Author Topic: 38 Reloads & 44 mag???????? (Read 996 times)

lostone1413 · « **on:** August 19, 2003, 06:41:27 AM »

I want to reload for my Ruger GP100. Most of the shooting is about at 25 to 30 yards. Being on a fixed income the price of shells is to high to do alot of shooting. I'm lookin for the best combination of power and bullet head to give me the most reloads for my money. I always keep good factory ammo for when I carry but just like to find a reload combination that would allow me to shoot alot. I also shoot a S&W 629 44mag. I would be shooting at about the same range so would you use the same power for both guns?? I was thinking something like shot shell power for the max amount of reloads for my money. Maybe red dot or 700X. any thoughts on the type of bullet and power??

Straight Shooter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2003, 07:47:32 AM »

I flipped through a Speer manual that was handy. It lists loads using 700-X for the both 357 Mag & 44 Mag using a 158 gr. LSWC and 240 gr. LSWC respectively.

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2003, 07:49:10 AM »

I like Winchester 231 because it's versatile enough for light loads in 44 magnum and any load in 38 special. It's pretty economical too. Another one to look into is Hodgdon Tite-Group. The price is good, and it will probably do as well as 231 but with lighter charges and lower cost. Check the Hodgdon site www.hodgdon.com to see if there are loads available. Neither 231 nor Tite-Group will be suitable for full-power 44 magnum charges.

HR2D2 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2003, 08:57:45 AM »

For the .38 special I use Speer 148 grain hollow base wadcutters and 2.7 grains of Alliant Bullseye. This is a traditional target load but 30 years ago I used it along with a S&W Model 28 Higway Patrolman to learn how to shoot well. I carried this combination in the field and would hunt jack rabbits and small birds with it. It gave lots of low cost practice and was powerfull enough for small game. I progessed to competitve bullseye shooting and used this load in S&W K-38s Colt Officer's Model Targets and a S&W Mod 52. I use it still today. It is cheap and supremely accurate.

In the Model 29, 24 and 629 I shoot a number of target loads which are supremely accurate and low cost. I use 44 special cases and 3.5 grains of Alliant Bullseye with either a Henslye & Gibbs 185 grain cast wadcutter or the Lee 208 grain wadcutter. For my Colt New Service in 44 Spl. I use an RCBS 205 grain FPRN and 8 grains of Alliant Unique. It shoots better in the Colt.

These loads should give you a couple thousand rounds for the price of one pound of powder and buying 38 WCs in bulk they are super cheap. I cast my own in the 44s so that is also only pennies a round but you can buy the 200 gr RNFP cast or swaged cheap to because of Cowboy Action Shooting. They are not Macho loads but they will do what you asked.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2003, 11:48:08 AM »

Good point, HR2D2: I've been using Zero brand swaged bullets. They cost about $30 per thousand in 45ACP. At that price, it's not worth casting them myself. The key is to find a local dealer so I don't have to pay shipping.

Ron T. · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2003, 02:34:10 PM »

An old shooting buddy put me on to a great target load for the .44 magnum using either a 245 grain hard-cast or a jacketed 240 grain hollow point bullet. The load was 10 grains of Herco and a standard large pistol primer. That's only about 2½ cents per load for the powder if the pound of Herco costs you $18. I also occasionally used only 9.5 grains of Herco with about the same results.

The 10.0 grain load gave a muzzle velocity of about 950 fps to 975 fps and was easy on the gun and the hand, yet very accurate out to 50 yards. The 9.5 grain load felt a little more mild as you'd expect.

For years, I used hard-cast semi-wadcutters (245 grain) with excellent results, but something happened and they suddenly started "leading" my old 3-screw Ruger Super BlackHawk's bore... maybe the lubrication was getting too old... but I never figured it out. I just went to 240 grain jacketed hollow points and didn't worry about it.

Anyway, give that Herco a try... it will do a good job for you in the .44 magnum.

Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

BigEd22 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2003, 05:35:46 AM »

For the 38 special, 2.7 gr of bullseye is a good suggestion. It is a good, mild, and economical load. Using a Lee mould, and casting the bullets from scrap lead myself, I can load a box of 50 for $1.00 (yep. ONE dollar).

securitysix · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2003, 07:23:09 AM »

For .357 Mag and cheap shooting, I usually use a 158 gr. LSWC and 6 gr. of Unique. You could back down on that, if you wish to conserve powder. At 6 gr, you could get 1,166.7 rounds out of 1 lb. of powder. At 5.4 gr., you can get 1296.3 rounds out of 1 lb. of powder, and at 5 gr., you can get 1400 even. That's $2.75/box if you have to buy everything except brass ($15/lb for powder, $15/1000 on primers, $25/1000 for bullets). If you cast your own bullets, I expect the price will vary depending on how much you have to spend on components. A different powder and/or charge will yield a different # of rounds/lb, which will affec the calculation a little, as will buying in bulk.

lostone1413 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2003, 09:05:04 AM »

I wanted to thank everyone for telling me their best economical shooting load. I printed all the responses out and will be trying them Thank's Again