44 mag 357 mag

fiftycalforsquirrels

fiftycalforsquirrels

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What is the equivalent 357/44 mag load of the "2.8 gr of bullseye wadcutter 38 spl"

And by that I mean if you asked the internet how to load a 38 for target, the default answer is to just load a 148wc with 2.7 2.8 gr bullseye into a 38 case. Ive loaded hundreds of these... love shooting them. Can shoot them all day.

Is there a "standard" for 357/44?

Ive tried 44 mag with 18.5 2400 with a 240 campro....lots of wow factor. Not desirable to shoot more than 1 cylinder of.

Is that the nature of a 44 mag or is there a more desirable 44 mag load?

Ive also tried the 44 with 8.5 of unique and 240 campro. Not as surprising to shoot, much more tolerable for several wheels. Still stout but not really a magnum load.

Ive tried 357 with 12-14 of 2400 and 158 campro...feels magnum-y...easier/more desirable to shoot than the 44 MAG...

What is the "go to" load for 357 mag and 44 mag if you want to know exactly what its supposed to feel like to shoot a 357 or 44?

What is the "go to" load for stout feeling but can comfortably shoot a box of?

The guns are model 29's and 586's with wood grips.
 
Universal is quite versatile in 44 mag, behind a 240 gr SWC. From 4.5 gr. For true target loads, up to 11 gr. For "magnumy" loads.
 
I find 700X to work well for mild .44mag loads in revolvers and levers however not enough juice (even at max loads) to reliably cycle semi autos like my Ruger Carbine or my .DE
 
For the 586, I run a 158gr. Hornady XTP in front of 16.6gr. of 296 and magnum primer. Heavy crimp. Pretty punchy in my 2-1/2" model 19's!

My model 29-3 gets a 200gr. XTP with 28.0gr. 296.

Auggie D.
 
My shoot all day loads for the 44 are pretty well any bullet and 6-7gr of titegroup. If the low volume load makes you nervous there are equivalent loads using the much bulkier Trailboss. The burn rate is fairly similar.
 
Use what ya got......always seems to be a good principle. You mentioned Bullseye powder & it’s entirely suitable for both calibers.

All the Alliant reloading manuals show mild to medium charges of Bullseye powder for 357/44. And you would be surprised at how well they shoot. Not over-the-top, & pleasant too.
 
I am loading 3 gr Bulseye in .357 case with a 148 WC bullet ( campro ). I seen no accuracy lost over the 2.7 charge in a .38 spl case.
This keep the .357 chamber cleaner. This is a very old load from a book on reloading for handgun by the late Deen Grennel.

I see no reason a WC in .44 mag will not give very good accuracy.
Those bullet take space in the case and reduce the available space under the bullet. This seem to provide some consistency and precision with small charge.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-190W-D.png
 
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Somewhat confused on what you are looking for. Seems you want a magnum load without magnum muzzle blast and recoil. The load of 18.5 gr. of 2400 and with 240 gr. bullet is more or less standard, and a bit under a starting load in one of my manuals.

The 8.5 gr. of Unique under the 240 is somewhat between a .44 Special and .44 Magnum load. Depending on the book, it is a bit under starting or a fair bit under for the Magnum. I'd think that it probably would be a good load in a strong .44 Special. I have done a bunch of in between loads for my wife's Ranch Hand to make an enjoyable load for her to shoot, yet still be authoritative. In my heavier Henry, the report and recoil is more akin a "heavy" .22 LR if there were such a thing.

Of course out of a pistol the loads are snappier in recoil and blast. I wouldn't worry about what is standard, and load up what you enjoy shooting. Elmer Keith, the father of the .44 Magnum among others, favored his .44 Special above his other pistols. Presumably loaded a bit heavy, even after the production of .44 Magnum pistols. He used a .44 Special to great affect also, and took a pile of big game with it.
 
I use Unique to load down my 357 Mag to target loads. Same bullets, works very very good. My GP100 is like a .22 with 6.0 or 7.0 grains. Its also very accurate at either of those loads. A newborn baby could shoot them lol. I don't shoot 38 brass much anymore, just to avoid the carbon ring.
357 mag full loads, go to H110, but must load near the top of the book specs.
I think you would find 2400 to be loaded to mid power loads but please check this out and don't take my work for it. H110 you can not load down.
I would just shoot weak 357 mag most times and have the heavy stuff to use on occasion, if your worried about the heavy recoil. I usually start with light loads and switch over to full on a range session.
 
If 8.5 grains of unique is magnum to you, i dont know what to say. Maybe use a lighter bullet. Berrys 220gr work well with 7.5 to 8. 5 grains of unique.
 
fiftycalforsquirrels said:
What is the equivalent 357/44 mag load of the "2.8 gr of bullseye wadcutter 38 spl"

And by that I mean if you asked the internet how to load a 38 for target, the default answer is to just load a 148wc with 2.7 2.8 gr bullseye into a 38 case. Ive loaded hundreds of these... love shooting them. Can shoot them all day.

Is there a "standard" for 357/44?

Ive tried 44 mag with 18.5 2400 with a 240 campro....lots of wow factor. Not desirable to shoot more than 1 cylinder of.

Is that the nature of a 44 mag or is there a more desirable 44 mag load?

Ive also tried the 44 with 8.5 of unique and 240 campro. Not as surprising to shoot, much more tolerable for several wheels. Still stout but not really a magnum load.

Ive tried 357 with 12-14 of 2400 and 158 campro...feels magnum-y...easier/more desirable to shoot than the 44 MAG...

What is the "go to" load for 357 mag and 44 mag if you want to know exactly what its supposed to feel like to shoot a 357 or 44?

What is the "go to" load for stout feeling but can comfortably shoot a box of?

The guns are model 29's and 586's with wood grips.
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30.8 gr of H-110 with a 180gr bullet makes people mad enough to leave the range.
 
I was confused at first as I thought you were referring to the wildcat 357/44 (a 44mag necked to 357).

For magnum loads in either, just use H110/win296

I've loaded some comfortable loads for 44 with IMR4227.... Maybe I have stronger hands, wrists and arms? but it met your criteria.

Unique in either with cast bullets makes for comfortable recoiling loads as well.
 
11gr of N340 with 240gr bullets is a nice load from my 7.5" 629.

Can go lower (10gr) if you want to relax or higher if you want to blow flames and make lots of noise...
 
fiftycalforsquirrels said:
What is the equivalent 357/44 mag load of the "2.8 gr of bullseye wadcutter 38 spl"

And by that I mean if you asked the internet how to load a 38 for target, the default answer is to just load a 148wc with 2.7 2.8 gr bullseye into a 38 case. Ive loaded hundreds of these... love shooting them. Can shoot them all day.

Is there a "standard" for 357/44?

Ive tried 44 mag with 18.5 2400 with a 240 campro....lots of wow factor. Not desirable to shoot more than 1 cylinder of.

Is that the nature of a 44 mag or is there a more desirable 44 mag load?

Ive also tried the 44 with 8.5 of unique and 240 campro. Not as surprising to shoot, much more tolerable for several wheels. Still stout but not really a magnum load.

Ive tried 357 with 12-14 of 2400 and 158 campro...feels magnum-y...easier/more desirable to shoot than the 44 MAG...

What is the "go to" load for 357 mag and 44 mag if you want to know exactly what its supposed to feel like to shoot a 357 or 44?

What is the "go to" load for stout feeling but can comfortably shoot a box of?

The guns are model 29's and 586's with wood grips.
Click to expand...
I love Unique in 44 Mag. Loads for 245g - 260g LSW are 7 gr., 9 gr., 11 gr., depending on my mood. If you want balls out hunting loads use 296 or 110, or possibly 2400
 
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tactical lever said:
Somewhat confused on what you are looking for. Seems you want a magnum load without magnum muzzle blast and recoil. The load of 18.5 gr. of 2400 and with 240 gr. bullet is more or less standard, and a bit under a starting load in one of my manuals.

The 8.5 gr. of Unique under the 240 is somewhat between a .44 Special and .44 Magnum load. Depending on the book, it is a bit under starting or a fair bit under for the Magnum. I'd think that it probably would be a good load in a strong .44 Special. I have done a bunch of in between loads for my wife's Ranch Hand to make an enjoyable load for her to shoot, yet still be authoritative. In my heavier Henry, the report and recoil is more akin a "heavy" .22 LR if there were such a thing.

Of course out of a pistol the loads are snappier in recoil and blast. I wouldn't worry about what is standard, and load up what you enjoy shooting. Elmer Keith, the father of the .44 Magnum among others, favored his .44 Special above his other pistols. Presumably loaded a bit heavy, even after the production of .44 Magnum pistols. He used a .44 Special to great affect also, and took a pile of big game with it.
Click to expand...

Basically just looking for differing opiniona on what people are loading up...

The 18.5gr load is more cowbell than I'll ever need and dont have a desire to shoot more than 1 or 3 wheels a year of...

Id like to have a box of full tilt 44 magnums on hand just for the humbling experience and for showing buddies what a 44 magnum should feel like if they had the desire to shoot a spec 44 mag.

Same with the 357 mag... just want a "full house" load on hand for the 1 or 3 wheels I'm content shooting and for the demo aspect.

For those, was wondering what the full house magnum loadings are considered to be.

Suppose no one can truly tell me a load perfectly applicable to what I perceive as desirable to shoot. I really enjoy the wad cutter 38 load for plinking and dinging steel. Itd be nice to have a similar load in 44 that I can shoot all day as well.

Then kind of a mid range where it has more rapport than a peashooter target load but not a pistol whip myself in the face amount of recoil lol... will just have to play around with those I guess.
 
fiftycalforsquirrels said:
Basically just looking for differing opiniona on what people are loading up...

The 18.5gr load is more cowbell than I'll ever need and dont have a desire to shoot more than 1 or 3 wheels a year of...

Id like to have a box of full tilt 44 magnums on hand just for the humbling experience and for showing buddies what a 44 magnum should feel like if they had the desire to shoot a spec 44 mag.

Same with the 357 mag... just want a "full house" load on hand for the 1 or 3 wheels I'm content shooting and for the demo aspect.

For those, was wondering what the full house magnum loadings are considered to be.

Suppose no one can truly tell me a load perfectly applicable to what I perceive as desirable to shoot. I really enjoy the wad cutter 38 load for plinking and dinging steel. Itd be nice to have a similar load in 44 that I can shoot all day as well.

Then kind of a mid range where it has more rapport than a peashooter target load but not a pistol whip myself in the face amount of recoil lol... will just have to play around with those I guess.
Click to expand...

For your peashooters, you can pretty much use 38spl or 44spl loads in 357mag or 44mag cases. Usually they will be around 750-850 fps. As long as it leaves the barrel, you're good to go. If you like 2.8grn of bullseye pushing on a 148WC in 38spl, you'll probably like it equally in a 357mag. You might need to increase the charge a tiny, tiny bit to get to the exact same point, but barely.

For mid-range, look at loads for 240grn LSWC. Go for something in the 1000fps range. It'll have a little kick, but really nothing to call mom about. HP-38 has a long range, from 5.5grn to 11grn, so you could try that powder. I believe you'll settle for something that's a bit less than the mid-range of that.

My favorite full load (I call them "boom boom" load) for magnum is 16.5grn of H110 and 158grn bullet for 357magnum, and 23.5grn of h110 and 240grn bullet for 44magnum. They make a loud noise, nice fireball, but the interest for me is that it's decently accurate (depends on bullet tbh) and the recoil is nowhere as strong as it seems when you see or hear the fireball.

If you buy a box of Hornady 240grn XTP 44magnum, I believe their load is 19-19.5grn of 2400. That could be considered the "standard" load of full power 44magnum. I prefer my load of H110, as it offers a better accuracy, more pleasant recoil, and let's be honest, a nicer, movie-like special effect.

My only 44magnum firearm is a desert eagle, and it only cycles correctly on a full load, so no peashooter or mid-load for me in 44magnum. In 357 I have no interest in mid-range loads, either I shoot full loads or 38spl-like loads. But then again, I can shoot my full load of 357 without any problem all day long if I want to. The felt recoil of a full load of H110 is really not as punishing as a full load of 2400, even if it looks more impressive from the outside. At least the way I feel it.
 
For my bunny phart loads I use 3.9gr of WST and a 130gr cast PC bullet for my .357's and my .44 gets 4.5gr WST with a 200gr cast PC bullet.

Auggie D.
 
My three main 357 Mag loads are 7gr UNIQUE over 158gr Campro for accurate soft shooters. 13.5gr 2400 over 158 gr Home Cast Lead bullets without gas checks for my weekly 100-200 rounds. 16.5 gr H110 for factory feeling full house 158 gr Hornady XTP's.

All three of these loads shoot great in all my guns including a Henry Big Boy. Although the 16.5 H110 load isn't fun in a S&W J frame with 5" barrel.
 
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