Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

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kmittleman
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by kmittleman »

Hey Guys,


I broke down and ordered a Ruger Bisley Hunter........no thanks to you! :D Also, I ordered some hardcast 200gr bullets and picked up some Unique. My question is what are some decent loads for hunting and plinking without too much recoil? I plan on using the 200gr for cowboy loads and may buy some 240gr for deer. Any powder/load suggestions?

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Rusty
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by Rusty »

Skeeter Skelton's classic load was 11 grains of Unique with a 240 gr LSWC in a .44 mag case.

You'll like the Bisley grip it will handle recoil better IMHO.
Last edited by Rusty on Sun May 22, 2011 10:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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pokey
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by pokey »

Rusty wrote:Skeeter Skelton's classic load was 11 grains of Unique with a 240 gr LSWC.

You'll like the Bisley grip it will handle recoil better IMHO.
+1 can't go wrong there. :wink:
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by Terry Murbach »

[quote="Rusty"]Skeeter Skelton's classic load was 11 grains of Unique with a 240 gr LSWC.

I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A TOTALLY INACCURATE QUOTATION FROM SKEETER SKELTON AND CAN FIND NO-WHERE THIS LOAD IS NOTED BY HIM. HE DID WRITE IN THE REFERENCES I CHECKED THAT IN THE 44MAG CARTRIDGE HE LIKED 21.0gr OF 2400 PUSHING THE LYMAN/KEITH 429421 BULLET AROUND 1300fps

FURTHERMORE..............QUOTING A LOAD OF OF 11.Ogr OF UNIQUE WITHOUT DESIGNATING THE EXACT CARTRIDGE BORDERS ON THE IRRESPONSIBLE PARTICULARLY WHEN THE ORIGINAL POSTING HERE NOTED TWO DIFFERENT CARTRIDGES, THE 44spl AND THE 44MAG.
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earlmck
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by earlmck »

Unique is a good powder for what you want to do. You might try about 6.5 grains with that 200 grain bullet for a pleasant cowboy load. Maybe 8 grains with the 240 for a heavier load (44 spl) . If you want more power for a deer load you'll do better with the 2400 powder with the 44 mag case.
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by Rusty »

You're right Terry I edited that to make it correct.

You would also know better than anyone about anything having to do with Skeeter, but I thought I read that was his favorite load.


Terry, was it Skeeter that that started a trend of a lot of people having S&W M28's over to .44 Special? I know years ago DA .44's were hard to come by.
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by SFRanger7GP »

I simplified my 44 loads a few years ago. In a 44 mag I shoot a 250KT or a 240 JKT bullet over 18.5gr 2400. If I want to plink, I shoot the only 44 special load I have used for the last 20 years: 7.5gr Unique with a 250KT bullet on top. I have killed more game with the special load than the mag load. Those 2 loads will do everything I need.
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by piller »

For the heavy loads in a .44 Magnum, 2400 is a good powder. So are the H110/WW296 powder twins. For lighter loads, Red Dot shotgun powder from Alliant works well. It gives good accuracy with mild recoil.

I know there are others here with more powders they like. Give some of the powders a try and see what your gun likes. The fun is unbeatable, and when you find the recipe your pistol likes, it is the icing on the cake.
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bj94
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by bj94 »

Congratulations on the Ruger. If you handload that is a very versatile caliber, and easy to load for.

There are so many loads that can be used that it is somewhat pointless for each of us to post loads. Pick up your favorite loading manual, pick your favorite powder, pick what power level you want, and go for it. For my use I tended to use light, medium and heavy loads, all with bullets in the 240 grain range.
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claybob86
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by claybob86 »

SFRanger7GP wrote:I simplified my 44 loads a few years ago. In a 44 mag I shoot a 250KT or a 240 JKT bullet over 18.5gr 2400. If I want to plink, I shoot the only 44 special load I have used for the last 20 years: 7.5gr Unique with a 250KT bullet on top. I have killed more game with the special load than the mag load. Those 2 loads will do everything I need.
Pretty much the same here. 18.5 gr. 2400 with 240 grn. jacketed and 8.5 gr. Unique with 240 gr. cast in a mag. case for a .44 special type load have worked well for me.
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txpete
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Re: .44mag / .44sp loads

Post by txpete »

I have boiled down my 44 shooting to these loads.

44 mag

lyman 429421 sized .430 for my ruger flat top .429 for my S&W 29 classic.

16.5 grs 2400 win brass win lp primer.very accurate load.I gave some to a friend and he shot a doe at 70 yards and it went straight down.bullet wasn't recovered :D

target/plinking

same bullet with 6.3 grs red dot or 8.0 grs unique

44 special
lee 208 gr WC..430 ruger/.429 S&W 29 classic

4.5 grs titegroup
brass rem/win
win lp primer

pete
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