One Load For Pistol and Rifle

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markn30135

Single-Sixer
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
211
Location
Georgia
I know someone has some experience here with developing one load for a pistol and rifle. Do you develop the load for the pistol or rifle? Looking at .357 Magnum and 44 Magnum rounds.

Thank you,
Mark
 

DGW1949

Hunter
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Messages
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Location
Dixie
I started by testing how well my "known performer" revolver load worked out of my rifle. After that, it only took a little experimenting with the powder charge to come up with a similar load that is satisfactory for both.

DGW
 

Iron Mike Golf

Blackhawk
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
945
Consider twist rate of both guns. For example, if your rifle is a Rossi 92, that could be a limiting factor for a load that will work in both ( for example: 30" twist in the rifle vs 16" in a revolver).

So for me, having a Rossi 92 in 357, a S&W Model 28, and a 6.5" New Model Blackhawk, I take loads that shoot good in the rifle and check them in my M28 and BH.
 

keyston44

Bearcat
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
81
Location
kansas
You didn't say if you are using cast bullets or jacketed. That might matter in the 44 because industry standard for handguns is .429 while the rifle is .432.
For jacketed bullets there shouldn't be any problem.
For me to use the same cast bullet in both guns I had to size them to .433. They would be squeezed down some in the revolver but would fit the barrel perfect in my Marlin.
If you use a .430 cast bullet in a rifle you will get alot of leading, even with a gas checked bullet.

Key
 

sandman228

Single-Sixer
Joined
Sep 15, 2011
Messages
191
my own cast 158 swc (unchecked) sized to .358 with 6.0 gr of herco shoots great out of my s&w 686 and my r92 with no leading .
 

8emem

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 28, 2008
Messages
57
.44 magnum - Win 240 HSP, 15.0 gr Blue Dot, WLP primer.
.357 magnum - Rem 158 JHP, 9.0 gr HS6, WSP primer.

Caution - the Blue Dot load is over maximum in some manuals, but not all. No signs of pressure in the 77/44, Redhawks, Blackhawk. I am getting great accuracy, a good size flash, and magnum recoil so I stopped there. Economical way to load into the full-power magnum range.
 

No-1

Single-Sixer
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
296
Depends when I had my Ruger 44 carbine I had to increase my pistol load to reliably cycle the action. Wouldn't have been a problem with a lever or bolt gun
 

6gun

Hunter
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
2,580
markn30135 said:
I know someone has some experience here with developing one load for a pistol and rifle. Do you develop the load for the pistol or rifle? Looking at .357 Magnum and 44 Magnum rounds.

Thank you,
Mark

I have a Vaquero 44mag. and a Wincherter 94 44mag. I do use a hotter load for the rifle to get more power out of it, but I can alway use my standard round in both, I use brass cases for my rifle only rounds and nickel for hand gun to never mix them up.
 

Jimbo357mag

Hawkeye
Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
10,350
Location
So. Florida
I work-up mostly Max. loads with slow powders for my rifles and then shoot them in my revolvers along with a lot of different reduced loads.
 

Ruber

Single-Sixer
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Messages
432
Location
San Diego, CA
By complete happenstance, I found out my 200gr SWC load for my 94 in 44 mag also works really well in my 10.5" SBH. That SBH has pretty loose throats and the SWCs are sized .433, a nice fit.

That hasn't worked the other way around, my 94 doesn't like the 300gr loads I worked up for the SBH's...
 

chefrob1

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jun 6, 2011
Messages
356
Location
az
just started reloading and i am starting with 2 different loads....
sierra 250gr FPJ @ 14gr blue dot
nosler 240 gr JHP @ 14 gr blue dot

i had not anticipated the powder weight to be the same but it just worked out that way......planning to go to the range on my day off to see how they shoot.

the 2 guns are a 9" SRH and a 96/44, any thoughts are welcomed..........
 

6gun

Hunter
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
2,580
chefrob1 said:
just started reloading and i am starting with 2 different loads....
sierra 250gr FPJ @ 14gr blue dot
nosler 240 gr JHP @ 14 gr blue dot

i had not anticipated the powder weight to be the same but it just worked out that way......planning to go to the range on my day off to see how they shoot.

the 2 guns are a 9" SRH and a 96/44, any thoughts are welcomed..........


240gr. bullets are biggest I have gone, let me know how the 250gr. work out for you, I've also had real good results with 200gr. for both.
 

PO2Hammer

Single-Sixer
Joined
Sep 4, 2003
Messages
259
Location
Minnesota
To me, the point of owning a revolver and carbine in the same caliber is so they can share loads, not having separate loads for each.

Happily, most loads I develop for my revolvers work great in my carbines. Even light target loads seem to work well in carbines. The only loads that don't work well in carbines are HBWC's.
 

mikld

Blackhawk
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
947
Location
Oregon
Since I had 4, .44 Magnum revolvers before I got a .44 Mag. rifle, I usually start with developing loads for the handguns first. But, after several years, I have determined that each of the 5 guns has their preference for bullets. My Ruger and Puma likes 240 gr. Ranch Dog RNFP bullets sized .432" for the Puma and .430 for the Ruger. MY S&W and Dan Wesson prefer/shoot well with 429421 cast from wheel weights sized .430". My Contender likes everything I've put through it. I also have "generic" loads that shoot pretty good in all my guns (250 gr. LSWC over 9.0-9.5 gr. Unique). Part of reloading fun is developing loads custom fitted to each gun to get the optimum performance...
 

cbass

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 5, 2010
Messages
123
I have three loads I use in my various .44 mags. 240g MBC FP over 8.5g unique or 20.0g 2400. They also like 20.0g 2400 under a Sierra 240g HP. YMMV.
 

Rodfac

Blackhawk
Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
691
Location
Kentucky
I've got several rifles that shoot pistol rounds: .44 Magnum, .38-40, .44-40, and .32-20. In the interest of safety, I've developed loads that are safe and accurate in both guns. Having one high pressure load for a hunting rifle, that's too much for the hand gun, just didn't appeal to me. Rod
 

wavehopr

Single-Sixer
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
169
Location
Knoxville
keyston44 said:
You didn't say if you are using cast bullets or jacketed. That might matter in the 44 because industry standard for handguns is .429 while the rifle is .432.

Now there's something I've never heard. I've only seen SAAMI specs for ".44 Remington Magnum" without any caveat for rifle or pistol. Where did you find this info?
 

keyston44

Bearcat
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
81
Location
kansas
wavehopr said:
keyston44 said:
You didn't say if you are using cast bullets or jacketed. That might matter in the 44 because industry standard for handguns is .429 while the rifle is .432.

Now there's something I've never heard. I've only seen SAAMI specs for ".44 Remington Magnum" without any caveat for rifle or pistol. Where did you find this info?


Sorry, I was wrong. Rifle is .431 but handgun is still .429. Try shooting a .429/.430 cast bullet down a rifle barrel. Messy.

http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/index.cfm?page=ANSI

Key
 

mr surveyor

Blackhawk
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
629
Location
Texas
I believe the Rossi rifle barrels are pretty consistant at .430, at least from what I've read from those with a lot of experience with the Rossi lever guns. I bought a Rossi M92 a couple of weeks ago and have had no leading issues with .430 cast boolits.

And, concerning the revolver/rifle combo cartridge, I've worked down to a somewhat mild load of 18.5 gr of A2400 with 240 gr lswc. That's pretty much a pussycat load in the Super Red Hawk, but amazingly is enough to mildly get your attention with the M92. That nasty crescent buttplate will certainly get your attention with a number of full magnum loads.
 
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