Light bullet .44 Mag.

[NHlever]

Looking for some suggestions here. I have a 5 1/2" Super Blackhawk .44 Mag. that I bought used. The chamber throats are on the large side at .432+, and the bore is about .430. It shoots my favorite 240-250 grain boolits well, and I've tried the Lyman 429421, and 429244 as well as the RCBS 245 swc. The problem is that it shoots them all 4", or so high at 25 yards with the rear sight bottomed. Putting a taller front sight on would cure the problem, but on this blued gun it is a bit of a pain. So, I bought the Lyman 429215, and the Lee 44-200 RNFP molds, and have some boolits cast from 1-15 alloy. Both will just clean up in the sizer die that I opened up to just under .433, and the boolits fit my chamber throats snugly. Now, the question is what load? I tried a couple of sample loads with W-231, and Titegroup since I just wanted to see if they would print low enough to have some sight adjustment, and they do. Anyone have some favorite loads with these boolits? I am also considering putting a red dot sight on the gun, but haven't yet. I did try a loaner 4X pistol scope, and didn't like it........ on this gun anyway.

[GabbyM]

10 grains of 231with either of those bullets. If you're looking for more velocity Power Pistol will give you that and should be fast enough to keep the groups within your sight range.

The Lyman 49th book list their 44 mag accuracy load for the #429215 as 9.3 grains of WW231 at 914fps . It's also the start load with that powder. Lyman data is with 4" barrel.

[Rodfac]

I like 231 a lot...meters well in my Dillon's and I've yet to find a hand gun caliber that it doesn't like.

In my Ruger 50th .44 Magnum BH and S&W M-24, the following loads are keepers: The gps & velocity listed are from the Ruger.

7.1 gr of 231 in W-W brass, Win LP caps, Lyman's 429215 gc (220 gr when cast from WW) sized .432" = 1.25" gps @ 25 yds.

8.1 gr of 231 bullet sized .430", case, caps and gun = 1043 fps chrono'd and 3/4" gps @ 25 yds

8.7 gr of 231, same as above but no chrono data = 1.25" gps @ 25 yds.

By way of comparison, 240 gr SWC's print about 2" higher at 25 yds with similar velocities in this gun. If you get desperate, a tighter grip may pull those heavy bullet gps down a bit.

HTH's Rodfac

[dubber123]

If you take a look at the factory rear sight, you will see where it hits when bottomed. File these areas away, and it will drop down over the frame a surprising amount, and the modification can't be seen when done. My brothers 5.5" SB shoots point of aim with 300 grain boolits after this.

[NHlever]

9.3 grains of 231 was the load I tried since I've had good luck with Lyman's accuracy loads in the past. It did shoot pretty well. Thanks Rodfac for the other suggestions, and you can bet that I will try them. I hadn't thought about filing more clearance for the rear sight, and that is a good plan along with altering my grip some. I've had problems with single actions shooting high for me in the past couple of years, and I hadn't thought about how my grip on the gun might have changed. ( I've been on chemo most of that time, and am a bit weaker these days, but still going strong)I did put the steel grip frame back on the gun the other day, and installed a set of Pachmayer grips so that might influence this too....... though I didn't think of it at the time. :D

[fecmech]

Two loads that shoot very well for me are the Lee 200 swc (very similar to your Lyman) are either 7 grs of 231 or 7 grs of Green Dot. Velocity is in the mid 900 fps range.

[Shuz]

I've been using 18.0g of 2400 with both the Lee 200RNFP and the 429215 in a .44 mag and I'm about to try 18.5g of 2400 based on some testing done by a member of this board with his Oehler Ballistic Laboratory set up. His tests showed that 18.5g looks like a better choice.
We'll see!

[44man]

A .44 mag is a .44 mag, not a .44 special so sights are regulated for .44 mag loads. If you want to shoot light loads and the front sight is screwed on, just buy a higher front sight from Ruger, dirt cheap. If the sight is soldered on you need to speed up the 240 - 250 gr boolits.
Going to lighter boolits might take away accuracy but is another way to shoot to the sights.
Another thing to try is to hold the gun tighter and not let it "roll."

[NHlever]

A .44 mag is a .44 mag, not a .44 special so sights are regulated for .44 mag loads. If you want to shoot light loads and the front sight is screwed on, just buy a higher front sight from Ruger, dirt cheap. If the sight is soldered on you need to speed up the 240 - 250 gr boolits.
Going to lighter boolits might take away accuracy but is another way to shoot to the sights.
Another thing to try is to hold the gun tighter and not let it "roll."

I was shooting the various 240ish (429421, 429244, and the 44-245 KT) over 23 grains of H-110. I could go a bit higher I guess but that works so well in my other guns, I was giving it a try. That load with those boolits shoots about 8" high at 50 yards with the sight bottomed. Could be my grip isn't firm enough. I just put the grips you use, and a red dot on the gun, and will give that a try too. Of course that will solve the problem if I can get used to it being there.

[dubber123]

Or you could just fix the rear sight.... It's NOT hard. EDIT: Thats what I get for skimming. I didn't see where you were considering the sight mod. I have been down this road with Ruger shooters before, and nobody seems to want to work on the sight. I jumped to the same conclusion, and now I look like a jerk.. Again... I'll get used to it eventually.