44 Mag. low end load for Self Defense

[Turk]

I recently got a 329 PD what a great woods carry gun weighs only 4 oz. less than my M&P C 357 sig.  I'm looking for a low end SD load so instead of re-inventing the wheel I'm asking.  I shoot a lot of high end loads (cast bullets) in my 629 Classic and TC Contender but in the the 329 PD it's a handful shooting a 250 FNGC in front of H-110.  So far I've tried Accurate #7 too much muzzle flash and Herco which is accurate  and isn't too bad for felt recoil.

Thanks,

Turk

[Brian-M]

I'm using a Nosler JHP 200 gr. with 12.4 grs. Power Pistol for 1205 fps out of a 4" barrel.  Very easy to handle.

[Savage]

Reduced loads in .44 magnum = .44 Special. Worlds of good load information in circulation.
Savage

[corbanzo]

Use unique or titegroup.  Those top loads are gonna be WAY lower than your H110 top loads.

[iiranger]

E. Keith hot loaded the .45 Long colt for protention against wild cattle, etc. Idaho. Montana.  Had a problem with metal expansion in cylinder bolt stops. Switched to .44 Special for more metal in cylinder's thinnest part. Hot loaded .44 special for years. Approx. 20 grains of Herc 2400 [CHECK A MANUAL, I am not recommending this load, just a memory, DON'T be stupid...] AND lobbied S&W to bring out a gun for this hot load. In concert with Remington they did BUT lenghtened the case 1/8 inch to prevent using in old, lame .44 Special guns with the magnum ammo at twice design pressure.

Ergo: You can put any .44 Special load into a .44 Magnum case to avoid a ring where the shorter case stops. Might not be the best with SLOW powders, WW296, H110 but then you are looking for lower performance anyway. Grab a manual. Try Bullseye, Unique, Trap 100 (if you can find any or have some laying around) or Find a load that suits your "style"... 200 grains of lead at any velocity is going to slant a social situation in your direction with any but the biggest of bears and they will get indigestion...

Keith wrote of law dogs and the wild child types loading a black powder load first so in the event of trouble they had a cloud of smoke to disappear into... (ha, ha). LUCK.

[Hook686]

I found that 9.4 grains of Unique with a 200 grain GDHP shoot just fine out of my 329PD.

[cwlongshot]

If your looking for urban jungle defensive loads, personally, I would never use a hand load. I would look at some of the excellent 44spl loads available.

If your talking about out in the sticks for dogs and hairy critters, go with a light bullet loaded to about 1000FPS. That should keep recoil down while still offering enough bullet to still penetrate enough to reach any vitals. While still expand and get the job done.

CW

[daddyof4]

Hey man, I use the 4" redhawk with 250 keiths and 10grains of Unique

[45-70.gov]

try 2 round balls  [speer .433]  over 9 grains  unigue  just  for  fun  [ adjust  charge  for grouping in  your gun]   my gun  629 5 in  pokes 2  holes an  inch apart at  50 ft......let  me know  if you  try  it