Looking for very mild .44 Spl. load.

My only 44 gun is a 629 with an 8-3/8" bbl. So it begs for lots of slow powder. It just seems kind of odd to load light for it. I wish I had a 44 Spl (or magnum) with a 4"-ish barrel. Guess I need to get another job - and live outside California.

Anyway, my latest powder for light 38 Spl loads is Nitro 100. It's really fast so it builds good pressure while yielding modest velocities. Burns super clean too. I like it a lot. If I were to load up some 240gn LSWC's for 44 Spl, I'd have to give N100 a try.
 
.....using a RCBS 250 SWC bullet using Red Dot, Unique, or Bullseye.
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No need to run out and buy more powders. All of those will work fine. I'd be less inclined to use Unique as it gets extra dirty and smokey in really light loads. Red Dot seems to have a slight edge over Bullseye with big bore light loads, but both are fine.
 
Trail Boss

Trail Boss

Trail Boss


Yes, I like it so much for .44 Special that I'm willing to say its name three times and summon it.
 
Trail Boss

Trail Boss

Trail Boss
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I keep hearing lots of good things about Trail Boss.

If the manufactures will ever stop producing only elephant gun rifle powder, and turn production to a pistol powder every now and then, maybe Trail boss will show up at my LGS. That would be nice. Not holding my breath.

I'm not going to go out of my way to search for it; but if I ever cross paths with Trail Boss, I'll grab a pound and give 'er a whirl.
 
My pet load for the .44 Spl. is Skeeter Skelton's load; y7.5 gar. of Uniques and the Lyman #429241, Elmer Keith's bullet. I shoot it in a 6" S&W 624. Not a mild load but is more than safe in my gun. Recoil is very manageable.
I think that starting load for Unique would work just fine. I think much of the dirtiness of that power may bed from the bullet lube but is not that hard to clean. I only shoot my home made cast bullets in my revolvers and most of the time in my semi-autos. The starting loads foe Bullseye and Red Dot should work just as well. It the OP has all three, why not run a test and see which one his gun prefers.
Paul B.
 
I'm not going to go out of my way to search for it; but if I ever cross paths with Trail Boss, I'll grab a pound and give 'er a whirl.
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They only package 9 ounces of it in a "one pound" bottle, not because they are trying to rip you off but because 16 ounces won't fit unless they make a special bottle just for this powder.
The price reflects the fact that you are only buying 9 ounces.

I hate this current powder availability situation. I can't find Red Dot for my shotgun loads so I'm currently loading my 12 gauge trap loads with Hi Skor 700X, mostly because it's available.
 
i'm still amazed lots of good info but.. you can call the phone number on your powder container and ask the horses mouth directly. I called to verify some info and found the mfg very helpful. I did the math and had them confirm the safety margin. I guess it's a sign of the times talking to people you don't know via the internet. at least with the mfg you have someone paid to answer these questions. in my opinion its worth a call.
 
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