Feeding the Beast (.44 magnum)

A

aarondhgraham

New member
I like shooting my Model 629,,,
I just don't like paying for the ammo. :(

It's one of my guns I only shoot rarely,,,
Even then I limit myself to 4-5 cylinders of 5 rounds.

I was just on a website that was offering,,,
300 grain .44 Mag ammo for $31.95 for box of 50 rounds.

The brand was PRVI Partisan.

Anyone ever used any of this stuff?

A few weeks back they had that CCI aluminum cased ammo for 21.95 a box,,,
I should have stocked up on that stuff right then and there.

Aarond

.
 
There's only one way to know for sure if your gun likes it. Shoot a box and see. Is it lead or jacketed? If your gun likes it, it's a good deal.
 
300 grain is an awfully stiff-recoiling round for the range Aarond. To me, any bullet weight over 49 grains (anything centerfire) begs for reloading, but especially anything over 184...

My 629 shoots like a dream using 225 grain lead bullets... from mild .44 specials to harder-hitting .44 mags.
 
You really ought to think about reloading.

I load 44 mag on a progressive machine, saying I can only load 5 boxes an hours (250 rounds). I can easily cast 250 rounds an hour.

Taking I cast my bullets out of free lead, it cost me $5.58 per box. Thats of $26.36 in savings on the posted 31.95 cost listed.

So in two hours I can figure I'm making about $65.91 per hour.

So the question is not can you afford to reload, but can you not afford too.

NOTE: The above is based on a low guess, I actually load on a Dillon RL 1000, the commercial, forerunner of the Dillion 1050. I can easily triple the ammo per hour.
 
While I've not used the particular loading you reference, I've used Prvi ammo in .223 Remington, 6.5x52 Carcano, 7.5x55 Swiss, .32 Auto, and 10mm Auto and found it to be just fine for range fodder although the 10mm was loaded a touch on the light side. It wouldn't be my first choice for "serious" use such as self-defense or hunting due to the rather dated/primitive bullets they use, but it wouldn't be my last choice either.
 
A couple years back, I shot about 500 rounds of their 158 gr LRN in 38 special. I found it to be very accurate. From Serbia, I believe.
 
You can get moulds in 44 in a very wide range of weights for any purpose. I figure a penny a piece for the plain base (casted and lubed) and 3 cents extra for the gas checks.

L-R is
Lyman 180 gr WC
Lyman 200 gr FRN
Lyman 237 gr SWC
Lee 240 gr RN
Lyman 245 gr SWC
Lee 255 gr SWC-GC
Lyman 300 gr SWC-GC
 

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My personal preference: I would not feed my Smith and Wesson a diet of 300 grain bullets. (Note: I have a 29, not a 629--still, same gun though.)

I'll also recommend reloading. I got my .44 for Christmas of 1985. After a brief period of experimentation, I started using 8.5 of Unique under a 240 grain Hornady swaged .430 bullet. Then, when I started casting my own, I started using the Keith style 250 gr. LSWC, lubed with Javelina Alox and sized to .430. This is the midrange load recommended by Elmer Keith--it's actually pleasant to shoot--gives you a hint of the power of the big .44 cartridge, and superb target performance.

I've also used Herco, Blue Dot, Bullseye, W231, Green Dot, and W296/H110. The last one is reserved for full power loads in the .44.

I hope you're saving your brass, too.
 
You should quit your day job and load bullets for yourself full time. Best I could ever do was save some money by reloading.
Click to expand...

Don't have a day job, but if I didn't reload I'd have to get one.
 
Heh, heh, heh.....

You folks think that THIS is pricey in factory ammo, try shooting 50 rounds each, of factory ammo in the following calibers...

.500 S&W...:eek:
.300 Winchester Magnum...:eek:
...and the REALLY pricey ones...
.45-120 Sharps....:confused::(:eek::eek:
and...

.50 BMG. (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!)

If I didn't reload, I wouldn't be shooting!!!
 
I did consider reloading at one time,,,

Thanks for the replies my friends.

What I was most curious about is how dirty that PRVI ammo is,,,
I shot some unknown (to me anyways) euro-ammo once,,,
I almost never got all the gunk (soot?) out of my gun.

I went so far as to buy the Lee Classic Loader in .44 Magnum,,,
But that was around the time that primers went scarce,,,
And all other components went somewhat rare,,,
So I put it on the back burner since then.

Maybe I should buy 500 lead bullets, primers, and some powder,,,
I could probably cut the cost in half that way,,,
I would reload .38 special and .44 Mag.

I would never go to the trouble to cast my own lead,,,
I understand just how economical that is,,,
But the hassle-factor is too big for me.

But you guys are correct in that reloading is probably the way to go.

I could see myself coming home after a range trip,,,
Then leisurely reloading the empties from that days shooting.

My living room is a workshop anyways,,,
Maybe it's time to drag out that book and try it.

Aarond

.
 
Maybe I should buy 500 lead bullets, primers, and some powder,,,
I could probably cut the cost in half that way,,,
I would reload .38 special and .44 Mag.
Click to expand...
You won't save 1/2 on 38s but the great thing is you can find softer 158 LSWCHPs and make better ammo for less than the cheap stuff.
With 44 I've got 2 loads 240s with 10gr of Unique or 300s with 19.5 of ww296.
 
Adding reloading your own ammo will also add to your already noteworthy gun-nut cred, Aaron ...... and then you can mentor new handloaders (AKA "spread the disease") as you do new shooters!
 
I ran across a small manufacturer that seems to have good prices. I have not used them myself. They have 240 gr. SWC at 1225 fps for $22.49 per box of fifty. http://www.freedommunitions.com/product-p/fm44s204n.htm

When buying online, I've found it saves a lot on shipping to put in largish orders, say 500 rounds or more, rather than a box or two. (Yes, I know that 500 rounds is a week's shooting for some of you folks).
 
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