Reloading 44mag
Snowdog08
Anyone got any good loads using win. 296 powder and 240 grain swc bullets.
Any comments on which powder bullet combo you think works best. My
hercules 2400 powder is just to dirty. Win. 296 also costs less.
HerrGlock
Snowdog08 wrote:
#
# Anyone got any good loads using win. 296 powder and 240 grain swc bullets.
# Any comments on which powder bullet combo you think works best. My
# hercules 2400 powder is just to dirty. Win. 296 also costs less.
Start here:
Read and heed ALL safety warnings. He's got good stuff, but people
using his data without regards to safety will get his, and all other
reloading pages, shut down fast.
HerrGlock
R336253
Hi Snowdog08
I've had great luck with 296 in 44 mag but only use it with the jacketed
bullets. The 296 can not be reduced to a load range that lead bullets can
handle with out leading your barrel, It's too hot for the pure lead or
even lead alloy and gas checks will not help either. Try Blue Dot it
gives almost the same volocities as 2400 and you use less. I use 18.5
grains of blue dot with the 240gr swc, accuracy is excelent and fouling is
minimal. ( Ruger Superblack Hawlk )
Rae
RtofCentre
Snowdog08:
Suggest you try Unique for your .44. I found that 10.8 grains w/ 240gr.
hard cast bullet gives excellent accuracy, but with much reduced recoil
versus 2400 loads with similar velocities. Leading is virtually
non-existant if you are using quality hard cast bullets with a 5-7%
antimony blend.
Bart
Charles Winters
R336253 wrote:
#
# Hi Snowdog08
#
# I've had great luck with 296 in 44 mag but only use it with the jacketed
# bullets. The 296 can not be reduced to a load range that lead bullets can
# handle with out leading your barrel, It's too hot for the pure lead or
# even lead alloy and gas checks will not help either. Try Blue Dot it
# gives almost the same volocities as 2400 and you use less. I use 18.5
# grains of blue dot with the 240gr swc, accuracy is excelent and fouling is
# minimal. ( Ruger Superblack Hawlk )
#
# Rae
Dear Rae: My experience has been different. I have three .44 mag
revolvers. I shoot my own reloads exclusively, mostly my own lead cast
bullets.
I get the best results with a 295 gr gas check SWC from NEI, typically
cast from Lyman no 2 alloy (90-5-5). My standard service load is 8.5 gr
of SR 4756 for about 950 fps. For a full power load in my Dan Wesson, I
use the same bullet seated deep over 18.5 gr of WW296 with mag primers
for about 1150 fps. I can seat the bullet out to the crimping groove
and boost the charge to 21.5 gr, but by that time the recoil starts to
cause pain in the hand, something I don't care to experience. Shooting
is for fun, not for physical abuse to the shooter. I'm still developing
a light CAS load with a gas check 240 gr FP design from NEI. I'm aiming
for an accurate load in the range of 750 to 800 fps.
In summary, none of my shooting with WW296 and lead bullets has produced
any substantial leading. I use gas check bullets and plenty of bullet
lube. I consider WW296 (along with H110) to be the very best powder for
the .44 mag with full power loads, lead or jacketed. It burns cool and
produces minimal muzzle flash. As you pointed out, it should only be
loaded to 100% density, i.e., completely filling the case, thereby
contributing to extreme accuracy. - CW
Tom Rutledge
R336253 wrote:
#
# Hi Snowdog08
#
# I've had great luck with 296 in 44 mag but only use it with the jacketed
# bullets. The 296 can not be reduced to a load range that lead bullets can
# handle with out leading your barrel, It's too hot for the pure lead or
# even lead alloy and gas checks will not help either. Try Blue Dot it
# gives almost the same volocities as 2400 and you use less. I use 18.5
# grains of blue dot with the 240gr swc, accuracy is excelent and fouling is
# minimal. ( Ruger Superblack Hawlk )
#
# Rae
Your comments about 296, lead alloys, gas checks, and so on are
incorrect. Using cast, not swaged, bullets, you can shoot full bore .44
mag loads without leading.
I've been using 296 with cast bullets since about 1986 and been through
12 .44 mag handguns and one .44 mag rifle. Across the board, I've never
seen an hint that 296 causes leading different than any other powder.
Two pet cast loads are a 240 grain cast SWC with 25.0 grains WW 296 or a
cast 250 grain SWC with 24.0 grains WW 296. I got the first load
directly from the Winchester powder manual; it is marked DO NOT REDUCE.
The second load I developed in light of that data and silhouette data
from Sierra for their 250 grain FPJ, working up carefully etc. I have
not had any leading to speak of from these so long as the bullet's
diameter is at least as large, and no more than .001", over the size of
the bore.
One pattern I have seen is that stainless guns need a lot more lapping,
etc to smooth 'em up and stop leading than blued guns. The blued guns
I've had shot lead just fine out of the box. The stainless guns have
needed 50 to 200 lapping loads, then a barrel break in with jacketed
bullets, before they'd shoot cast bullets without leading.
Another pattern is that exact fit of bullet to bore diameter is
critical. If cast bullets are undersized for the bore, you'll get "blow
by", a torch effect that melts some of the lead on the way by, and the
melted lead gets deposited in the barrel.
Yet another thing I've noticed ... properly fit (diameter) bullets won't
hardly lead, but given slightly undersized bullets ... assuming all
things are equal, bullet diameter, powder charge, primer, case,
velocity, temp ... there are some differences in individual lube's
ability to fight leading. I did an experiment a few years ago with
identical ammo differing only in bullet lubes. Using 12 different
lubes, the best I found was Rooster Red, then Rooster HVR, then RCBS
rifle lube.
Final thought ... check the *current versions* of the reloading manuals
from Speer, Sierra, and Hornady with regard to that blue dot load you
mention. I *think* (my manuals aren't handy) you're about 2 full grains
over max. It might be working for you ... but be careful, ok? Body
parts aren't real replaceable.
Tom
t...@hash.com
# Your comments about 296, lead alloys, gas checks, and so on are
# incorrect. Using cast, not swaged, bullets, you can shoot full bore .44
# mag loads without leading.
I have to agree with the above quoted gentlemen. I have done a bunch of
shooting with my original Redhawk in .44 mag using both cast and hollow
point bullets. One thing that is important is that the bullets are
CAST, not swaged. I have been able to buy good cast bullets from a
number of sources. The bullet material needs to be pretty hard; pretty
hard to mark the bullet with your fingernail if at all..... What little
leading I got was quickly cleaned out with a couple of jacketed rounds
rounds. This could potentially be dangerous if you had a lot of leading
and/or allowed it build up; I just finish all my shooting sessions with
a couple of cylinders of jacketed loads. No problems at all, and the
weapon cleans up pretty easily.
Swaged bullets have to be much softer because of the nature of the
swaging process. I got some of those once (mistake), and unless loaded
WAY down (~6-700 fps, i'd guess), they'd come apart in mid air, and made
multiple impacts on the paper.
At the risk of being flamed, for some time, I've used the same load with
both cast and hollowpoint bullets of the same weight; 240 grains. WW296
/ 24.0 grains / CCI Magnum primers / 240 grain bullet of choice. The
cases last many times, and both loads shoot to almost the exact same POI
(50 Yard line). The 'hawk shoots these loads very comfortably and I can
practice with cast, and keep the HP's for 'real' shooting. My load data
is presented for reference only; It's your responsibility if you somehow
manage to blow something up....
Of course, reloading means handling and using "explosives"
(...progressivly burning oxidizing agent...??) and there is danger
invloved if one doesn't take some basic precautions. I've done it for
many thousands of rounds with no problems whatsoever. Just BE
CAREFUL...and, enjoy the sport.
T.L.
Rjc50
My favorite load is a Nosler 200gr HP sitting on top of 28.0grs of W296.
This is quite accurate and a tad fast. I would not recommend this load
unless you are using a Rugar. I shoot it in my SuperRedhawk and crony it
at 1700fps. I have a 9.5 inch barrel. It is a real Blast!
R.J. in Utah
Frank MacKenzie-Lamb
On a different note foer pleasant reduced very accurate for Field Pistol
IHMSA matches which has rams up to a 100 yards, try 9.3 grains of Unique
with a 240 SWC in the SuperBlackHawk. Others on the line use as low as 6.0
with also good results...
..just a post to intorduce a load you cvan fire all day plinking or IHMSA
shooting or with kids without being brusied up. If need info in IHMSA just
e-mail me at mac...@world.std.com
Good luck and straight shooting..
Frank
Natick, MA
Ronald L. Ploude
I agree with HerrGlock's comment. A load that I like for target
shooting due to its light recoil and great accuracy is 5.6 gr. of
Greendot behind a 240 gr. SWC. Very enjoyable load to shoot.
HerrGlock <Herr...@snowhill.com> wrote:
> ...
NKKilgore
Hello!
For the .44 magnum, I've been shooting a Dan Wesson 44VH8 and with a VH4
for quite a few years now, and I've had fantastic results with 2400
powder. I've used 23.0 grains in Federal cases trimmed to 1.280"; with
WLP primers and Sierra's 220 FPJ Silhoutte bullet, with a moderate crimp.
Accuracy is super. 6 shots covered by a quarter (a quarter is right at
an inch in dia.) at 50 yds. from sandbags, using the 8 inch bbl.
For hunting. . . try 19.5 grains of 2400. Same prep work on the brass,
change to Hornady's 240 grain JHP. Accuracy was fantastic in the DW, and
out of this world in a Marlin 1894CS. (I took a 210lb. wild boar with
this load, using the 4 inch bbl. on the DW.) ONE shot at about 7 feet.
The boar crumpled like he had been hit by a freight train. I recovered
the bullet from his jaw bone, on the off-side and it weighed 235 grains,
after I cleaned the bullet of all non-bullet material. BTW, the shot was
a neck shot.
Good luck with your quest finding a load. I hope this has been some
help.
Breath control, Sight Alignment and Trigger Squeeze,
Keith
Walt & Lynda Johnson
# nkki...@aol.com (NKKilgore) wrote in article
<5k32pk$k...@xring.cs.umd.edu>...
#
# Hello!
# For the .44 magnum, I've been shooting a Dan Wesson 44VH8 and with
a VH4
# for quite a few years now, and I've had fantastic results with
2400
# powder.
<snip>
I've had excellent results with 2400 for many years. Let me support
this
recommendation...I use the Lyman 429421 and 20 Gr....others use
more...
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Walt & Lynda Johnson N3385L
KB2UOU Cessna A185E
n33...@dep.tds.net EDO 2790
Loon's Nest SeaPlane Base (NH71)
#
Robert J. Christman
Walt & Lynda Johnson wrote:
#
# # nkki...@aol.com (NKKilgore) wrote in article
# <5k32pk$k...@xring.cs.umd.edu>...
# # and I've had fantastic results with
# 2400
# # powder.
#
# <snip>
#
# I've had excellent results with 2400 for many years. Let me support
# this
# recommendation
Agree. I use Unique for target loads and 2400 for jacketed and magnum
loads. Excellent results.
Bob C. NRA Endowment USN (Ret)