44 Mag

You've heard this before I'm sure but reloading and the 44MAG go hand in hand.

I can reload a box of 50 for 12 to 13 dollars. Those are hard cast lead and loaded for "plinking"

The big boys with JHP and H110 behind them run about double for the same amount mainly due to the cost of the JHP's

Using a plated bullet would drop the costs and still allow some stout loads.
 
I don't want to hijack this thread, and most of the info is good for a new .44 shooter, esp. saving money reloading and using cast bullets to save money. I do object to the idea that cast bullets are for plinking loads and jacketed are for full power loads. This is a popular misconception as the very stoutest loads, meant for the largest of species are usually heavy cast bullet loads, using bullets of 300grains or more and large charges of H-110. The LBT designs of WFN and LFN usually gas checked, and heavy for cal. will bring the most out of your .44, certainly more then lighter jacketed loads. As a side note, ballistic pressure test equip. has shown that cast bullets are capable of higher velocity at lower pressure then jacketed bullets in these big bore rounds.
 
I don't want to hijack this thread, and most of the info is good for a new .44 shooter, esp. saving money reloading and using cast bullets to save money. I do object to the idea that cast bullets are for plinking loads and jacketed are for full power loads. This is a popular misconception as the very stoutest loads, meant for the largest of species are usually heavy cast bullet loads, using bullets of 300grains or more and large charges of H-110. The LBT designs of WFN and LFN usually gas checked, and heavy for cal. will bring the most out of your .44, certainly more then lighter jacketed loads. As a side note, ballistic pressure test equip. has shown that cast bullets are capable of higher velocity at lower pressure then jacketed bullets in these big bore rounds.

Thanks Ben :) I should have qualified that statement, the JHP hot loads are for my Desert Eagle, they don't recommend running lead through the beasties because of the gas system.
 
You've heard this before I'm sure but reloading and the 44MAG go hand in hand.

I can reload a box of 50 for 12 to 13 dollars. Those are hard cast lead and loaded for "plinking"

The big boys with JHP and H110 behind them run about double for the same amount mainly due to the cost of the JHP's

Using a plated bullet would drop the costs and still allow some stout loads.

I don't know where you buy supplies but I am reloading jacketed full power loads for about 0.33 cents a piece. That is obviously not including the cost of brass.

Powder - 2400 @ 20 gr/round = 10 cents/round ($30/pound)
Primers - winchester - 4 cents/round ($40/1000)
Bullets - Jacketed Flat Point = 19 cents/round ($80/500)
 
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Does anybody know were to get cheep amo for plinking???????

Mine falls out of a blue machine.

Reloading is the only way that shooting any sort of magnum revolver in quantities sufficient to develop proficiency is viable for most people.

Also, don't forget that the .44 Magnum can be loaded down for plinking.
 
Does anybody know were to get cheep amo for plinking???????


Hahahahaha! He said CHEAP and .44 MAG in the same sentence.:D


I don't want to hijack this thread, and most of the info is good for a new .44 shooter, esp. saving money reloading and using cast bullets to save money.

Listen to Ben, he has been doing this for a long time. He also sells cast bullets for a wide variety of calibers at great prices with great service.


I can reload a box of 50 for 12 to 13 dollars. Those are hard cast lead and loaded for "plinking"

+1. My first batch of reloads worked out to about $0.22/rnd with brass costs worked in. I used the Keith 245gr. SWC from Ben and 7.8-8.2gr. of W231 (working up a load). Shot very well out of my Redhawk with a nice amount of noise and recoil to remind me I wasn't shooting 9mm anymore.

Mark
 
I don't know where you buy supplies but I am reloading jacketed full power loads for about 0.25 cents a piece. That is obviously not including the cost of brass.

Powder - 2400 @ 20 gr/round = 10 cents/round ($30/pound)
Primers - winchester - 4 cents/round ($40/1000)
Bullets - Jacketed Flat Point = 19 cents/round ($80/500)

Jacketed Hollow Points for the DE don't run cheap ;)
 
I don't know where you buy supplies but I am reloading jacketed full power loads for about 0.25 cents a piece. That is obviously not including the cost of brass.

Powder - 2400 @ 20 gr/round = 10 cents/round ($30/pound)
Primers - winchester - 4 cents/round ($40/1000)
Bullets - Jacketed Flat Point = 19 cents/round ($80/500)

Your costs don't add up. I'm seeing 10+4+19=33 cents a round. Or is the 25 cents a round based on your own cast bullets and gas checks vs buying jacketed bullets?
 
Your costs don't add up. I'm seeing 10+4+19=33 cents a round. Or is the 25 cents a round based on your own cast bullets and gas checks vs buying jacketed bullets?

Sorry you are right 33 cents for the jacketed rounds. I originally was thinking cast. Still 33 cents doesnt add up to 26 bucks for 50 rounds. I guess if maby brass was icluded in there somewhere.
 
You don't need JHP's for a DE. Plated bullets fire fine out of mine and several buddies at al three of my clubs. Some even fire the occasional box of LSWC's out of them and so do I.

You don't really need GC's on cast bullets for handguns with H110 full loads. I've never had problems. Just size appropriately and have a good lube. My mold is a flat base design and shoots fine out of a 7.5" Redhawk, a friend's SRH, another friend's 629 and out of the 44 rifles we've tried.

Plus if you don't want to spend extra $ for H110, you can make nice Target loads with Titegroup or 231 or any other popular powder. They aren't full Bubba loads but still feel almost like a .45 in a revolver.

As for the topic of this thread... where to find cheap 44 Magnum ammo... it's more like find ANY 44 Magnum ammo these days for factory fresh stuff. :(
 
Plus if you don't want to spend extra $ for H110, you can make nice Target loads with Titegroup or 231 or any other popular powder. They aren't full Bubba loads but still feel almost like a .45 in a revolver.

As for the topic of this thread... where to find cheap 44 Magnum ammo... it's more like find ANY 44 Magnum ammo these days for factory fresh stuff. :(

Last weekend I was shooting 8.2gr. of 231 behind the Keith 245gr. SWC and it was a nice load. Definitely hotter than any .45ACP I have shot, but that is what a .44 Mag is for, isn't it?

WSS in Calgary had several brands to choose from a couple of weeks ago. The price was painful at best, though, $40-$50/box of 50.

Mark
 
I just bought a new 44 a few days ago as for cost of ammo if I wanted cheap ammo I would have bought a 9mm I do hand load so I'm not to worried just need to get some brass. Anyone have any info on brass life with mag loads? But I agree I don't think 44 mag and cheap go in the same sentence.
 
.44Mag brass has very long life. Load pressure doesn't make much of a difference. Too much belling/crimping the case mouth will get your case split much faster than stout loads.
 
It's easy to get free lead. You can get 4 or 5 pounds at a time from Canadian Tire or other tire shops if you say it's for fishing sinkers or jigs. With 1 pound of lead you can load about 30 240gr bullets. Less than $10 per 50 rounds is possible especially since the brass lasts for many reloads.
 
Well I just got my Lever action Marlin to the range today after some TLC to get her running right. Damn looks like I am goin to be reloading twice the .44 mag I was before. Still cheaper than .308 or .270 to shoot. Can't find a better caming/canoeing gun if you ask me. Plnkin or hunting this gun will do everything.(within range! LOL)
 
Last weekend I was shooting 8.2gr. of 231 behind the Keith 245gr. SWC and it was a nice load. Definitely hotter than any .45ACP I have shot, but that is what a .44 Mag is for, isn't it?...

Well, I didn't say exactly like a .45 but "almost" like my .45ACP revolver. As for "that is what a .44Mag is for", I just have to say that is why they invented H110. :evil:

Yup, them Keith style bullets are great. Haven't found any gun that doesn't like them and as mentioned, even the DE occasionally.
 
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