(WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose, FMC= Full Metal Case, FMJ= Full Metal Jacket, JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)
Loads for .44/40:
(Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet sizes vary from .426" for jacketed to .427" for some lead in diameter.
Due to different barrel lengths,
type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors,
you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.
These loads are for MODERN guns.
Make sure your gun can handle it.
Powder Mfgs. Velocities in a test
barrel differ from a 4 4/5" revolver by
about 175 fps and from 7 1/2" by 50 fps.
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190 grain LRN or SWC (Lead Round Nose)
AA No. 2 5.2 gr. 891 (Cowboy load)
AA No. 5 8.5 gr. 950 (Cowboy load)
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200-205 grain LRN or SWC (Lead Round Nose)
Bullseye 4.0 gr. 695 FPS (good start load)
Bullseye 6.6 gr. 945 MAX. LOAD
Unique 6.0 gr. 750
Unique 9.0 gr. 1,095 MAX. LOAD
231 6.7 gr. 1,100 MAX. LOAD
WAP 8.7 gr. 676
Universal 6.6 gr. 722 cowboy load
Universal 7.3 gr. 777 cowboy max
HP-38 5.5 gr. 711 cowboy mild
HP-38 6.5 gr. 820 cowboy max
Clays 4.2 gr. 648 cowboy mild
Clays 5.0 gr. 765 cowboy max
AA N100 5.3 gr. 954 (Cowboy load)
AA No. 2 6.3 gr. 961 (Cowboy load)
AA No. 5 9.2 gr. 983 (Cowboy load)
AA 5744 17.0 gr. 1,035 MAX. LOAD
VV N320 6.9 gr. 841
VV N340 9.2 gr. 865
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200 grain JSP (Jacketed Soft Point)
Bullseye 6.6 gr. 1,070 MAX. LOAD
2400 14.5 gr. 1,230 MAX. Load
Unique 8.0 gr. 1,090 MAX. LOAD
HS6 9.0 gr. 1,292 MAX. Load
HP38 6.5 gr. 1,140 MAX. Load
231 6.0 gr. ----- MAX. LOAD
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240 grain Lead
Bullseye 5.0 gr. 850 FPS
Unique 6.7 gr. 950
2400 12.0 gr. 1,130
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Discussion:
This is a very old cartridge. It's been around over
100 years. Do not use any of this data with gun
designed for black powder loads. It's best to use
new brass so as not to get the old balloon head type
used years ago. Some old cartridges also used
corrosive primers.
A bullet with a
copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air.
*
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6, HS7 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. HS7 is slowest of the group (Similar to 2400)
IMR 4227, IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
No.2, No. 5, No.7, No. 9, #5744, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company.
231 is a fast burning powder from Winchester.
References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet - - Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders' Guide (1995) - - Hodgdon's Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) - - Speer Reloading Manual, #12 - - Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition - - Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. - - VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) - - Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.