Re-loading .44 Mag for carbine - any good advice ?

fire@will

Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
41   0   0
Location
Oshawa
Good day gentlemen. I'm in the process of re-loading some .44 Mag rounds. Some moderate pressure ones for my S&W - some slightly hotter ones for my SBH Ruger - and some even hotter ones for my DE. I have a carbine, with an 18.5" barrel and it occurs to me, that it might be beneficial to load some rounds with some slower powder and take advantage of the extra burn time. I have some 200 gn. bullets and some 240 gn. bullets. The only rifle powder I have, is some IMR 4895 - but, I would buy something different, if one of you has a good recommendation for me. I can't find any specific rifle loads, online, for .44 Mag . Thanks for reading.
 
Rifle and pistol get max velocity with the same powder. H-110, Win 296 or 4227. About 1700 fps in a carbine.

I find a HP bullet still passes right through a deer, so that is the bullet of choice.
 
Been using H110 with a Campro 240gr projectiles. I loaded about 21.6gr of powder for my Rossi 92 16" 44mag lever.

Just ran out of H110, trying hp38 and longshot soon.
 
I have an older Ruger semi and find that a good load is Sierra 210 JHC and
26.1 gr of Winchester 296. To be on the safe side load for the revolver and
let the longer barrel of the rifle give you the higher velocity.
 
Thanks for the information, gentlemen. I have W296 and H110 and I know it's a popular powder for this round. I was just wondering, if something with a slower burn rate, might have some advantage (lower pressure ?) in a longer barrel.

Roadcarver - I think you'll be happy with the Longshot (it's a bit slower than the HP38 and requires a bit more of it). I just finished loading 400 rounds of .44 Mag with it and have been using it for a couple of years.
 
Thanks Fire@will for confirming my purchasing decision. I like the H110 as it fills most of the case with a 44mag. I also use a non Magnum primer with H110.

Thanks for the information, gentlemen. I have W296 and H110 and I know it's a popular powder for this round. I was just wondering, if something with a slower burn rate, might have some advantage (lower pressure ?) in a longer barrel.

Roadcarver - I think you'll be happy with the Longshot (it's a bit slower than the HP38 and requires a bit more of it). I just finished loading 400 rounds of .44 Mag with it and have been using it for a couple of years.
 
210gr Sierra jacked hollow cavity max 4227 and breaks 2000fps Marlin 1894 shot moose deer and what it does inside is pretty devastating !
 
Thank you for the additional information. I should have mentioned that I don't harvest game (bit of a wuss). I was thinking that a slower burn, in a longer barrel, would lower the pressure and mitigate the recoil, without dialing down the velocity, too much (or, at all). It's entirely possible (probable ?) that the .44 Mag case, doesn't have sufficient volume, to hold enough of a slower burning powder, to accomplish what I am after. The reason I was looking into this, is - I find that I can shoot reasonably hot loads in a .44 Mag handgun, with relative comfort - but when I'm holding a .44 Mag carbine, into my shoulder - after a dozen or so rounds, it starts to get uncomfortable (did I mention, I'm a wuss ?). Thanks again, guys.
 
Thank you for the additional information. I should have mentioned that I don't harvest game (bit of a wuss). I was thinking that a slower burn, in a longer barrel, would lower the pressure and mitigate the recoil, without dialing down the velocity, too much (or, at all). It's entirely possible (probable ?) that the .44 Mag case, doesn't have sufficient volume, to hold enough of a slower burning powder, to accomplish what I am after. The reason I was looking into this, is - I find that I can shoot reasonably hot loads in a .44 Mag handgun, with relative comfort - but when I'm holding a .44 Mag carbine, into my shoulder - after a dozen or so rounds, it starts to get uncomfortable (did I mention, I'm a wuss ?). Thanks again, guys.

This is weird, your shoulder should be able to withstand more recoil than your hands. Maybe try some kind of shoulder pad? I use them for large rifle magnum and they help.

IMR4227 is as slow as it'll get in a 44magnum imho. It's only slightly slower than H110, you might not even see/feel the difference.
 
This is weird, your shoulder should be able to withstand more recoil than your hands. Maybe try some kind of shoulder pad? I use them for large rifle magnum and they help.

IMR4227 is as slow as it'll get in a 44magnum imho. It's only slightly slower than H110, you might not even see/feel the difference.

Ya' - I was kinda' surprised too. The only reason I can come up with is, I'm resting my elbows on a bench (with the rifle) and the recoil goes straight into my shoulder - if I was standing, my upper body would likely absorb more of the recoil - which is what happens when shooting a HG.
Looks like there isn't going to be a "slower powder" recommendation, so I guess I'm stuck with dropping the weight of the bullet. - or, as you suggest, try a shoulder pad.
 
...i don't think your shoulder is going to feel any difference between 4227 and 110...perhaps if you reload with blackpowder? ;)

...i had a ruger 44 mag semi carbine 30 years ago that i used for heavy cover only...pushing bush...it worked about as good as a 30-30 but don't think i ever shot anything over 50 yards

...i used 110 and my records show it was a 265 grain hornady...could just about watch that bullet go out...it had a punch...gander's talk about using a hollow point is pretty right on i think if i had to do it all over again
 
The reason I was looking into this, is - I find that I can shoot reasonably hot loads in a .44 Mag handgun, with relative comfort - but when I'm holding a .44 Mag carbine, into my shoulder - after a dozen or so rounds, it starts to get uncomfortable (did I mention, I'm a wuss ?). Thanks again, guys.

- If it helps - my first experience with .44 magnum was a Ruger semi-auto carbine; it KICKED LIKE A MULE!!! Guess I'm a wuss too... ;)
 
Back
Top Bottom