suggested 44Special loads for whitetails?

[hans g./UpS]

A friend has damaged wrists,so he won't/cant be using a 44Mag.
Any suggested whitetail loads[within 50 yards] for a 44Special [Vriginian Dragoon 7.5"]?

[Graybeard]

Look in any reloading manual for loads using H2400 with lead bullets. Since it is a .44 Mag gun I'd go about a grain or two more than what the book says is max using a .44 special case or use a .44 mag case with 15.0 to 17.0 grains of H2400 in it. I know the Lyman manual has good data for it. I think both Speer and Hornady do also as they both make swaged lead bullets in the caliber.

GB

[Blackhawk44]

With 250gr cast (at this speed) used 7.5-8gr(max) Unique in Special cases or 8.5-9.0gr in Mag cases.  About 950fps with lighter load, 1000fps or a few more with heavier.  Plenty for 50yds and easy on blast (definitely less than 2400 & 110) and recoil and still a good step up from factory 45 Colt.  Almost always very accurate.  I know manuals say you can use 10gr in mag cases but once had a friend bulge a SBH chamber with that one.?

[Gregory]

My response to you from your same post in Handgun hunting:

A word of caution on new vs "old" 2400. I worked up a load with some 2400 and a Lyman 429421 250 gr Kieth bullet using 16.0 gr of an old canister of 2400, I ran out of powder and 14.5 gr of "new" 2400 gives me the same 1090 fps out of my 6 1/2" barreled S&W 624.

I have a coworker who missed out on the general firearm season tags here in IL. I told her I'd loan her my 624 for the January antlerless season so she applied for a tag. I let her try out the Smith the other day, her first time ever shooting a handgun. After a few shots with a 22LR she was game to try the 44Special and did well on a deer target at 30 yds. I'm going to load up some ammo for her to get used to the gun well before the season. I wouldn't hesitate to use the 44 Special on deer out to about 75 yds.

[Lloyd Smale]

my favorite is 15.5 grains of 2400 and a 429421