[Jeff Higgins]

Yes, my full power .44 mags and .45 Colts are pretty darn close, performance-wise. Both launch 300 grain bullets in the mid 1,200 fps range. These are purely hunting loads, though, and really not very much fun to shoot. Even the 250 grain .44 mag load I mention above is pretty much confined to hunting, sending that bullet downrange at over 1,300 fps.

My ultimate plan for this gun is to load it with that 250 grain bullet, but back it off to match my lower end, "Colt safe" .45 Colt load. That .45 Colt load just tops 900 fps with a 270 grain bullet over 9.0 grains of Unique. I'll load the .44 with the 250 grain bullet with the same 9.0 grains of Unique for about the same velocity, matching .44 Special loads. That makes for a dandy woods bumming, or cold day heavy jacket concealed carry load. I'll start out with the heavy loads simply because that's all I have right now but, as I empty a batch of brass for reloading, I'll put together a batch of the lighter load. Yes, the beauty of handloading... I'll even use full length .44 mag brass for these, just so the bullet jumps less before it gets to the rifling. Works pretty darn good.