44 SPECIAL LOAD IN 44 MAG CASING

[tradegun]

FELLOW SHOOTERS  I would like to load 7grs. of unique under a 240gr lead bullet, this is a load I have good luck with in 44 SPECIAL casings. I have a few SPECIAL CASINGS but I have 500+ MAGNUM casings what is your opinion? good idea or should I find 44 SPECIAL casings? One additional thought was that if I could use this load to would prevent a corrosion or crude ring in the cylinder!

[Blackhawk44]

With the larger case, I'd bump the charge up to 7.5 or 8gr. to keep the velocity about the same and load 'em up.

[Freezer]

    My standard target load is 8.o gr of Unique with a 249LSWC.  I've shot it for years with good accuracy and mild recoil.  That said I'm switching to 7.5 gr of Universal Clays, Unique if a filthy powder.

[PaulS]

Unique is one of the least sensitive powders to case volume of any. There are loads for 12 grains of Unique in a 3006 shell with no filler. I think you could load your magnum cases with the 7 grain charge and still end up with an accurate load. You are definitely not going to have any problems with ignition so give them a try. If the velocity is a little lower than it is when using the special cases then bump it up a little at a time until you get the same trajectory that you get with the special cases.

[papajohn428]

Given that the standard "Light Load" in 45 Colt for many years was six grains of Red Dot, I think it will be fine.  Unique is a hair slower, but the case volume of a 44 is noticeably less than the 45 Colt.  If velocity or accuracy is inconsistent, bump it up a little and don't worry about it.

PJ

[MnMike]

I use loads designed for .45ACP in my .45 WinMag Contender, with .45 WinMag cases. They work fine and are pleasant to shoot. To compensate for the extra case volume, I load toward the high end. Originally I pushed the bullets into the case to match the .45 case length. This proved to be unnecessary.

good luck,

mike