'm in favor of the heavy bullets at moderate velocities. Although I have bullet molds for the 44 from 225 to 310gr. Haven't used the 310gr in my revolver as yet. I know there are heavier bullets than the 310. What are you using & works for you? Your loads if your comfortable letting them out?288208

[ShooterAZ]

My heaviest boolit and load for the 44 Magnum is the LEE C430-310RF. My BHN is right @15 using a blend of 75% WW and 25% Lino, air cooled. I use 21.5 grains of W296, Federal F150 primer, in Starline 44 Mag cases. This is a pretty heavy load, so if you use this data start at 18.5 grains and work up! It's a thumper, and will put a major hurt on whatever it hits. I shoot it in a Ruger Super Blackhawk, and I don't recommend it in a S&W 29.

[Rodfac]

I'm not an aficionado of heavy for caliber bullets...and as I've reached my 70's, recoil is becoming more a factor. For hunting though, I like 240-265 grain LSWC's by Mihec, Lyman & RCBS. All are accurate in my guns and a pair of Marlin Carbines with suitable loads and will knock the stuffing out of our KY whitetails.

But for day in day out carry on the farm, I really like Lyman's 429215gc with 7.5 to 8.5 grains of Unique or a grain less of Win 231. In .44 Spl or Magnum, they're comfortable for a pleasant hour's shooting on our home range, while still packing enough punch to handle any six-gun chore that comes up. Best Regards, Rod

[dla]

I have a very accurate load for my 44 Ruger. It's a 280gr PC'ed ,cast SWC PB at 1100 fps. BHN 10.5. I'm in favor of the heavy bullets at moderate velocities. Although I have bullet molds for the 44 from 225 to 310gr. Haven't used the 310gr in my revolver as yet. I know there are heavier bullets than the 310. What are you using & works for you? Your loads if your comfortable letting them out?

I like a cast bullet around the same weight and velocity. But I don't cast my own. I used to love Leadhead's 270gr LBT-style WFN, but he passed away. I've been looking at HiTek coated 300gr from MBC, but it isn't a real WFN - at least not an LBT-STYLE. It is cheap though - just wish I could get some feedback on it before buying some.

[Hedly Lamarr]

My Redhawk really likes a 265 gr. boolit from my Accurate 43-265F mold. It's loaded over 9.5 gr. of Unique for 1106 fps. It's a good practice and general purpose load. I just received and LBT 280 gr. WFNGC mold and have cast and loaded some rounds for testing. Using WW+2%SN, the boolits cast at 287 gr. I'll be working up loads from 18.5 to 21.0 gr. of H110 in hopes of finding an accurate load somewhere around 1200 fps. I'm not looking for a hand-numbing load.

[Iwsbull]

I have a 285 grain hollow point that I like for the magnum and a 255 grain hollow point for the 44 special.288210 Here they are side by side

[stubshaft]

310 grain NEI TCFP sillywett boolit. It also works very well in the 445 SM...

[cwtebay]

340gr that a buddy of mine and I cast from his custom mold. They're awful to pull the trigger on, but our road kill elk / deer / moose and cattle testing suggest that they're the real deal for hunting (as would our results on live game).

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[rbuck351]

310 Lee seated deep with 20grs of H110 for 1170fps in a Ruger Vaquero 7 1/2". Recoil is heavy but it's not as sharp as a hot 240gr and I find the 310s easier to handle.

[Tar Heel]

The SSK 325gr bullet (SSK 310429) cast in Lyman #2 alloy.

288213

[Lloyd Smale]

ballistic cast 340 lfngc. With that bullet in my 5.5 inch accusport bisley i took 3rd place one year at the linebaugh seminar penetration competition. One (out of many 500s and 475s) 475 load beat it and a 500 lott beat it. It even out penetrated my own #1 458 mag with Winchester solids. It was a hot load so i wont put it here but it pushed that bullet to 1200 fps. Both of the two loads that beat it went out the back of the penetration box. My two shots left one bullet a inch away from breaking through and the other was an inch and a half. So an inch and a half more and it would have been tied for first. I shot one bison with that load quartering toward me and it busted the front shoulder and was found under the skin after it broke the back leg. By the way that bullet is proabably the most accurate heavy 44 bullet ive used in the many 44 mags i own and have owned. They called in an lfngc but it was more like the ssk bullet in design.

[trapper9260]

I shoot the Lee 310 gr in my Redhawk and my Marlin 1884 and work great in both and the same load . Easy to handle better in the Marlin .

[pworley1]

The 310 Lee.

[Dom]

All so interesting & informative. I find the heavies ( 280gr & above ) give me outstanding accuracy with velocity around 1100 fps . The heavies at moderate velocity deliver deeper penetration for me than a much more recoil producing 240 at a higher velocity. The cast , in my testing far out penetrate a jacketed style bullet. Having a 1/20 twist in my Ruger handguns & Win . 44 rifle stabilizes the heavies quite well .

[cwtebay]

I do 100% agree with those that posted about better accuracy with heavier bullets. I have a stainless SBH that I tried for years to get a 240 gr load that would be accurate, but finally gave up because it shoots the heavies so well.

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[black mamba]

The heaviest I've used is the Cast Performance 300 gr WFN in a 629 Classic 6½ inch. I used 17.5 gr of Accurate 4100 and WLPs for about 1150 fps. Took a nice whitetail with it: one shot behind near shoulder and just nicked the off-side shoulder, he went about 20 yards. A superbly accurate load.

[Lloyd Smale]

I do 100% agree with those that posted about better accuracy with heavier bullets. I have a stainless SBH that I tried for years to get a 240 gr load that would be accurate, but finally gave up because it shoots the heavies so well.

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try the rcbs 240 swcgc or the lyman 429244. Either of those bullets cast at 12bhn or harder will shoot well in any 44 that shoots anything well. The 429215 is another good one but it only goes 225 grain. But still kills deer sized game well.

[bangerjim]

I use everything! From 240 up thru 310 both standard and HP's. Just pick one and cast away. All will work very well with the right load data and loading procedures.

And many of my 44 loads are light so I do not have to put my shoulder back in joint after hooting the darned thing! My S&W 44M is fun to shoot when it feels like a colt 45.

[444ttd]

i use 280gr wfn with 10.0gr of unique in my 44 mag (ruger sbh 4 5/8" barrel). i shot several deer with it, but i was under 30ish yards.
i do 3 to 4" group unsupportive at 50 yards.

[derek45]

LEE 310

( note 45ACP brass for size comparison

https://i.imgur.com/WcpfhB6.jpg


I like my Keith #503 better

https://i.imgur.com/nQGypmJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/z1oEwmp.jpg

[Larry Gibson]

Heaviest I "use" is the 270 gr 429640 HP. I have tested heavier but never had any need for them. Always felt if i needed a 300+ gr bullet I'd be carrying my 375 H&H or 450-400-70.....

Truth is I shoot the Lee TL430-240-SWC in lighter 44 SPL loads or mostly the Lyman 429421 over 8.5 gr Unique for a mild mid-range load.

[cwtebay]

try the rcbs 240 swcgc or the lyman 429244. Either of those bullets cast at 12bhn or harder will shoot well in any 44 that shoots anything well. The 429215 is another good one but it only goes 225 grain. But still kills deer sized game well.PM sent

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[JoeJames]

Heaviest I "use" is the 270 gr 429640 HP. I have tested heavier but never had any need for them. Always felt if i needed a 300+ gr bullet I'd be carrying my 375 H&H or 450-400-70.....

Truth is I shoot the Lee TL430-240-SWC in lighter 44 SPL loads or mostly the Lyman 429421 over 8.5 gr Unique for a mild mid-range load.In the past I have shot the Speer .430" 240 grain swaged SWC's, and the Oregon Trail laser cast .431" 240 grain SWC's, but I now mostly shoot my Lee TL430-240 SWC's. With 6.8 grains of Unique the Lee cast runs 894 fps and is very more accurate.

[Graybeard96]

All so interesting & informative. I find the heavies ( 280gr & above ) give me outstanding accuracy with velocity around 1100 fps . The heavies at moderate velocity deliver deeper penetration for me than a much more recoil producing 240 at a higher velocity. The cast , in my testing far out penetrate a jacketed style bullet. Having a 1/20 twist in my Ruger handguns & Win . 44 rifle stabilizes the heavies quite well .

Very interesting. Will definitely try that out coming Winter.
Thanks

[softpoint]

The Lyman 429649 bullet weighs about 340 grains out of my alloy and my mold. It may be the single most accurate cast bullet I have ever used out of several .44 Magnums. I've used both 2400 and h110 to push it. I have been using it less in recent years, though, as lighter pills use less of my alloy and do anything that needs doing here on the farm.

[tja6435]

I had Veral make me a .433-350-LFN and it drops at 373gr with my alloy. I had it cut with 2 crimp grooves, one to fit my Super Blackhawk and one to set the bullet out farther for my Redhawk. It is punishing in the Blackhawk (3.75” barrel) but not too terrible in the 7.5” Redhawk. I had Veral make me another .433-250-LFN and it’s my all around 44 Mag boolit now.

[Intel6]

LBT 350 gr. LFN

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I had a nice outing today with my Super Blackhawk. 275 gr. boolit over 9.2 of Unique. Gave fine accuracy and burned clean. Not a barn burner but I'm sure it would punch right through a deer. Doubt I'll ever try a heavier boolit in my .44's.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Also did 6.9 of Unique under that same 275 boolit in my 24-3 .44 special. Was maybe a touch warm but it put 6 into 1-1/2" at fifty feet off hand. Also burned clean.

[DougGuy]

310 here as well. Rear sight wouldn't go low enough so it went on a belt sander and a new notch got filed in the middle to regulate the load at tree stand distances, 25-40 yards. I think I used 17.0gr 2400 and it clocked right at 1180-1200fps. The modified Lee collet style FCD *really* sealed the deal with this load at the Chrony, it likes a heavy crimp which resists pulling crimp until enough of a flame front creates enough pressure, I am very happy with this load.

Modified collet crimp on the left, heavy roll crimp on the right, night and day difference between the two crimps at the Chrony.. Who would have thunk it?

288403

[Char-Gar]

heaviest i "use" is the 270 gr 429640 hp. I have tested heavier but never had any need for them. Always felt if i needed a 300+ gr bullet i'd be carrying my 375 h&h or 450-400-70.....

Truth is i shoot the lee tl430-240-swc in lighter 44 spl loads or mostly the lyman 429421 over 8.5 gr unique for a mild mid-range load.

like!!!

[rrob692326]

LBT 4 cavity mold made by Vernal, that cast a copy of bear tooth bullets WLN 355 grain cast bullet[ATTACH=CONFIG]289295[ use it in my Redhawk, Dan Wesson and Contender but it's not suitable for the model 29

[Golfswithwolves]

Standard 240-250 grain bullets are all I have used so far. Was I to go to a place with the big bears wandering around then no doubt I'd look into finding a heavy bullet load. Or maybe not.

[Paul105]

LBT 4 cavity mold made by Vernal, that cast a copy of bear tooth bullets WLN 355 grain cast bullet[ATTACH=CONFIG]289295[ use it in my Redhawk, Dan Wesson and Contender but it's not suitable for the model 29

Why not suitable for M29?

[Jack Stanley]

Two hundred fifty grain bullets are all I need for the critters here . I use one of Veral Smith's LFN designs .

Jack

[dla]

Why not suitable for M29?

I'd be surprised if a 355gr WLN would fit within the 1.7" S&W cylinder.

[Paul105]

I'd be surprised if a 355gr WLN would fit within the 1.7" S&W cylinder.

I've shot the Beartooth 355gr LFNGC in my 629. It has an OAL of 1.710. Also shot the 325gr LFNGC Beartooth in my M69 OAL 1.730". It's a tight fit, but doable. Need to make sure you have good neck tension and strong crimp to prevent bullet jump from tying up cylinder under recoil.

Loaded 355gr Beartooth in .44 mag case shown seated in M69

https://photos.imageevent.com/paul105/hobby/355gr%20Beartooth%20in%20M69%20thumbnail_IMG_5136. jpg

[Budzilla 19]

Lee 430-310-RNFP? In a Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk, 10” barreled .44 magnum. I doubt I’ll need anything heavier. Muzzle brake is a plus. Might get a whitetail with it this year.

[Ithaca Gunner]

250gr. Keith boolit. If that doesn't do the job, I shoulda brought a rifle.

[downzero]

My heaviest boolit and load for the 44 Magnum is the LEE C430-310RF. My BHN is right @15 using a blend of 75% WW and 25% Lino, air cooled. I use 21.5 grains of W296, Federal F150 primer, in Starline 44 Mag cases. This is a pretty heavy load, so if you use this data start at 18.5 grains and work up! It's a thumper, and will put a major hurt on whatever it hits. I shoot it in a Ruger Super Blackhawk, and I don't recommend it in a S&W 29.

I would not recommend downloading H-110 below the starting load in the book. Every reloading manual cautions against that.

[dla]

I've shot the Beartooth 355gr LFNGC in my 629. It has an OAL of 1.710. Also shot the 325gr LFNGC Beartooth in my M69 OAL 1.730". It's a tight fit, but doable. Need to make sure you have good neck tension and strong crimp to prevent bullet jump from tying up cylinder under recoil.

Loaded 355gr Beartooth in .44 mag case shown seated in M69

https://photos.imageevent.com/paul105/hobby/355gr%20Beartooth%20in%20M69%20thumbnail_IMG_5136. jpg

Wow! That is a tight fit. I don't own a M69, I'm assuming it has a 1.7" cylinder as well.
You must have your neck tension and crimp down pat to trust in no bullet movement with so little margin. Thanks for the visuals!

[Paul105]

Wow! That is a tight fit. I don't own a M69, I'm assuming it has a 1.7" cylinder as well.
You must have your neck tension and crimp down pat to trust in no bullet movement with so little margin. Thanks for the visuals!

629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Length: 1.705”
M69 L Frame Cylinder Length: 1.670”

Chambers are not recessed for case heads, so add .060" to 1.670" (M69) and absolute max OAL is 1.730" for the M69. Need to make sure you have good neck tension and strong crimp to prevent bullet jump from tying up cylinder under recoil.

You can barely make it out, but the contours of the seated bullet can be seen on the outside of the case -- OAL right at 1.710".

https://photos.imageevent.com/paul105/hobby/355%20BTB%20final%20thumbnail_IMG_5143.jpg

Paul

[JT78]

I've been running the Missouri 300 hammers in my Ruger super Blackhawk hunter for quite some time. I'm loading them over book Max coal of 1.610 and 21gr of H110. Book Max is 19gr. I have wonderful accuracy at 25 yards with both 19 and 21gr. I started getting leading issues over 21gr. I don't hunt anymore but can say that it would be an awesome deer or boar killing round.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Always thought I’d pick up a Lee 310 until I shot a Ranch Dog 270 over a full charge of MP 300 at 13 jugs of water (6” barrel) trying to catch the slug. It went through all of them.

[Tar Heel]

SSK 310gr.

[dale2242]

320`s
This are a pretty good hand full with full power loads.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a 345 ballistic cast lfngc mold. Very accurate and ive pushed it to 1200 in a 5.5 inch blackhawk but wont tell you the load. that bullet (at 20bhn) and load took second place in a penetration competition at a linebaugh seminar. Only beat by one 475 load and not by much. Test had 44s 45s 475s 500s and many rifles including my 458 mag shooting ww solids and a 458 lott. The reason it came in second was one bullet blew all the way through the box and one stopped with the nose poking out the back. The 475 that won had both exit. No other gun or load blew out the back of the box even once. Left many there shaking there heads. by the way that 475 was loaded with kelly Shelps solid brass punch bullets not cast. It beat my own 475 and 500s shooting cast. I walked up to the line thinking it would sure do respectably but would have never guessed it would be the best penetrating cast bullet gun there. By the way that same gun and load won the long range (800 yard) steel buffalo shoot in the 44 mag class. It was a 3/4 scale sized bison at 800 yards. You had one shot to get range and 5 for effect and i hit it 4 out of 5 times. that load shot inch grouips at 50 yards. Strange thing is i dont ever recall actually killing something with that load.

[Lloyd Smale]

The SSK 325gr bullet (SSK 310429) cast in Lyman #2 alloy.

288213

thats another real good heavy for the 44s.

[waco]

Why not suitable for M29?

Too many hot heavy loads like that would shake a Smith loose. The other guns mentioned are much stronger.

[sandog]

I've owned and shot a lot of .44 in past years, but 10-15 years ago was sidetracked by the .45 Colt, and enjoyed those guns until a couple months ago.
I hadn't considered getting back into .44 Mag, now that I'm in my 60's I was even considering revolvers and carbines in .357.
But after several attempts, I just can't warm up to the .357. The allure of the Big Bores is too strong.

I had heard about the 69 when they came out in 2014, I think. I thought it a good concept, smaller and lighter but not super light like the 329PD.
A guy was selling a Model 69, after some reading on them, I bought it.
He had a box of 300 grain loads with it that he had only fired 3 from. They were "Mystery Loads" with a Lee GC but they were loaded in new Starline brass. I figured I'd just pull the bullets and salvage them and the brass. Royal pain due to the Lee gas checks not being crimped on. Bullets came out but gas check hung up on the case mouth.

So far the heaviest I've shot in the 69 are 280 WFNGC, those and some 260 WFNGC are what I have most of.
Now having a .44 revolver, I had the urge to look for a .44 carbine, and found a really new looking Marlin 1894P.
https://i.imgur.com/FnLPwlYh.jpg
The P was only made from 1999 to 2001. It has a 16.2" barrel that has ports on either side of the front sight, comes with swivels and a black ventilated pad. The porting (and the pad) do help, this is the most pleasant shooting 6 Lb. .44 carbine I've ever shot. I suppose they are louder when shot at an indoor range (the .357 version, the 1894CP, maybe even more so) but outdoors where I shoot it sounds no different to me.
I added a Skinner Express peep and put a ladder sight where the folding rear was.
https://i.imgur.com/KWnAiPLh.jpg
Jacketed (evil) bullets like the Hornady XTP and Speer Gold Dot although streamlined in profile, don't feed nearly as well in the Marlin as a WFNGC.
Those fat nose WFN's, close kin to the full wadcutter, cycle so smooth you'd swear the gun was empty.
https://i.imgur.com/xZKF1NSh.jpg
But all the WFNGC bullets I bought right after the Model 69 purchase are .430". They shoot pretty good in the Marlin's .4305" bore, probably helped greatly by the gas check and hard alloy. But any future purchases of bullets will be at least .431". Then it should group even better.
Some will buy .432" for the Marlin .44s oversize bore, but I don't want to have ones too big for the S&W.
Dang, it's never easy to get a load that shoots great in both sixgun and carbine, it's always a bit of a compromise. Especially when the bore sizes aren't the same.

[Shuz]

Sandog-- Very nice setup with those two!

[Paul105]

Some will buy .432" for the Marlin .44s oversize bore, but I don't want to have ones too big for the S&W.
Dang, it's never easy to get a load that shoots great in both sixgun and carbine, it's always a bit of a compromise. Especially when the bore sizes aren't the same.


I have a bunch of .432 Montana Bullet Works 260gr WFNGCs (look just like your picture). Loaded over H110 w/CCI 350s, these are some of the most accurate loads in all my M69s. https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/44-mag-lbt-260gr-wfn-gc/

FWIW,

Paul

[Paul105]

Too many hot heavy loads like that would shake a Smith loose. The other guns mentioned are much stronger.

Agreed, wouldn't shoot a lot of these, but if 300gr needed, a few should be ok especially in the newer S&Ws.

Paul

[sandog]

Good to know about the .432's in the 69, Paul. I haven't got around to measuring the bore in the S&W but assume it's going to be .429".
It shoots good with both of the WFNGC weights that are .430".
Good to see you over here on this forum too.

[375supermag]

Hi...
The heaviest bullet I shoot in my .44Magnum revolvers are 300gr Hornady HP/XTPs.
Shoot a lot of them in my Dan Wesson and both of my Ruger SuperBlackHawks.
I don't shoot them in my Virginian Dragoons or my Model 29. I reserve those for 240gr bullets, cast and jacketed.