I wanting to begin working up loads for my 44 mag.Im already using 16.8gr Herc 2400. behind a 240gr XTPHP.I used to be able to handle full power loads but not since my arm surgery last year this load here hurts.Ive heard alot about IMR's TrailBoss,its targeted for Cowboy shoots for lead bullets
http://www.gunblast.com/IMR_TrailBoss.htm
,but I would like to use jacketed soft points.Could anyone help me on the right track for some LITE plinking loads for the 44MAG??I will be using Magtech 240gr JSP,and Starline 44 mag brass.I know I could just load up some 44 spec,but I dont have any brass unless I want to trim some down(which I dont).Thanks in advance.....Steve.

Why not just load your 44 magnum cases to 44 special specs? I doubt that the bullet nor the case will care. I do this all the time in my Redhawks for plinking loads. I also load down my 41 mag Taurus Tracker for plinking, but I've never cut down a case and they seem just as accurate.

The only thing different I do is I use magnum primers. I quit using different primers in both my rifle and pistol loads years ago.

I just buy one primer (magnum) for the pistol and one primer (magnum) for the rifle. I don't care if it is a 44 special or 44 magnum it gets a pistol magnum primer.

I do the same for my rifles. I load a 243 Winchester, 280 Remington and an 8mm Remington Mag. They all get a magnum rifle primer.

It makes it much easier when I'm buying and to be frank I can't tell the difference when shooting.

Bob,
I've read in the past about getting "free velocity" with using mag primers over standard ones. Have you experienced this at all?

Bob,
I've read in the past about getting "free velocity" with using mag primers over standard ones. Have you experienced this at all?

Morning M1

Nope, according to my chrono velocity veriations run the same as loads with standard primers. When loading the 44 mag 10-40 fps veriations with either primer is the biggest difference.

I load a hard cast 255 grain Kieth style to around 1350 out of the 7.5 super Redhawk so I'm not pushing the pressure/velocity curve any. Just good accurate hunting loads that kill well.

It just makes it simpler for me to use one primer instead of having a bunch of different ones, well one for pistol and one for rifle.

When I was chasing those dime sized groups off the bench rest I was much more careful. I used bench rest primers, weighd all the cases, marked the loaded rounds for concentricity, loaded them in the chamber with the mark indexed all the same and on and on.

For casual shooting and hunting I'm happy with a rifle that will shoot a five shot one inch group at a hundred yards or close to that.

I use a portable bench and a pretty good rifle rest, but the bench equipment I use will never approach the steadyness of a cast cement bench, solid rifle rests, stocks designed to go on those rests and scopes in the 30 power range designed to shoot those ultra small groups.

There comes a point of deminishing returns and though I always strive for the best accuracy obtainable those magnum primers seem to be able to outshoot me and my equipment.

Makes it much more simple. I ran into a guy at the range yesterday whom I've met before and got to talking with him and his knowledge and experience far exceed mine. He had gotten a 221 Rem Fireball on clearance and had made some brass out of 223 Rem and was testing the same loads with different primers. Had some good groups and some better than others but for me and my uses I really don't see the need to tinker with different primers and usually use the same primer. If I'm shooting MOA in my hunting rifle, that's good enough for me and the ranges I usually take what I'm shooting at.

8.0 grains of Unique makes a good lite load for 240-250 grain bullets in the 44mag.

If I could put five rounds in 1 inch at 100yds I think I'd immediatly go buy a lottery ticket cause that would be my lucky day.

I've used several fast powders ( Unique up thru Bullseye ) from 3 mfrs., with 44 mag brass & using 44 spl recipes, even loads marked as light target velocities. All with std primers.

The flake powders all worked fine. HS-6, a ball powder, worked, but left a tarry residue that was pretty messy.

AA #9 would be a good one to try, I think...

Lyman # 47 has a starting load of #9 at 19 grains...gives 815 FPS and 22k PSI out of a 4" test barrel with a 240 gr. jacketed bullet.

I use it alot in my 45 Win Mag and its not too bad...leaves some powder fouling, but again, its managable...and tons easier to shoot than the twins (296/H110)

Take a look at IMR4227 as well...

D

Do any of you increase the diameter of the flash hole to improve the burn of the slower powders. Just finished reviewing a book on the Trapdoor Springfield and the folks who did all of the testing with the heavier bullets 500+grn and black powder found they had better accuracy after enlarging the flash hole into the cartridge also achieved a better burn of the powder. I don't know if it would do anything for other powders or not so thought I would ask.