44 mag reloading question

[luvall]

Looking for advice. I have a S&W 629 with 6.5" barrel that I plan to use for deer hunting. A friend is offering to teach me to reload and I'm not sure about the bullet I have in mind. I'm thinking of using Hornady XTP (.430 dia/ 240 gr). My friend uses Winchester 296 Magnum power. I have good results with WWB factory and see that Winchester bullets are less expensive, but not too much less. Hornady? Winchester? Other???? Thoughts and advice welcomed.

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

you cant go wrong with the XTP. Hornady makes some great bullets!

 

[NIFT]

In termnial ballistic testing by Dr. Gary K. Roberts at the Letterman Army Institute of Research, the 300 grain Hornady XTP was the best performer, but there were quite a few good ones, including the 240 gr. XTP.

.44 Magnum General Purpose Loads - M4Carbine.net Forums

 

[Aszerigan]

XTP bullets are great, but they're expensive. Might consider either 240gn lead or plated to start. Much less expensive and great for plinking. No need to spend a ton of cash for HP's when you're just shooting paper.

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

For paper punchin I use dardas 200gr FP lead bullets. Dardas bullets are second to none on quality and like aszerigan says, quite less expensive.

 

[Broom_jm]

Looking for advice. I have a S&W 629 with 6.5" barrel that I plan to use for deer hunting. A friend is offering to teach me to reload and I'm not sure about the bullet I have in mind. I'm thinking of using Hornady XTP (.430 dia/ 240 gr). My friend uses Winchester 296 Magnum power. I have good results with WWB factory and see that Winchester bullets are less expensive, but not too much less. Hornady? Winchester? Other???? Thoughts and advice welcomed.

For your stated objective, which is hunting, the combination of 240gr XTP and a stout load of W296 or H110 (same powder) has been THE 44RM load ever since I can remember. You won't get more range, power and performance with any other load recipe. I've been using it in my T/C Contender for the last 15 years, anyway.

For plinking, there are more cost effective loads that have a lot less recoil.

 

[Leo]

I am another fan of the XTP. My favorite Magnum Pistol Powder is Accurate #9. It is reliable at reduced powder charges as well as full power loads. When I want to plink with a .44, I use lead cast bullets loaded in .44 spl cases with Titegroup. Good luck

 

[hammer24]

I'll pile on! 240 xtp on top of H110/ w296 for hunting. For plinking I shoot 240 swc on top of 9 gr. Unique.

 

[bamayne]

I've had excellent results with the 240 grain and the 300 grain xtp with H110.

 

[ewhitehouse]

I use the 240g XTP with H110 with great results with deer. I shoot them out of a Taurus 44mag with very consistent results.

 

[ewhitehouse]

Still cheaper than buying factory ammo regardless in the long run.

 

[biggen]

My choice is 300 gr. XTP and AA#9. But any of the XTP's is a good choice and 296 is a great powder as well.

 

[ewhitehouse]

I agree with biggen, any XTP bullet is a good choice.

 

[Water63]

It's hard to beat the Hornady XTP bullet for hunting. With that said they are not a inexspensive practice bullet. I load cast or plated bullets to practice with then just shoot a few of the XTP's to check my zero. The 296 powder is fine I like Hodgen H110 for my XTP loads. and Win 231 or Hodgon Tite Group for target loads.

 

[Broom_jm]

You don't need to "practice" with the XTP and full-house H110 loads. Just like you don't "practice" with your 300WM before a hunt out West. You practice your form and technique with less punishing rounds, like mild 44's and 22LR, then you sight in with the big-boy loads so you're ready to hunt!

Yeah, you put enough rounds through the big guns to be comfortable with them, but that shouldn't be prohibitively expensive.

 

[parson]

XTPs are great bullets, but, at least for me, there is noticeable difference in recoil between 240 and 300 grain.

Also agree with using lead bullets for most practice. A great opportunity to get into casting.

 

[Hookeye]

Is the 6.5" 29 an older gun or a new version? If of the older type I wouldn't shoot any 300 grainers. In fact I'd stop at healthy 240gr loads.

Light bullet loads with ball powder will do a little flame cutting, but it only goes so far and is cosmetic. I have run quite a few compressed WW296 loads through a few 629's without "endurance package" (all dash 1,2 or 3 models). 180 and 200 gr loads won't hurt 'em.

I broke my 4" 629-1 within 2 cylinders of 300 grain max loads. They weren't fun to shoot either. Smith fixed my gun for $5 shipping. Great customer service.

 

[luvall]

Is the 6.5" 29 an older gun or a new version? If of the older type I wouldn't shoot any 300 grainers. In fact I'd stop at healthy 240gr loads.

Light bullet loads with ball powder will do a little flame cutting, but it only goes so far and is cosmetic. I have run quite a few compressed WW296 loads through a few 629's without "endurance package" (all dash 1,2 or 3 models). 180 and 200 gr loads won't hurt 'em.

I broke my 4" 629-1 within 2 cylinders of 300 grain max loads. They weren't fun to shoot either. Smith fixed my gun for $5 shipping. Great customer service.

My 629 is a -4. I don't plan on pushing the limits.

 

[kolob10]

I plink with 240 gr hard cast and hunt with 240gr or 300 gr Hornady XTP pushed by
a liberal dose of W296 or H110. Good shooting.

 

[luvall]

I plink with 240 gr hard cast and hunt with 240gr or 300 gr Hornady XTP pushed by
a liberal dose of W296 or H110. Good shooting.

Questions: Do you hunt with handgun or long gun? If handgun - how much W296 has worked best for you and what speed are you getting?