Reeder Custom Guns - Your favorite heavier 44 load?

Curious as to what others think about how heavy is *practical* in the 'ol 44 magnum? I've been shooting some 300s for years, I'm curious about going a little heavier - say 315 or so, but I acknowledge that at some weight the 44 "runs out of gas" so to speak in terms of efficiency. That point at which the 44 reaches a point of diminishing returns. I'm guessing that is probably about 325 grains? Strictly my non-scientific WAG. Interested in what others think.

always considered that the heaviest a person needed to go. It has taken everything including Elephant. And honestly, for the lower 48 the 250 gr. Keith SWC will take everything cleanly and has done so.

The same bullet as Jim is describing but plain base. It was almost too long for the .444 Marlin, seated to feed, it got into the thick part of the case body and almost bulged. It was close, so I seated it a little long to work. I later loaded it in .44 Mag. and some really mean and nasty custom .44-40 loads. I also used them for "hot lapping" a barrel with a tight spot. I rant them about 1100 fps. You could feel the long recoil input. You roll them between steel plates, embedding three varying grits of basically valve grinding compound. Coarse, medium, fine polishing.

I shot 25-30 of each, cleaning between strings. I also was measuring the tight spot with pin gauges and penetration. All of a sudden the accuracy came together. No longer shooting "patterns" It grouped wonderfully! Even though the tight spot was still there and measurable, although improved. It no longer negatively effected accuracy.

Also on a stainless barreled 6mm rifle that had a very rough machined bore. I gave it a treatment (using jacketed bullets also impregnated) and got it shooting well. The technique works for problematic barrels. I do NOT think it's for barrels that already shoot pretty good, but for rough bores or a tight spot it works like Seyfried said!

Back to your point. A really heavy bullet will shoot high to point of aim. I remember thinking I could not handle the recoil to make the 330 gr. shoot to the sights. I really needed a taller front to bring the bullet impact down. I think with a 7-1/2" at 1100 fps it was shooting about 6" high at 30 yds. using a 6 O'clock hold.

Got 'em up to 1380 in SBH. Broke one of the grip panels from the recoil. Cracked it right through the hole for the locating pin.

My favorite loads were around 1100 fps. Accurate at 400 yards! You get'em moving they just keep on truckin'!

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I am sure someone on this Forum can tell you what they have used.

at this big cattle and citrus ranch near Lake Walk in the Water.

I jumped a meat hog and snapshot it with my Ruger Redhawk and the 320-grain hard cast bullet. The bullet entered the right ham and ended up in the throat of the boar.

It dropped dead.

I have shot the LEE 310 gr. FNGC using a case full of H110 and the forward crimp groove. It garners about 1850 fps. The RCBS 240 gr. SWCGC was a surprise as it blasted out at 2150 fps!

I bet LilGun and a good cast bullet would be great in the .44 Magnum carbine.

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I’m on the Alabama - Florida line and it can be fun to hunt hogs in the palmetto bushes. Fast and furious.

this winter or the next depending on things.

One of the great things about hunting in Florida is that it can give you a bit of a break from the cold and snow of New England.

cast and jacketed, 320 cast, and in all honesty the 240 has killed anything I have ever shot. I use the 180 in 44 spl and for varmint hunting. The heavy stuff I quit shooting in the 44 and just went to larger cal. the 45 handles 320 really well
there really is a lot of difference between 430 and 452 both in recoil and wear on the gun. In my experience the 44 works best with 240 to 260 grain keep the heavy stuff for bigger cals

Should I ever need anything heavier than 240-300 gr. in .44 magnum is why I bought a .454 Casull. Recoil is brutal but no question it will get the job done.

what are you hunting that requires a load heavier than
240-300 grain bullets?

He heaviest 44 I shoot is about 310. Just curious as to what others do and like.

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