Author Topic: Best Flexible Powder for .44 Magnum (Read 744 times)

Mikhail · « **on:** October 03, 2004, 01:55:58 PM »

I'm ready to go closer to full power loads in my SBH but I want a powder that will cover the range of loads better than H110/W296, which seem to me to be for full power loads only. Right now, my hunting load is 10 grs. of Unique over a 250 gr. cast SWC. I want something that I can shoot 240-250 SWC at a sedate pace but can be used to push these as well as the heavier, up to 300 gr., loads at close to the speeds developed by H110/W296. The three powders I've seen that seem close are 2400, H4227 and AA #9. Can anyone tell me which of these would meet my wants? Also, do all three require magnum primers? Thanks for the help!

Flash · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2004, 02:11:26 PM »

My personal favorite for heavy jacketed loads is 2400. It leaves behind those little greenish yellow granuals but burns clean and performed well for me in a Super Redhawk. I also like 296 but I feel it's not too forgiving when the charges fluctuate a little. Magnum handgun primers aren't required in any application but may work better in some cases. If you chronograph your loads, you may see a difference using mag primers. I've never used them in any handgun reloading but some reloaders may possibly be an advocate of mag primers for the 44.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2004, 03:53:04 PM »

Mikhail, there is no one do-it-all powder although Unique comes the closest. Any of the four you mention will cover top end of the .44 range, but none of them should be used for low end loads. Break down and buy another can of powder.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2004, 11:20:18 PM »

hs6 will cover most of the spectrum

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2004, 05:26:48 AM »

2400 really works well for this purpose.

7mm MAGNUM · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2004, 05:45:35 AM »

AA#9 has worked the best in my .44 Mag S&W #629 using 240gr. Hornady JHP/XTP's ! Many a deer have bit the dust with em'

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2004, 07:27:06 AM »

None of the ball powders are what one would call versatile in this context. They have a very narrow range of safe load weights. They are best when MAX is what you are looking for.

Unique does pretty well but I think the most versatile is H2400. We've loaded it from 12.5 to 22.0 grains under 240 grain bullets in the .44 Magnum. I felt the 12.5 grains was a bit light but my friend didn't want much recoil and tried it. He decided he loved 14.5 grains. We shot 17.0 grains under Lyman 429244 bullets weighting 242 grains in competition for years with great success.

mag41vance · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2004, 01:31:09 PM »

For reduced plinker type loads, I have found IMR 4198 with rifle primers to be very accurate in my Ruger Rifle. It is a slow pistol/fast rifle powder. I wouldn't recomend it for pistol loads.
Contact Hogdon for some data for this application.

LAH · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2004, 08:48:13 AM »

I like 2400 because I can go med to max. If you wish to go lite there's better powders but none of the ones you list. 4227 is good for the med to max also.

Catfish · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2004, 01:34:07 PM »

I agree with those that say that no powder work eall over the wide range your looking for. I load for the .357 mag, the .44 mag, and the .454. For hot loads I use Win. 296, which is about the same as H-110, I can just get it alittle cheaper. For reduced loads I load Bulleye, 7 grns. in the .44 mag. behind a 240 grn. cast bullet. I also sue Win. primers which are hot primers. 2 cans of powder aren`t going to break you up, and will give you alot better results than trying to use just 1 powder.

Somerled · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2004, 05:51:11 PM »

Alliant 2400 will work well with cast and jacketed bullets for medium to maximum loadings. However, I usually load Unique for the lighter, cast bullet loads and use Winchester 296 for the magnum loads with jacketed bullets.