44 mag range report

[1895m]

Well the weather finally broke her in southern Michigan and I was able to get to the range for a quick test of the loads I have been working on over the winter.  I have a Ruger Super Redhawk 44 Mag. with 7.5 inch bbl.  Over the winter I got a trigger smooth up and job that dropped me down to about 3.5 lbs. single action.  Huge improvement.  Loaded 255 grain Mt. Baldy Keith bullets with 10 grains of Unique.  Open sights at 25 yards I was shooting 2.5 - 3 inch groups a bit left.  The left was probably  me.  I put my Bushnell scope on and I was shooting 1 -1.5 inch groups from a standing sandbag position.  Not too bad I think for my first load development. I don't plan on hunting with the scope, only put it on to see how the loads would really do.  Anybody have any experience with this or a similar load for whitetail??  I think I need to just work on my trigger pull so as not to pull left.  I have loaded MANY 240 XTP's with H 110 and just got tired of the recoil.  Thought I would try the tried and true cast and make a hole going in and a hole going out.  Thanks.

Bill

[jhalcott]

  I used a 240 grain cast bullet with 10 grains of Unique when I was shooting Silly Wets. I'd often take the 44sbh when I was ground hogging for the extra practice. I killed a couple crop raiding does with that load only because it was the gun/load in my hand! IF (big IF) I remember correctly, I was getting about 1100 fps and no leading.

[Racer X]

I have loaded MANY 240 XTP's with H 110 and just got tired of the recoil.  Thought I would try the tried and true cast and make a hole going in and a hole going out.  Thanks.

Bill

In my 45 Colt Super Blackhawk, I loaded the 250 grain XTP over a near max charge of IMR4227 with Winchester Large Pistol Primers. I am guessing it is around 1300 FPS and it grouped around 1-1/2" at 25 yard. No muzzle flash and the recoil was not sharp. I could have shot them all day. I have never used H110.

[corbanzo]

H110 has never given me the accuracy that I am looking for in a hunting load...  maybe if I was reeeeeeally careful with the scale to get everything perfect.... but I don't think I should work that hard for a powder.  I do use it for protection loads though, raw horsepower, and the need to hit what is in front of me, 5 or 6" at 25 yards is plenty for that.

Unique has just given me a lot better accuracy.  And for the plinkers, saves on powder.  After a full day, unique will make even a dark blued gun look dirty, but it does the job well. 

I was using 12.5 grns over a 200 grainer for a plinker load, and that is a nice feeling straight shooting round.  10 grains under a 300grn LFN makes a good hunting round. 

[warrior1]

next time you want to try a load look at 15.7 grs blue dot under a 240grlswc
and a winchester primer. dan