Hey guys, The past few years most of my shooting/reloading attention has been directed to Contenders w/ bottleneck cartridges. My 44 mag/44 specials have seen little attention. My 8 y/o son wants to shoot these revolvers some so I now need to load up some reduced loads. So far, he's handled 44 Special loads quite well (240 gr bullets @ 850 fps). In years past I've used Unique or Red Dot for these loads, but I'm about to run out. Here are my options:
Keep using Unique/Red Dot.
Try some WW 231 or 2400 I can pick up from a friend real cheap. (I've always thought of 2400 as a powder for full power loads, but manuals show reduced loads for it, as well.)
By a new powder. Is there a new powder available that is widely recognized as "the best ever" for these type loads? Could Blue Dot be used in this situation? If so, I could then justify buying some to also try in my 221/223 Contender barrels. Gary T.

[ 07-05-2002, 08:44: Message edited by: Gary T ]

A powder I have had very good luck with recently in reduced .44 and .45 colt loads is hs6 try between 10 and 13 grains with a 240-260 grain cast bullet. Ihave used this powder in everything from the 38 special to the .500 linebaugh and it allways gives me good accuracy. My second choice for reduced loads especially real light ones is 231 I have alot better luck with it then with bullseye or unique

Damn, I had minimum data for my .44Mag using a 10" Contender, but I can't find it. I remember loading it all the way down till the bullet got stuck half way down the barrel.
I did find this in my notes: "Min load for .223 w/55grFMJ, 3gr Bullseye". That was shot from my 18" barrel Mini-14. I don't remember how well it worked, just that it was a very light load and I thought any lighter might get stuck. It was just an experiment to see how light I could go.
I don't recommend too much of such a fast powder in a .223 for plinkin' rounds because the pressures might jump too high before getting descent velocity.
I do recommend trying the Blue Dot to experiment with in either of the shells. Also, jacketed bullets are much harder to fire out than cast, so cast should be more consistant.

My .44 Magnums have always liked 5 grs. of Bullseye over a 240 gr. SWC. About 750-800 fps., 4-5 MOA, and really light recoil. A favorite load of the late Elmer Keith.
My guns have never shot really well with Unique.
I don't like using shotgun powders in handguns. They aren't designed for pressures over 18-20,000 psi.
W237 ought to work well. I've never tried it in the .44 Magnum. E

Gary T I may be old fashioned, but I still get good results with Unique and 240gr. cast bullets. Start at 7.5 gr and work your way up to 10gr. You should find a load in this "power range" that is accurate and has the level of recoil you are looking for. If I need a load more powerful than 10gr. of Unique I go to 2400. With a 240/250 cast or jacketed bullet start about 18gr and work your way up to the power level you want, with acceptable pressure. With bullets above 250gr. I use H-110. there a lot of newer powders on the market, and I am not against all progress, but these loads were good enough for ELMER KEITH, and they are good enough for me. P.S. do not fail to try some Speer 44 shot shells, good for snakes, rabbits, grouse, etc.

I believe that i used to use a 10.0 grain load of W231 under a 240 LSWC with a WLP primer. It is basically a start load listed in the Winchester manual....

I use 9 Grs of Unique under 240 gr Lee SWC. Shoots better than I can. My only complaint is the Unique is dirty. I understand the new Unique is much cleaner but it hasn't made it to my part of the world yet.
For serious loads, W296 under everything.

2400 is extremely versatile powder and loads down quite well. You might try your son with 18 grs of 2400 under your 240 gr bullet.

Unique would be good mid-range load as well, but pay attention loading it that you don't double charge a case as you'll have room to do just this in the case.

7.2 to 7.4 grains of Bullseye under a 240 grain hard cast SWC. This is out of my Ruger SRH with a 7 1/2" barrel. I get mine from Redline who has a vendor at the gun show. An added benefit is it shoots to the same point of aim as my 24.4 grains of WW296 pushing a 240 grain Hornady XTP. Slim