44 magnum loads

[0369]

I picked up this Talo Redhawk and shot some 44spl through it and love it so far. I'm digging through my brass to scrounge up some mag brass and want to figure out a load for it. I'm going to make a couple of molds, one 250gr and the other will be 310 or 320gr and wonder where to start with powders. I have my old stand by, Unique, Win 296, and AA5744 for powders that have published data. I may load some heavy loads for kicks, but what would be a good load for all around use that would work with the 2.75" barrel?

[Encore64]

Longshot is a high energy powder that burns well in short barrels.  Hodgdon's has plenty of data.

[sixshot]

With 250 gr. slugs a long time standard has been 10 grs. of Unique, the all time classic "Keith" load is 22 grs. of 2400 with a 250 gr. cast slug. Back in the late 60's I dropped my 2400 charge 1 grain down to 21 grs & I've taken lots of big game with it. Moving up to the heavier slugs usually shows best results with H110 & a magnum primer. Others will chime in with favorite loads.

Dick

[0369]

Thanks Dick. The Unique seems to be a good starting point for me and I wish I could find 2400 around here. I'll probably save the 296 for he heavier bullets when I get the mold cut. I would think it would be a damn flamethrower with the lighter ones and slower powders.

[lostcoyote]

+1 on longshot for short barrels.

i have a 44mag but a 7/5 inch barrel - h110 works great in that case.... but it is too slow for a short barrel like the talo redhawk shown above. same is true for 2400 imo.

[MackaySagebrush]

10 grains of Unique with 240/250 cast, and use H110 for your heavies. I shoot a fair amount of 44s and those are the only two powders needed for the last couple decades.

[bradshaw]

0369.... you might forget the .44 Spl. case and do your light loading with bullet deep seated in mag brass. A cast 240 or 250 SWC over 5.5/HP-38 (231) deep seated to lightly roll crimp .030 to .060" above front band (no compression of band) may yield 700 fps from the Snubnose Redhawk. Bullet may prefer another grain. Accuracy of this load falls in the 5" to 6" bracket @ 100 yards, dependent on particular bullet and individual revolver. Same seating depth of COL=1.5" over 10.6/HS-6 should put the snubnose .44 around 900 fps.

Many powders should produce mild velocity accuracy, as others suggest. It is instructive to shoot loads which inculcate a feel for the revolver. Excess pressure is of no concern with deep seating over reasonable powder/charge combinations. On the other hand, gross excess pressure is as predictable as nighfall with a double-charge of fast or medium powder. That is why it is so important to see the powder in the case before starting the bullet.

Sixshot correctly names 2400 as proving accuracy with good burn in a short barrel, be it a snubnose .357 or .44. Deep seating also works with 2400, and may improve accuracy in the snubnose.

Plenty of time for rocks & dynamite later, after learning the revolver.
David Bradshaw

[0369]

Thanks David. I think HP38 is becoming available now so I may have to pick some up. I haven't seen any 2400 for quite a while and I'm hoping it shows up soon. I'm going to cut a couple of molds when I have a chance and I'm still debating on the bullet design, but one will be a large meplat with just a crimp groove and no grease grooves for powder coating like the one I made for 45 Colt. My target weight for that one will be around 280gr. I'll be sure to keep the nosnose a little shorter for deeper seating per your advice and maybe a second cavity for a 310 to 320gr.

[nolongcolt]

12 or so grs of HS-6 with the lighter bullet. Its an awesome combo in the mag.

[98redline]

I would think that H110/W296 would get moderate velocities at best in such a short barrel, although the muzzle flash would probably be impressive.

[tgc]

I like "red dot" and 200 grain cast in my short barrel for a everyday load. But it will handle 20 grains of h110 and a 240 cast well too for hotter projects.

The red dot is really a fast burner to get it done before the bullet leaves the short barrel, and the 200 grain can get stabalized easier.

[Deleted]

Feb 3, 2015 23:08:16 GMT -5 nolongcolt said:

12 or so grs of HS-6 with the lighter bullet. Its an awesome combo in the mag.

12grs of HS-6 with a 240gr Cast bullet is one of my favorite 44 Magnum loads.

[0369]

Update on what I've loaded. So far I haven't been able to find much in pistol powders so I tried Green Dot, Unique and 296. I cut the gas checks out of a Lee 310gr round flat mold and powder coated they end up at 315gr. They have a good bark with the 296 and recoil is unremarkable. I think the short barrel and so much burning outside keeps it tame, but they actually shoot pretty good. I tried some 215gr swc but it doesn't like them so for a "normal" load I'm going to try a 245gr Ohaus SWC that drops at 260gr with all of the powders on hand and hopefully I can find some HS6 soon.

[jefats]

Unique and Universal should be the cat's meow with your Talo.

[ezekiel38]

I have to go with one of the posts a few entries above that stated 10 grains of Unique for a GP load, If 10 is stout I get 1134fps out of a 5" 29 with that load. 9grains of Unique also works well.