Author Topic: HUNTING HANDLOADS FOR 44 MAG. (Read 1522 times)

dave hall · « **on:** July 13, 2004, 06:31:02 PM »

I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT BULLETS TO TRY IN MY RUGER SUPER BLACKHAWK.DOES ANYONE A GOOD HANDLOAD THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.THANKS :-)

BIG BORES ARE BEST :twisted:

warf73 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2004, 09:08:28 PM »

Im working on that right now.

This is what I loaded havent hit the range yet will this weekend(if I can get the range mowed).

Bullet Hornady 300gr. XTP
Powder Alliant 2400 15.0gr.
Primer CCI Mag Pistol
Case Rem.
FPS All Guess 1000fps
Firarm EAA Bounty Hunter 4.5"
Range All groups(6 shot groups)will be shot at 25yards

I'll let you know Monday I'll post my results.

dave hall · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2004, 01:02:45 AM »

THANKS WARF73 FOR THE INFO :-)

ROCK'EM HARD-44 REM.MAG. :twisted:

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2004, 01:15:15 AM »

If it is deer you are after any 240 grain bullet over 24.0 grains of W296 or the twin H110 is a fine load. It is my standard .44 Mag load I've used for 25-30 years in a great many different revolvers and TC barrels. It has shot accurately and killed many deer for me with them. I've kinda settled on the Hornady 240 XTP or Nosler 240 JHP for most of my deer hunting with it. I also have the Lyman 429244 mould I use with same charge to great satisfaction. I've also used it with commercial hard cast copies of the Lyman 429421 or Keith bullet.

For heavier bullets like the 300 XTP loaded out to cannelure closest to base of bullet or the Lyman 429640 I use 22.5 grains of W296 with equal satisfaction. This one is absolute max with these heavier bullets and with the 300 XTP must be used only with the bottom cannelure for more case capacity. If your revolver won't take that length it must be cut back to 20.5 grains.

GB

ricciardelli · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2004, 03:44:35 AM »

Cartridge: .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol)
Bullet: Sierra 240 Grain Jacketed Hollow Cavity
Powder: 25.8 grains of Hodgdon H-110
Primer: CCI-350
Case: Remington
Firearm: Ruger Super Blackhawk
Velocity: 1607 FPS @ 15' from muzzle
Accuracy: 6-shot, 100-yard groups, open sights, less than 4"

Wlscott · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2004, 04:14:19 AM »

My SRH likes the following recipie:

240 grain Hornady XTP
24.2 Grains W296
Starline Brass
Federal LPM Primer

I am working on cast loads right now, but I don't have anything concrete yet.

Catfish · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2004, 04:21:28 AM »

I load several mag. handgun cals. and have settled on Win.-296 as my powder of choice for heavy loads. As GB said H-110 is about a twin to it, but I`ve found the 296 to be alittle cheaper and do the same job. For deer shooting jacketed bullets I like the Serria 240 grn. JHC bullet. The Hornady XTP bullet are very accurate, but they don`t expand like the Serrias. The Remington 240`s are excellant when it comes to terminal preformance, but lack a tad in accuracy. I`ve shot some of about everything out there over the years and have found that max. loads of 296 with the 240 grn. Serria bullet will shoot as good or better than any other combo in every .44 mag. I`ve tried them in, and that`s a bunch. I`ve got several friends that shoot .44 mag., and I own 4 of myself.

Longcruise · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2004, 07:17:25 PM »

I got a LBT 320 gr .44 WLFN from Veral about 10 years ago and worked up some good loads with it for my SBH with 7.5" barrel. the idea was to use it for deer, elk and bear. Never hunted with it much and never killed anything with it before losing interest, but here is a load that worked good in it.

(this is a hot load and I recommend working up to it with extreme caution. Also note that Veral cut the crimping cannelure at a point that allowed seating the bullet to an OAL that exactly matched the cylinder length of the SBH. The longer OAL allows a higher charge without as much pressure as would be had with a 300 or 320 bullet seated deep into the case)

Win Case
H110 Powder
Win mag pistol primer

20 grs 110 1235 fps
21 grs 110 1260 fps
22 grs 110 1296 fps
23 grs 110 1320 fps

The most accurate load was 19 grs 110 but I never chroned it.

You should note that the hodgdon manual max charges for 110 with a 300 XTP are under those listed above!!!!!!!! Remeber the OAL considerations and the lead vs jacketed differences. Don't assume anything :shock:

Wlscott · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2004, 04:15:18 AM »

Longcruise, did that load lead your barrel at all?

I'm working on a 300 grain hard cast load from National Bullet Co right now, and just wondering how fast I can push it.

Longcruise · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2004, 06:42:52 AM »

Quote

Longcruise, did that load lead your barrel at all?

A little, but not enough to be concerned about. Shot it gas checked and lubed with LBT blue. also, the ruger stainless barrel is pretty rough out of the factory and I firelapped it with Veral's firelap compound which smoothed it a whole lot.

Quote

I'm working on a 300 grain hard cast load from National Bullet Co right now, and just wondering how fast I can push it.

I suppose bullet fit would be a big factor and whether or not it's gas checked. Have you slugged your barrel for size?

If you are shooting an SBH or Redhawk, my 320's will fit your gun and I'd be happy to send you a few to test. You would probably need to size them since they come out of the mold at near .432 (my gun had a rather large bore).

Dave in WV · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2004, 06:51:31 AM »

210gr Rem. hollow point over 12 gr of Win. Superfield powder. Not the fastest load but works for me in my S&W 629 Powerport.

HWooldridge · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2004, 10:51:13 AM »

Original Keith design 250 SWC cast from linotype over 15.0 gr of Blue Dot with CCI 300 primer. Very accurate in my pistols and plenty of thump at the ranges I shoot. Have killed deer and hogs with the bullet often punching right thru from broadside hits.

Wlscott · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2004, 12:09:16 PM »

Cruise, I'm not shooting gas checks on my 300 grain load. It doesn't lead at all, but it's only clocking about 1200 fps right now. I'm working up in increments so I guess we'll see how fast I can push it w/o gas checks.

I'd like to try some of your 320's, but I don't have a sizer yet. I'm just playing with commercial cast bullets right now. If/when I start really getting into shooting cast, I'll probably start casting my own.

I do appreciate the offer though.

Edit: Oh yeah, I know that some say when you firelap a rifle barrel, you take a chance of making the lead in to the rifling longer. Does firelapping do anything like this on a revolver?

Longcruise · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2004, 08:37:39 AM »

Quote

Oh yeah, I know that some say when you firelap a rifle barrel, you take a chance of making the lead in to the rifling longer. Does firelapping do anything like this on a revolver?

No, in fact one of the tightest points in a revlover is at it's throat or forcing cone. Reason being that when they screw the barrel in it squeezes it down. Lead slug passes through the leade and forcing cone and is swaged down then proceeds into the larger portion of the barrel with a bad fit.

I typically firelap at very low velocities and with cast bulles at about 12bhn (whell wieghts aged two weeks). Charges are kept so low that sometimes you can see the bullet and it goes only a short distance.

I tried high velocity lapping once with modern jacketed bullets as per the instructions with the Wheeler Midway kit and got no better results than with the low velocity lead slug system that Veral Smith sells.

Go to the LBT Veral Smith forum on this site and order his lap kit with instructions. also get his book that is titled something like "Jacketed bullet performance with cast bullets" (i have it here somewhere but too lazy to look it up :grin:

warf73 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2004, 01:12:50 AM »

Well I got the data in well some of it.

3 6shot groups at 25yards.

Group 1. 3 3/4"
Group 2. 4 1/4"
Group 3. 3 1/2"

All groups were measured from the out side of the farthest holes.

Didn't get a FPS sorry I forgot the Chrony. But don't matter I need to work on the load a little more. Think I can get it a little tighter than that even with a short barrel.

HL · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2004, 07:03:15 AM »

300gr LBT LFN heat treated with 22.5grs of W296 gives 1875fps. THat's as far as I go.

Longcruise · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2004, 10:52:05 AM »

Quote

300gr LBT LFN heat treated with 22.5grs of W296 gives 1875fps. THat's as far as I go.

I'm sure curious as to what you are shooting those out of!

My 7.5inch SBH hit top speed of just over the 1300 fps mark with 23 grains of 110 under a 320 LBT WLFN.

How are you getting to 1875 fps with less powder (296 and 110 almost identical if not actually the same powder) and only a 20 grain less bullet?

Inquiring minds want to know :grin:

HL · « **Reply #17 on:** July 22, 2004, 01:31:55 AM »

THis is out of a 14" contender. The bullets have been heat treated to a BHN of 30-35. Friends of mine were shooting the same load out of their Super Redhawks 7-1/2" barrels over 1500fps. I don't know whether it makes a difference or not, but all my loads use LBT Blue Lube.

Mine was chrono'ed through a Pact, Oehler and Chrony and all registered within 5fps of each other.

Longcruise · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2004, 09:30:31 AM »

Quote

I don't know whether it makes a difference or not, but all my loads use LBT Blue Lube.

Mine too. Just never got anywhere near that velocity with my 320's. Got the same results with mine regardless of hardness. Same velocity from heat treated WW as with 1/20 tin/lead.