44 Magnum Recipe search help

Back when I was younger and dumber, I loaded countless rounds of .44 magnum for my Dan Wesson using a case full of W296 and standard Federal Primers. Very consistent over the chrono and burned cleanly.

I don't do too much of that any more since I have developed "old man hands.":(

I have never used magnum primers except to test to see if I needed them, I didn't and when the primer shortage got bad to load my plinkin' .45ACP rounds.

Oh yeah, Might as well add that I stopped roll crimping a long time ago, even my .44 mag loads and taper crimp everything.:eek:

If you look closely, you can't really roll crimp into a jacketed bullet without damaging the jacket and if you shoot mostly old man loads, as I do now a taper crimp is just as good.:cool:
 
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Just get the Winchester Large Pistol Primers and don't worry about it.

DO NOT REDUCE H110/296 loads below the start grains indicated.

I use mucho H110 in my 6.5" Model 29 and it's great. I also favor the 240g Speer Hp and SP bullets, they have proven very accurate and always load up real nice. (And look good too)

I usually just go with a middle load and call it good myself.

Good Luck.
 
Just get the Winchester Large Pistol Primers and don't worry about it.
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That's what Hornady used in their manual. So I'd agree. I personally have only used CCI 350 magnum primers, but it's my understanding that WLP's are a little punchier than a standard CCI 300, so I guess it's all good.

DO NOT REDUCE H110/296 loads below the start grains indicated.
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I agree. I'm not so sure there's an actual safety issue here. But I do know that W296 doesn't run well at all when you turn it down. Either way, there's no point in doing it. W296 is for big, roaring ammo. Use it as designed. That's what it does. And does it well.

I use mucho H110 in my 6.5" Model 29 and it's great. I also favor the 240g Speer Hp and SP bullets, they have proven very accurate and always load up real nice. (And look good too)
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Yep. I used to use mucho W296 in my recoil junkie days. It's fun ammo to load and does look good. From 1984 to 2012, I loaded it to the Speer #10 book max (also seemed to be an accuracy node, as I used to shoot silhouettes at 100 yrds with it). Then, in 2012, I decide to tame the recipe and reduce it by 2 full grains. Last year, I decided I still wanted them a little more polite to my hand, and so I chose to change propellants, rather than fight with underloaded 296. So I have forsaken W296 for the more versatile and easily igniting A2400. The "boomers" I load these days are a little more . . . old man friendly ;)
 
If you can find it. Accurate Arms No.9 works great for .44 Mag. With lead, or jacketed bullets. If loaded to the top end will get to near what H110/Win296 will do as far as FPS. I like it better than H110/296 as I can use it with cast lead. It also does not require magnum primers. It is my go to for .41 Magnum, and .30 carbine.
 
Every company has its magnum powder in the line, and Enforcer, same as A4100, is a good one. Load data is provided too. Enforcer is really fine though, so some of it is going to wind up on your bench.

All of them are likely found at Reloading Unlimited in 4 or 8 pounders, so expense of mail ordering in bulk is the issue rather than supply.
 
Accurate Arms No.9 works great for .44 Mag . . . If loaded to the top end will get to near what H110/Win296.
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Yep. I put AA#9 in about the same burn rate as 2400. Maybe just a touch faster. At any rate (pun intended :p), it would make some fairly potent ammo. No mag primer required.

All of the Accurate Arms line (#2, #5, #7, & #9) is great stuff.
 
Ken Water: 44 Special Load

For a few years now I have been after the Ken Waters Pet Load Complete Volume book. Recently I was able to acquire Ken’s writings, I couldn’t be happier with it’s contents. It is an easy read and a great way to spend a cold winters afternoon. Some would argue this compilation has become obsolete which is one of the joys of this book. Reading about cartridges you did not know existed or gaining an understanding of classic firearms is one of its benefits. There are still plenty useful loads for today’s reloader and if you are a serious student of reloading then I say this book is a must, if you are just searching for loads then any reloading manual will do.

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Wanting to load up some 44 special loads for plinking I decided to read Ken’s musings about the 44 special. He discusses the balloon head 44 Russian and black powder origins up to what are still considered great 44 special loads today. After verifying Ken’s Alliant 2400 recipe’s in a number of other manuals I decided to proceed. My traditional 44 special load in 44magnum cases are usually loaded with Hodgdon Universal but the 2400 load was of interest as I thought it would burn cleaner.

This load proved to be everything I thought it would be and will be my go to 44 Special load for the foreseeable future.

Thank You Ken Waters.

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44 Special Chronograph Data
Name: ken waters 44 special
Notes: Taurus 6.5 barrel
Shots: 5
Average: 964 FPS
SD: 22 FPS
Min: 935 FPS
Max: 995 FPS
Spread: 60 FPS
Barometric Pressure: 30.1 inHg
Temperature: 44F
Weight: 240 grains

Name: ken waters 44 special
Notes: Smith and Wesson 629 2.5in barrel performance center
Shots: 5
Average: 767 FPS
SD: 40 FPS
Min: 733 FPS
Max: 832 FPS
Spread: 99 FPS
Barometric Pressure: 30.1 inHg
Temperature: 44F
Weight: 240 grains

Name: ken waters 44 special
Notes: Redhawk 7.5in barrel
Shots: 5
Average: 1004 FPS
SD: 43 FPS
Min: 956 FPS
Max: 1071 FPS
Spread: 115 FPS
Barometric Pressure: 30.1 inHg
Temperature: 44F
Weight: 240 grains

Name: ken waters 44 special
Notes: Smith and Wesson performance center 3inch power port
Shots: 5
Average: 761 FPS
SD: 31 FPS
Min: 739 FPS
Max: 824 FPS
Spread: 85 FPS
Barometric Pressure: 30.1 inHg
Temperature: 50F
Weight: 240 grains

Darrell and I finished up the day with a more modern round in a quiet stealthy like way.
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Another safe exciting day on the range.
 
I think it is quite confusing to refer to loads in 44 Mag cases as "44 Special". "Lite 44 Magnum" works better for me, especially when the rounds are being shot from a 44 Magnum gun.
 
I have to agree, to not try reducing the loads with 296. The old books all told you to load to one weight only. 296 should have a slight compression in the case to work right.
 
I think it is quite confusing to refer to loads in 44 Mag cases as "44 Special". "Lite 44 Magnum" works better for me, especially when the rounds are being shot from a 44 Magnum gun.
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I understand how it could be, these loads were developed with 44special cases they wil exhibit higher pressure due to a smaller case. But I prefer to shoot 44 special loads out of 44mag cases. This way you avoid the carbon ring left by the shorter 44 special case and with more case volume you get lower pressure. To me this equals a pleasure to shoot :)
 
I think we would have to examine the definition of the word "load". I believe it would include the case. I think you are referring to powder charges.
 
I spent a LOT of time testing loads for my Desert Eagle 44 mag. DE44's are VERY fickle and need a very specific velocity and pressure to reliably cycle the action. I started out with H110 which is arguably the best powder for "full bang" magnum handgun loads. Problem with the ball magnum powders is they work most efficiently when loaded no less than 90% case capacity. Through much testing I came to realize my DE44 needed a velocity around 1200 - 1250 fps to function reliably. Any more or less velocity I had FTF issues. Full bang H110 loads (23 gr) with the standard 240 gr FMJ was yielding me about 1355 fps, even downloading to about 85% case capacity I still at 1260 fps. I switched to 2400 (which requires far less powder respectively to H110 to achieve identical velocities). My go to load is 18.1 gr of 2400, 240 gr fmj @ 1236 fps.
 
Any of the noted powders should do well in your 8 3/8 inch barrel. It is not a good idea to use slow powders in a short barrel though. (like a 2 inch) Kinda interesting to see the big flash as most of the powder burns out in the open......

Oh, and please never load Magnum loads (Powder charge) in 44 SPL cases. What if someone were to put one in a 44 SPL gun? You might end up with splattered gun and body parts all over the place.

If you want Magnum loads, get Magnum brass!
 
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