Reloads for Ruger BlackHawk 44 Mag help

[Boon]

I am very new at this and have not been to any shoots. The club here quit meeting after the 1st of Oct.   I want to be able to shoot my 44 mag. and do not know how to load it for Cowboy Action Shooting.  I have and can do my own reloading but do not know what loads to use. Could someone please help me oout....Thanks

[Marshal Halloway]

Boon,

Here is the IMR handgun data for Trail Boss
http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss-feb2005.php

Scroll down the page you'll find in the above link and you will find loads for the .44 Magnum.

Others might guide you to other reloading data from other manufacturers.

[Boon]

Thanks Marshal and sorry about posting this in the wrong spot the first time. Us newbies sure do keep you bussy hu....I will read the main topics closer next time and try to pick the propper place fer it...thanks again pard

[Micheal Fortune]

Main thing is Boon that we have maximum velocity issues so shooting full house .44 mag is unsafe but if you load it to middle of the road .44 special specifications you should be closer to being on the right track.

I haven't tried the "trailboss" powder yet. 

I use Hogdon's Titegroup......here is there web site.

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/cowboy/index.php

Hope this helps

[Silver Creek Slim]

When I used to shoot smokeless/Nitro I used about 5 grains of Clays or Titegroup.

Slim

[Boon]

Thanks fer all the help....I tried a load today and it works great....Really reduces the recoil on the old arm and rist. Loaded for about 1000 fps

[Silver Creek Slim]

Boon,
Ya might consider backing the load off a bit more to about 850. This is about where my BP loads are and most people I shoot with think they are quite hot.

Slim

[BlackHawkPaul]

Great advice above, Boon. You may want to buy a reloading handbook like Richard Lee's Second Edition of Modern Reloading to compare many powders and velocities and techniques. Lyman Reloading Manual is also great as are several others. 1,000 FPS is a bit stiff fro CAS competition and you may want to back it down a bit per some manufacturer's recommedned 44 Special loads and see if they are more to taste.

[Boon]

  Thanks Pards....got the load down and it is right at 824 fps

[Silver Creek Slim]

Sounds good, Boon.   

Slim

[Scattered Thumbs]

Howdy Boon,

You can  also  go the "Dark" way .  If you stuff  your .44  Mag brass  full of blackpowder, you will end up with something very  close to the  performance of a slightly less powerfull .44-40. And that will be a legal load for CAS.