.44mag loads

DARKARCHER

DARKARCHER

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im just gettin ready to roll some up im looking for a load/primer that wil be good for both a smith 629 with a 5 in barrel and a deasert eagle ...i figure someone must of the info i need :cool:
to add i have 500 ..240 gr jhps to use
 
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something funny about your post- unless i'm mistaken, the 686 is a 357 mag, the desert eagle could be a 357, you're asking about 44 mag loads and using a 240 grain bullet, which is a standard 44 mag bullet- the heaviest 357 bullet i've seen is 220 grains
 
now the question is do you want to go mild or wild?
as i see it, you need to load for the eagle, as the 629 will take anything you care to load, from target hunting- with the eagle you have to generate enough to get the slide to move properly- chances are, when you get a load that works in the eagle, it'll do just fine in the 629- all that being said, get out your reloading manual or start diggin here on the web- the 240 jhp is a pretty standard 44 mag bullet
 
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i was guessin someone would have a tried a ture load already ..instead of just pickin one out of the books ..i know i have to workthem up.. just a good powder primer combo to look at say...10.7 grs of unique cci 300 ?
 
can't advise you on that save what the old speer #11 says -11.6 to 12.6 - personally, can't stand the stuff- far too much smoke and residue-
 
I have loaded .44 Magnum for both the S&W M29 and the Desert Eagle, using both Unique and WW-296 powders and 220 gr jacketed and 240 gr jacketed bullets.
I have used up to 11.8 gr Unique with the 240 gr bullets which functioned the DE fine, and the DE is heavy enough to dampen the felt recoil. Unique is a relatively quick burning powder and this load produced a sharp recoil impulse in the lighter M29.
WW-296 is a considerably slower burning powder, better suited to large magnum handgun loads. I have used up to 25.7 gr of WW-296 with a 220 gr bullet in the DE. In the M29 I have used up to 25.0 gr of WW-296 with the 220 gr bullet, lots of recoil, but it is not as sharp compared to Unique. Invest in a pound of WW-296 (or H110) and experience the difference compared to Unique for yourself. A healthy (but not ferocious) load with the 240 gr bullet would be 22 gr of WW-296.
An economical and civilized load using the 240 gr. bullet and Unique would be 9 to 10 gr with a standard primer. Magnum primers are not necessary when using Unique as it is one of the more easily igniteable powders.
 
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Quote---- A healthy (but not ferocious) load with the 240 gr bullet would be 22 gr of WW-296.

I agree completely. However, these threads are full of reloaders who will scream at you that Winchester says not to reduce their 296 powder, and they show 24 grains as the one and only load, with a 240 grain bullet.
I've used quite a bit of H110, which they tell us is the same powder, and I have found good acccuracy down to about 19 grains, with that bullet in the 44 mag.
 
22 grains of 2400 under a 240gr head ,and old Elmer Keith load that works well although its higher than most manuals say to use, have used it in my old Super RedHawk without problems and found it shot very well with consistant good scoring
 
rtaylor1956 said:
22 grains of 2400 under a 240gr head ,and old Elmer Keith load that works well although its higher than most manuals say to use, have used it in my old Super RedHawk without problems and found it shot very well with consistant good scoring
Click to expand...

I have owned five 44 magnum revolvers, 2 S&W and three Rugers, plus two Marlin rifles in 44 mag, and I have used Elmer Keiths load of 22 grains of 2400 in every one of them.
My poured bullets (Keith design) usually weighed a bit more than 240 grains. I also used H110, or sometimes W296. 24 to 25 grains of H110, or 296, gave nearly identical chronograph velocities as did 22 of the old Hercules 2400. I always thought the 2400 gave a hair more pressure than did the other two, but no way to prove it, and everything worked fine in every gun.
 
A nice load for both the Desert Chicken and wheel gun would be 23-24gr of H110 behind that bullet. The Chicken needs the big load and heavy bullet to cycle properly. They don't even like factory commercial ammo so you have to play with different brands or in this case, different loads, until you find one it likes.

Speaking of which.... anybody got a nice target load for wheel guns? I got my Big Bubba's for the Chicken and for fun with the wheel gun. Just want a good starting point as the book says 4.7 to 10gr of Titegroup. Awful big range there...

Oops... 245gr Keith LSWC for the wheel gun for target shooting.
 
I would recommend using magnum primers, though I agree with those who say it doesn't make that big a difference in the end. Also, a heavy roll crimp is in order to ensure maximum powder ignition.
 
I have a 629 wth a 8 3/8 inch barrel. I use UNIQUE for my practice loads, at about 7.2 for a lead 240. I've been using Unique for about 15 years, becasue I never had a problem with it. Always reliable, can use it in many calibers and, it's juat a bit dirty

I also reccomend if you're using lead to go and buy yourself a foul out electronic barrel cleaner. You'd be surprised at what'll come out of your barrel.

I'm going to bulid up some Frontier .44 Mag 240's next. Annybody got a good load for those plated bullets? Will those CMJ's come apat at high speed? Did I waste my money, when I should have gone with JSP's?
 
Frontier's work just fine with 24gr of H110. Haven't tried doing an over-max load with them.

You can use Magnum primers but started using regular LP primers (Win & CCI) when I ran out and they light the H110 just fine. Now I don't bother buying the Magnum primers any more.

The SP primers work good with H110 in .357Mag, too.

Haven't tried Bluedot in .44Mag but didn't like it with .357Mag. Was extremely dirty and didn't like how it flashed out of the cylinder/cone gap. Used the last of my Bluedot for 9mm with great results but since other powders use half of what you need for Bluedot...
 
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