Just bought a Ruger Alaskan....1st wheel gun I've ever owned

Tell me about reloading this cartridge

I have been loading it for years, in to see what I missed! I enjoy lower powered lead loads tho. LOVE lil gun for the high velocity stuff tho.

Jason

Here goes - the challenging part of reloading .44 magnum is sizing the case without pulling off the rim. As you reload them the rim gets weaker because of the pressure required to pull them out of the sizing die. There is a lot of surface friction - lot of pull required to get the case out of the sizing die. So lube it well. I removed the decapping pin stem on the sizing die because you will have to knock out a stuck case from the top with a large punch. I decap them with a punch.

Even if a case comes out of the sizing die alright the rim can be stretched. Then they won't seat in the revolver causing the cylinder to bind. So the cylinder gets locked up. They also won't fit in the shell holder. So recommend before a range trip remove the cylinder, do a drop test and make sure the cartridge is seated flat. If not you can dress them up with a dremel. if they won't fit in the shell holder then they will lock up the cylinder.

I recommend crimping the bullets. With a .44 magnum the recoil can cause bullet set back as you fire. The bullet gets loose, it sets back in the case or it works its way out of the case and again jams up the cylinder.

I shoot 240g lead bullets. Its necessary to slightly bell the case opening and I also use my deburring tool and remove the inside case edge. Otherwise the lead bullet when being seated can catch on the edge and bend the brass inwards with lead on the outside. Don't tumble .44mag brass with any other brass. 9mm particularly and others fit in the case and get jammed in with the tumbling media. very had to get out without ruining the .44 mag case.

Make sure the primers are seated below the case. If not they can jam up the cylinder then you are risking an explosion by forcing the cylinder against a primer.

Congrats on the gun. Its a nice one. I'm just over near Arab so you are welcome to come by and I can get your dies set up and go through anything I can help with. I shoot about a 80% load in mine. Have a S&W 629 and a Single Action Army. Love the round and love to shoot it.

That is great info. THANK YOU!

I'm jealous of the 629. That's what I really wanted.

Concerning the stuck case....will carbide dies help with that?

Welcome and not sure - Its just a matter of a relatively thin rim and a whole lot of surface resistance. I lube all my pistol brass with a simple pad. Spray, roll, done. But with .44 magnum I use the same lube as my rifle brass (Imperial wax) and make sure I lube it well. Even then I pulled the rims off three cases today and had to knock them out. They had been reloaded several times. If there is significant resistance when going in the sizing die then its best to stop, remove decapping stem, and knock the case out from the top. Otherwise you will pull off the rim and have to knock it out anyway.

H110 is my go to with 44mag. And I like the nosler partitions in it if they ever come around again

Anyone use HS-6 or titegroup?

Roadkill does this also apply to 44 mag rifle?

Same r

Same round - set back can be a problem because of them being stacked end to end. Recommend crimping. The problem with the tight fit between the case rim and the frame as with a revolver isn't there though. As long as the bolt will close on them they will shoot but the reloading is the same.

The 44 mag is extremely versatile. I own way too many 629s ranging from 3" to 8 3/8". As noted, cast is a cheaper option for reloading and back in the day was a staple for hunting as well. I used to plink with light loaded cast bullet over Unique, but have since gone all jacketed. Cast does tend to be dirtier regardless.

Have loaded H110 and/or 296, which are pretty much interchangeable. Have also loaded VV110, which has slightly different characteristics than either H110 or 296, My go to for magnums (357 and 44) is Enforcer. Very clean powder and efficient. Magnum primers for any of the above.

For whitetails have settled on the Sierra 210 JHC. The 240 gr is a staple and have shot many deer with those and a few with as light as 180 JHCs. The 210 is a happy medium for penetration and recoil. A lot have gone heavier depending on intended use.

I use Lee dies and I've never had to go through what Roadkill does. I'm not sure I would reload it if it was that big a PIA. Maybe it's a die thing???

No clue - I'm using RCBS dies and shell holder. I've wondered if the chambers on the 629 are "generous" allowing the brass to expand more than normal. I am using a single stage rock chucker. Maybe a combination of a tight die, open chamber, and old brass?

I also use Lee dies with my 44 mag and 357 mag and have never had these problems. Also melt down and cast bullets using the Lee molds. Not sure about the RCBS dies I have a couple of those in rifle caliber but most all my dies are Lee..

Unique will become your friend loading 240 lead@1000 fps.

I load 6 gr trailboss under a cast powder coated 240 gr bullet. Lots of fun in an 1894. Recoil is about like a 22.

Haven't loaded for 44 Mag in prob almost 30 years. I shoot a TON of 44 SPC and 44-40 tho. I did not have RKs problems back when. Also never owned a Smith 44 Mag. All mine were Rugers. RCBS dies. Mixed brass. All lead. I was shooting the Keith 250s with 2400 being my go to. Then the Skeeter (Skelton) 44 SPC load. Same bullet/7.5 grns of Unique. And what I shoot/prefer to this day in my 44 SPCs.

Next time you are over my way stop by. I'm going shooting tomorrow and will fire a couple of hundred .44 mag. You can help me reload them.

Great info. Thanks guys. It really helps!

Blue dot,h110,and 2400 all do very well.
Load them like anything else.probably one of the easiest cartridges to load since it's not tiny like a 9mm just much easier to deal with a larger cartridge .also i recommend buying a separate crimp die.it sux trying to adjust crimp while seating bullets.usually results in 2-3 wasted cases and bullets trying to get it right between different bullets

HAH! You WISH! If I am loading ANY 44, it is for my 44 SPCs and then the 44-40s!