I was recently rereading Elmer Keith's Sixguns and noted that one load he recommended for 44/40s was 18.6 grains of H2400 under a 210 hard cast slug. I am starting to load for an AWA 44/40 and wondered if anyone has some good loads for this caliber. Keith's load seems a little hot.

I had very good luck with 12.8 grns of Bluedot behind a lyman 42798. It weighed 225 grains. I used this same charge with the remington 205 gr JSP.

Never chronoed this load but it was very accurate and fairly stout. I was shooting this in my S&W N frame so I'd start lower in a Colt. I saw somewhere once where this load theoretically was not a max load but I'd exercise caution anyway.

This and the .32 H&R mag are the only cartridges I've ever loaded for that didn't like Unique.

-M

9 gr unique, 200 gr

13 gr 2400, 200 gr

If you want a 44 mag buy one. The 44-40 brass is to thin to hot rod.

Kieth's load is way to hot. You can also find some insanely hot loads in old Lyman manuals. Do not shoot them!

My Colts shoot 6.5 gr. of win 231 under a 205 lead bullet very well. Not a huntin load but a very good CAS or plinkin load.

Alliant's website lists 14.5 grains of 2400 as max with a 200 gn JSP. It is good for 1200 fps and 12,500 cup.

Incidentally, they list 12.0 grns of Bluedot as max at same velocity and pressure. In my big "N" frame my load of 12.8 grains is fine but, like I warned it would be considered slightly hot in a colt.

-M