Why not? You wanna save a bit of money on component cost don’t you!
Handloading or reloading .44 caliber pistol ammunition, particularly for .44 Special and .44 Russian cartridges, can be both an economical and rewarding pursuit, especially when using roundball bullets. Here’s a detailed look at how you can approach this:
Understanding .44 Special and .44 Russian:
- .44 Russian: Introduced in 1872, the .44 Russian was designed for the Smith & Wesson Model No. 3 revolver. It’s known for its accuracy and was historically used with black powder. For handloading, modern brass from Starline is available, and it’s compatible with bullets ranging from about 180 to 250 grains.
- .44 Special: Developed in 1907 as an upgrade to the .44 Russian, the .44 Special offers more power with a slightly longer case. It’s versatile for both light plinking loads and heavier hunting ammunition.
Roundball Bullets:
Roundballs are traditional projectiles used in muzzleloading but can also be adapted for certain revolver cartridges. They provide a unique shooting experience due to their simplicity and the historical aspect:
- Size and Fit: For .44 calibers, roundballs typically would be around .433 inches in diameter to fit snugly into .44 Special or .44 Russian cases without excessive leading or fit issues.
- Single Roundball Loads:
- .44 Special: For a low-noise, low-recoil load, one could use a .433″ roundball with a charge of about 3.5 grains of Bullseye powder. This load is known to penetrate half-inch plywood, indicating its effectiveness for plinking or target practice. However, always start below this with a lighter charge to ensure safety and function.
- .44 Russian: Historical data suggests using lighter loads due to the cartridge’s design for lower pressures. Specific data for roundballs in .44 Russian is less common, but similar principles apply regarding low powder charges for low-velocity shooting.
- Double Roundball Loads:
- These are less common and require careful loading to ensure both balls seat correctly and do not cause excessive pressure. No specific load data for double roundball in .44 calibers was found in the referenced material, but general advice includes using fast-burning powders like Bullseye or Red Dot to avoid pressure spikes.
Loading Tips:
- Powder: Fast-burning powders like Bullseye, W231, or Red Dot are recommended due to the short barrel length of revolvers, ensuring complete powder burn before the bullet exits the barrel.
- Crimp: A light crimp is suggested for roundball loads to prevent movement during recoil, especially if you’re using a single roundball.
- Leading: Since lead roundballs can cause leading (depositing lead in the barrel), it’s wise to use a lubricant or consider using gas-checked bullets for higher velocity loads, although this is more relevant for conical or semi-wadcutter bullets.
- Safety: Always start with the minimum powder charge listed in reloading manuals, incrementally increase while checking for signs of excessive pressure, and never exceed published maximum loads.
Specific Load Information:
- For .44 Special with a single roundball, starting with 3.5 grains of Bullseye and a .433″ diameter ball could be a good baseline for a plinking load.
- For .44 Russian, while exact roundball load data isn’t widely documented, using similar principles with a slightly reduced charge due to the cartridge’s lower pressure tolerance could be a starting point.
Remember, handloading requires meticulous attention to detail, and each gun might have different pressure tolerances. Always consult multiple reloading manuals for cross-referencing load data, and consider the condition and type of your firearm when loading.
Here’s some published load data from years ago that might help you get started with these fun loads!
Have a “Special” kind of day!