Question about Mid-Range 44 Mag Handload

[Tennessee Jed]

I am about to start handloading for an incoming S&W 629 with 4 inch barrel. I will be using Nosler 200 grain jhp bullets, with 44 mag cases, and I am looking to get the velocity somewhere around a mild 1100 fps.

Do any of you load 200 grain 44 mag bullets in that velocity range and, if so, do you have a favorite powder and recipe? I've seen sample loads published by Speer, using Unique, Universal, 231, Bullseye. I usually use Power Pistol powder in my other calibers and I like the way it meters and burns. I can't find a spot-on recipe for Power Pistol, so I will probably try another powder like one of the above.

Thanks for your help.

 

[black mamba]

HP-38 (same as W231) is my powder for low to mid range loads. 10 to 10.5 grains should give you 1100 fps under a 200 gr bullet in a 4" barrel. I have found it to be clean shooting and accurate, but both improve as the loads warm up, i.e. 10 grains shoots cleaner and better than 9 grains. 12 grains is max for the 200 grain bullet.

 

[SL1]

If you look at the Alliant website http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gtypeid=1
you will see that they list a max charge of 8.6 grains of Power Pistol for 976 fps with a 200 grain Speer bullet in the .44 Special, and 15.5 grains for 1573 fps with a different 200 grain Speer bullet in the .44 Magnum.

So, you should be able to find a charge weight somewhere in the middle of that span that will give you 1100 fps in a .44 Magnum.

Of course, the velocity in YOUR gun will be a little different from somebody else's gun, so if you want EXACTLY 1100 fps from your gun, you will need to chronograph your loads.

If you don't really want to go to that trouble, you can probably get a reasonable estimate from QuickLOAD. Just using a 4" barrel and the default parameters for the .44 Magnum and the Nosler 200 grain bullet in QuickLOAD, my guess would be somewhere in the vicinity of 11 to 12 grains would give you 1100 fps. Somebody here could run a more detailed calculation for you if you want to go to the trouble of measuring the water capacity of a case fired in your gun. But, QuickLOAD is not all that accurate for revolvers, so I don't thing that is worth your trouble.

Anyway 11 and 12 grains are less than the 10% reduction for a "start" charge for the .44 Magnum, so there is no need to "work-up to those loads. And, the same powder/ bullet combination is used at much lower pressure in the .44 Special, so you don't need to worry about it being a squib load, either.

I suggest that you shoot a series of loads varying from about 10 to 13 grains in increments of maybe 0.5 grains and see what is the most accurate, then just shoot that, no matter what velocity it is giving you.

SL1

 

[rclark]

I can't find a spot-on recipe for Power Pistol, so I will probably try another powder like one of the above.

Why not just shoot some loads over a chronograph to get your 'spot-on recipe' . I would think Power Pistol would work just fine.

 

[AlaskaMike]

I agree with 10-11 grains of Power Pistol. My standard midrange load is a 250 grain SWC over 10 grains of PP and that's about 1000 fps out of my 4" model 29 if I remember right.

Mike

 

[Clark]

There are published loads for 44 special with Power Pistol 200 gr 8.6 gr
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=200&shellid=32&bulletid=48
There are published loads for 44 magnum with 200 gr 15.5 gr.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=200&shellid=33&bulletid=54

If we plug 200 gr Nosler, Power Pistol, 4" barrel + 1.7" cylinder + .060" rim = 5.76" barrel the way Quickload thinks, 1100 fps is at 11 gr Power Pistol 16 kpsi.

 

[Tennessee Jed]

Thank you so much everyone. I appreciate your help greatly!

 

[m&p45acp10+1]

I load for .41 Mag with 210 grain bullets. I like AA#9. I use it in my .30 carbine loads as well. It is cleaner than Alliant 2400 especialy with the midrange loads. If you want to go hot with it you can do that as well. It is great for mid range to full magnum loads. 2400 works though it is very sooty in the midrange loads, and kind of sooty on the upper end.

If you are looking for a good powder for low end loads that burns clean, and gives great casse fill Trail Boss is a great one.

 

[Clark]

m&p45acp10+1

I load for .41 Mag with 210 grain bullets. I like AA#9.

My brother wants more than 44 special and less than 44 mag.
There are AA#9 load for both, and I loaded up a work up between them.
Then I had him shoot them and tell me which one kicked as much as he wanted. That worked out.

 

[Axelwik]

My plinking load is 8 grains of Unique behind a 240-grain cast SWC (Lee mold) in 44 Mag brass. It's above 44 Special and below 44 Mag. Fun to shoot.

 

[fishbones182]

im using 9.1 grains of unique with a 200 lrnfp and a medium crimp shoots great very accurate and clean burning.