44 Russian Loads

Gypsy613

Gypsy613

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Hey CGN'rs

I was hoping to get some help on 44 Russian loads to shoot from my S&W 629

I've consulted my reloading manuals and found very minimal load data on the 44 Russian.

My 629 came machined for moonclips and I'd like to use the 44 Russian due to it's shorter case but can't seem to find a decent load.

I tried a 180Gr Hornady XTP in front of 4.0 grains of titegroup and a CCI LP primer which turned out to be embarrassing on the range , it was bouncing off the steel reactive targets at 25 M

I was hoping to go up to a 240gr campro but that's not looking promising as I'm .2 grains away from the max load according to Lyman.

All the load data seems to be for lead projectiles designed for older classic pistols and cowboy action.

Any help would be appreciated
 
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ has a good section on .44Russian. And since you are using it in a 629 you'll want to focus on the higher end. It'll still be a soft shooting round. But if you stick to 200 or 240 grain bullets should give you a bit more knock down power.

If you have a chrono you could start working up from there. You will then want to work with small increases using powders suitable for .44Spl and work up from the .44 Russian data towards muzzle velocities of around 950. Again with a 200 or 240gn bullet that will give you a lot of knock down power for the more reluctant steel fallers.

You're near the limits for the Russian yeah, but you're shooting this in a .44Magnum gun. So you can work up as much as you wish until you start hitting magnum velocities. Note that the smaller case volume means you need to watch your powder and not directly use the Magnum load data. You'll hit the max pressure and max velocity at a lower amount of a load due to the volume difference.

Same with working with .44Spl load data. If you were to load the max .44Spl amount in the smaller Russian casing you'd find you were shooting "hot" at a somewhat higher pressure. That's why you want to work with a chrono to sneak up on a good load that gives you what you need to deal with the reactives but not so much that you start running too high a pressure and increasing your recoil to some amount that slows you down. You'll still be way under Magnum pressures. But you want a round that does the job without slowing you down with excess recoil.

I wonder about these reactive targets though. If you're shooting in a match they SHOULD be set so that .38Spl can take them down. And even your recipe of 4gns of Titegroup should be stronger than a .38Spl for impact energy.
 
Thank you for the advice , it does make sense and I'll break out the chrony and work up some base 44 spl loads. My 4.0 titegroup and the 180gr XTP were much weaker than my factory 38's out of my TRR8 hence the term embarrassing used in my op. I used my RCBS chargemaster so I know the load was bang on.

R
 
I use 44spl cases to load powder puff 44 loads for my 44mag revolvers.
You can load down to pretty negligible shooting levels.....
A nominal powder charge in a 44spl case is pretty damn soft shootin.....can't see the need to use the Russian cases?

Even my plinkin' loads for 44 I load in 44mag cases and range from 6~8gr of unique or a 231 equivalent.
Keeps the cylinders from building up a "short ridge" and shoots just fine.
 
^ What he said. My standard load for .44 mag is 3.5gr VV N310 behind a 240gr GC SWC (gas-checked only because otherwise the base of the bullet is hangin' out there in the breeze); chrony's at below 600 fps from a 6" 629-1. That's crimped, with .44 magnum cases.
 
The use of the moonclips suggests that Gypsy is using the gun in competition and wants to enjoy smoother reloads by using the shortest possible brass that will fit his gun. And in that sort of game even a little bit helps with funneling the fresh moonclip of ammo into the cylinder.

But you're right. We're all on the same page for our suggestions to Gypsy about not worrying too much about the loads. As long as he aims at a .44 Spl recipe even with the shorter brass and less case volume it'll still not be at all close to Magnum pressures.
 
Thank you all for the advice and BCRider nailed it.

I was heading down the right path and once again this community came through with constructive advice and I thank you all for that.

R
 
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