Good powder for 44 mag/44 special?

Potshot21

Potshot21

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Well, I'm finally going to give pistol cartridge reloading a go. I picked up a Smith & Wesson 44 mag awhile back, and after having some fun with factory 44 mag, it is starting to get expensive and sometimes hard on the hands!

I bought a big bag of Campro 240 grain bullets to load, some virgin 44 special brass along with my once fired 44 mag brass, and a whack of S&B large pistol primers. Where I'm having trouble is deciding on a powder to use. This is likely the only pistol round I'll be loading for the foreseeable future, and would like to keep it simple and use 1 type of powder for both 44 mag and 44 special.

If any veterans of 44 cal revolvers can suggest a good powder to try out, I'd love to hear about it and why it's a good choice!

Thanks!
 
With my campro 240s I don’t even care for 44 special,
Using H110 I can go from soft to very stout, with little risks of an overload.
As my stout load uses 24.0gn of powder iirc (it’s in my binder), and practically fills the case right up.

I didn’t like titegroup in this caliber, pressure spikes very rapidly and you could theoretically fit a triple load in it so little it fills the case up.
 
I'm with pacobillie. A number of powders will work. Universal/Unique have always performed well in any .44 mag/Special revolvers I've loaded for. For both lead and jacketed bullets. You might also try HP-38/IMR 231.
 
Good day Potshot21,

As others have mentioned, Unique is a great single powder that can be used for both 44Special and 44Magnum with lots of fun. Some (including myself) have loaded 44speacial weights in a 44magnum case - 8.5g with a Campro 240g seated at 1.610 averages just under 1000fps in a 6.5inch revolver for me (in the Summer), a great plinking load. Eventually you might get used to these loads and want more, 2400 is a great powder to use, though I have never seen a 44Specail load for it - though I'm sure someone here will be able to attest if so. :)


Kindest regards,
 
For .44Mag H110 can't be beat but does not do well (nor recommended) for light loads below minimum published data.
I use 700x for mild loads in my revolvers (will not cycle semis even at max loads) and works well.

I have no experience with .44 special.
 
Boomer said:
I use H-110 and 2400 for full power loads, and Unique for light loads. One of these days I'll get around to giving Titegroup a try.
Click to expand...

Boomer686 said:
For .44Mag H110 can't be beat but does not do well (nor recommended) for light loads below minimum published data.
I use 700x for mild loads in my revolvers (will not cycle semis even at max loads) and works well.

I have no experience with .44 special.
Click to expand...

......:agree:..... with the Boom Booms...................:cool:
 
8.0 gr. of unique will give you an accurate and pleasant 240 gr. target load, equivalent to the .44 special ballistics.
 
I am currently using Trail Boss because I only want to shoot light loads and I want a fullish case.
Trail Boss makes everything easy - easily recognizable powder - fills up the case - no worries.
Hakuna Matata!
 
If I want a "stout" load for my Rugers or DE, I use H110 or W296. For something to run in my S&W's or any other of my HG's, I've been really happy with Hodgdon Longshot. Not as fast a burn as Unique and not as slow as 110/296. You'll use a bit more powder than the faster powders, but it seems to keep the chamber pressures more moderate, while still giving a good muzzle velocity. It will work well in both .44 RM and .44 Spl.
 
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