Well I still haven't started reloading yet but now that the season is over I should start shooting more. I think I want to load up some 44 special loads with cast bullets between 180-200 grains. I have a few questions...

First for bullets. I am thinking about going with laser cast. They are pretty cheap and have a good name, are there any others I should consider?

Next is powder.. This will strictly be a 44 special load, using special brass. What powder should I look for? I would like to push the bullets around 1000 fps. I want a powder that meters very well (I don't want to weigh every charge for practice rounds) and more importantly, that is safe. Is there any powder that given a double charge will not blow up the gun? Or be less likely to blow up?

That is all for now.

Clayton

I have been using some 200 gr. lead in my FA 97.

If buying bullets the Laser Cast are good. I have been having good results too with Missouri Bullet for cheap practice bullets.

I really like a bullet that I cast myself with a Saeco 200 grain flat point mold. That bullet is amazing really.

For powder I am not sure about the ability to double charge, but I am using 8.2 grains of Alliant Power Pistol with the 200 gr. bullets. I get 1042 fps from my 5.5" barrel using Starline brass and Fed 150 primers. This load is well under max and is pretty easy on recoil. I use the same charge with heavier bullets in other guns. Extreme spreads are quite low.

Good luck.

Dan

Well in general what makes a safer powder, fast burning or slow burning? I have heard that h110, a slow powder by handgun standards, is unsafe when loaded light? Why is that? WHat is the risk?

I use H110 for all my magnum loads, but I am using HS-6 for the light stuff, 9 grains will get a 200 going at 900-1,000 in the 44 sp.

Clayton,

I cannot say that too light of a charge of H110/296 is unsafe per se, but I have started too low before and seen wild swings in velocity. Not 20-30 fps, but more than a 100 fps up and down in 454 loads on the low end. No way to have any kind of accuracy with such loads. I guess I could imagine possible unsafe situations with such a scenario going on but these would be just a guess on my part. The accuracy alone is enough for me to not go down that road.

Craig

I have often heard of the "unsafe" light loads with H110. I agree with Craig in that sometimes if loaded too light they are erratic. I believe if there is any danger it comes from a possible squib load and a stuck bullet.

I, like others, have found H110/296 to only work well with top end loads. I have used it with good success in the special, but nearer to 1200 fps velocities with various bullets.

Power Pistol is rated with a "medium" burn rate. It has become my "go to" powder in the 44 Special, as well as for some other cartridges.

I hear nothing but good things about HS6 but have not tried it myself...yet.

Dan

I have had really good luck with HS6 in all my light loads, from 41 mag. all the way up to 475 Linebough, but the stuff is pretty dirty.

Never tryed Power Pistol may have to give it a whirl.

Give Rim Rock bullets a look. I have been using them and have had good luck.

Powders: Unique, Universal Clays, and I have heard good thing about Power Pistol, though I haven't tried it yet.