Thread: Loads for .44 mag?

I'm getting back into shooting steel after a long hiatus and I'll be shooting a Dan Wesson .44 mag revolver 8" heavy barrel in FP and Big Bore. Anyone interested in talking about loads with me?

Back in the day I mostly shot a Sierra 220 gr FPJ with 27 gr of W296. That's a heck of a big bang, lots of recoil, but I was able to shoot a pretty decent group out at 100 yards.

Recently on another forum I was recommended to try a 250g FPJ with 23 g of W296. Never having fired a bullet this heavy before I loaded 21.5, 22, 22.5, and 23 gr rounds. I've fired the 21.2 and 22 g rounds thus far and find them to be more controllable on a short range, have not had the opportunity to shoot outdoors yet.

What loads are others using?

When I shot the 44Mag, my "go to" load was a Sierra 240 JHC in Winchester cases. CCI 350 primer. 23 gr of 296. Firm crimp. Never have found a different load that would shoot as well.

Why shoot a hollow point at steel targets?

Originally Posted by n.paperman

Why shoot a hollow point at steel targets?

Why not?

Consider that match grade rifle bullets are just about exclusively hollow point. It's all about accuracy. Any 44 mag bullet at a respectable load level will flatten any silhouette target so make your decision on load developement based on accuracy and tolerance of recoil.

I guess what I meant was, are hollow points a more or less accurate bullet in a large caliber handgun than the non hollow point. Sierra for example, in the product organization and naming (e.g. Tournament Master) at least implies their hollow points are less accurate.

Am I just a victim of Madison Ave?

What makes a more accurate bullet? I guess it is consistency of weight from bullet to bullet, consistency of density within the individual bullet (ie no bubbles or voids, constant jacket thickness etc), a consistency of shape bullet to bullet, and a symmetrical shape in each bullet. What am I missing?

It's like people...no two are the same. I might like you, my best friend might not like you. Most of the name-brand bullets out there are plenty accurate, it is just a matter of finding a combination of components that works well in YOUR gun. I use whatever is accurate, except as a general rule, I avoid varmint-type bullets, as they tend to shatter on impact. Hollow point, flat point, round-nose, FMJ, if it's accurate in my gun, I will use it.

After looking at the BC of the different bullets, I went to the 250gr Sierras over 22.7gr of 296 over a Fed 155 LPmag primer. It kicks, it bellows, it's dirty, but is it accurate. I got the same accuracy with the 240 JHC over 24gr, but went for the higher BC. When I get the time I'd like to work up a load with H4227 as it is not as dirty, flashes less and is not as temperature sensitive. BUT, time and ambition never seem to coincide!
The old WW mag pistol primers were great. The new do everything LP primers are not as good. We did a test with 24/296 and the 240 Sierra JHC. The 155 federal gave better accuracy, higher velocity and lower SD. The CCI LPmag was a very close second. Rem and Win primers were a distant 3rd.