.44 magnum small game loads

[single shot shooter]

I have heard that you can load a .430 roundball into a 44 magnum case with a light powder charge for small game loads. Has anyone done this? how is accuracy? does anyone have any "recipies" for these small game roundball loads? I have a .44 rifle I would like to  have some small game loads to hunt squirrel and such with. Any information on this subject would be greatly appriciated.
thanks
SSS

[warf73]

I don’t have any round ball loads but my load of 245gr. SWC with 4.8gr.of Red Dot @ 680fps 4 ¾”barrel.

That should still be sub sonic out of a rifle length barrel. It would be like shooting a 22 sub sonic but little bigger in dia. :grin:


Would there be too much twist in a standard rifle barrel for round ball? Interested in the replies you get.

[Thomas Krupinski]

I don’t have any round ball loads but my load of 245gr. SWC with 4.8gr.of Red Dot @ 680fps 4 ¾”barrel.

That should still be sub sonic out of a rifle length barrel. It would be like shooting a 22 sub sonic but little bigger in dia. :grin:


Would there be too much twist in a standard rifle barrel for round ball? Interested in the replies you get.

I have a load very similar to that but using Hodgdon HP-38 instead of the Red Dot.  I believe the charge is 4.3 grains, but you need to work up the exact amount to shoot best in your barrel.  I like the HP-38 over the Red Dot as it meters more consistantly than the Red Dot being it's a finer grain powder.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive loaded  them with 2 grains of bullseye to shoot inside the pole barn. Seem to shoot real well but the range is only 25 feet.

[single shot shooter]

thanks guys.

Loyd,
   Did you use the roundballs in your load? If a fellow could load about 5-6 grains he may get a load good for about 20 yards? any comments?

[gino]

.430 round ball (120gr) 3.6gr Unique for 566 fps
.430 round ball (120gr) 2.9gr Bullseye for 549 fps

Source: Speer Reloading Manual #11

gino  :grin:

[single shot shooter]

exactly the velocity and load i was looking for gino. thanks very much! :grin:  :grin:  :grin:

[Nobade]

One thing you might want to do is coat the round balls with Lee tumble lube. It really cuts down on leading and improves accuracy of those loads quite a bit. Also check your revolver's chamber mouths - many run oversize. Hornady makes .433 balls which are just right for my Super Blackhawk. Use the proper size expander plug and crimp them very lightly just past halfway and they work well. For range I find the caliber in feet is a good maximum range i.e. 357 to 35 feet, 44 to 43 feet, etc.

[single shot shooter]

THANKS NOBADE. MUCH APPRICTATED