.44 Mag range rounds?

I

IZHUMINTER

New member
I'm purchasing a .44 Mag revolver, and would like to hear recommendations for range rounds. While I'll shoot at least a cylinder or two of full power defense loads when I go to the range, I couldn't do that all day. Does anyone have a favorite .44 Mag (or .44 Special) round for when they take their piece out to play?
 
"full power defense loads" For home defense against BGs I would not recommend full loads. Full loads should be used for hunting deer and other big game and for things like metallic silhouette matches.There are some good 44 special loads for defense and handloads of 900-1000 fps with a LSWCHP will work well....Since you're new to the 44mag I suggest you start with 44 special loads and gradually work up to full loads, that's the best way to learn to handle the recoil. Many find better grips such as the Pachmyer are helpfull. For hunting accuracy is the thing. Find ammo that groups 1.5" or less at 25 yds and practice a lot.
 
For the last 10-12 years my target load in S&W M629 .44 Mag revolvers has been a 250 gr lead SWC bullet at 1100 fps using AA5. Am going to drop it back to 1000 fps now that arthritis is beginning to be noticeable in my hands. Check loading manual for recommended range of powder weights. Other medium burning rate powders such as Unique are also good.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
Miwall .44 mag ammo is great for light plinkin'. Price is right for plinkin to. Only 950 FPS from their SWC load, but yeah, I won't complain since all I do is plink.
 
Yes. CCI Blazer .44 special JHPs. $12 for 50 is the best store-bought plinking choice that I can find round here. Coming in second would be winchester 'white box' .44 mag, 240 gr, SJHP, I think $20 for 50.
 
Hi ,
I keep a box of winchester silver tip .44 special 200 grain HP for home D. Its pretty close to a .45. 44. mag for home D is not a real good idea. It will go through a few walls before it stops. I use the Mags in my 649 4 inch only out on the range or as a trail load.
I heard the CCI blazer is pretty good for home D also and cheap so you can shoot a lot of them.
But check out gunblast.com there is a artical about .44 special home D ammo in there some where. They are shooting a charterarms bulldog I think. Lets you see what a .44 special can do.
 
Just so everyone knows, the .44 is not going to be a home defense gun, nor a CCW gun. I use a shotgun for home defense, and ordinarily pack either a .45 or .40 depending on my mood and the climate. The .44 is going to be my boar hunting companion. When I'm talking "defense loads" that's what I mean. Sorry for any confusion.
 
OH! :) Check out outdoormarksman.com. They carry Miwall ammo that Jonathon mentioned above for a good price and have a few types to check out. With shipping its around 13 to 15 bucks for 50 rounds. Not bad.
 
Midway sells Magtech240 grain SJ softpoints for 13.89. Box of 50. Not too bad. I have not found a favorite round for my Ruger yet.
 
There are a lot of good loads for plinking available if you handload. An old favorite of mine for many years was 10gr of Unique under a 240SWC. I don't presently own a 44Mag, sold both of them a few years back, but keep a 44 Spec. in my office desk drawer as a defense gun. It is loaded with the previously mentioned 200gr Win. Silvertip load. I strongly recommend not using handloads for personal defense against two-legged predators.
 
44 sp

240 GR semi wad cutter with 5. somthing GR Hurco powder(dont have my reloading manual here where I type)
Its a nice very accurate round and powerful enough to have fun with and light enough not to lead the barrel. The powder is fast enough to work in 3 in barrels and still work well in 6.
Thats for plinking
For carry its Winchester silvertips
 
FirstFreedom....where are you finding those Blazers for that price? I like them for my carry rounds, but can't find them locally at all, and have yet to find them available anywhere that cheap.
 
OH! Check out outdoormarksman.com. They carry Miwall ammo that Jonathon mentioned above for a good price and have a few types to check out. With shipping its around 13 to 15 bucks for 50 rounds. Not bad.
Click to expand...

My dad does service calls to a few customers in Salem once and a while, so he just buys stuff on his way through town ;) Can't beat them on ammo prices in my honest experience.
 
I use Magtech for range ammo (if it's not something I loaded). But the Magtech is a balls-to-the-wall load (1250 fps for a 240-gr pill from a 4" barrel).

For personal defense (I know you said you weren't going to use it for this, so just puttin' it out there) I use the 240-gr Hydra-Shok. It's 1180 fps from a 6.5" barrel, and just under sonic (~1030fps) from a 4", which I think is ideal for that round.

18.5 gr of 2400 under a 240-gr pill comes close to this for range practice, and a hardcast 240-gr pill under 17.5 gr of 2400 is the most accurate from my 4" 629.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top