44mag pistol/rifle load?

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twoshots

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hello,
Just starting out in the 44 mag game. I have a 90's 16" 1894 trapper and will be buying a pistol soon.

I want to use one load for both firearms.

Unique is what I have to work with. Will it be safe in both, if I use pistol load data? About 6.4gr unique with 240swc.

Sorry if this is a repeat, I did use the search but it came up with powder comparisons.

thanks very much everyone.
 
There is absolutely no difference between rifle and pistol. They are both loaded to the same pressures.

And IF I were to have an inkling to play at the upper end of the power spectrum;) I would not be using unique.
 
You don't say whether you want a light cowboy action type load, or a heavier load for hunting/esp. in the carbine! Unique or better still, Trail Boss is good for the light loads, and H-110 is as good as it gets for heavy loads. You may find it better to use diff. loads, as an example; the bullet/load that is most accurate in your revolver may not feed well in your rifle.
 
thanks guys,
I'm just plinking for now, I'll get into the heavier loads later. I just wanted to make sure it was safe before I get rolling. I'll pick up some h110 soon, thanks again.
 
6.4grs is pretty light. I load 255gr lead SWC under 8.0grs of Unique for a velocity of 1120fps out of my Winchester 94 Trapper. I've never shot these in a handgun, but they would probably barely clear 900fps. I was actually surprised they chronied as fast as they did, because report and recoil are very mild.

I actually normally use W231 for my light loads, and use 7.0grs. I did try using 6.5grs for a while, but found that ignition was very poor in colder weather, to the point that several bullets could be seen dropping into the snow halfway to the target, 85 yards away.
 
You won't likely find a load that'll be accurate in both. Not that you shouldn't try. A cast bullet load would be the place to start. There's data using Unique on Alliant's site.
"...no difference between rifle and pistol..." Rifle loads run considerably faster than hangun loads using the same bullet. IMR4227 gives 1536 fps to 1742 fps in a rifle load, 991 fps to 1331 fps with a 240 grain jacketed bullet. Rifle loads are not safe in a handgun.
 
As some others have said, you can use the same load in rifle or revolver. The 44 magnum is loaded to about 38,000 to as much as 40,000 cpu. your lever action rifles or revolvers designed for the 44 magnum will each handle these loads.
Of course, the rifles will shoot the load maybe 300 fps faster than a revolver. This is because of the difference in barrel lengths, plus a revolver loses a great deal of pressure, in the gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone.
The pressure will be about the same, however, in either gun.
 
sunray said:
Rifle loads run considerably faster than hangun loads using the same bullet.
Click to expand...

You were one of the last people I would expect to see such a "rocket scientist" statement from.:) Of course the bullet will be faster out of a rifle, the barrel is longer!

But the cartridge is loaded to the same max pressure no matter what the intended firearm.

Ever see *RIFLE ONLY* on a box of factory 44 mag ammo?;)
 
Cerdan said:
I was surprised to read that as well. Every load manual I've seen lists different loads for the cartridge, revolver and rifle (or T/C).
Click to expand...

I was surprised to read this as well. Most manuals I've seen state the cartridge is loaded to the same pressure for rifle and handgun.;) Now, there may be small differences in the actual load listed, that is due to all the same reasons we do load development; slight differences in lot #'s of components and of course a different firearm.

Some data for certain rifle cartridges to be fired out of shorter barrels such as the contender or XP-100 will steer the reloader to faster powders as the slower powders do not burn as efficiently in a shorter barrel. But they too are loaded to the same pressure.

Again, off the top of my head (without a coffee either:D) I can think of no example of factory ammo that was labled "rifle only" or "pistol only". Except maybe some exotic self defense ammo or maybe some type of metalic birdshot cartridge.
 
thanks guys,
I just wanted to confirm this. As there were 3 options as above, rifle/pistol/TC.
I figured as much re. the pressure but it's good to confirm.
I was actually a bit more concerned about pistol loads being too slow in the rifle. I'll sort that out with load development.
 
Thanks joe, H4831. I always assumed there was a difference, that the cartridge could be loaded up for use in a rifle. A guy at the range shooting a single-action .44 revolver once told me he was shooting "factory ammo intended for hunting rifles" and that they were too strong for most revolvers. Another layer of crap has been cut thanks to CGN.
 
Twoshots, you still don't seem quite convinced.
If you think full load pistol ammunition will be too slow in your rifle, there just "aint nothin," you can do about it!
To get maximum power from a 44 magnum, powder like H110 or 2400 should be used.
A full power load of that will give maximum velocity in a revolver.
And the same load will give maximum velocity in a rifle.
No one else has mentioned the loss of power in a revolver, due to the cylinder gap, but it is considerable.
If you don't think so, try a penetration test between a 6 inch barreled 22 revolver and a 6 inch barreled auto loading 22.
 
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