Store bought "target loads" for my SBH .44mag?

S

SARuger

New member
Last weekend I went to a local indoor range for the first time. They wouldn't let me shoot my Super Blackhawk .44 mag, at least not with the Hornady 240gr JHP's that I hunt with. He said I needed "target loads"? The range is 35yds deep. He told me that the .44mag would shoot through the steel at the back of the range LOL! Told me to put the damn cannon up..........

Would .44spcl be a target load? I need something close to what I hunt with to also practice with.

Thoughts
 
Depending on the type of bullet trap, full bore 44mag JHP can punch a hole in the trap.
I got to see the damage I caused up close one time.
Lucky the range owner did not make me pay for the repairs but I was no longer allowed to shoot any 44 ammo of any kind on his range.
1st three rounds dented and the next three tore a hole at the impact point.
Just back the chg down a little and you should be ok or use 44 spl loads.
 
They really should specify bullet weight and velocity limits !!
Lead 44 special loads should be fine ,in fact I would see no reason for 1000 fps max for a 240 gr bullet. A swc .240 gr at 800 - 1000 makes a fine defence load !!
 
Find a real range. If .44 magnum will punch a hole in their backstop plate you can not shoot much but wimpy pistols there.

I have had guys use my range and punch holes through my hanging targets with AR pistols that my .44 Magnum just puts dents in.
 
Well, if I were told to "put the damn cannon up," I'd prefer find a different range where they had better bullet traps and a more polite staff. That being said, if for some reason you have to/want to go to this particular range still, most factory .44 Special loadings are quite mild and will function fine in your Super Blackhawk. You might, however, want to find out specifically what their policy is because if their bullet trap cannot handle .44 Magnum ammunition, then avoiding jacketed ammunition might be wise as well.
 
I'm with the folks above...

Find another range. I doubt that he would like my target loads any more than the store bought stuff. And he needs to be more specific. I wouldn't go back. (At lest not with my 44 mag).

My range allows up to 460 Weatherby. Of course it will clean out the other lanes when someone touches off an elephant rifle on an inside range.
 
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This is the only indoor range for 60 mile radius. He let me shoot my 4" Security Six. The 158gr .357mag isn't exactly a light load. I will pick up some .44spcl and try that.

The only rules he gave me was no center fire rifles, rimfire are fine, shotguns are fine but no slugs, no .44mag.
 
I wont go to a place that has that poor of a backstop. My loads for my 624 would most likely rip through such a backstop let alone the loads for my Uberti Buntline or my Auto Mag.

If this range went so cheep on the backstop I would wonder what else they went cheep on.
 
Just wait until you price 44 special ammo. You'll either take up reloading, or build your own range.

I can't believe ranges still exist that won'r hanlde .44 Mag. That would eliminate a lot of modern rounds.
 
This is the only indoor range for 60 mile radius. He let me shoot my 4" Security Six. The 158gr .357mag isn't exactly a light load. I will pick up some .44spcl and try that.

The only rules he gave me was no center fire rifles, rimfire are fine, shotguns are fine but no slugs, no .44mag.
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to be a jerk here -what about 460s, 500s etc... Maybe he asks before you start and stops anything "excessive" there. Could be I'm not understanding the whole story.

He omits a lot of warnings here and then yells about damage to backstop.

The 44 specials make a big gun a pleasure to shoot. I'm not sure he won't have a fit when you pull the Blackhawk out again. They shouldn't hurt the backstop, but he is the final arbitrator.
 
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Can I expect similar performance/accuracy with the .44spcl as i would the .44mag? I generally always shoot Hornady 240gr JHP and like the results on the range and in the woods/brush.

This is an old indoor range that was closed for many years and recently re-opened. Its in a city setting so I'm sure they are worried about liability. I bought my first handgun there when it was a full service gunshop/range in 1989. It was old then. I bought a blued 10" SBH .44mag :-) then a Berreta 92F the following week.
 
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