Load 44 special in 44 mag case

[RedPaint]

Sounds like I can do it as long as I use a powder that is good with not taking up the entire case. Any thoughts on the matter?

[racepres]

Only powder I know of that will take up alot of volume, is Trail Boss..
Note that 44 special loadings will be very mild indeed, in 44 mag cases.. won't hurt anything tho... unless you go so light that you stick a bullet.
If your experience level dictates that you ask such things... you may be a candidate to start at the book loads..

[waksupi]

I use 17.5 gr. 2400, that Elmer used to use. Works fine for me.

[RedPaint]

Yes, very new. Having a “blast” loading 44 mag rounds but want some easier rounds for my wife to shoot.

[racepres]

Yes, very new. Having a “blast” loading 44 mag rounds but want some easier rounds for my wife to shoot.

Welp... lets start with... What Boolit...and What Powder you have...
Light loads can be...Easy.

[RedPaint]

From Missouri bullet
44 Elmer K - Hi-Tek
.430 Diameter
.44 Magnum
240 Grain SWC
Brinell 18
Bullet OAL .747 +/-
Keith-style, but with bevel-base
for reloading ease
Hi-Tek 2-Extreme Coating
I only have H110 and magnum primers. I know I’ll need a new powder and large pistol primers.

[mdi]

BTDT; many, many times. Two thoughts; don't use extra light Special loads loads in Magnum brass, rare possibility of bullets stuck in barrels. Remember the manual listed Special loads will be higher velocities than what you will see with the load in Magnum brass (larger case capacity, lower pressures)...

[RedPaint]

Can also get a different bullet

[44MAG#1]

I use a 250 "Keith" notice the quotation marks, seated in 44 Magnum cases to the same OAL as 44 Special and crimped over the front drive band and 7.5 grains of Unique works fine.
8.3 to 8.5 grains of Power Pistol is roughly the same.
A lighter load is 5.5 grains W231/HP-38 or 5.2 of Bullseye.

[justindad]

You are going to want a different powder. A chrono will help you ensure that you don’t go too light. 800fps should be more than enough to ensure the bullets always leave the barrel, but also be light on recoil.
*
What gun are you using? A 2” snubby isn’t great for low recoil.

[racepres]

That boolit seems plenty hard.. For light loads, I like a bit larger diameter, and softer... those do Not go together... so Shop around.
for light loads.. 240 gr boolits is OK... But 200 is Lighter.
The softest shooting Powder, for me, is Trail Boss...hands down... very mild.
I prefer Red Dot.. just for economy, and that Bit sharper..
Can Never go Wrong with Unique... Ever!!
That H-110 with those Harder Boolits, will be great for full power loadings...

[RedPaint]

5.5 inch ruger red hawk

[Charliemac]

Titegroup works well for me. I load a 185gr. WC with 5 - 6grs. for easy shooting.

[P Flados]

I have loaded many thousands of mid range loads for magnum pistol rounds.

I recommend you get something faster than Unique for this application. You will get cleaner burning, you will use less powder per round and you should not have any ignition issues with the faster stuff. Right now, the ball powders seem to be more available and less overpriced than flake or most extruded powders. For a fast burning pistol powder, you should be able to find something like AA-2, HP-38/Win 231 or Titegroup.

A lighter bullet is also a good idea.

However, most load data sources do not provide light bullet mid range power 44 mag load data.

To get 44 Special performance from a 44 Magnum case requires more powder due to the longer case. I used Quickload to estimate that it takes about 0.5 gr more to get the same velocity.



C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !


Cartridge : .44 S&W Special (SAAMI)
Bullet : .429, 225, 432-224-SWC PB BW2
Seating depth : .320 inch
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.478 inch = 37.54 mm
Barrel Length : 7.3 inch = 184.2 mm

Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Accurate No.5 38.8 8.6 0.56 993 91.0 13562 3050 0.990
Alliant BULLSEYE 42.5 6.1 0.39 961 99.7 13562 2556 0.996
Accurate No.2 47.3 6.7 0.44 948 98.4 13562 2491 1.000
Winchester 231 / HP-38 38.6 6.3 0.41 920 100.0 13562 2095 1.017
Hodgdon TiteGroup 30.8 5.4 0.35 875 100.0 13562 1761 1.037




Cartridge : .44 Rem. Mag. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .429, 225, 432-224-SWC PB BW2
Seating depth : .320 inch
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.600 inch = 40.64 mm
Barrel Length : 7.3 inch = 184.2 mm

Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------

Accurate No.5 34.8 9.2 0.60 991 91.1 12500 3354 1.018
Alliant BULLSEYE 38.0 6.5 0.42 959 99.7 12500 2806 1.022
Accurate No.2 42.6 7.2 0.47 949 98.5 12500 2760 1.025
Winchester 231 / HP-38 34.5 6.7 0.43 919 100.0 12500 2311 1.043
Hodgdon TiteGroup 27.6 5.8 0.37 875 100.0 12500 1947 1.061

[justindad]

I’m sure it goes without saying, but make sure you shoot at least 50 of those light loads before she does.
*
As heavy as your gun is, you might be able to stay within normal .44Mag loading, just pick the lowest book velocity with the lightest bullet. No risk of a learning event there. Or start there, and work a load down until you think she can handle it.

[44MAG#1]

Here is an example of the Skelton load in 44 Mag cases seated to the same bullet base depth as the 44 Special using a Lyman 429421 as a guide.
Smith and Wesson M69 2.75 inch 872 fps. A 4.2 inch M69 938 fps.
5.5 HP-38 in the M69 2.75 inch 719 fps.
5.2 Bullseye M69 2.75 inch 734 fps. 4.2 inch 782 fps.

[Larry Gibson]

Yes, very new. Having a “blast” loading 44 mag rounds but want some easier rounds for my wife to shoot.

If you can get Red Dot, Bullseye, 700X or a similar fast burning powder and load 6 gr in 44 Magnum cases under those 240 gr bullets. That will pretty much duplicate a classic factory 44 SPL load. Also, if those bullets cause any leading problems a light coat of LLA that's dried thoroughly will cure the problem.

[HWooldridge]

I’m a big fan of 231 in light loads. 5.5 to 6.5 grs is just about right with a Keith style, could even go to 7.0 grs in a 44 mag.

[farmbif]

as well as winchester 231 is a good candidate for what OP is after and mid south currently has lots of it in stock and since it is a ball powder those mag primers you have will go to good use.

[44MAG#1]

Oh yes, with the 2.75 inch M69 Smith 4.6 of Bullseye ran 695 fps with a deep seated 250 "Keith" again in quotation marks.

[MakeMineA10mm]

Sounds like I can do it as long as I use a powder that is good with not taking up the entire case. Any thoughts on the matter?

It’s actually the opposite. Special book loads are virtually all lighter loads than starting magnum loads. What you want to avoid is loads so light that there’s so much “sloshing-around” room that the powder ignites inconsistently or sometimes squibs.

For what you are trying to do for moderate loads for your wife, a medium to light bullet (220-240grs) with a medium-weight charge of medium to slightly fast shotgun powder (Unique, Herco, HS-6) or a medium-fast pistol powder (AA#5, W231) will work great.

I personally load 7.5grs W231 with 250gr SWCs for “target/rabbit” loads. For “mouse-fart” loads, I use 44 Special brass with 5.6grs W231 and a 225gr RNFP group-buy bullet from years ago here.

[Sasquatch-1]

I use a 250 "Keith" notice the quotation marks, seated in 44 Magnum cases to the same OAL and crimped over the front drive band and 7.5 grains of Unique works fine.


I also use a similar load to this. I shoot 2x4 matches and can shoot up to 50 rounds in a minute or two. Very light load and gives good accuracy.

If you are using a light load and are worried about too little powder, you can always use a filler like Polyfil to keep the powder against the primer.

[44MAG#1]

I noticed in the quote that sasquatch-1 quoted on me that I had failed to say I deep seat the 250 "Keith", notice the quotation marks, to the same OAL length as the 44 Special.
I neglected to say 44 Special in that post.
I then crimp over the front band.
Works well in the 44 Magnum using 44 Magnum cases at 44 Special OAL.
Especially with Skelton's 44 Special load.

[racepres]

I noticed in the quote that sasquatch-1 quoted on me that I had failed to say I deep seat the 250 "Keith", notice the quotation marks, to the same OAL length as the 44 Special.
I neglected to say 44 Special in that post.
I then crimp over the front band.
Works well in the 44 Magnum using 44 Magnum cases at 44 Special OAL.
Especially with Skelton's 44 Special load.

Great...since 44 Spl Brass is Plutonium here...and 44Mag is literally everywhere!!

[RedPaint]

Great info thanks. So I can use mag primers with 231? That would help as I have thousands.

[405grain]

There are two things that should be pointed out. First, H110 is a magnum powder that works well when the case is nearly full. It is not suitable for reduced loads, as a partial case load of this slower burning pistol powder will have inconsistent ignition. It is much better to use faster burning pistol powders for reduced 44 mag loads. Though Unique works really well, HS-6 is my favorite choice for reduced loads in 44 mag.

Second: factory cast bullets are usually made from a hard alloy. They do this to prevent dents and damage during shipping. For a cast bullet to work properly it needs to obterate (basically expand as pressure forces it down the barrel), and seal the bore. For this to happen, the hardness of the cast bullet needs to be somewhat matched with the pressure/velocity that it's being shot at. If a bullet is too hard it won't expand enough and the high pressure gas from the burning powder can blow past the bullet as it goes down the barrel. When this happens, the hot & high pressure gas will vaporize lead off the surface of the bullet. When this lead vapor cools it will condense and begin plating the interior of the barrel. When this "leading" forms in the barrel it will quickly start galling and stripping even more lead off of subsequent bullets, making the leading worse and ruining potential accuracy. If you get barrel leading from shooting hard cast bullets with reduced loads use the search function on this site to find posts on how to remove it. ( I like the copper Choir Boy method)

As a newbie, your going to need lots of information so that casting and shooting will be more enjoyable. I suggest that you get a copy of the 4th edition Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. In the meantime, download the book "From Ingot to Target". The pdf is available here: http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_textonly2.pdf You'll find lots of support on this site so don't be afraid to ask questions.

[44MAG#1]

What I would STRONGLY suggest is to try the bullets you have first before going ape over hardness, size, coated or lubes etc. etc. etc. etc. etc..
Then IF you have problems take it ONE STEP at a time and change ONLY that step to see if it is the problem. If it is then correct it. If not pick another step and check it out.
Don't go ape all at once.
Take it cool headed. You will be ahead of the game.

[RedPaint]

Sounds good thanks!

[RedPaint]

as well as winchester 231 is a good candidate for what OP is after and mid south currently has lots of it in stock and since it is a ball powder those mag primers you have will go to good use.

So I can use magnum primers with Winchester 231?

[44MAG#1]

I would not be afraid to use magnum primers with lighter charges of W231/HP-38 at all.

[HWooldridge]

So I can use magnum primers with Winchester 231?

Won't hurt anything - just overkill because 231 is easy to light.