sierra reload question

[I_LOVE_GRANPAS_GUNS]

Found these @ Walmart
The box reads for handguns only.
Can I load them for my 444?
I imagine the cannelure will be in a different place but will that make a real probem lor not?

[Oz]

Obviously for .44mag. so you could use'm in reduced loads or send'em to me.

Cheers,
Mark.

[hunter6657]

I have these same bullets and have loaded them in the short Hornady brass.
They load fine and i used a 44 mag seater die to crimp them.
I'll have to test them this weekend.
I'm targeting the 1800fps range and it should make a great whitetail stopper load.
I may have to lower the velocity of it since they are handgun bullets.

[msharley]

Hey Granpa,

The canelure is in the "wrong" place for the 444. Easily rolled on with the C&H 4D Tool canelure tool. Or seat to right depth, and use the Lee FCD.

Later, Mark

[I_LOVE_GRANPAS_GUNS]

Hey Granpa,

The canelure is in the "wrong" place for the 444. Easily rolled on with the C&H 4D Tool canelure tool. Or seat to right depth, and use the Lee FCD.

Later, Mark

I do have the correct Lee FCD ! I may just load em anyway....

[Starrbow]

Those Sierra bullets are Velocity Challenged, keep the velocity moderate and you should be fine, I got about 20 or so left in a box I loaded about 14 years ago, their velocity is around 1800fps, and they have worked fine for Eastern Whitetail.

[Jonas6x62]

I shoot them with 2200 fps out of my XLR and they are very accurate.

[Mikewood]

I have never had a problem with loading 240grn and heavier JHP pistol bullets in a 444. The deer I shoot certainly don't complain about any over expansion. They fall over just as dead as any "rifle" bullet. The 444 really over classes 300# critters. maybe shooting elk might be different but I don't know. I also alway crimp at the cannelure even if it's in the "wrong" place. They seem to feed and cycle in my gun just fine.

[mt_sourdough]

First of all, I believe that velocity limits are set by the bullets terminal performance and are not based on external ballistics. Many 44 cal pistol bullets will shoot quite well at 444 velocities, but may not give optimal terminal performance at those velocities.
There are not many 44 cal bullets that are made to work at 444 velocities, because most are built for 44 Rem Mag. The 44 mag is loaded in rifles of course, so those velocities of 44 mag rifles is sometimes near the top of effective velocity range. Some still work well at 444 velocities, but others should be loaded down to achieve desirable terminal performance. Though I have never worked with Sierra bullet (yet), a general analyses of it's construction would suggest to me that it would probably work better at lower velocities if your hunting in close. If you are fairly confident of likely shooting range, you could create a load to be within effective velocity upon impact. If your shot is likely to be around 100 yards or so, than you could load it up to max muzzle velocities knowing that the bullet will be slowed down to within bullet's effective velocity at point of impact.