[Electraclyde]

New guy with a question that I have been unable to find an answer.
I would like to load a cowboy load (i.e. .44spe light load) in a .44 mag case to be used for coyboy action shooting in a Marlin rifle. I am looking for a powder that will take up as much space in the case as possible. Using the .44 mag case instead of the .44 spe case will prevent lead build up in the chamber area. What are your powder/bullet recommendations?

 

[M1894]

Since I don't have any .44 special cases, I just use .44 special load data in .44 Mag cases when I just want to plink at the range. There's not much velocity loss between cases, and the accuracy is good. I also use .357 cases rather than .38 specials for the same purpose. I just mark the case heads with a felt tip marker so I don't get them confused when I want a hunting load. Reduced loads are stored in diffrently marked MTM boxes than the full powered ones, and each box is labeled with the loading data and date loaded.

 

[crazydave]

I use Unique and XP-5744; also good advice from M1894 - that works well, too. FWIW....

 

[baddad457]

New guy with a question that I have been unable to find an answer.
I would like to load a cowboy load (i.e. .44spe light load) in a .44 mag case to be used for coyboy action shooting in a Marlin rifle. I am looking for a powder that will take up as much space in the case as possible. Using the .44 mag case instead of the .44 spe case will prevent lead build up in the chamber area. What are your powder/bullet recommendations?

A good all around load is 9 grains of Unique and a 240 gr bullet. No worries about the powder filling the case. This load clocks at about 1000 fps in a 5-7" bbl revolver and is pleasnt enough to shoot all day.

 

[BrowningBoy710]

can't believe nobody has recommended Trailboss yet...

 

[MikeG]

Yup, TrailBoss for sure. Although lots of other stuff will work fine too.

 

[Electraclyde]

Thanks for the powder info guys. Is everyone using 240gr. bullets? or are some using 200gr. bullets?

 

[Marshal Kane]

. . . Is everyone using 240gr. bullets? or are some using 200gr. bullets?

IMO, the 200 gr. bullet along with a light cowboy load should give you a slight edge when participating in CAS.

 

[mac266]

can't believe nobody has recommended Trailboss yet...

Yep, that's what it was designed for -- making light loads in big cases. It's a huge fluffy, flake powder and you'll fill up more than half the case to make a mouse fart load. That sounds like what you're after.

 

[mac266]

IMO, the 200 gr. bullet along with a light cowboy load should give you a slight edge when participating in CAS.

Yeah, the lighter the bullet, the lighter the recoil, the faster your second through fifth shots are (less recovery time between shots).

Or, since you're playing cowboy, you could just jam pack the whole case with real black powder and play the game like a man!

 

[Electraclyde]

Yeah, the lighter the bullet, the lighter the recoil, the faster your second through fifth shots are (less recovery time between shots).

Or, since you're playing cowboy, you could just jam pack the whole case with real black powder and play the game like a man!

Too LAZY to clean guns every time I shoot them, so there will NOT be any black powder loads for me as much as I like the smoke and fire!!

 

[Johnny Yuma]

CAS load

How about one of the black powder substitutes?

 

[Electraclyde]

Tell me more. That may be a fun way to go.

 

[Johnny Yuma]

CAS loads

Well my experience with black powder substitutes is limited to Pyrodex -P in a .44 Remington-loose and in combustible cartridges. There seems to be significantly less
fouling than Black powder and hence ,easier clean-up.It DOES make smoke. I have a pound of Goex Pinnacle FFFg that I have yet to try.
I would want the opinion of others on this forum as to loading something like Pyrodex
in metal cartridges. But I expect that you would load by VOLUME as you would in a muzzle loader or percussion revolver. One question is in regard to compressing the powder. That may be a problem in a metal cartridge.

 

[mgrace]

I have loaded Pyrodex in both 44Mag and 30-30, not sure what the charge weight was as you have to have it loaded so it is compressed.
So I just figured out where the bottom of the bullet would be and filled it up a bit above that so when the bullet was seated it would be pretty well compressed.
I only tried it once, but only because I do not like to clean them after firing with Pyrodex.


Michael Grace

 

[Levergunz]

If you dont want to use Black powder ,then you certainly wont want pyrodex.Pyrodex is very corrosive-way worse then black powder.
If you want a user friendly,easy to clean sub powder, use APP 3F in your cases with the powder just touching the bullet.Use 200 gr bullets.No special lube required on your bullets as with Black powder or pyrodex.The bore cleans up with just a water wetted patch or two.You can also use 777 sub powder,but it has about 20% more power(velocity-recoil etc)then the others.The most important thing to remember when using BP or sub powders is NEVER leave an airspace in the cartridge case.I shoot CAS with 45 colt and real black powder.To shoot quicker and with less recoil I use 20 gr by volume of black powder and then fill the case up to where the bullet will be seated with an inert filler material like corn meal or old case tumbling media,but that may be more work than you want to get into.I enjoy the smoke when shooting CAS.
APP=American pioneer products.

 

[Johnny Yuma]

Cowboy loads

Thanks Levergunz!
Good information .I may need it sometime.

 

[Levergunz]

Well my experience with black powder substitutes is limited to Pyrodex -P in a .44 Remington-loose and in combustible cartridges. There seems to be significantly less
fouling than Black powder and hence ,easier clean-up.It DOES make smoke. I have a pound of Goex Pinnacle FFFg that I have yet to try.
I would want the opinion of others on this forum as to loading something like Pyrodex
in metal cartridges. But I expect that you would load by VOLUME as you would in a muzzle loader or percussion revolver. One question is in regard to compressing the powder. That may be a problem in a metal cartridge.

Johnny Yuma,
Pinnacle 3 f works well in cartridges too and it cleans up easy like the APP.
The reason I didnt mention it was because it has been discontinued.
I always load by volume when using BP or the subs.I think the subs work well with little or no compression.Black Powder works best with 1/16-1/8" compression.(IMO)
Many people dont want to use BP because of the clean up,but its not that bad once you have a routine worked out and know what works best. I use Windex with VINEGAR to clean and neutralize the sulfur residue and Lube with Ballistol.

 

[gw66]

I have shot 200 gr. RNFP w/ as little as 3.5 gr. of w-231, it's accurate in a SBH.
Almost no recoil, give something like that a try. You could experiment w/ any fast pistol powder, bullseye, reddot, w-231, unique are the ones that I have.
A pound goes a long way when you're using that lil bit.

 

[Terry Koupe]

For plinking fun, I use 6gr. of Trailboss and a 200gr. RNFP.