Help with loading .44 Special

[markallen]

I just purchased a Ruger Alaskan in .44mag.
My intent is to carry this as one of my CCW's. But I would like to carry .44Special in it.
I already handload the .44Mag, and have for years.

I will experiment with bullet weight, but I will be starting with 240gr JHP, which I have quite a bit of. And plenty of .44Mag brass which I can trim to .44Special length if needed.
I want to end up around 1000fps, or there abouts.

Now for the question: Should I down load .44Mag brass, or use .44Special brass. And what is the advantage or disadvantage of using either length brass.
I already know about the ring buildup using shorter brass, as I use .38Special as a practice round in my .357 SP101.
Thanks for any help you can give.

[SpiderJohn]

I think if your goal is 1000fps, then you should stick with Magnum brass. I have some rounds in stock that I have loaded years ago, and no longer have the guns I loaded them for.

I would hate to hear that you put those rounds in a special, because they fit, and find out they were stronger than the gun. I am not saying it is too hot for a special, but why take the chance?

1000 fps is a bit hot for any .44 special. I would't want to put one of those in the wrong gun.

Without looking at a book, I think 240's in a special should run 800-900 fps.

[oldgold]

And plenty of .44Mag brass which I can trim to .44Special length if needed

Why bother? Just download to what you want. Use a powder that's used in both the Special and magnum and shoot high end special loads or low end mag loads or something in between

[Jim Watson]

I would use Magnum brass for a 1000 fps load, even if Elmer got to 1200 with overloaded Specials. Save readjusting the dies, anyhow.

I WOULD use a different bullet for home guard than for full charge bear bumpers, though; just so I could tell the difference by looks.

[Sunray]

You can use .44 Mag brass loaded to .44 Special velocities with no fuss. Just like loading .357 brass to .38 velocities. Eliminates any need to clean the cylinders when switching. Use a different shape of bullet or a different brand of brass to avoid mixing the loads.

[markallen]

Thanks for all the responses.
I was leaning towards using the magnum brass.
But I wanted to be sure, since I know that low powder charges with a lot of space in the brass can lead to high pressure spikes.
I have also heard from other threads of seating the bullet further in the brass to compensate for this, but would that not lead to problems with crimping, since you would be beyond the bullet's cannulare ?
I will be looking into lighter grain bullets but I want to use some 240 gr at first since this is what I have on hand.
Any powder recommendations?
I was looking at either Unique, or 2400 first. I have been using IMR4227 for my magnum load.
I have some loading data from Alliant, but that is with the .44Special brass.
Thanks Again.

[Jim Watson]

A powder charge that will generate 1000 fps is not a light load that would generate "pressure spikes" even if there were such a thing. Which I doubt.
That would be at the high end of Unique or low end of 2400 loads, either will work.
I never shot anything in .44 Magnum between 825 and 1200 fps so I cannot help with a recipe.

[RecoilRob]

Keep in mind that you are working with a 2 1/2" barrel on the Alaskan and getting a 240 to 1000 fps is going to be a relatively stout load.

I'd try 20grns of 2400 to start, and it should be close to the desired 1K.