Chronographed the 44 mag again today.

[James B]

I had clocked my 200 grain XTP loads with Unique powder loaded near max in the Handi rifle. They clocked 1550 fps. I went back to the bench and loaded a small batch with H110 powder. 26.0 grains with the WW Lg Magnum pistol primers. These loads moved out at 2020 fps. This load while two grains under the Max is about Max in the handy as the primers were pretty flat. Ejection was fine though. Recoil got my attention but was not brutal or anything. The reloading manual got 1985 with the same load from a 20 inch Marlin barrel. I think I will drop down a grain and try for about 1900 fps. At 2000 fps it would shoot pretty flat. When zeroed at 150 yards it would be only 3.1 inches high at its highest point and -4.5 ay 200 yards. I am wondering if I should go to rifle primers? any tried that?

[JPH45]

I wouldn't go to rifle primers. H110 does fine with pistol primers and with mag pistol primers. I don't really see a reason that you should cut the powder charge. Try moving moving on up to max and see how it shoots. The Handi will take anything you can dish out in a 44 mag case 'ceptin mabye a double charge of Bullseye  :eek: How much a primer flattens has more to do with the hardness of the brass of the cup that how much pressure you're building. Way too many folks have been shooting full charge doses of H110 in things like Ruger revolvers and SW 629's.

[Ditchdigger]

I shot mine through the chrono today also and the 445 rechamber was sending the 240 gr. bullet 2128 fps avg.  I also shot some 44 mags and I think the accurcy improved a little.   Digger

[James B]

I will shoot these for accuracy next. they were accurate with the Unique load. Didn't get a chance to put up a terget and try it today. It will shoot pretty flat at 2000 fps.

[Graybeard]

DO NOT light load ball powders. USE ONLY book loads. If the manual tells you that you can drop that low OK but otherwise DO NOT go below book minimums with ANY ball powder.

[DPRinks]

James;
Large rifle primers and large pistol primers are not the same height, by .010".
I had been using one brand of .44-40 case for several years, got new cases of another brand, the first case I primed in a Lee hand primer would not come out of the tool, I finally had to use both thumbs worth of pressure to crush the primer enough to get it flush with the base and get the case out.
Check the primer pocket depth with a caliper and make sure what primer pocket you have, large rifle or large pistol.
Don