Terry M., ...anybody? - Factory .44 Magnum (Medium Loading)

[GoatGuy]

Anyone remember a Remington factory load for the .44 Magnum, listing a 240 lead flat tip bullet and identified thusly on the box end flaps - (medium loading). These were available for at least a couple of decades and the last couple of boxes of 50 I bought were ordered by a Las Cruces, NM gunshop for me around the early 1990's. The cost was $21 + change per box. Thought then that was highway robbery, ...not so much today. These Remington cartridges obviously were a medium load for the .44 mag. I haven't seen any in stores or seen them listed as available from Remington for many years. Wondering if anyone may know about them and what might be a comparable handload for them. Certainly stouter than any factory .44 Special loads, they shot well, were easy on recoil, hit hard and were accurate enough for the targets at which I was shooting them. Looking for any thoughts and velocity info on this Remington cartridge as I would like to build a comparable load with 240 grain SWC's if possible.

[Terry Murbach]

I REMEMBER THOSE. THAT LOAD IS EASILY DUPLICATED WITH 9.0 TO 10.0gr ON UNIQUE OR HERCO. I PREFER THE LATTER BECAUSE IT HAS SHOT WELL IN ALL MY 44MAG SIXGUNS. THEY'LL DO 1050 TO 1100 OR SO.

[Malamute]

Terry is correct. I recall the factory load vel booked 1000 fps. I guessed a comparable load was 9 grs Unique, and have loaded and shot thousands of them over the years, it's my favorite general purpose carry and easy shooting load in the 44 mag. I mostly used Lyman's 429421 250 gr Keith bullet cast from wheelweights and lubed with alox lube, tho any decent commercial cast 240 gr semi wad cutter should do fairly well. I believe my 9 gr load ended up being just a bit higher velocity than the factory loads, as Terry pointed out, but not by a lot.

[Mokwaw]

Yes, I remember those loads too. As stated above 9 grs, Unique and the 250 gr. Kieth bullet, that's the load I use most and will do for anything I'm going to shoot at.

[GoatGuy]

Thanks TERRY, Malamute and Mokwaw for the replies. Intuitively, I think I knew that, however it is sure nice to get confirmation from others who know for sure. I have a few boxes of the old Carroll, cast 240 gr. SWC bullets that I picked a some years back, They may/may not be the original Keith bullet, but if not they sure are very close. Along with plenty of Unique on hand, guess I know what my new-to-me, pinned and recessed 1981 vintage 4" 629 will be dieting on for some time to come. Thanks again gents.

[Blaine]

I shoot my 240s and 300s @ about 1000 - 1100 with starting loads of BlueDot. Love it. I don't understand the need for Max .44mag loads. Anything you hit with a 300gr boolit is going down. If I was really worried about something real big, I'd put Garrett's in my SBH. The 629pp, I shoot moderate loads so as not to be too hard on it.

[GoatGuy]

I don't understand the need for Max .44mag loads. Anything you hit with a 300gr boolit is going down. If I was really worried about something real big, I'd put Garrett's in my SBH. The 629pp, I shoot moderate loads so as not to be too hard on it.

BlaineG - I agree. That's my plan as well.

[buckeyeshooter]

Anyone remember a Remington factory load for the .44 Magnum, listing a 240 lead flat tip bullet and identified thusly on the box end flaps - (medium loading). These were available for at least a couple of decades and the last couple of boxes of 50 I bought were ordered by a Las Cruces, NM gunshop for me around the early 1990's. The cost was $21 + change per box. Thought then that was highway robbery, ...not so much today. These Remington cartridges obviously were a medium load for the .44 mag. I haven't seen any in stores or seen them listed as available from Remington for many years. Wondering if anyone may know about them and what might be a comparable handload for them. Certainly stouter than any factory .44 Special loads, they shot well, were easy on recoil, hit hard and were accurate enough for the targets at which I was shooting them. Looking for any thoughts and velocity info on this Remington cartridge as I would like to build a comparable load with 240 grain SWC's if possible.

As said, it was 1000fps load, 10 grains of unique will duplicate it. I think I still have several boxes of this load in the basement.

[Arminius]

I still have around one and a half boxes of them.

It has no SWC, but rather a LFP bullet. That´s VERY ok.

But the propellant seems to be slower than Unique ( = not so good in a 4" gun ), and the Lead bullet seems to be very soft.

If it´s not available anymore, it´s a pity. It is/was a good loading.

For a mid range load nowadays I would load ( if I had the time!!! ) rather a 200 grs Lead Round with flat ( CAS bullet ), rather hard cast, with Uni or N 320 / N 330 ( yes - quick! ) or the like ...

245 grs SWC and 10,6 grs N 340 I like, but it´s no slouch ...

Hermann