loading .44 mag.

[MikeG]

I have been loading for about 5 years now. I have loaded all the popular pistol bulletts but I have never loaded any magnum loads. I am in the process of getting ready to load .44 cal magnum loads for my S&W 29-2. I was wondering if there are any tricks or information I should be aware of other than what is printed in the reloading books for .44 mags. I want to load something that will put me around 1150 fps. I plan on useing either Hodgdon Universal or Hodgdon Titegroup and useing a 240 grain JHP. Thank you for any info you can supply.

[Clayt]

I know this tread is 5+ months old, but I'd say HEAVY TIGHT CRIMP every load. I've found the most consistent 44 loads that way.

~Clayt

[RiverRider]

A good crimp is a great idea! In my mind there's nothing special about the .44 Mag, at least nothing that makes it much different than the .357 or .41 Mags when it comes to loading. I picked up a Lyman 429421 mold a couple of weeks ago. I'm planning on using some Scot 4100 to push these, since I have eight pounds of it on hand. The 4100 is supposed to be the same thing as discontinued Accurate 4100 and Ramshot Enforcer. I expect great things from this combo. Only thing holding me back is having time to get out there and do some casting. Gotta cast, gotta cast, gotta do the fandango!

[sedstar]

an older reloading manual i own, had an article that demonstrated with everythng else being equal (same brass, same powder, same powder charge, etc etc) that with the ONLY CHANGE being amount of crimp used?

that MORE CRIMP made for MORE CONSISTENT "almost everything", IE, more consistent speed, accuracy, etc etc.

so, with all revolver rounds? i set for heavy crimp.

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when i first bought my 44 revolver? i asked about possible loads, and th older gun shop owner said "10 to 11 grains of UNIQUE, under 240-245 grain lead pills...".

I tried it? worked up to 11.0... and was happy.

its not the highest velocity rip snorting hunting load, but, its not a bunny fart load by any means.

it works well enough? i never investigated any other loads... but i readily admit? i dont have any STRINGENT accuracy requirements of handguns, nor do i put them over a chrony to be sure i have th highest velocity for hunting.

THAT said? if i wanted to try to plug a whitetail at 25 yards with a handgun? thats what i would first try...

[LAH]

Crimp is good but bullet/case tension is also. 10 grains of Unique or 20 grains of 2400 with the Lyman 429421 works. The 29-2 will shoot apart if you use the big loads by the thousands. If you are bulk shooting 8-9 grains of Unique or 18 grains of 2400 with the same bullet.

Nothing wrong with other powders I've used 23 grains of H110/WW296 for a big load & HP38/WW231 or Bullseye will work just fine for lighter stuff.

[RiverRider]

Howdy creeker. Its been a while.

You know what...I've still got about 2000 cast bullets for .45 Auto I bought from you about ten years ago. I need to do some shooting!!

[kodiak1]

I have always used 2400 in my mags. That is what I used when I first started doing this 40+ years ago and I hate change when something works for me.

[Clayt]

Ken,
What do you use for primers with 2400?
I've found standard, non-magnum primers gave me the most consistent results with 2400.

Nice to see you here Creeker!

[kodiak1]

CCI or Winchester.

Ken.

[Clayt]

Magnums or regular?