What .44 Magnum loads?
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jglsprings
New member
Here is a thread from not too long ago that covers just this topic...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540533&highlight=44+magnum
General consensus was to drop to a 44 special level load for home defense due to over penetration. I own five 44 mag revolvers and I don't have any loaded up for home defense. Too many kids in the other parts of the house and the neighbors on thee sides.
YMMV
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540533&highlight=44+magnum
General consensus was to drop to a 44 special level load for home defense due to over penetration. I own five 44 mag revolvers and I don't have any loaded up for home defense. Too many kids in the other parts of the house and the neighbors on thee sides.
YMMV
PointOneSeven
New member
I used to grab whatever light weight HP rounds the local shop had in stock. They handle their business with less issue than standard round nose or hunting loads. At least a little less 
.
.mxsailor803
New member
We're talking about a .44mag here. Any load thats reliable would work for home defense. The problem is with higher pressure loads, more over penetration in a HD environment. Even light loaded cast or plated loads would work. Some people may say "what about body armor/heavy clothes?". Think about it like this, if a guy is wearing body armor and gets hit by a .44mag, it would be like taking a sledgehammer to the chest. Broken ribs and a possible heart stoppage would not be out of the question. Either way, the threat from that individual would be halted.
Federal Hydra Shok
P44SH1
1240 fps out of their test barrel should deliver roughly 1050 to 1100 fps out of a 4" barrel.
That's for a full 240 grain JHP, not a lightweight with poor penetration.
In actual use - it's (the .44mag) probably very close to the .45acp Hydra Shok - which is listed @ 950 fps.
I really don't recommend using a .44 Rem Magnum for defensive use however.
Not that it's not an effective round and not that it's no more a danger than a .45acp - - it's 100% about the stigma attached to it.
Read thread after thread after thread here and on other gun forums and you'll see the same uninformed pre-conceived notion that "The .44 magnum is "too much gun".
That comes from a collection of gun people that should know better.
In the real world, filled with extremely ignorant people that find their way into a jury box - that can mean a whole lot - and none of it good.
P44SH1
1240 fps out of their test barrel should deliver roughly 1050 to 1100 fps out of a 4" barrel.
That's for a full 240 grain JHP, not a lightweight with poor penetration.
In actual use - it's (the .44mag) probably very close to the .45acp Hydra Shok - which is listed @ 950 fps.
I really don't recommend using a .44 Rem Magnum for defensive use however.
Not that it's not an effective round and not that it's no more a danger than a .45acp - - it's 100% about the stigma attached to it.
Read thread after thread after thread here and on other gun forums and you'll see the same uninformed pre-conceived notion that "The .44 magnum is "too much gun".
That comes from a collection of gun people that should know better.
In the real world, filled with extremely ignorant people that find their way into a jury box - that can mean a whole lot - and none of it good.
Times change, attitudes change, ammo changes, etc., but some things stay around for a long time, like people's memory of Dirty Harry saying how the .44 Mag would blow your "head clean off.."
For self defense, factory ammo, .44Magun caliber, I think the Winchester Silvertips are as good as anything. They are a lighter load than the standard .44 Mag ammo.
A good .44 Special load is even better, having both sufficient power and being a bit more controllable in rapid fire.
A .44 Magnum isn't the best choice for personal defense, because of both the reputation it has (which could be a factor in court) and because most .44 Mag ammo is way overpowered for self defense, making fast follow up shots very difficult.
But, if its what you have, it will serve just fine, if you load it with the right ammo. Hunting loads are not the best choice.
For self defense, factory ammo, .44Magun caliber, I think the Winchester Silvertips are as good as anything. They are a lighter load than the standard .44 Mag ammo.
A good .44 Special load is even better, having both sufficient power and being a bit more controllable in rapid fire.
A .44 Magnum isn't the best choice for personal defense, because of both the reputation it has (which could be a factor in court) and because most .44 Mag ammo is way overpowered for self defense, making fast follow up shots very difficult.
But, if its what you have, it will serve just fine, if you load it with the right ammo. Hunting loads are not the best choice.
Modernhoglegs
Inactive
Man With One Gun
20-off years ago, a divorce cost me almost my entire gun collection.
I was left with a brass framed replica of a .44 1858 Remington New Army and .50 cal black powder rifle.
The .44 became my home defense gun for over a year until I could afford something better. I was doing a lot of long distance driving though west Texas and New Mexico, so the "better" became a .44 Mag Super Blackhawk due to the chance of unexpected encounters with stray livestock and deer on my routes.
When I wasn't on the road I loaded with 44 Special Winchester Silvertips or Glaser Safety slugs. I found out my Blackhawk does not throw 200 gr bullets to the same place as it does 240gr or 300gr bullets. It would not make much difference at household differences, but at 15 yards it was noticeable.
I say that to encourage you to test your selected home defense ammo to make sure it impacts where you are expecting it to because you don't want to have to fuss with the sights every time you go shoot your gun.
20-off years ago, a divorce cost me almost my entire gun collection.
I was left with a brass framed replica of a .44 1858 Remington New Army and .50 cal black powder rifle.
The .44 became my home defense gun for over a year until I could afford something better. I was doing a lot of long distance driving though west Texas and New Mexico, so the "better" became a .44 Mag Super Blackhawk due to the chance of unexpected encounters with stray livestock and deer on my routes.
When I wasn't on the road I loaded with 44 Special Winchester Silvertips or Glaser Safety slugs. I found out my Blackhawk does not throw 200 gr bullets to the same place as it does 240gr or 300gr bullets. It would not make much difference at household differences, but at 15 yards it was noticeable.
I say that to encourage you to test your selected home defense ammo to make sure it impacts where you are expecting it to because you don't want to have to fuss with the sights every time you go shoot your gun.
"By far the best choice for your ** .44 ** is the 44 Special Cor-Bon 165 grain JHP. Glasers, the Winchester Silvertip 200 grain JHP (X44STHPS2) and PMC Bronze 180 grain JHP are also good rounds...."
http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm
BTW: I carry the same: 44 Special in my Mountain Gun when not in the boonies.
It is a remarkably effective cartridge.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm
BTW: I carry the same: 44 Special in my Mountain Gun when not in the boonies.
It is a remarkably effective cartridge.
Interesting...
He has this to say about the .45acp.
"Federal Premium 230 grain Hydrashok JHP (P45HS1) - A great load and my #1 choice. It provides excellent stopping power in this potent caliber."
This kind of thing irks me to no end.
The author heaps praise on a 230 grain Hydra Shok .45acp @ 900 fps, but a 240 grain Hydra Shok .44 magnum @ 100 to 150 fps per secod faster falls under the category of
"The blast and kick of this powerful caliber make it less than optimum for defense use, despite what you may have seen in the movies".
A load for a 44 magnum for home defense depends on where your home is.
Most folks live in cities and towns.
Some don't.
If you live way out in the country ANY 44 mag load is fine but a hollow point bullet that will expand at the velocity its loaded too would be best all around.
One load that I have shot in the past that was awe inspiring was a Sierra 180 grain bullet over all the 296 powder that it could be safely loaded upon. From a 7.5" barrel the velocity is very high and the expansion is explosive. I killed a large beaver with it once and the bullet didn't exit but the kill was like lightening. Blast is bad, but most 44 loads are loud.
or just use a hollow point load in 44 special.
Most folks live in cities and towns.
Some don't.
If you live way out in the country ANY 44 mag load is fine but a hollow point bullet that will expand at the velocity its loaded too would be best all around.
One load that I have shot in the past that was awe inspiring was a Sierra 180 grain bullet over all the 296 powder that it could be safely loaded upon. From a 7.5" barrel the velocity is very high and the expansion is explosive. I killed a large beaver with it once and the bullet didn't exit but the kill was like lightening. Blast is bad, but most 44 loads are loud.
or just use a hollow point load in 44 special.
I zero my short barreled 44 magnums in for magnum ammunition because that's what they are. For most uses 44 Special works as well or better. I've learned that random 44 Special loads may not shoot in magnum revolvers at any where near a correct point of impact even at close range, although I've had better luck with three and four inch barrel 44 magnums in that regard than with longer barrels. The solution is simply pick the bullet you like and go up and down on the powder charge until you achieve correct zero. A random box of factory 44 Specials may or may not work. Although I have little experience with factory ammunition my guess would be that a 44 Special load with a bullet weight that matches the 44 magnum bullet you use will be most likely to give the results you're looking for in a short barrel. In the long barrel it is just the opposite. For my 7.5 inch Ruger Blackhawk to match my magnum zero with a 240 grain bullet I had to go to a 180 grain wadcutter. With heavy bullets 44 magnum revolvers of six inch barrels or longer may not have the sight adjustment to zero at all with any heavy or near normal weight bullet.
I keep 225grn Barnes XPB's in my Alaskan in case it ever gets called into HD duty (not my first choice)
Those XPB's clock out of that Ruger at 1190fps and at 1330fps out of my 5.5in Redhawk (20 grns of N110) with expansion of over 3/4's of an inch!
If these overpenetrate to a great degree I would be surprised.
Those XPB's clock out of that Ruger at 1190fps and at 1330fps out of my 5.5in Redhawk (20 grns of N110) with expansion of over 3/4's of an inch!
If these overpenetrate to a great degree I would be surprised.