Reloading for 44 Mag Big Boy

[photog3740]

I have recently purchased a Henry Big Boy in 44 Mag. I have been shooting Fiocchi ammo mostly, but want to reload. Any info on powders, bullets, primers, etc is much appreciated.
Thanks in Advance!

[CT_Shooter]

Welcome to the forum from CT. I'm sure you'll be getting some helpful information soon.

[JEBar]

delighted to have you join us .... looking forward to exchanging info and to your future range reports/comments .... we own a Henry 44 mag that has quickly become one of our favorite long guns .... there are several good threads on the forum that deal with reloading 44 mag ammo .... our hunting load has long been 23.8 gr of H110 or W296 pushing a Nosler 240 gr JHP .... we are still developing our paper punching load .... the good news is we have tried a variety of bullet types and weights, all of which have performed well .... as of right now our favorite plinking powder is Unique

please consider going to our How Many ? thread at this link http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 711#p33711 and add your Henry to our community total

[clovishound]

First of all, where are you? Not location, but in the reloading process. Have you purchased or decided on the type of press? Have you picked up a manual and read through it yet? That should be the first step IMO.

Then figure out what type of press you want, single stage, turret, progressive. What kind of priming process? On press or hand held, perhaps bench mounted stand alone priming tool. Powder measuring should factor in somewhere. Stand alone powder measure, die mounted, dippers. And then there are scales, digital or balance beam. For better or worse, there are more options that you can shake a stick at.

There is more. It may seem rather complicated from the outside, but after a while it becomes routine.

The most important thing is your attitude. I recommend going into it with the attitude that you are going to do things the right way, without compromise on safety.

A local mentor is something that can make things so much easier, if there is someone who is willing to help you out.

[photog3740]

Hi there,
Thanks for responding. I'm new at reloading, but have had guns since I was kid. I have inherited an RCBS JR2, and a Lee Pro 1000. The Lee has 2 complete shell plate carriers, (#1 for 38/357, #11 for 44 sp and 44 mag). The Lee came with dies for 9mm, 38 sp, 357/38, and 44 mag. I have shell holders for just about every caliber.
I am going to start reloading with the RCBS JR2, to learn all the basics. I am bench mounting both presses. I have a handheld primer tool with all the shell holders. I still need a powder measure. Any suggestions? I also have an RCBS beam scale, but will be getting a digital one as well.
I have a tumbler, sonic cleaner, media, media separator, case lube pad, etc., , so that is covered.

What manual do you recommend? There are several as I'm sure you know.

I'm also taking a reloading class in 2 weeks, and do have a local mentor.
I'm a totally 100% safety first shooter, and the same applies to reloading.

[CT_Shooter]

Sounds like you're good to go.

I highly recommend Hornady's 9th (or 10th) manual because they do their own load testing with actual firearms. They also provide separate data for pistols and rifles that use pistol calibers. Some of the other manuals use generic data and/or data from testing barrels that are not necessarily part of an actual firearm. That said, I also own and refer to Lymans, Hodgdon's, and Lee's manuals. There are online resources, too, like Hodgdon's and Handloads.com.

I like the inexpensive Lee Perfect Powder measure for Unique and Universal, though it's not a good choice for H110, which tends to "leak". For H110, I use a dipper that I made from a 9mm brass case and which yields a consistent volume and weight of powder for .357 158 grain jacketed bullets. Lee Dippers (or handmade dippers) can be a good way to measure powder.

You're going to enjoy reloading. For me, it's as enjoyable and rewarding as shooting.

[BigAl52]

I like Unique as well. 10 grains and a 240swc will do anything you need to do. Semi wadcutters are sometimes not user friendly in a lever so you can use a round nose flatpoint in a lead bullet. Berrys and xtreme also make copper plated bullets which I have had great success with. I like the redding BR# powder measure but its expensive and does a good job. One thought you might want to look at the RCBS 1500 charge master. Its a powder measure and scale together but it does a great job. I have also found the Hornadys 240gr xtp shoots real good in all the 44's I have used it in. I don't have a Henry 44 but I do own a 45. Al

[clovishound]

The Pro 1000 should have an auto disc on it, unless someone as removed it. If you have Lee dies, you can mount the auto disc from the 1000 on the expander die and drop powder while flaring cases. It has discs with premeasured cavities. You will have to choose the one that throws the closest to what you want.

FWIW, I like a lot of Lee products, but would not be looking at their progressives, and if I did, I would only look at the loadmaster. Still, it is something you already have, so once you get your feet under you, you may want to give it a shot. Starting with the single stage is smart IMO.

I have a perfect powder measure. Since I have a turret, I use an auto drum on that. Very happy with it.

The perfect powder measure works well. It is a stand alone measure. It does leak a little with some powders. I use mine for rifle calibers. The price is right for them.

[ditto1958]

What manual do you recommend? There are several as I'm sure you know.

Everyone has their favorites, but one piece of advice I have gotten a lot is get several of them, and read them. Also, before I even started reloading, I read quite a few reloading threads on various firearms forums, and I watched numerous YouTube videos on the subject.

I am still pretty much a novice. I load .357 magnum and .30-30 on a pretty regular basis. I also occasionally do .38 special and .35 Remington. Generally, I have been very pleased that, even as a beginner, I can make very accurate ammo, and I can afford to shoot much more than if I were buying factory ammo. I am glad I started doing it.

Good luck, and be sure to update us on your progress.

[JEBar]

What manual do you recommend? There are several as I'm sure you know.

my theory is nobody knows a bullet than the folks who design and make it .... for that reason, if one is available, I tend to go with whatever manual is published by the bullet's manufacture

[clovishound]

And nobody knows their powder better than the powder manufacturers. Of course, sometimes a powder manufacturers don't test the bullet you want to use. One thing about the powder manufacturer's data is that it's usually available online. You will have the most up to date info from them that way.

[Beech Creek Gary]

I've been loading 200 gr. XTP's over 24 gr. of IMR 4227 for a nice soft shooting load.

[CT_Shooter]

I've been loading 200 gr. XTP's over 24 gr. of IMR 4227 for a nice soft shooting load.

Welcome to the forum from CT, Gary. Glad you joined the conversation.