Reloading 44 Mag for Rifle Campro Plated vs DRG Lead Bullets

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dodgecrew

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Rifle is a Marlin 1894 Lever Action 20in barrel used for cowboy action shooting/wild bunch. I presently shoot DRG 240gn LFP bullets with 6.2gn of Unique but am switching to Titegroup as I load 38spl, 45acp, 9mm and 357mag with it. I am starting with test loads to chrono with 4.7gn and 5.0gn of Titegroup using the DRG lead flat point bullets for cowboy action shooting/wild bunch. I also have Campro plated flat point 240gn bullets and from Campro's website min load is 9.0gn of Titegroup which matches load data in my Lee Reloading book. Question: Has anybody loaded Campro plated bullets down to Lead bullet powder levels? Would like to have the velocity comparable to the lead bullets which is about 950fps out of a 20in barrel. These would be practice loads just because I have a 1200 left to use up.
 
If you are worried load just slightly more powder than your lead bullets. Campro has thicker plating than some but it's still thin and the lead core is pretty soft. It should behave nearly the same, maybe exactly. You can load them with jacketed data but it isn't necessary.
 
I'm currently using 240 grain Cam Pro bullets in my Ruger Vaquero using 5.1 grains of W231, for shooting in indoor ranges with no problem. My normal Cowboy Action match load is 240 grain LSWC pushed by 4.1 grains of W231.
 
In the absence of data for plated bullets the common advice is to use lead bullet data.

Seeing as you can check with a chronograph why not try the same load you are using for the cast and see how close your velocity is. I'd be interested to hear how that works out if you do.
 
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IN 45 colt 4.7 titegroup and 250 grain DRG bullet produced some smoke and blowback over the bolt with a Marlin cowboy. Up the powder to 5.2 to seal the case.
With your 44 you may not have this issue as 45 colt are know for blowback.
 
I load my campros max charge H110. They shoot very well for me. Honestly I never even considered the plated vs jacketed. Hmmmm
Given the plated / soft core note above would the be good hunting round?
 
I've fired my 12 inch barrel Chiappa 44 at 917 average FPS (labradar) using the same charge of Trailboss for both CamPro and DRG. No problems with either. I mess around with loads for both and other then favouring the plated bullets for banging hot with A2400 to avoid potential leading I haven't noted any concerns.
 
Finally got around to testing the loads. 240gn DRG lead FP with 4.7gn of titegroup around 900fps. 240gn Campro plate FP with titegroup 9.0gn about 1300fps (min specified Load), 8.0gn 1160fps, 7.0gr 1045fps, 6.0gr 900fps, 5.1gr 670fps. Looks like 6.0 is similiar to the lead at 4.7. All shot out of 20" barrel Marlin 1894 rifle. Note that this is my testing data and not that I am recommending any of these loads.
 
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