[BDogg464d]

Just looking for info on these reloads.
Are these a standard load for 44 mag?

Or are these hot loads, or underpowered loads? I will be shooting out of a 1985 S&W 29-3

Female friend at work brother passed away. He was a gunsmith and reloaded his own ammo. I bought the gun from her, and she came across alot of ammo he had reloaded. Not sure if this is good for the revolver.

 

[jonesy814]

I dont reload 44 magnum, but do other calibers. From info in my manuals it looks hot, but wait for someone who regularly loads 44 mag to speak up

 

[Abby'sDad]

He looks like he was very methodical in hos labeling so I would assume it to be correct for what is in there

44 Rem. Magnum	240 gr cast LSWC	Speer	1.605	7.5	CCI 300	Unique	7	899	-​
44 Rem. Magnum	250 gr cast (Keith)	Speer	1.71	7.5	CCI 300	Unique	11	1,211	-​

Near the right side side you see a "7" on line 1 and an "11" on line 2. Those are Alliant's max charge weights. IF those bullets are hard cast like the Keith, then all is good as far as weight goes. I am not familiar with Acme bullets; perhaps someone else is.

 

[Abby'sDad]

Looks to be a Keith style with a hardness of 16:

 

[SidecarFlip]

10 grains of Unique is hot.... and dirty too. Think I'd pull them resize them (with the decap pin removed so as not to remove the primers and reload them.

I use Lil Gun myself in 44 reloads, sticking to a mid range load in my Hornady manual.

A 44 will handle 10 grains no issue but it won't be pleasant on your wrist.

 

[Mac23]

I would not classify 10 grains as especially hot (it is above the max in my old Hornady book and below that in my even older Lyman manual ). I did not take the time to look it up online, but I have trusted Hodgdon's data. The 29 will be OK , but depending on hardness of the bullet, you may get leading. FYI, I load 8.5 grains on Unique in my 29c for a fairly comfortable load that shoots close to point of aim with my 240 JHP loads with 110. Enjoy that 29.

 

[Layne12gun]

Since they are reloads and you don't know the quality or data on them i would not shoot them at all. Quality control is always an issue if you don't know the reloader .. Use caution i would pull the bullets and start over

 

[Rcope822]

Layne is spot on.

 

[Abby'sDad]

Since they are reloads and you don't know the quality or data on them i would not shoot them at all. Quality control is always an issue if you don't know the reloader .. Use caution i would pull the bullets and start over

HUH? He knows the EXACT data on them; this guy was a machinist/gunsmith; someone who would be ANAL about details and he took the time to type/print the labels with everything. I'd shoot them

 

[SidecarFlip]

Since they are reloads and you don't know the quality or data on them i would not shoot them at all. Quality control is always an issue if you don't know the reloader .. Use caution i would pull the bullets and start over

Like I said, pop the pills, dump the powder and size the cases minus the decapping pin as the primers are ok and it's Starline brass which is in my view just about the best available (next to Norma and Lapua but they don't swage handgun cases.

 

[BC38]

10 grains of Unique is hot.... and dirty too. Think I'd pull them resize them (with the decap pin removed so as not to remove the primers and reload them.

I use Lil Gun myself in 44 reloads, sticking to a mid range load in my Hornady manual.

A 44 will handle 10 grains no issue but it won't be pleasant on your wrist.

Ditto all of that. I'd pull them down, not because they are too hot, but because they were loaded by someone I don't know and are at the upper end of the range. If the guy was really careful and meticulous they would be fine. But if he wasn't any one of them could destroy the gun.
Not that I can't make a mistake myself - I certainly can. But I at least know how hard I try to be very precise in my reloading and if I blow up a gun, then I can't blame anyone but myself.

 

[BC38]

HUH? He knows the EXACT data on them; this guy was a machinist/gunsmith; someone who would be ANAL about details and he took the time to type/print the labels with everything. I'd shoot them

I must've missed the part about the reloader being a machinist. Where did it say that?
He is reported to have been a "gunsmith", but what does that mean? Bubba the gun butcher calls himself a gunsmith too - that doesn't mean he's any good at it.
Printing the labels on a computer is a nice touch and points towards someone who is at least attempting to do a good job, but I know a lot of people who are great with computers that I wouldn't even want handling a gun in my presence - much less loading ammo for MY guns.
If I don't know you and haven't actually WATCHED you do some reloading, I'm not shooting your reloads in my guns. No offense, but I only trust ME and the factory and a couple of my buddies for my ammo. All others need not apply.
Breaking them down and reloading them just isn't that big of a deal compared to possibly destroying a gun and/or possibly injuring yourself or someone else. Its basically getting the components for a little work in your spare time.
I guess it all boils down to how much risk you're comfortable with. Me, I don't gamble - because I'm not lucky. There is no question I have been blessed, but when it comes to what most people call "luck", I AIN'T got it.

 

[BDogg464d]

Yes, he was a lifelong gunsmith/machinist. Had his own shop, with all the fancy bells and whistles. I know his sister real well, and have had several people vouch for his abilities. I also know he loaded his own ammo for the guns he had, and it is his model 29 i bought. That being said i do tend to air on the side of caution, especially since it is leaning towards the hot side. You guys have provided me with alot of information and i thank you for that.
I do believe im going to try to get some of his reloading equipment off of her and see if i can get setup myself.

 

[biquer]

Two of my firm rules about reloading.
1. I never put other’s reloads in my guns.
2. I never put my reloads in other’s guns.

Making assumptions about what I cannot know can have unpredictable results.
Avoiding unpredictable results has kept my firearms and my body parts intact.

 

[Engineer1911]

When you disagree, it is best to remain silent, but I would shoot the ammo.

 

[BDogg464d]

Well after alot of back and forth i shot some, it wasn't bad. I think it was a cowboy load because it had significantly more smoke then the factory ammo i tried. And just a little less kick then the factory magnum ammo. Seem to shoot strait. Only shot one cylinders worth as it seemed to run dirty. But no fire balls from it like the factory ammo

(only reason i tried it is because after alot more research i saw alot of people suggesting that load for a slightly under powered magnum load.)
And i had numerous people vouche for his dedication on precision of his reloads. I know i was still taking a chance, but looks like luck was on my side this time.

Side note, i made a few more purchases from her. Alot of reloading stuff that she did'nt know what to do with. Die's, powder, small powder cabinet, primers, digital powder scale, brass, reloading bullets, tumbler, tumbler media, brass tumbler cleaner, ultrasonic cleaner, case trimmer, bullet case gauge. (he had so many double and triples of things a few people could of gotten fully decked out) he only had one press though, aside from 3 or 4 MEC shotgun presses which i have no intrest in. I didn't get the press that was there because another fellow had come by and made a pile and he had grabbed the reloading press. But figured it would be better to buy one with a warranty, and that did'nt already have 100,000 + rounds already put thru it. So much stuff i don't realize what i looked over till i get home and do some research lol.

 

[Abby'sDad]

Those MECS would have been worth your while, if only to flip them....

 

[BDogg464d]

Yea i saw they were worth a little, but its more of a freind then an acquaintance. So i would rather help her make money off of them to the right people then gouge her and try to make money off of it myself.