Tagged.
Basically you need a powder that is not position sensitive (non magnum) and you can download it to bunny fart levels.
I'd try a light charge of titegroup with a firm crimp.

Eta, lots of folks will say trailboss.
That stuff is a waste of time IMO.

 

Eta, lots of folks will say trailboss.
That stuff is a waste of time IMO.

what makes you consider trailboss a waste of time?

 

Tagging this for later. When i get home I will post a pic from Lyman cast bullet handbook.

 

Lyman shows 240gr lead starting at 9 gr titegroup for 1440fps in a rifle.
I'm sure you could drop that much lower.
1100fps should be easy.

 

Check out Unique. You'll be somewhere around 10-11 grs of it. Nice mild load.

 

I appreciate the replies but really Trying to avoid buying another powder, per my original post

 

The only answer I can think of would be to go below book minimum with the powders you have. Some powders are position sensitive so you may get more SD than you want.

 

14gr of blue dot with a 240gr on top is fun from a 6" barrel.

If your going light, then cut some brass down to 44spl and run a light load.

Some food for thought:

http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c43.htm

 

Thanks for the article!!

 

5.5 gr. of Winchester 231 over your 240gr swc will give you around 800 fps at a relatively low pressure of 12,000 CUP

Great website: http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

 

Think that will safely .and it out of,20"barrel?

 

At 800 feet per second, I don't see a reason why it would not. Happy shooting!

 

Slacker has the same book I do and it shows data for your Blue Dot powder. If you're going off book with it you should at least use a chrono so you can measure your results

 

I don't create bunny fart loads with magnum powders. I use Enforcer for 44mag a lot, and I wouldn't trust it....**warning** it can be positional. Titegroup is your safest bet. I know you don't want another powder, but, if you are going to create the light loads, you need a fast burning powder that will go off every time regardless if someone has pointed the rifle down at the ground and THEN brought it up to fire. I'm not familiar with the other powders you've mentioned, so if they work you are golden. I use Enforcer a lot and am quite aware of it's limitations.

 

Thanks. I appreciate the insight!

 

^^ what @mazer said. I wouldn't use a magnum pistol powder for reduced loads. FWIW, I have a Winchester 94 in .44 with a 16" barrel, and my 11 year old slim-build son shoots full power loads out of it with no issues.
He claims it has less recoil than his brothers 20ga H&R single. A recoil pad and good ear protection might be the solution instead of trying to deconstruct a magnum cartridge.

 

There is a reason there are different powders... Please use the right powder for what you're trying to accomplish. You'll get better results that way. At this few grains per load it's not like it's a huge investment in money

 

I use Titegroup a lot. I have loaded it down to minimum loads before: 240 gr LSWC over 4.7 gr Titegroup per Hodgdon's website. I've shot this loading out of my Marlin 1894 before with no issues.

That being said, I'd say go with Titegroup or with the 231 since they appear very similar on the "starting loads" end of the scale...

 

I've used 11-11.5 grains of Blue Dot with 240 grain cast with a 1894. IIRC..... it was 1200+ FPS and recoil was light. I'm sure there are some lighter loads though.

 

Thanks everyone!! Exactly what I was looking for.

 

I ran some blue dot behind some 275 grainers today. Very mild. Was about 1400 fps.

 

Don't sell the Blue Dot. Load it.

I use it in everything.

Works great in 9 mm.

 

You might want to load a few to test before you load a bunch. I have never had problems with my 44 Magnum 1894 but have had problems with my 45 Colt 1894 giving some rather strong blow back with light loads. I have never shot real light loads out of my 44 and don't know whether that would be a problem. I have to load my 45 up to about the max listed for Cowboy loads with Trail Boss and to fairly healthy loads with Unique or 231 in order to have the case seal up the chamber.

I have used a bunch of Trail Boss in numerous chamberings from 32/20 to 45/70 and have had no problems with it. I like that it takes up so much space in the case. I wish I could find some more since I am running short.

 

You might want to load a few to test before you load a bunch. I have never had problems with my 44 Magnum 1894 but have had problems with my 45 Colt 1894 giving some rather strong blow back with light loads. I have never shot real light loads out of my 44 and don't know whether that would be a problem. I have to load my 45 up to about the max listed for Cowboy loads with Trail Boss and to fairly healthy loads with Unique or 231 in order to have the case seal up the chamber.

I have used a bunch of Trail Boss in numerous chamberings from 32/20 to 45/70 and have had no problems with it. I like that it takes up so much space in the case. I wish I could find some more since I am running short.

Isn't 44mag brass a couple thou thicker than 44sp brass? Should be easy to trade into a couple hundred cases to see if they'll work better.