Favorite powder in 44 mag with 250-SWC-K cast bullet

[Leadlum]

Just wondering whats eveybodys favorite powder for reloading the 44 mag with a cast 250gr cast SWC? I`ve been using Blue dot, and I like it, just wondering if there is anything better. I like to run them about 1000-1200fps no more.   Thanks Ray

[Nobade]

For that speed, Blue Dot works great as you have discovered. So does Unique, 2400, 4227, Herco, AA#9, AA#7, AA#5, and many others. That's the beauty of the .44 mag - it'll digest a huge range of powders if you select appropriatly for your desired velocity. It's only when you try to push the limits that you get limited to pretty much H110 or WW296. Myself, I use a lot of Titegroup at 950fps with 240gr. in my 44 mag S&W 396.

[De41mag]

Leadlum;

Alliant 2400, Hands down. Elmer Keith used it and it still is accurate after all these years.

Dennis  

[while99]

I have a RCBS 250 KT mold and I cast the bullets 1:16 tin/lead.  I use 10 grains of Unique.  This gives me about 1,000 fps. from a Redhawk with a 5" barrel.  I've used this load for about 20 years and see no need to change.  If I want more velocity and power, I load a 300 grain Hornady hollow point and use W-W 296.

[Duffy]

SR7625 or SR4756. Cleaner than Alliant powders.

[Seedsntrees]

Hello, I tried POWER PISTOL, I don't use UNIQUE nor 4227 any longer.

I like POWER PISTOL.

Regards,

[Lloyd Smale]

power pistol or herco

[Catfish]

Don`t know if I should get in on this one or not as I don`t shoot 1,000 to 1,200 fps. in my .44`s. I like Bulleyes with 240 gn. cast for plinking and 6 gn. gives me abt. 950 fps. in my RSB 7 1/2 in barrel and closed to 1,100 fps in my El Dorado with a 11 3/4 in bnarrel. For hotter hunting loads I load Win 296 to max. book loads with good results.

[ajj]

For this bullet in this speed range it's hard to beat Blue Dot. If it ain't broke...

[Steve in Michigan]

My experience with Blue Dot has been that it is very temperature sensitive. I also have switch to PowerPistol for most of my handgun reloading.

[Raging480]

I just found this thread, sorry I'm so tardy.  I am helping a friend develop some reloads for his S&W 629, using a 250 grain Keith style swchpgc.  I am going to try a plinking load of about 9.5 grains of Unique, and a hunting load with a healthy dose of W-296.  I forgot the charge weight, I don't have my book with me.  The gas check should help keep it clean...

[Lvl1trauma]

Loyd,
Glad to see that someone else has discovered Herco for .44's. I have had excellent accuracy in a variety of guns with 9.0 grains. I think it is one of those secrets that a lot of folks haven't discovered yet. I get much better accuracy than with just about anything else I have tried. Just a little more recoil, though. 7.5 Gr. of WST does pretty good, too.

Lvl1trauma

[Lloyd Smale]

Herco is one of those old powders thats been forgotten and is one of the best in the .44s and .45s I dont like blue dot and dont use it in anything anymore. It goes from safe pressures to flattened primers in a heartbeat with as little as a half a grain differnce in powder charge. It doesnt do real well in powder measure on progressive presses either. If you want a powder in that burning rate try hs6 or hs7 they meter much better and have given me consistantly better accuracy.

Loyd,
Glad to see that someone else has discovered Herco for .44's. I have had excellent accuracy in a variety of guns with 9.0 grains. I think it is one of those secrets that a lot of folks haven't discovered yet. I get much better accuracy than with just about anything else I have tried. Just a little more recoil, though. 7.5 Gr. of WST does pretty good, too.

Lvl1trauma