Soft 44 magnum loads

[opos]

Just 'verifying" some prior info that I got a little confused on. I have been shooting lots of 44 special and 45 Colt using softer lead projectiles (12 hardness) over Trail Boss...looking at about 700-800 fps loads...have had great luck and very accorate loads this way. I have not loaded any 44 magnum cases but plan to now...I plan to use the 44 magnum cases but still go with light loads...main reason for the 44 mag cases is to eliminate that pesky ring that develops from shooting 44 specials in the 44 magnum revolver. I'm still going to use Trainl Boss and Missouri Bullet will cast me up some 240 grain Keiths in a 12 hardness....I am looking to load for about 800-900 or a bit faster fps. Shooting a 7.5" old model Super Blackhawk and a 4 5/8bbl bbl model...is anyone else doing this kind of thing with Trail Boss in a magnum cart? I know it's no good for hotter loads but I don't want hotter loads in this case...hence the 12 hardness boolits. If you have ideas about proven loads using a softer bullet at lower velocities I'd really appreciate input. Many thanks

 

[led]

Yes, in 357 cases, 3.0 g Trail Boss with a 158 g cast SWC.

Later,
Stephen

 

[Hammerdown77]

Should work very well. Here's Hodgdon's data on their website for a 240 grain cast bullet with Trail Boss in the 44 mag:

Cartridge: 44 Remington Magnum
Load Type: Pistol
Starting Loads
Maximum Loads

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
240 GR. LSWC CAST IMR Trail Boss .430" 1.620" 6.0 828 19,100 PSI 7.3 917 21,600 PSI

 

[Rclark]

Here is some testing I've done with TB and .44Mag :

.44 Magnum Trail Boss load tests . I like 8.0g of TB under 240g SWC with a standard primer.

Also 7.5g of Unique is a soft load. 8.5g matches the Skeeter load for .44Spec. 10g is my normal load for .44Mag. All under a 240g SWC.

 

[Kanook]

Don't know the speed but, my wife likes 9gr of Unique pushing the 240swc. We were dinging a manhole cover that I found laying in the road at 137yds two weeks ago. My buddy was getting frustrated with her. He pushes 300xtp to the max and missed his first 4 shots. My wife hit it 5 out of six.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

There are lots of soft shooting loads for 240gr lead bullets on the Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester website.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

As mentioned 6gr - 7.3gr of Trail Boss will give you aprox. 828 - 917fps.

 

[mr surveyor]

A few weeks ago while putting several different rounds/loads through a friends chrony I put three rounds with 240 gr lswc over 7 gr of TB in the mix. This load averaged 849 fps with a spread of 13.5 (only 3 rounds checked). Very mild load in the 7.5" SRH.

surv

 

[Bryan]

I've used the 10gr.unique load and found it fun to shoot.

 

[ltapd204]

I use trailboss for my .44 mag vaqueros in 44 mag brass for my cowboy loads. Unfortunately I will not be back home til the end of the month so I can't give you any specifics on load data. I don't remember exactly what I use, but I found my load data here

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss-feb2005.php

 

[mikld]

I have on my desk in front of me some .44 Magnums I reloaded yesterday. They are 240 gr. plain base bullets cast from wheel weights (10-12 BHN, which I've shot in 1200+ fps loads) over 7.0 gr. Trailboss (7.2 max.) with Winchester primers. Easy shooting load, in both my Puma and Super Blackhawk...

 

[Rclark]

TB (7.2 max.)

Actually not so. The latest Hornady has it up to 9.6g ..... I tested to 9.5g as shown above... I settled on 8.0g.

 

[btrumanj]

A 240 casr bullet over 8.5 grains of Universal is a nice shooting load in the 44 mag and a bit cleaner than Unique if you're picky :)

 

[Donaldjr1969]

I've shot a 255g Keith atop 8.1g American Select and have had great luck with it as well. It felt no harder than a nice warm 44 Special.

 

[mikld]

TB (7.2 max.)

Actually not so. The latest Hornady has it up to 9.6g ..... I tested to 9.5g as shown above... I settled on 8.0g.

This is zakly why I don't pay attention to loads listed in forums. I went to the IMR site (I believe they make Trail Boss) and found these loads (scroll down to .44 Magnum) http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss-feb2005.php
44 MAGNUM
Case: Winchester Twist: 1:20"
Barrel: 8.275" Trim: 1.280" Primer: Remington 2 1/2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bullet: 165 GR. LRNFP Dia. .430" COL: 1.500"
Trail Boss 6.0 960 17,200 PSI 8.0 1086 18,800 PSI

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Bullet: 185 GR. LRNFP Dia. .430" COL: 1.540"
Trail Boss 6.2 936 19,500 PSI 7.8 1050 21,100 PSI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bullet: 200 GR. LRNFP Dia. .430" COL: 1.570"
Trail Boss 6.1 890 17,900 PSI 7.7 988 20,700 PSI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bullet: 240 GR. LWSC Dia. .430" COL: 1.620"
Trail Boss 6.0 828 19,100 PSI 7.3 917 21,600 PSI"

9.5 is a bit higher than 7.3!

 

[Rclark]

Yes, but the Hornady Manual (8th Edition) has it up to 9.6g :) . I worked up the loads to it and no problem (no pressure signs at all). Also had Iowegan check the quickload program and it agreed it was well within 44Mag pressure levels. Good to go :) . Note that in the table above that 7.3g is well below the 36,000psi SAAMI max pressure. You will note though my tests in the link above show only 6fps difference between 9.0g and 9.5g which means it's topped out.... I settled on 8g of TB because I thought it gave me the best accuracy.