200 grn 44 mag loads?

[whyohe]

im having a hard time finding a load for 200 grn LWC for a 44 mag. i just want a plinking load for now but no book i see has one. any help here VERY greatful for.

[wilmsmeyer]

Whyohe,

I show some data for 200 gr JHP loads in my speer manual. You probably have info on jacketed bullets.

I load for only 1 pistol at this time, a 4 inch Ruger GP100 .357. One of my favorite loads uses a cast 158 gr semi WC at 1100 fps. I used the jacketed 158 gr reloading data and got similar predicted velocities.

[whyohe]

thanks wilmsmeyer, that will be a good staring point. what kind of confuses me is that when using the differnet lead bullets the amount of powder can vary so much even though they are the same weight. and that i see some loads for "cowboy loads" using 2400 go so low as down to 10 grns when min for a jhp start at around 20-21. i know you cant doo that with all powders but what makes that powder and a few others good for that?

[wilmsmeyer]

I believe that cowboy loads are "controlled" in that they must fall within a certain velocity....I could be wrong here. I also have been under the impression that .44 mags were not used in cowboy shoots. Isn't it .45 Colt?

Anyway...


Although I have reloaded a whole bunch of ammo for my .357 (Probably over 10,000 rounds) and loaded litarally a dozen different projectiles, I am not an expert on this and my words here should not be taken as biblical.

I can tell you that I've reloaded both lead and jacketed 158 grain bullets to nearly identical velocities with the same powder and charges. Is this the way to go? I'm Ok with what I've done on my own. Same gun for all those rounds. I've never observed pressure signs that concern me.

My advise would be to pose this question on the handgun forum. I'll bet you'll get scientific answers (which you should seek!) that will help you better then I can here. Just being honest. Be Safe.

[whyohe]

np wilmsmeyer. i dont hold you liable. but from what ive read on other reloading web sights they been using 18 grns of 2400 to 23 grns.

as for cowboy loads, yes they shoot from 800 fps to around 1000 fps. they say very low recoil and low on noise. and yes 44 mag is used often. you can even get a 44 mag lever action cowboy rifle.

ill pm rb and ask him. hes GOOD with this stuff!!

[clintsfolly]

my lyman booksays 2400 at 20. to25. gr herco 11.4 to 13.5 gr. unique 10. to13.2 hope this help clint

[Swede]

Whyohe, I've been loading plinking rounds for quite a while with 200gr swc and i've used 10 to 12gr Unique, the same for W571. These two powders will give you between 1250 and 1400 fps respectively for a 10" barrel. For each inch of barrel you can add or subtract 25fps.

Lyman also lists 15.7gr of Blue Dot and 20.0gr of 2400 for starting loads. Blue Dot & 2400 loads are approximately 100fps faster than the Unique or W571.

P.S.: I do not think the W571 is manufactured any more, I still have some left over from twenty years ago.

[whyohe]

thank you very much guys. it does help me alot!