Loads for Ruger 44 Auto carbine

[spinafish]

Anyone have experience loading 44 mags for the Ruger carbine?  A friend just traded for a nice specimen..he picked up a box of 180 Remington ammo and already had on hand some commerical reloads with 180 SWC lead bullets..the SWC loads wouldn't eject or feed and the 180 Jacket HP would "stove pipe" everytime. I believe the lead SWC s just didn't have enough umph(I know he shouldn't fire many lead bullets through the auto anyway), and my line of thinking is that the 180 were too short to feed correctly..I will be loading some 240 and some 275's for him shortly.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[stuffit]

We have a hunting associate who has one of those.  It has a tubular magazine.  His experience was essentially what you describe with 180 and 200 gr factory bullets.  I loaded him up a bunch off full power H110 loads (23 grs I think but look it up, I'm old) behind a 240 gr Hornady XTP.  He had cleaned all parts of his rifle til his brushes wore out to no avail.  It hasn't stuttered since with the fulll power 240 gr loads.  I reckon these neat little carbines were just designed for them.  HIs surely didn't like the lighter bullets.
Best Regards,
stuffit

[Blackhawk44]

The 240 gr bullet and 2400/4227/H110 were all 'standard' when the .44 Auto was designed.  Changing either powders or bullet weights to a serious degree changes the pressure curve and its effect on the cycle of the gas system.  Rather than changing weights of the bullets, just change the 'toughness' to match the game, as in frangibile (Sierra JHC) to super penetrator (Nosler Partition, Barnes X).  For pure accuracy, my old carbine dearly loves 2400 and a Sierra JHC.  I've also found uniformly trimmed brass essential for accuracy, at least in my gun.  BOL

[spinafish]

thanks guys, this little carbine will shoot..from about forty yards out with just the factory sights we had bullet holes touching..should be awesome with some good handloads and a 1.5 x 4.5 scope..

[Ranger J]

Which model .44 was it, the old tube mag or the newer clip model?  I have one of the latter and it requires a stiff load to cycle it.  I have shot mainly 240 SP loads in it but it was very accurate with those.  I have not tried to shoot anything lighter than that in mine.  Bullet holes touching at 50 yds. Is nothing unusual.  You are right instructions on both models say not to shoot lead bullets in them, I believe it clogs up the gas system.  Get some factory 240s or load some with AA#9 or H110 and this may cure your problems.  If not the gun has some problems.
RJ

[spinafish]

Its the model from the mid 70's, internal magazine...Can't wait to work with it.About the bullet holes touching being nothing unusal, you have never seen my friend shoot!!!

[dubber123]

I loaded some Speer 270 gr Gold Dot soft points for a friends old  model carbine with H-110 powder.  I was hesitant to over load it being an auto, so I started low, and worked up until the empties ejected in the same area as full power 240 factory loads.  Vel ran around 1550 as I recall, and they out shot 3 different brands of 240 factories.  My nephew got 2 deer with this bullet, and was very impressed, full penetration with a good exit, including one that was a diagonal shot, shoulder to hip on a 140 lb 4 point.  This is the 3rd. .44 rifle I have loaded for with this bullet, and it shoots great in all of them.  They're cheap too.