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Black Powder load for 44 mag?

6.2K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  buckeyeshooter  
#1 ·
Looking to use my Marlin 1894 in 44mag as a black powder rifle for SASS. I will use 200 gr lead projectiles. Any suggestions for powder charges? Thinking 25gr of FFF would be OK, your thoughts?? Cheers, Kevo ???
 
#3 ·
Hey Kevo,

Not big into the black powder.

Will say this, what you run into is case volume. You can not have any space in the case.

The powder needs to be "compressed".

In the 44-40, the guys around here are favoring the "Swiss" brand.

If you are using regular "black", and the 200 gr bullet, you would be served well by 35 to 40 gr of 2F, and some filler (cream of wheat......etc)

You will also want a "softer" bullet, than you would use with "smokeless".

Just my .02 cents worth.

Later, Mark
 
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#4 ·
Yeah Mark, I am aware that the case needs to have no air space with BP. I use BP with my 45colt. I use fibre wads and cornmeal to fill up the space. (Nothin like some grits flammin out the barrel. ) I use the same loads for my 45 colt pistols as I do for my 45 colt rifle. Works a treat! Wanting to do the same with the 44mag pistols & rifle. Nice & close targets need just to be knocked down, not obliterated. I do use almost pure lead, with very little tin & no antimony, so bullets will be soft enough. I was just hoping someone out there uses a 44mag and BP for a load to start with. Oh well, more work on the drawing board here. Thanks guys.
 
#6 ·
To effectively shoot BP you need to use bullets lubed for BP. Cleaning is essential and

An alternative is using Hodgdon 777 if you can find it. It does not foul the firearm like BP, cleanup is not essential, and there is plenty of boom and smoke. Bullets with smokeless lube work just fine with 777.

Loading Notes

DD
 
#7 ·
My 1894 44 mag shoots better with black than any smokeless load unless it is paper patched. A variety of bullets work, and you have been given good advise above. Most often I shoot the NOE 200gr. black powder bullet, lubed with Pearl Lube or Emmert's. Cast from air cooled wheelweights, they work great. If you can swing the price, Swiss FFFg is the powder. But the new Old Eynsford is 99% as good and about $10/lb cheaper. Powder charge is whatever fits with about 1/8" compression to start with. Since you're doing CAS shooting, you will likely be able to stop there. For long range you can experiment and fine tune it, but you likely won't have to. Anneal your brass well and keep that segregated from the smokeless loads. The annealed cases seal the chamber properly and don't allow fouling into the action, as well as give higher muzzle velocity. Of course clean your rifle and cases when you are done - wet tumbler and SS pins is the best way I have found. Decap first with a decap die. Enjoy, and be amazed at how nice your Marlin is to shoot with BP compared to that non smoking stuff.