Guys I have read about various 44s (not just the featherweight guns) that will loosen up and wear out shooting stout 300 grain loads and that many popular 44 designs can't handle these more stout loads for very long. Is this true is it all relative in that anything will wear and losen after thousands of rounds or is it something that happens after shooting much less than that? I have some more conventional 44s and was wondering what the real facts were as to this? I would like to shoot 300 grain heavy loads in some of them not just the 240/260 grain type loads but am wondering if this will cause premature wear that can be otherwise avoided. If so I'll keep the stout stuff for my freedom arms guns and maybe my anaconda but won't use it in my 629 etc... Is this a real concern or trumped up nonsense in your opinions? Thanks

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I think you are on the right track ;-)

Don, loading manual 300 gr. loads will be just fine in FAs, Ruger single actions, Redhawks and SRHs and DWs. I've used many in each of those models. If the 629/29s have the full "Endurance Package" (i.e. made after 1990-91), I'd use 300gr. loads, but sparingly. Made before that, I'd not use them at all, as earlier S&Ws have a well proven record established years ago by those of us who were metallic silhouette shooters, of shooting loose, stretching cranes, forcing cone erosion, etc.

I don't want to anger anyone, but I personally have no use for any other .44s with heavy loads.

you can take the FA at load a case full of h100 in a 44 mag and compress the powder down and seat the bullet and it'll handle the load fine, in fact i read of someone doing that with unique and the gun handled it. the same load will demolish a a smith 44 mag. the ruger 44 mag in srh are not up to the same strength as the 454 and 480's as they use different steel but are still very very strong, the bfr is like the FA just even beefier. i don't consider the anaconda in the same realm as the FA and bfr and not in the srh category either. theyre rare enough i wouldn't beat it to death either. that one should have a special place shooting 75% loads and looking pretty imho.

SCHunter and I shot 315 grainers out to 550 yards this Summer at silhouette. It was amazing to see how good they did compared to the 240 grainers. The light ones were all over the place, the heavies were on the money. On the FA, you are good to go. We were using my favorite load of 315 grain rcbs SWC over 21.5 grains of 296 and a WLP. Shoots about 1430 fps from the 10" ruger. Same load was awesome in my 10" FA as well. I wouldn't beat that pretty anaconda up man

remind me to send you some of the RCBS bullet to try one day if I haven't already. You will love it. Not a huge me plat on it but it's crazy accurate. Kills really well also.

Loaded up a hundred Cast Performance 320gr 44s recently using H110. l then shot a half round with them at my last IHMSA match on the turkeys and rams @ 150-200 meters..They really get your attention vs 240gr 44s. My hands REALLY noticed them.. The rams noticed them too..They jumped off the rail compared to 240s..My gun was a 629 PC Hunter w/2x Leupold..

To avoid wear and tear on the gun AND ME l will stick with 240gr and lighter..

Thanks for the great info guys

Dan Wesson had the thickest strap spanning over the cylinder. Handled 100's of heavy 270s and 325's with ease.
Just stay away from anything faster then H110/Win296 and you'll do just fine. Note: bought my DW and FA back in the 80's and they're in great condition. JMO

jmo but if i was going to throw a steady diet of heavy lead id get a bigger gun. dont get me wrong i love the 44, maybe because its at the upper level of my comfort zone.

I relegate my N-frames to 240's@1200fps or less. Full throttle with the Rugers, up to 330's@1350fps and 355's@1250fps.