.44 mag reloading

[Bwana Bob]

Thanks HC. I've been shooting a lot of hard cast at 850-950fps so my girlfriend can shoot it. 8gr of unq and the 240gr cast shoots very well. shot some hand loaded 240 xpt's @ 1350fps and they shot well. I'm not opposed to shooting more of them for practice for hunting. I just don't want to loosen my Smith prematurely. Its a gun made in the late 70's.

[lokidog]

100 rounds of 240 gr xtp from Underwood at 1400 fps arrived yesterday.  Now if only I had the gun here to try them out....  Can't wait for turkey season for my trip to the eastside to get my gun.

[b23]

Used to shoot a Ruger Redhawk .44mag quite a lot back in the late 80's and the best bullet I ever used was Hornady 240gr. Silhouette bullets with 22.8gr of 2400 powder.  It was a pretty stout load but very accurate.  I'm not sure if Hornady still makes that bullet but the 240's I shot back then were very tough construction and would punch thru 1/2 steel plate as if they were drilled out by a drill press.  I remember shooting some 180's but they didn't shoot nearly as well as those 240's did.  My load was pretty stout, so I don't think I would start off with 22.8gr of 2400.  Always best is you work up to your load.

I've got a Win. model 94 Trapper in 44mag that I have always wanted to try some of those loads in but I'm a little concerned that Win. 94 receiver isn't strong enough.

[JackOfAllTrades]

For both my 7 1/2" Bisley SBH and my 5" RH I shoot Sierra 240hp, 240sp, 250fpg and 300gn SP with great accuracy from 296, 2400 and my favorite AA#9 powders. AA#9 is cleaner, meters better than anything, and you can load it to the hilt. Kesselring has AA#9 on the shelf.  I shoot hard cast lead pushed by 2400 for plinking (An Elmer Keith load), and only use the jacketed spendy stuff for hunting.  Even if you hit a rib or two, at 15yds, a hot loaded 300gnSP Sierra will go through a good sized blackbear. Two blood drains!
 
-Steve