I have looked at the reload sticky on this forum and I do not have any of the powders listed except for the 5 gr load of titegroup. Has anyone have a recipie for other powders that are not listed there? I have found the titegroup load to be kind of weak??? or so it seems.
200 gr cast lead 44mag
- Thread starter 577/450
- Start date
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have had very good results with 6 or 6.4 grains of Red Dot powder under a PB 240 grain cast.
This (6.4) is considered a stiff load for 44 Special.
Be prepared for alot of cleaning though.........
This (6.4) is considered a stiff load for 44 Special.
Be prepared for alot of cleaning though.........
As with all loading projects, the first question is what are planning to do? Or, what do you want your load to do?
You can go with one suggestion and load it to factory like specifications, with its attendant recoil. Your bullet, alloy and diameter will all be extra critical.
Or you can go to the lighter end. You have already said that the Titegroup load was wimpy, so appear to be looking for something a bit more. I would second the Red Dot load as that will give you something around 800-900 fps. I use a similar load for lead 240 grain cast bullets. It will probably be very accurate and pleasant to shoot. Leading should not be a problem.
You can go with one suggestion and load it to factory like specifications, with its attendant recoil. Your bullet, alloy and diameter will all be extra critical.
Or you can go to the lighter end. You have already said that the Titegroup load was wimpy, so appear to be looking for something a bit more. I would second the Red Dot load as that will give you something around 800-900 fps. I use a similar load for lead 240 grain cast bullets. It will probably be very accurate and pleasant to shoot. Leading should not be a problem.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
Don't quote me on it but isn't the max load for titegroup about 10 gr for 240gr jacketed bullets?
I know I've used up to about 8gr of titegroup with some of my hard cast 240gr lead bullets with pretty good results. Your mileage may vary depending on the lube and the hardness of the bullets that you have but it should be worth a try.
That said I like the 5gr load and just finished putting together 400 rounds of that very thing. For real Magnum power you are better off to get the slower burning and case filling powders that people are mentioning. I'm going to try Lil'gun one of these days when I get around to buying some jacketed slugs.
I know I've used up to about 8gr of titegroup with some of my hard cast 240gr lead bullets with pretty good results. Your mileage may vary depending on the lube and the hardness of the bullets that you have but it should be worth a try.
That said I like the 5gr load and just finished putting together 400 rounds of that very thing. For real Magnum power you are better off to get the slower burning and case filling powders that people are mentioning. I'm going to try Lil'gun one of these days when I get around to buying some jacketed slugs.
I took it he wanted a stiff load, that is why I gave, what should not be a full load, but quite stiff. He can load light with any number of fast burning powders. But, Like Ben suggested, there is inherent danger in using fast powder in the 44 mag, unless you use the bulky stuff, which I never have used.
Not only is there the danger of a double charge, but a bit too much fast powder can really raise the pressure. However, I found W231, a fast powder, very accurate at a large range of loads, as long as they are below about 10, or eleven grains. A top pressure load is still far short of the velocity a 44 mag is capable of.
That is why I like the two classics, 2400 and H110/W296. In spite of what Winchester says about their 296, I have loaded H110 down from max loads of 24 or 25 grains, with about a 250 grain cast bullet. I found it still accurate at 20 grains, and a much reduced recoil.
22 of 2400 is full up. I found it still accurate down to about 18 grains. Much below that and it left unburned powder, so was obviously not efficient or accurte.
Not only is there the danger of a double charge, but a bit too much fast powder can really raise the pressure. However, I found W231, a fast powder, very accurate at a large range of loads, as long as they are below about 10, or eleven grains. A top pressure load is still far short of the velocity a 44 mag is capable of.
That is why I like the two classics, 2400 and H110/W296. In spite of what Winchester says about their 296, I have loaded H110 down from max loads of 24 or 25 grains, with about a 250 grain cast bullet. I found it still accurate at 20 grains, and a much reduced recoil.
22 of 2400 is full up. I found it still accurate down to about 18 grains. Much below that and it left unburned powder, so was obviously not efficient or accurte.
I love 8 Grn of Unique, it is about mid way on the scale and very accurate with my 240 gn or 200 gn bullets. 2400 is a great powder also as was suggested. Never found trail boss accurate in anything that I shoot, tried it in .45lc, .44 mag, .38 spl and even 30-30 and all of these were more accurate with Unique. My 2 cents.
Titegroup works great in 44 if you want a light target load. I use 5.6gr with a 245gr cast bullet, so your 5gr is somewhere close. Load up a few at different loads until you find one that groups the best.
Then go out and get some H110 and load up some "FUN" loads, too.
Then go out and get some H110 and load up some "FUN" loads, too.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Not that it really matters all that much but are you shooting it in a rifle or handgun? I use a 200gr cast bullet in my old 1894 Marlin 44-40 but I've never loaded it for either of my 44 Mag. handguns. I did a quick check in Lyman and RCBS cast bullet handbooks and both have a selection of 'mild & warm' loads listed for the 44 Mag. If you're stuck for info, PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you a scan of it.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
x2 with the Unique.
8.0 grains of Unique with a 200 hard cast gives a nice load, very comfortable in my Model 29 for target shooting. Same load was a popular 44 Special load.
11.0 grains of Unique is a fairly stout load for the 44 Mag.
For full-tilt, H110 or W296 is hard to beat. I prefer the W296.
8.0 grains of Unique with a 200 hard cast gives a nice load, very comfortable in my Model 29 for target shooting. Same load was a popular 44 Special load.
11.0 grains of Unique is a fairly stout load for the 44 Mag.
For full-tilt, H110 or W296 is hard to beat. I prefer the W296.
H110 and W296 are the same thing, made by the same factory. The only difference is the label on the container. If you look on the Hodgdon website, the load data is identical for the two.
The same situation also exists with HP-38 and W231.
The same situation also exists with HP-38 and W231.
