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  1. #1
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    Question Hunting load For .44 Mag

    Hi Guys

    Please assist, I have got Winchester cases and Hornady 265 gr. hunting bullets and primers. Now my question with what powder and how much should I load it?

    I am new to reloading so please help me !

    Any tips and advice welcome!

  2. #2

    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    Hi Bauermn

    Take a look at http://www.lambdacode.com/reloading/...stol9.htm#TOC9

    I would think that S265 is suitable, it is on the slower end of pistol powders, and should give you the sort of velicities you would want for hunting. Given that you need a touch more powder for jacketed bullets to get equivalent velocities (to lead bullets), I would think that you should start in the 21grn region and work cautiously up.

    What gun is it that you are loading for? Lever actions, desert eagles and single action revolvers would most probably require treatments to that differ to get the best out of each config/combo. What is your barrel length?

    Are you using CCI350 primers?

    Good luck
    Sweet

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    Handgun or rifle? For rifle, definitely 265. For handgun, maybe 221.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    Hi guys

    It is a Ruger Super Blackhawk , 7.5 Barrel length!

    I have winchester cases, Hornady 265gr hunting bullets

    I need to know what primers is ideal, what powder, and how much?

    Thanks for the advice thus far, please help

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    In a SBH like yours, with a 250gr cast bullet, I figured 22 grains of S265 was about max. Flattened the primers nicely. Gave 40mm at 25m and 1330 fps 6 shot average.

    If you want to go heavier, 13.5 grains of S221 behind the 300gr Frontier gives me about 1100 fps and it's prolly a grain, grain and a half maybe from max.

    That's about the only data I have that might be relevant.

    This is all with CCI 300 and mixed cases. I don't think you need magnum primers and you can't use rifle primers, that only works for small primers.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    Quote Originally Posted by Bauermn View Post
    Hi guys

    It is a Ruger Super Blackhawk , 7.5 Barrel length!
    aah, another man with impecable taste.

    I do not know enough or have enough experience to challenge WRM on his assertation that you do not need mag primers. I have just seen many recipes for 44RemMag that use CCI350s (Like the data I provided the link for). I should also point out that his is real data, mine is supposition - I would go with what he says.

    Sweet

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    Heh. From mid 2009 to now I have reloaded 707 x 44 Magnum rounds. All of these were load development for three guns.

    I don't claim to know a lot, but I have a whole lot of data :-)

    Ken Waters, in his _Pet Loads_ (which is highly recommended) says of the 44 Mag "All three of these powders, 2400, 4227 and H110, are best fired with a magnum primer but this is by no means a must. On the other hand, the fourth suggested powder, Unique, is, I believe, better adapted to standard primers". -- This is just the first reference I could find, there are a number of places I've seen people say you don't really need magnum primers for 357 and 44 mag.

    I suspect people putting loads out there specify the magnum primer just to avoid conversations like this one :-)

    Anyway, see what works for you. My position is that I've seen reports of less accurate results with magnum primers* so if the standard primer works, why worry.

    * Of course I have a rifle which prefers Winchester LRM primers above anything else, just to be perverse.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    I use 22.5gr of S265 to push a cast 250gr SWC in my Redhawk, norma cases and pmp primers.
    A roaring Lion kills no game

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    Thank you guys

    If I take all of the advice and blend it all together= I will start @ about 21 - 22.5 of S265 and standard primers!

    Thank you for the advice thus far( without you guys I would have probably damaged my gun ( or physical appearance) ( or both)

  10. #10

    Default Re: Hunting load For .44 Mag

    WRM

    Do you trim the length of your 44Mag cases?

    I understand from a number of posts on the USA wheel gun forums that trimming will help keeping your crimps consistent (and hence this will not be a cause of potential poor accuracy).

    Cheers
    Sweet

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