Interesting article by John Taffin in the last American Handgunner. “Seatem Deep and Cheap”. Basically, loading (tested .44 Special/.44 Magnum and .45 Colt) with less powder and seating the bullet to the outer band resulted in approximately the same velocity, less recoil and greater accuracy then with more powder and normal seating depth. This was with 240 grain and 255 grain SWC type bullets and velocities around 850 fps. Anyone try this? Would it hold true with higher velocities?

I guess it makes some sense since seating them deeper would up the presure,if its the same speed recoil should be the same,dont know where the increased accuracy would come from.Dont think Id mess with it tho,just my opinion and Im not sure what thats worth.

Deep seating bullets over a "normal" charge of powder sounds like a recipe for disaster. Pressures spike as the deep seated bullet lessens the internal area of the case. I wouldn't advise anyone to do this. Besides, that's why there are reloading manuals with proven loads.

A clarification, I don't reload and don't intend to start. With velocities quoted in the 800-850 range I tended to believe he was talking about mild loads nowhere near max. Also noted was for deep seating the powder was reduced. Probably a better question may have been did anyone else read the article?
Charlie

No, I haven't read the article. My reply was based on your question of higher velocity. I can understand John Taffin wanting to shoot with less recoil. He has bad wrists from too many years of shooting big booming handguns. Unfortunately, father time catches up with all of us.

Yeah, I've read his comments about bad wrists when it comes to heavy loads. His focus in the article was really about how accurate he found the deep seated loads and getting 100+ more loads from a pound of powder, that is talking about mild loads.
In rethinking what was said in the article there probably isn't room to increase the the powder from what he stated AND deep seat the bullet, at least to depth he mentioned.
Anyway it isn't something I would try as again, I don't reload.
Charlie

This is also coming from the guy that ordered a matching set of Ruger SBH’s with 5&7/8ths, 7.5, and a 10in barrels in 44 Sp from the factory. I know what he is shooting in them and it isn’t your standard 44sp loads.