44 Mag Bear Load for 329 PD

[Karfonta M]

Does anyone have a good load for a 329 PD? Hard to find the buffalo bore lower recoil in my area was hoping to make my own load similar and was hoping someone had a good place to start. Shot some grizzly bear loads through it and it was just too much for the light gun.

 

[Pgohil]

I run 24.0g w296 with a 240 gr hard cast by Missouri bullet company. It is one hard-hitting SOB. I can shoot through a 6x6 at 10 yd as well as 20. And penetrates a tree behind it. Very little deformation of the bullet. Now with that being said the lightweight of the 329 makes it an absolute handful. I put an aftermarket set of grips on mine which have made a big difference, but it's still not fun to shoot.

 

[Karfonta M]

Which grips are you running? I put the rubber set that came with it on now with the hopes it doesn't rip the skin off my hand like the wood ones did. I'm looking to handload with better performance than my 10mm but maybe a little less kick than a full bear load. Have you tried loading any full copper bullets and get less recoil that way?

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I am sorry guys, I can’t help but laughing as I am reading this post. I was looking hard at the 329PD but didnt feel like it was a realistic bear defense gun because of how hard it is to shoot with full blown bear loads. Whats the point of a loaded down 44 mag?? Lol. I ended up going with a 10mm shooting hot loads and glad I did.

 

[Karfonta M]

@PredatorSlayer I currently have a glock 40 with underwood xtreme penetrators. Ballistically a loaded down 44 mag will hit harder and faster than my hottest 10mm carry ammo. Plus the light weight of the 329 pd and the cool factor has me wanting to carry it. I'm planning on carrying both my 10mm and 44mag because I like options depending on the day/situation.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

@PredatorSlayer I currently have a glock 40 with underwood xtreme penetrators. Ballistically a loaded down 44 mag will hit harder and faster than my hottest 10mm carry ammo. Plus the light weight of the 329 pd and the cool factor has me wanting to carry it. I'm planning on carrying both my 10mm and 44mag because I like options depending on the day/situation.

Maybe - depends on how much you load it down. Just running some numbers it is very unlikely a loaded down 44 mag will hit harder and faster than a hot 10mm.

 

[Rifles And More]

Just load until you can't accurately handle it - ballistics be damned. I'd rather be on target with all my shots if necessary.

Scroll down to get the story of a 9mm Kill:

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Also, I'd carry spray and a pistol. Not two pistols. The best bear defense is awareness and avoidance. In the lower 48, the odds of an encounter are low if you use your head.

 

[MattB]

The standard .44 mag load (240 grs. at 1,250) has ~20% more energy than the hottest commercially loaded 10MM ammo I can find, so there is a fair bit of wiggle room for downloading while still generating more energy than a 10mm.

 

[Karfonta M]

Just load until you can't accurately handle it - ballistics be damned. I'd rather be on target with all my shots if necessary.

Scroll down to get the story of a 9mm Kill:

9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN Pistol and Handgun Bullets Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN Pistol and Handgun Bullets Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

Also, I'd carry spray and a pistol. Not two pistols. The best bear defense is awareness and avoidance. In the lower 48, the odds of an encounter are low if you use your head.

I see your point and it's a good one. But here in Alaska with our big brown bears the ballistics will matter. I'm not planning on carrying two pistols at the same time. I want bring my bigger 44 mag when I'm also near bigger bears that's all.

 

[Karfonta M]

The standard .44 mag load (240 grs. at 1,250) has ~20% more energy than the hottest commercially loaded 10MM ammo I can find, so there is a fair bit of wiggle room for downloading while still generating more energy than a 10mm.

That's what I figured from my research on the two cartridges. Now I just need to do some testing and I will share what load I come up with for others!

 

[MattB]

I have always found Taffin’s Tests articles to have a good variety of loads to play with. I grabbed a couple of “plinker” loads for my .475 from him.

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt44mag.htm

 

[35WhelenAI]

275 hardcast LBT WFN at 1000 fps using 2400, H110 or H4227. Lasercast 240 gr. with 9.5 gr Titegroup for trigger time.

S&W X frame grip is the ticket.

 

[Wrench]

Ive killed with the 329 and 10mm. A 240 hc or xtp over 22grs of 296 is a more manageable load than 24. The x frame grips help a lot. The hogue the gin comes with and wood are junk in comparison.

The 329 is the best lightweight solution and does not need the full house 44 mag to make it happen. I killed a bear with the 10mm 200xtp at 1250fps and it was about 16" penetration with plenty of bone pushed out of the way on the trip.

After all that, I carry a g43x with heavy charged 147hp's now while bow hunting. If I were in big brown bear country, it would be my 329 as a 1st choice and g20/1911 10mm as a second.

 

[Pgohil]

Which grips are you running? I put the rubber set that came with it on now with the hopes it doesn't rip the skin off my hand like the wood ones did. I'm looking to handload with better performance than my 10mm but maybe a little less kick than a full bear load. Have you tried loading any full copper bullets and get less recoil that way?

X-frame grips. It definitely makes the recoil manageable. But with that being said you cannot be recoil sensitive and shoot this lightweight fun. It absolutely is a handful. But I also know in the moment if it comes down to a grizzly attack, I feel very confident I will be able to place one to three rounds on target before I get eaten.

Another reason why I went with this gun over a semi-auto is if you ever get pinned by a bear and push the gun into its body and try to shoot, a semi-auto probably won't go off because the action will be unlocked by the slide getting pushed back a fraction. The reliability of a double action revolver can't be beat. I hope I never have to use my 329 PD in self-defense against any two-legged or four-legged predator. With that being said if I do I have the confidence to know that it will get the job done.

 

[Wrench]

Keep an eye on your blast shields. I'm on my 3rd now. Smith swaps them for free and will do tune ups as well. My 329 is a favorite for sure.

 

[sanddanw]

I am in search of 329 Night Guard if anyone knows where I can find one

@PredatorSlayer I currently have a glock 40 with underwood xtreme penetrators. Ballistically a loaded down 44 mag will hit harder and faster than my hottest 10mm carry ammo. Plus the light weight of the 329 pd and the cool factor has me wanting to carry it. I'm planning on carrying both my 10mm and 44mag because I like options depending on the day/situation.

Tottally agree with this comment and Ive had issues with my Glock stove piping at times when practicing but the revolver goes bang every time.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Keep an eye on your blast shields. I'm on my 3rd now. Smith swaps them for free and will do tune ups as well. My 329 is a favorite for sure.

For sure, if it gets eroded or in some cases I've heard of them falling out it will eat away that frame very fast.