.44 Magnum INFO NEEDED

[Ninety Caliber]

Just scored a S&W model 29. 6 1/2". I load my competition .38 Spec ammo with Bullseye. I am wondering if anyone uses it for .44mag. Sure like it in .38's. there doesn't seem to be much data out there.
Any info or opinions would be appreciated.

[mikld]

Bullseye is normally too fast for the .44 Magnum. Plenty of data available in load manuals, but Bullseye isn't a normally recommended powder for .44 Magnum, so it's omitted.

[Zippidydoodah]

My old Speer manual lists some loads for round ball and lead bullets, but like previous reply they are more like 44 special than magnum loads.
Be good plinkers though. About 5 grains behind 240 lead= 800fps. About 3 gr with lead ball about 550fps. That will still go thru a 2x4 pine

[Maximumbob54]

The minimal load data for an old cartridge and an old powder is an indicator of how poor performing the load is. It's one of those things that while yes it can be done it can be done soooo much better with medium and even better again with slow burning powders. BE is just really fast burning and that is never a good thing for large heavy calibers.

[larryw]

I have to agree, there are just to many other great
powders out there for large magnums.
Don't get me wrong, Bullseye is a great powder,
for it's intended use (Non Mag).
I use a bunch of stuff for my 44's, H-110, 2400, LilGun
& several others depending on what I want to do?
Good luck & keep us posted.

[AlaskanGuy]

I use several things for my 44's... Some are better then others... I use unique when my wife want to play with my 44, but mostly 2400... 2400 is pretty scarce these days though, but i did manage to score a large jug of ramshot enforcer and really like it, but recoil is up there.... The taurus handles it better then my smith... The smith dont like the heavier stuff, and i dont like to shoot heavies in it... The ruger dont care but the recoil is stiff....

AG

[larryw]

I have to agree with Alaskanguy, the Rugers don't care.
They eat anything & ask for more. My 10 1/2" SBH with oversize
rubber target grips can still get punishing, is a pleasure to shoot
the heavy ground pounders in, & it's a tac driver.

The biggest problem I had with my model 29 was, for me, it was the most
uncomfortable big bore to shoot in stock trim I have ever fired.
Don't know if there even still made, I imagine they are,
but the Pachmeier grips really made the
29 a lot better to shoot, but did not fit my hand?
Haven't had a 29 since the late 70's??
"Go get 'em Harry" :)

[oscarflytyer]

I would go with 2400 and Unique.

[ljnowel]

Light loads? There are many powders out there and bullseye will work just fine for those.

If you want real 44 mag loads I prefer 2400. Many like h110/w296 but 2400 has always performed for me and has produced much better loads with lead bullets.

It's also worth mentioning that experimenting with 2400 in the 44 special is what drove Elmer Keith to push for the 44 mag and that's what he used in his 44 mag loads.

[oscarflytyer]

Used to use almost exclusively Unique and 2400 in mine. Also some 296 and 4227. H110 is (about) same as 296. 296/110 is usually for heavy jacketed. Unique/2400/4227 works great for cast, and 2400 worked very well for me with hvy cast bullets with hvy loads.