Smoky cases from my 44 magnum

[rickt300]

I have been shooting the 44 mag. Handi rifle a lot lately.  My brass collection for the 44 mag. is many years old and has been fired in many different guns.  There are no cracks but this stuff has work hardened to a big degree.  I am using 25.0 grains of Winchester 296 under a 240 gr. Hornady XTP.  The rifle is throated pretty long and to get the bullet near the rifling I seat it with .190 between the bottom of the cannelure and the case.  Now this seems to me to be a pretty good boost in case capacity.  I am getting some gas blow by that is smoking up my cases and even getting some residue in the action.  Could this be due to the tough brass not obturating or that I need to up my powder charge a bit?  I am getting really good accuracy and don't think I need any more power than I already have.

[trotterlg]

I would say up the charge or crimp the bullets tighter.  Larry

[rickt300]

I can't really crimp it much as the cannelure does not line up with the case mouth.  When I shoot up the rounds I have loaded I am going to switch to IMR 4227 and work up past published max just a bit with that powder.

[brennemanj83]

I would try using a near max load of H110 and would suggest getting a taper crimp die.

[Rustyinfla]

  I wouldn't tell any one else what they should do but as for me I shoot my .44's till there's a problem, like a split case mouth. I think every .44 I've ever had put soot on the case. I guess it's just the nature of the beats. I don't go near Max loads either though. a 265 grain TC at 1100-1200 does everything I need done.

[Smokin Joe]

You've got low pressure blow-by or work-hardened cases. I'd anneal a few of them about 3/8 down from the mouth and see if it cures the problem. That long throat isn't helping, as it reduces initial pressure.

[mauser98us]

296 and bullets with a hard crimp do wonders

[bilmac]

If everything else was working for me I wouldn't worry about the cases being smoked, but powder residue would prompt me to change the load. I think I would start over again with 2400, or some other easy to light powder. Oh another thought, have you tried magnum primers?

[hi-tek mt man]

You may wont to try a Lee factory crimp die.

[Ditchdigger]

The chambers are about .006" larger than they need to be,and the brass won't seal properly against the wall in most of the 44 mag barrels.If you put a resized case in the chamber it will have a little side to side play in it. Digger

[rickt300]

I wouldn't mind having a LEE factory crimp die. I am using magnum primers also.  When this batch of reloads is done I am changing to IMR 4227 and plan on working past the manual max loads a bit.  I may also anneal some of the cases next time I fire up my lead pot and do some casting.

[bigvarmnt]

The chambers are about .006" larger than they need to be,and the brass won't seal properly against the wall in most of the 44 mag barrels.If you put a resized case in the chamber it will have a little side to side play in it. Digger

Can you just de- prime whithout sizing and load the case that was fired in that chamber?

[rickt300]

Without sizing the case wouldn't hold the bullet. The smoky case issue isn't a real problem as it doesn't affect performance and I'll bet a bit hotter load or the use of a factory crimp die would solve the problem.  Maybe some brass that hasn't been fired more than 20 times each.

[bigvarmnt]

Boy I hope my chamber is not that sloppy. Kinda fond of tight ones! ;)I checked some 44 brass I either fired in 629 revolver or 10" contender barrel and I can't get close to even starting a 200 gr XTP bullet. Checked my 45 auto and can't force a bullet in those fired cases.  I have a 223 contender Barrel that bullets fall through fired brass. Just shot my Handi in 223 yesterday and couldn't drive a V-max in those cases with a mallet. I guess bullets would fall through if brass expands that much. I thought I could just bell the case mouth enough to start the bullet in these 44s and then crimp. Don't have dies set up now or would try it. Kind of like neck sizing my 22-250. Don't know if that would solve the blow by smoke anyway.

[rickt300]

Bullets are supposed to go easily into fired brass.  Has a lot to do with how much pressure it makes.