44 mag sbh 7.5

[Jim n Iowa]

I had my sbh cut down to 4.75+" barrel length. The balance feels good. My object is to load 240 swc in 44 sp and use as a field carry gun. I have 2 Redhawks for hunting in 44 mag. I just have a thing about the 44 sp and have collected a fair amount of brass to reload with. What does this board recomend for powder choices.
thanks
Jim

[Almtnman]

My SBH still has a 7.5 inch barrel and I like to shoot 44 special loads in mine. You are probably going to get so many variations of loads by different people, you might have to sort out which one you like the best. I use 240 grain hardcast bullets and 5.0 grains of Bullseye. It makes an excellent 44 special load for taking a whitetail deer out to about 50 yards and makes a very nice load for carrying afield, not too much recoil, but will do what you want.

[warrior1]

i'll say one thing them 44 specials are mighty addictive. i shot about 100 out my 29-3 and really  enjoyed shooting this round,but getting rid of that crud ring was no fun. ended up with a 44 special handgun 6". this is so much fun to shoot i've neglected my 357s. i'll have to look it up but it seems to me 2400 and 240gr lswc do exceptionally well.
dan

[Ken ONeill]

2400 !!

[Jim n Iowa]

Thanks for the reply's, I also have a 2" snubby in 44 sp  that I load 210g sthp for, I carry this gun in the truck. My new "customized" SBH has a good feel, I will need to learn about the  clean up. It was way cheaper than trading it off.
Jim

[safetysheriff]

jim,
to avoid the fouling ring, and to still use .44 Spcl loads, i'd load a cast bullet backwards in a .44 mag' case, and crimp it around the base.   adjust the powder charge accordingly.  using a .44 spcl' load in that .44 mag' brass with a reversed bullet would probably be just about right.    maybe Hi-Skor 800-X would do it.    you may want to ask around to see who else has tried that.   the large, flat-based end of that cast bullet would be death to anything in the U.S. at 35 yards or less.......with any reasonable load.   i'd also consider imr-4227 for this load, with a Win' pistol primer.   

just my two cents,

ss' 

[Jim n Iowa]

SS sounds like a plan. I will try it thanks.
Jim

[Lloyd Smale]

my go to load in the 4 5/8s super for hunting is the 240 rcbs swcgc bullet and enough wc820 which is surplus aa9 to push it to 1200 fps. Kills great its mild in recoil and shoots one hole groups at 25 yards. Lighter loads for that gun are the rcbs 250 kt and 8 grains of power pistol.