Armory Sponsor
Posted: 2/9/2009 11:36:44 AM EDT
| Ok, I got great response when I enquired about 40 S&W loads so I thought I had better start stocking up for the old 629. What are your guy's pet loads for the 44mag. I bought 100 220gr FP's from Berry's to try out when I ordered my 1k of 40's the other day. But that is the extent of it. |
|
There are a ton of great loads for the 44 mag using bullets from 180-300 gr.. The 44 mag is one of my favorite calibers to load for and I have done so for years..
H-110 is my powder of choice most often but UNIQUE, W-296, 2400, IMR-4227 and a number of others work very well dependent on load and bullet choice.. Finding a good load your maggie should be easy and I would try H-110 first.. It meters/measures wonderfully, burns pretty clean and has proven quite accurate over the years for me.. I have a 629 4" and love the gun as well as shooting it, she is a Fun Cannon but be careful working up your load and watch for sticky extraction and flattened primers.. Although the 629 is a Fine pistol I don't shoot the same loads in it I would/do with my SUPER BLACKHAWK or my T/C Barrel... "IF" you decide to try some quality Lead bullets, UNIQUE (although kinda dirty) will reward you with very nice groups.. A good 240 gr LSWC over a charge of unique is always a good choice.. |
| When you use H110 and W296 you can't go below the starting powder charge, I use 24 grs of either one of these with 240-250 gr. bullets. Like the poster above stated, with the 629 it's best to keep the velocity down and use different powders. One of my favorite target loads is 7.5-8 grs of Unique with a 240 gr lead bullet, accurate and fun to shoot |
|
Just wanted to clerify my comment RE: H-110 and my 629.. I have No issue at all using H-110 in the 629, I just don't load them as hot..
I have worked up some impressive loads over the years with the help of my Chronograph & these loads were are quite safe in my S/Blackhawk .. But I would not shoot them in my 629 is what I meant to say.. Start with the Minimum recomended charges of H-110 and you should be just fine... Good to see another shooter likes the 240 gr LSWC and Unique, it is a fun round and very accurate.. 
|
| Years ago, myself and 2 hunting buddies all bought new S&W 629 DX's with what I think were 7 3/8 barrels. I found 24.8 gr of 2400, CCI mag primer and a Seirra 180 JHP would shoot around 1.5 inches at 50yd and clock mid 1700's on the chrony in all 3 guns. I have used this same load in 2 other 629's and it works very well. |
| I use hot loads in my Blackhawk, Redhawk, and Contenders but back off on the S&W's..... it's ok for awhile with the Smiths but they are not built as strong as the Rugers. I own 2 S&W model 66's also but won't load them as hot as my GP100 Ruger, I guess it is up to the person shooting and reloading them.... |
Armory Sponsor