.44 lowest powder charge
- Thread starter mp5k
- Start date
Starting levels are starting levels for a reason. If you want a real light load be extremely prudent to make sure the bullet left the barrel. The only KB I ever saw was from some guy trying out very light loads in a .35 Whelen.
I for one think the stories of low powder charges "detonating" are just shooters not want to admit they ####ed up and double charged. I have heard of this phenomena in very large guns (20mm and up) but nothing verifiable in my time spent researching. Load as low as you like, just be prudent
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Cast or Jacketed bullet loads ?
Cast bullets can be slowed down alot more......Jackets need abit more oomph to clear the bore
No, there is nothing wrong with giving light loads. As has been mentioned by a few, just be sure with a very light load that the bullet gets out the barrel.
I looked at the Winchester booklet and it didn't go as low with 231 as I had thought. The lowest they gave six six grains, for 800 FPS. This would be a lot faster than the the load Ganderite gave, 5 grains of unique.
Just experiment with the fast powders, like 231, which is very similar to Bullseye, Unique, etc. You will likely be surprised at how little it takes to drive a cast bullet fast enough to go through quite a lot of magazines, as a backstop.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
I've gone down to 3gr of Titegroup in my .44 pistol (I think starting is listed at about 5gr). It was like shooting a .22. Could probably have gone lower yet as I've heard of people going down to almost 1gr in a .38.
As a side note, years ago one black powder shoot had a contest to see if it was possible to shoot a rifle so that the ball would go in one side of a soup can but not out the other. Turned out the right load was about one tiny heap that fit on the end of the ramrod tip - probably under 2gr. in a 45 or 50 with a barrel over 28 inches long.
As a side note, years ago one black powder shoot had a contest to see if it was possible to shoot a rifle so that the ball would go in one side of a soup can but not out the other. Turned out the right load was about one tiny heap that fit on the end of the ramrod tip - probably under 2gr. in a 45 or 50 with a barrel over 28 inches long.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
For a light load, I don't do so with jacketed bullets as it seems like a waste of time in my opinion. With cast bullets, in 240 gr - 250gr range, I go by 'Uncle Elmer'. "5gr of Bullseye for light gallery loads" and "8.5gr of Unique for target".
. "5gr of Bullseye for light gallery loads" and "8.5gr of Unique for target".Johnn, my chronograph is finally in the mail! I will probably load some super light loads in the 44 Marlin rifle and chrono them, just to see how light I can go and what speed.
I should have mentioned, for anyone doing this, before you start, get a wooden dowel to take to the range with you. Easy with a bore the size of a 44, because the common size 3/8 inch is just right. Any building supply store, or Canadian Tire, have them. If a bullet sticks, just use your dowel to tap the bullet back out. With the cast bullets you are using, there is nothing to it.
I should have mentioned, for anyone doing this, before you start, get a wooden dowel to take to the range with you. Easy with a bore the size of a 44, because the common size 3/8 inch is just right. Any building supply store, or Canadian Tire, have them. If a bullet sticks, just use your dowel to tap the bullet back out. With the cast bullets you are using, there is nothing to it.
For a light load, I don't do so with jacketed bullets as it seems like a waste of time in my opinion. With cast bullets, in 240 gr - 250gr range, I go by 'Uncle Elmer'
Is that with 44 sp or 44 Mag
If it the Mag do you use a filler ( Dacron )
New a guy who used light loads of Unique in a 45-70 with a filler (TP) in a Marlin
It was like shooting a 22
First time I saw/heard it I thought it was a squib
I think he used 14 gr Unique
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Something wrong here! The case will probably hold over TWENTY-FIVE grains of 231 powder.
And this is the great hazard of using small amounts of a very fast powder. Be super careful not to accidently put in too much powder. With a 250 grain cast bullet, a maximum load of 231 in a 44 mag is about eleven grains.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
- It's with 44 Magnum and no, I don't use a filler. I tried it with a few tests and in that size case I never found it to make a significant difference.
- In some of my light cast bullet loads in the 45-70 and 444 Marlin, yes, I do use a filler, a 'Foam backer Rod' product called 'Stopdrafts' made by Tago and available in a number of hardware stores. I used to use shredded cotton balls until hs4570 put me on to this type of product. It's proven to be quite an improvement over the shredded cotton. In discussing these loads with H4831, he put me on to a more appropiate size/diameter so now it's just a matter of measuring and cutting the 1/2" material to length, rolling it between your fingers until it's small enough to insert in the case.
- In the Lyman 3rd edition Cast Bullet Handbook and in their 1st edition, there are a number of loads for the 45-70 in the general range of the 14gr of Unique. A lot depends on the bullet weight used but there are quite a few light loads using Unique. In cases of that size and 444, using the loads listed for Unique, 2400 and IMR 4227, for example, I would probably utilize a filler.
- There is another light load option I've been recently been introduced to by hs4570 and so far, it looks like a good way to go. Using Trail Boss as a propellant. It's a very bulky powder which negates the need for a filler. With what little I have tried it in light loads, accuracy is at least compareable to my other light load choices. 4 more lbs of Trail Boss on order.
- In some of my light cast bullet loads in the 45-70 and 444 Marlin, yes, I do use a filler, a 'Foam backer Rod' product called 'Stopdrafts' made by Tago and available in a number of hardware stores. I used to use shredded cotton balls until hs4570 put me on to this type of product. It's proven to be quite an improvement over the shredded cotton. In discussing these loads with H4831, he put me on to a more appropiate size/diameter so now it's just a matter of measuring and cutting the 1/2" material to length, rolling it between your fingers until it's small enough to insert in the case.
- In the Lyman 3rd edition Cast Bullet Handbook and in their 1st edition, there are a number of loads for the 45-70 in the general range of the 14gr of Unique. A lot depends on the bullet weight used but there are quite a few light loads using Unique. In cases of that size and 444, using the loads listed for Unique, 2400 and IMR 4227, for example, I would probably utilize a filler.
- There is another light load option I've been recently been introduced to by hs4570 and so far, it looks like a good way to go. Using Trail Boss as a propellant. It's a very bulky powder which negates the need for a filler. With what little I have tried it in light loads, accuracy is at least compareable to my other light load choices. 4 more lbs of Trail Boss on order.
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have a Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with a 5.5 in barrel. I filled about a dozen shells with 7828SSC power. It's really slow burning and usually used for magnum rifle loads. There was a lot of residue in the barrel afterwards because it doesn't get a chance to burn all the powder. Anyway, they were no louder than a 22.....if that.....and we chroneyed them at 495 fps. Basically, a 240 grain pellet gun
Willy Tincup
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Owen Sound
I use 4.6 grs of Unique with 180 gr bullets in my 38-40's [600-650fps] -- they work well and on a bright sunny day you can see the bullets go down range.....even with old eyes.
