Reloading The .44 Magnum

Left to right:– 250 gr. SWC, 240 gr. HP, .44 with 225 gr. SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 gr. JHP
250 gr. SWC+GC, 265 gr. JFP, 240 gr. JSP

(WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter,FP=Flat Point, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), SP=Soft Point, (JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)

Loads for .44 Magnum:

(Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet sizes vary from .429″ for jacketed to .432″ for some lead in diameter. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.

(Note H110 & W296 are the same as of 2008 as is HP-38 & W231)

(IMR 4227 is same as H-4227 if made in Australia)

165 grain Lead RNFP

180 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)

200 grain Lead SWC or RN (.430″)

200 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)

215 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check

225 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)

240 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check above 1100fps (GC)

240 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) or JSP

250 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check (GC)

     (Note Cast Performance makes a 255 gr. GC lead bullet,
you can substitute, but don’t use max loads)

250 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) or JSP

265 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) or JFP

270 grain JSP (Jacketed soft Point) or JFP

300 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) or JSP

300 grain Lead Cast Performance + Gas Check (GC)

310 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check (GC)

325 grain Lead LFN + Gas Check (GC)(320 grain lead bullets also)

355 grain Lead FN + Gas Check (GC)

Recommended Article: Best Reloading Press for Every Budget

Discussion: Unique is about the best all around powder, but if you want a slower burning powder, I suggest 2400. It can also be used effectively in rifle cartridges, like the 30-06, so it’s a good one to have for the magnum pistol loads and for rifle.

Accurate now has reintroduced XMP-5744, a slow burning, bulky powder and is good in magnum pistol loads. Get a copy of their booklet and check this powder out. It may be the best of all.

Hodgdon’s Universal, HP6, HP7 and HP38 are good powders for this cartridge. Also, Accurate’s #2 and #5 work well. Winchester suggest their 231 or 296. Use a magnum primer with 296. (Update 2009: Since this page was put up, there are several new powders that are particularly good with Magnum pistol rounds. Lil’Gun and IMR 4227 (or H-4227) are two of the best I have used in my .460 and .500 S&W magnums and should be good for the .44 mag, but I have not tried them yet) I like Unique, and I also use it for .44 special, just less of it. If you have a lightweight .44 or older gun, you may want to start with 1.0 gr. less than amounts listed above, and work up to the full loads. – – – Below, are two loaded rounds. For lead bullets near 900-1,000 FPS, I recommend a GC (Gas Check), the little copper bottom on the lead bullet as below (5th item from left). For any loads over 1000 FPS, I suggest GC for sure or using a jacketed bullet. Jacketed bullets create a bit more wear on the rifling, but it’s better than trying to wire brush out a bunch of lead build up. Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot.

Left to right:– 250 gr. SWC, 240 gr. HP, .44 with 225 gr. SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 gr. JHP
250 gr. SWC+GC, 265 gr. JFP, 240 gr. JSP

*
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6, HS7, Lil’Gun, H4227 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
No. 2, No. 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company
WMR, WSF, WST, WSL, 760, 748, 231, 296 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.

References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet – – Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders’ Guide (1995) – – Hodgdon’s Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) – – Speer Reloading Manual, #12 – – Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition – – Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. – – VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) – – Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.