44 magnum loads

My Lyman gauge measures 1.610 in length, and Taurus probably used the standard for their cylinder length.

Speer and Hornady list COL at the cartridge or bullet level. Anything powder specific is done by asterisk and footnote.

Why not take the 1.710 as simply a bullet you can't use?
 
I've not had any problems but now I think the Speer book is worthless without COALs.
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The oals for Speer data is using Speer bullets, and is in the cannelure as in most revolver cartridges in most cases. You'll find that Speer does list oals for uncannelured bullets in cartridges that typically use them such as 9mm.
 
As mentioned in an earlier post, the volume inside the case that is taken up by the bullet has a major impact on appropriate powder charge weights. Because of it's greater weight and the location of the crimping groove, the 429244 takes up more volume inside the case than the 429421, and also results in a shorter overall length for the 429244. This means the powder charge weights for the 429244 are going to be less than those of the 429421 for a given pressure.

I would let the overall length of your plated bullet finished round be determined by use of the crimping groove. Then, if possible, I would begin with the starting load of a lead bullet that has the same weight, and a length below the crimping groove that is close to that of the plated bullet. If you can't establish how your plated bullet length below the crimping groove compares with a lead bullet of the same weight, I'd use starting data for a lead bullet that has a the same or somewhat greater weight and a overall length close to that of your plated bullet seated to make use of it's crimping groove.

Having said all that mumbo jumbo, you'd probably be OK crimping the plated bullet into the crimping groove and using the starting data for the 429244 from the Lyman manual. If you do that, proceed with caution as you approach the max published Lyman load for the 429244.
 
BBarn and Real Gun,

Excellent responses. I did compare, but did not measure, the distance below the plated crimping groove and an all lead bullet. Essentially, they are the same but keep in mind the plated is a 245 grain bullet while the all lead bullet is a 240 grain bullet. I would never use the maximum charge for any bullet for rifle or handgun.

I will crimp in the cannelure. I can't get loading data from Frontier Bullets (South Africa) from their web site for the 245 grain plated bullet because they are in the process of compiling that data. They have some data but only for 32ACP, 380 and 9mm.

As mentioned earlier, I went to Cabela's and researched some loading manuals. None listed the COAL for 44 mag for ANY weight bullet at greater than 1.610". I'm not sure what's going on with Lyman and the 244 bullet with a COAL of 1.710. And, as I also said, a friend will be here tomorrow with his Ruger Redhawk 44 mag so I can measure the cylinder. I'm thinking the Taurus and the Ruger cylinders will be just about the same length. If that's the case and if all 44 mags have the same length, why would Lyman publish data with a COAL of 1.7"?

This is one of the things I like about reloading - learning new things every day. This forum is a great learning tool. Can you imagine learning new things in the 1950s.
 
Lyman says the following in their 4th edition cast bullet manual:

"The loads shown for many of the cast bullets listed exceed the standard maximum overall cartridge length. The cylinders of most 44 Magnum revolvers however will accept cartridges assembled to the listed lengths".

Seating the bullet out further provides more room for powder in the case. So if the firearm can handle the increased overall length, the potential for higher velocity exists as a result of more powder space.

Lyman was able to reach 1300 fps with a couple loads using the 429421 seated to 1.71" in their 4" 44Mag test barrel on a universal receiver.
 
BBarn and Real Gun,

My friend's Redhawk's cylinder is approximately 3/16" longer than my Taurus. Apparently, Taurus designed their 44 mag to handle SAAMI cartridges of not longer than 1.610".
 
"Speer 3" 1959 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 6" 1964 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 7" 1966 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 8" 1970 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1521 fps
"Speer 9" 1974 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........19.5 gr. 2400 1344 fps
"Speer 10" 1979 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 22.2 gr. 2400 1392 fps.
"Speer 11" 1987 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 22.2 gr. 2400 1452 fps
"Speer 12" 1994 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 17.7 gr. 2400 1271 fps
"Speer 13" 1998 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 21.0 gr. 2400 1434 fps
"Speer 14" 2007 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 21.0 gr. 2400 ???? fps

Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view. -OB1-Wan Kenobi
 
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