Author Topic: 44 mag light target loads  (Read 2403 times)

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Offline brasshead

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44 mag light target loads
« on: February 01, 2010, 05:20:58 AM »
I have thread over in the handi section about which is better for a fun gun with light hunting duty the lever or the handi. 357 was the caliber I was wanting but now I am thinkinking maybe 44. I can reload for both so thats not a problem I was thinking the 357 would be cheaper to load with less recoil. Have anybody had accuracy issue's with the 44 as far as light loads for target and plinking?

Offline cougarmagnum

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2010, 06:56:53 AM »
I use a 240gr lead bullet with 9 grs. Unique with good results in my 1894P.

Offline john keyes

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2010, 07:46:43 AM »
I have an 1894P too and I want to fling that thing as far as I can when I touch off some H110 loads.  I have a gazillion 240's and a bunch of green dot from my shotgun reloading days.

I'm gonna try some green dot, maybe 7 grains or so.

I worry about the H110 cutting the chamber too.
Though taken from established manufacturers' sources and presumed to be safe please do not use any load that I have posted. Please reference Hogdon, Lyman, Speer and others as a source of data for your own use.

Offline Jacko

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2010, 09:20:25 AM »
10 gr ADI AP70N [Universal] CCI350 SP primer and 240 gr cast bullet shoot very accurately and not much more recoil in my 1894 .44 than my .357 Rossi generates

regards Jacko
"To my deep mortification my father once said to me, "You care for nothing but shooting, dogs and rat catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family."

                                                      Charles Darwin

Offline achildofthesky

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2010, 02:01:51 AM »
I have been using 9-10gr or either Unique or Herco (got it free) under 240gr cast (Missouri bullet co. "smasher" bullet or Lasercast 240gr RNFP) and any old 44 mag brass (no leverevolution brass though), WLP or CCI 200 primers. Easy on the shoulder, no leading, fairly accurate in my 1894ss and the brass lasts a long time. While not my first choice in load, I wouldn't hesitate with this load to pop a deer insie 100 yards or so, if it was all I had. just remember it has a larger ballistic arc than my jacketed load.

Be safe
Patty

Online Graybeard

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2010, 03:53:34 AM »
Was in a S&W 29 with 10-5/8" barrel not in my Marlin but long years ago I used Hornady 180 grain JHPs (long before the XTP came out) and 12.5 grains of Unique. This was a mild recoiling load and shot very accurately. I used it in NRA Metallic Silhouette competition very effectively.

These days the Nosler JHPs look almost identical to the old pre XTP Hornady JHPs tho I'm sure the XTP would work just as well. It was my all time favorite light recoil .44 mag load and is not nearly a book max load so if ya want more velocity it can be had as well.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

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Offline Ranger J

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2010, 04:02:24 AM »
180 gr LC bullets over Trail Boss works for me.

RJ

Offline brasshead

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2010, 05:06:02 AM »
I have a 77/44 ruger in 44mag and I shoot a 240gr over 23.5 grains of w296. It's pretty accurate but not really fun to shoot all day and kind of expensive to feed. I have some Trailboss that I tried in a 45LC load but never in the 44mag. I was thinking a lever gun with light loads would be fun and help hone my off hand skills. But if I can find a nice light cheap load for the bolt gun maybe that would be just fine. How do the 180 or 200 gr lead cast fly? I am thinking maybe unique or trailboss I want the most loads for the dollar.

Offline john keyes

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2010, 12:38:05 PM »
okay I just back from the range after shooting some of the 44 mag green dot loads.   
Rem 240 JSP
7.5 grains Green Dot
wolf large pistol primer

Ruger Vaquero 7 1/2 inch:  856.5, 823.2, 863.6
Marlin 1894P: 1073, 1015, 1038
Ruger carbine: 1040, 1083, 1004 (rounds did not eject)

the Green Dot did not meter well so I used a Lee Dipper. 
Overall a much nicer load than the H110 fueled load. smells good too.
Though taken from established manufacturers' sources and presumed to be safe please do not use any load that I have posted. Please reference Hogdon, Lyman, Speer and others as a source of data for your own use.

Offline mbopp

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2010, 02:30:50 PM »
I have a box of dead soft 240 gr swaged lead bullets I'm trying to shoot off. I'm using 6 gr of 231, they shoot well but that's about as fast as I can push them without leading the barrel too badly.
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Offline Ranger J

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2010, 05:36:42 AM »
While I love my Deerfield it takes a full power load to cycle the thing so unless you want to 'hand cycle' it you are probably out of luck on that one.

RJ

Offline rsl

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Re: 44 mag light target loads
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2010, 04:06:49 PM »
My 1894 shoots great with 44 Special and not much kick.. full power 44 mags for woods running..