Anaconda .44 Mag Target Loads

[BigRix]

The Anaconda is almost home from lay-a-way and I have recently acquired .44 Mag dies and a pile of bullets. I am getting a 6" Anaconda and I am relatively new to reloading.

I am looking for reloads that are accurate and inexpensive to reload and would be for punching paper with extreme prejudice. The bullets I have on hand are Hornady 200gr and 265gr Jacketed flat points.

I need primers, brass and powder.

Some questions that come to mind.

Buy new ammo and save the brass or buy brass?
What kind of powder would work well with both weight bullets?
Should I start with these bullets or get some lead ones to start with?
Do I need Magnum primers?

Thanks

[smkummer]

I would save the jacketed for when you want to try full power loads with no leading. I don't believe you are a bullet caster so buying lead bullets in bulk such as 500 per time, will maybe cost you .10 per bullet, that less than 1/2 the price of jacketed. Since you are paper punching, a semi-wadcutter will make nice holes in paper that are visable at the 25 yard line. Since the 44 mag. can be loaded from 44 special levels to full house magnum loads, powders can range from fast such as bullseye, 231 and 700X to H110 and 2400 when you need magnum loads. Good old unique, will work from 700 FPS to 1200 FPS. Magnum primers are only needed with H110 and maybe some other less common powders. If you have any shotgun or other pistol powder, most likely a load is available for that powder. For starters, I would try a semi wadcutter 240 lead bullet going out at 800 FPS, this would be very nice for target shooting and close to 44 special power. Many powders will do that for you and the fast powders will save you money. Let us know what you decide to go with.

[BigRix]

Here are the bullets I mentioned. There are only 15 of the 240gr HP. 200 of the 265gr and 100 200gr. You can see in the background the only powder I have. Accurate #2. I don't find much load data for this powder.The only thing mentioned in the Lyman book is for a light weight bullet.



And the dies I picked up. Paid $60 for the dies and bullets.



And my humble reloading bench. So far I have only loaded up 25 45 acp rounds that I haven't test fired yet.



I'll look into getting some Unique powder and some lead bullets.

Any other suggestions?

[porsche]

If you Google the Accurate Powder site they list some 44 special loads that would work well in your 44 magnum and they use Accurate No.2 powder with a 200 grain bullet. You can use your magnum cases as well. Here is the link http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-con...d_data_3.5.pdf

[BigRix]

Thanks for the link. I picked up some Unique last night and used it to load up some .38 special loads with soft 125gr lead bullets. Just need to track down some brass and 240gr bullets for the 44 mag and I'm ready to rock and roll.

[kennyb]

starline brass will have plenty of 44 mag.brass

[joshb]

I would save the jacketed for when you want to try full power loads with no leading. I don't believe you are a bullet caster so buying lead bullets in bulk such as 500 per time, will maybe cost you .10 per bullet, that less than 1/2 the price of jacketed. Since you are paper punching, a semi-wadcutter will make nice holes in paper that are visable at the 25 yard line. Since the 44 mag. can be loaded from 44 special levels to full house magnum loads, powders can range from fast such as bullseye, 231 and 700X to H110 and 2400 when you need magnum loads. Good old unique, will work from 700 FPS to 1200 FPS. Magnum primers are only needed with H110 and maybe some other less common powders. If you have any shotgun or other pistol powder, most likely a load is available for that powder. For starters, I would try a semi wadcutter 240 lead bullet going out at 800 FPS, this would be very nice for target shooting and close to 44 special power. Many powders will do that for you and the fast powders will save you money. Let us know what you decide to go with.

I've been shooting my .44 Mag for 25 yrs. Been loading the "Special" loads for it, after the first box of full mag. loads. The Specials, for me, are MUCH easier on the hand,and help with the "flinch factor". I usually shoot 200 rnds, per session. I only take 10-20 rnds of Magnum loads. per session.

[BigRix]

Well it was a busy day yesterday. Cross town to Slashk, the reloading store, for some 240gr LSWC and range brass. Gun show was down the street from the store, so I had to stop there. Picked up some more bullets. Back to my side of town and stopped at Sportsman's Warehouse to use my gift card. Found a nice tumbler.



Back home to start the long reloading process. Mistake #1. De-capping before tumbling was a pain in the butt. Tumbler media had to be removed with a dental pick, and the primer pockets still weren't clean. Next time, tumble then resize then de-cap and flare.

Just got on a roll at that point and whipped out 100 rounds.



Didn't check lengths or match up headstamps. Might come bite me in the butt later but only range time will tell the tale.

240gr LSWC Hardcast
9.0gr Unique
CCI 300 Primer
Mixed Range Brass



Now to get some therapy, I mean range time in.

[smkummer]

I am guessing 1000 FPS from your load. A little more than a plinking load but it will be comfortable out of the anaconda.

[Jack O`Connor]

Here are the bullets I mentioned. There are only 15 of the 240gr HP. 200 of the 265gr and 100 200gr. You can see in the background the only powder I have. Accurate #2. I don't find much load data for this powder.The only thing mentioned in the Lyman book is for a light weight bullet.



And the dies I picked up. Paid $60 for the dies and bullets.



And my humble reloading bench. So far I have only loaded up 25 45 acp rounds that I haven't test fired yet.



I'll look into getting some Unique powder and some lead bullets.

Any other suggestions?

I would only get .44 mag cases not .44 special. It`s a pain to have to readjust your dies when you go from mags to spec. and you also eliminate that dreaded lead build up in the cylinder from the shorter cases.
I really like to load 240 g lswc in front of 7g of Unique and std primers ,goes about 900 fps.
Very pleasant to shoot and more accurate than I am.
I know it sacrilegious to say it here, but all I have to shoot them with is two S&W 629`s a 6 inch and a 3 inch.