.44 mag reloading help - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

bullets1st · 03-20-2008, 09:56 PM

I'm about to reload some .44 mag shells and I dont have a reloading guide for the bullets I am using. I bought some Sierra 210 gr. JHC power jacket bullets and am using win 231 powder and CCI magnum primers. What grain of poweder should I use for these reloads. The rounds are going to be shot out of a S&W 629-5 revolver with a 8 3/8 barrel. Any recomendations or a website I can use as refrence for these raound. Thank you.

robinsre · 03-20-2008, 10:00 PM

Data from hodgdon reloading center

www.hodgdon.com

210 gr SIE JHC Winchester 231 powder Starting loads 7.5 grains maximum loads 11.7 grains.

Im not familiar with that powder, but with Clay's Universal I generally go 65-90% of the max load specifications they give, depending on how much power I want in my .44 mag.

Then again Im shooting a big single action ruger.

bullets1st · 03-20-2008, 10:15 PM

oh wow, that was quike. Thanks for the info, found exactly what I needed.

Wish I can make more powerful loads for hunting but, I was told by a gunsmith that the 629-5 half lug cant handle a higher load like the Rugers can. Just might have to get a Single Action Ruger. hmm

Jack the Toad · 03-22-2008, 12:42 PM

I load .41 mags. for 2 Ruger blackhawks and a S&W mod. 57. I use the same loads in both. I like Accurate #9 and Alliant 2400 for powders. WW296 and Hodgdon 110 are great too. Unless you are going after something with armor plating, a heavy hard cast bullet and a near max. load of any of those four powders should be adequate . The Smith might not handle a steady diet of the high end stuff , but I wouldn't worry about moderate shooting of any load. P.S. in my .41 I like 8.0 gr. of Unique under a 220 grain hard cast SWC for general plinking etc. . I wouldn't hesitate to use it on a deer either.

bigun · 03-24-2008, 02:09 AM

Another vote for the AA#9 powder with 240-300 grain bullets this is the most accurate powder I've found out of my Ruger Redhawk. H110 is a close second and if you like fire balls 2400 works great also.

f4tweet · 03-24-2008, 02:16 AM

I have had success with Accurate AA-9. It burns cleans and meters like fine sand. With a Rainier 240gr. FP plated bullet I loaded from 16.5 gr-19.5 and it shot fine. BTW @ 19.5 the load spec'd at 1520 fps. This was a published load.

bigun · 03-24-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f4tweet

I have had success with Accurate AA-9. It burns cleans and meters like fine sand. With a Rainier 240gr. FP plated bullet I loaded from 16.5 gr-19.5 and it shot fine. BTW @ 19.5 the load spec'd at 1520 fps. This was a published load.

And it is impressive out of my Redhawk, at 50 yds off of sandbags that load was putting 240 grain XTP's into 2" groups but they would be a little much for the 629.

Verk · 03-24-2008, 01:59 PM

I'm a big fan of the 210 gr. JHP and have been reloading and shooting it for years.

bigun · 03-24-2008, 04:19 PM

I like the big boomers out of my Redhawk, 240 grain is the lightest I go and my favorite is the 300 grain XTP with either a max load of H110 or AA#9. The Redhawk, Super Blackhawk, and TC Contender are the only guns I'd recommend these loads for though they are heavy and the S&W's dont hold up well with them, but deadly accurate and a death ray on the bigger Iowa deer.

gunnut444 · 09-22-2008, 08:16 PM

How about trying 17-21 grains of 2400. Try the low side for cast bullets of 200 -240 grains. I shoot 20 grains of 2400 with a 240 grain XTP bullet and have rather good results out of a S&W 629 with a 6 inch barrel at 25-60 yards. Good Luck

03-20-2008, 09:56 PM	#1
bullets1st XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: in a bunker Posts: 46	.44 mag reloading help I'm about to reload some .44 mag shells and I dont have a reloading guide for the bullets I am using. I bought some Sierra 210 gr. JHC power jacket bullets and am using win 231 powder and CCI magnum primers. What grain of poweder should I use for these reloads. The rounds are going to be shot out of a S&W 629-5 revolver with a 8 3/8 barrel. Any recomendations or a website I can use as refrence for these raound. Thank you.

03-20-2008, 10:00 PM	#2
robinsre XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,089	Data from hodgdon reloading center www.hodgdon.com 210 gr SIE JHC Winchester 231 powder Starting loads 7.5 grains maximum loads 11.7 grains. Im not familiar with that powder, but with Clay's Universal I generally go 65-90% of the max load specifications they give, depending on how much power I want in my .44 mag. Then again Im shooting a big single action ruger. __________________ Zeroth law of thermodynamics : If you have 1 six pack of beer and your neighbor brings 4 beers over, you will each end up drinking only 5 beers. First law of thermodynamics : There's no such thing as a free beer. Second law of thermodynamics : Even if there was such thing as a free beer, you couldn't drink it all anyway. Third law of thermodynamics : As it gets colder, less people will want you to share your beer.

03-24-2008, 02:09 AM	#5
bigun XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 3,174	Another vote for the AA#9 powder with 240-300 grain bullets this is the most accurate powder I've found out of my Ruger Redhawk. H110 is a close second and if you like fire balls 2400 works great also. __________________ The second ammendment is the ammendment that protects all of the others.

03-24-2008, 02:16 AM	#6
f4tweet XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Southern Kalifornia Posts: 147	44 mag reloading help I have had success with Accurate AA-9. It burns cleans and meters like fine sand. With a Rainier 240gr. FP plated bullet I loaded from 16.5 gr-19.5 and it shot fine. BTW @ 19.5 the load spec'd at 1520 fps. This was a published load. __________________ We're surrounded, that simplifies our problem. Chesty Puller Last edited by f4tweet; 03-24-2008 at 02:17 AM. Reason: Spelin

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03-20-2008, 10:15 PM	#3
bullets1st XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: in a bunker Posts: 46	oh wow, that was quike. Thanks for the info, found exactly what I needed. Wish I can make more powerful loads for hunting but, I was told by a gunsmith that the 629-5 half lug cant handle a higher load like the Rugers can. Just might have to get a Single Action Ruger. hmm

03-22-2008, 12:42 PM	#4
Jack the Toad XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 159	I load .41 mags. for 2 Ruger blackhawks and a S&W mod. 57. I use the same loads in both. I like Accurate #9 and Alliant 2400 for powders. WW296 and Hodgdon 110 are great too. Unless you are going after something with armor plating, a heavy hard cast bullet and a near max. load of any of those four powders should be adequate . The Smith might not handle a steady diet of the high end stuff , but I wouldn't worry about moderate shooting of any load. P.S. in my .41 I like 8.0 gr. of Unique under a 220 grain hard cast SWC for general plinking etc. . I wouldn't hesitate to use it on a deer either.

03-24-2008, 01:59 PM	#8
Verk XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 376	I'm a big fan of the 210 gr. JHP and have been reloading and shooting it for years.

03-24-2008, 04:19 PM	#9
bigun XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 3,174	I like the big boomers out of my Redhawk, 240 grain is the lightest I go and my favorite is the 300 grain XTP with either a max load of H110 or AA#9. The Redhawk, Super Blackhawk, and TC Contender are the only guns I'd recommend these loads for though they are heavy and the S&W's dont hold up well with them, but deadly accurate and a death ray on the bigger Iowa deer. __________________ The second ammendment is the ammendment that protects all of the others.

09-22-2008, 08:16 PM	#10
gunnut444 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1	How about trying 17-21 grains of 2400. Try the low side for cast bullets of 200 -240 grains. I shoot 20 grains of 2400 with a 240 grain XTP bullet and have rather good results out of a S&W 629 with a 6 inch barrel at 25-60 yards. Good Luck