Does anyone on the forum have experience reloading for this 5 shot revolver?
If so,do you think it is strong enough to be
worth the effort of trying to work up some
moderate(not hot)loads,or, should I just stick with factory stuff?
I've been reloading .44 mag and .45 auto for many years without any mishaps and would prefer not to have any now!

I have no personal experience wth the Taurus. I saw one at a gun shop and it looked like a rugged piece. With superficial look it appeared on a par with a S&W mountain magnum. The Taurus actually looked heavier.

In my S&W 624, I load up to full .44 magnum ballistics with no problems at all. I load 22 grains of H110 or 19.0 grains Hercules 2400 with 240-250 grain bullets. I have never had so much as a sticky case.

Note: I hear the new Alliant 2400 is roughly 1 grain quicker than the Hercules. I haven't tried the Alliant because I still have two pounds of the Hercules.

FWIW, J.D. Jones shot Elmer Keith's 250 gr. bullet over 17.5 grains Hercules 2400 out of his Charter Arms Bulldog. I had a Bulldog once and I wouldn't consider using that load.
Even if the Bulldog were tough enough (which I doubt) it would kill at both ends.

At any rate, you should be able to work up a good handload with a little common sense. Just work them up slowly.

[This message has been edited by Scott H (edited 11-06-2001).]

I have seen the Rossi have the cylinder lock up and get out of time from hot handloads, Hence the question I posted about hot handloads. I owned a tuarus 44 mag before my smith and had huge trouble with the timing. I hear that the problem has been fixed but I had sold mine already. Hope this is of some help. I have not owned any Rossi at all so may be the guy loading was a idiot not sure?? But his gun would shoot about 3-4 rounds and be locked up solid.

I have a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44, and the following load lets you know you have fired it, but the gun doesn't seem to mind...

Sierra 180 grain JHC bullet, CCI-350 primer, and 15.5 grains of 2400. All this is thrown in a Federal case.

Ditto on what Steve said. I had a Rossi .38 go out of time from shooting just a few +p loads. I would advise against it. I think you'd be better off looking for one of the Taurus .44 mag small (ouch!) frame pistols and loading them down. They'll for sure take the punishment. My 2cents.

Now how in the heck did I read Rossi and think Taurus? What a brainfart.