.44 Mag Question.

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I have never reloaded .44 Magnum but I found some Hornady 240 grain XTPs on line and jumped on ‘em without thinking about powders. So when I start looking up load data, none of my powders are listed for the XTPs. I’ve got CFE Pistol, W244, W572, Titegroup, H110 and WST.

I went to the Hornady web site and they list their 240 gr. XTP with 20.7 gr of H110 beginning load. The load data that came with the Lee dies lists 240 gr. jacketed bullets starting with 23 gr. Of H110. I have read that H110 is kinda sensitive to under loading. Does anyone have experience loading 240gr. XTPS?
 
H-110 will work very well with those 240 Gr XTPs. I don't use it, so I can't help with a charge weight, but you can't go wrong seating them at an OAL where you can roll crimp into the cannelure and use the starting charge weight. Go up from there a bit at a time.

These are Magtech 240s, but it shows a nice roll crimp into the cannelure.
Medium Plus Roll Crimp .44 Mag - 240 Gr Magtech JSP Pic 1.JPG

180 Gr XTP
Medium Plus Roll Crimp On 180 Gr XTP In .44 Mag Pic 1.JPG
 
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

Hodgdon says 23-24gr for H110. But they do have loads for your other powders also. I have loaded H110 240gr 44mag. It is a fire breathing, cannon. I was middle of the road load and it had way more recoil and noise than the box of factory ammo I had. You could not shoot it and not smile and giggle like a kid.

For lighter, "fun" loads, I used Promo (red dot) because I had an 8lb jug to use.

I have multiple loading books, but I tend to use the Hodgdon website and Lee manual the most. I look through multiple books for reference and maybe find the common range and start loading from there.
 
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Hodgdon's H110 data starts at 23 gr. with a 240 gr. Nosler. Hornady's data starts quite a bit lower, but I'd probably start no lower than 22.0 gr. I'd also recommend a Winchester or Remington large pistol primer and a firm crimp at Hornady's recommended OAL.

Since you are new, you might consider starting with a more forgiving powder that will permit a lower power load.
 
I used the Hodgdon load center but I could t get data for H110 and 240 gr XTPs.

240gr JHP. You find many times a reloading manual will not always have the exact brand/model/weight bullet you have in your hand. So there will be times when you are matching type/shape/makeup/weight and using that for a starting point.
 
Use Hornady data for their bullets with h110. H110 and w296 are the same powders with different packaging. It's a powder that you really need data for to use, no bullet substitutions. But it's safe with a proven recipe.

One thing you can do, with the other powders, is use a 44 special load, but in magnum cases. Because of the extra length of the mag case, you can safely go above the listed 44 special data slightly and duplicate the velocity and approximate the pressure. An example would be, 5 grains of bullseye in special cases can be approximated by 6 grains in magnum cases.

There are several handloader magazines with such data in them, special loadings in magnum cases. I can't recall the numbers without looking.

Lee data sucks in my opinion.
 
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

Hodgdon says 23-24gr for H110. But they do have loads for your other powders also. I have loaded H110 240gr 44mag. It is a fire breathing, cannon. I was middle of the road load and it had way more recoil and noise than the box of factory ammo I had. You could not shoot it and not smile and giggle like a kid.

For lighter, "fun" loads, I used Promo (red dot) because I had an 8lb jug to use.

I just took my mouth guard back from the wife’s dog, so I can shoot “fire breathers” again. I’ll look for Promo powder.
 
240gr JHP. You find many times a reloading manual will not always have the exact brand/model/weight bullet you have in your hand. So there will be times when you are matching type/shape/makeup/weight and using that for a starting point.
Good advice.
 
Use Hornady data for their bullets with h110. H110 and w296 are the same powders with different packaging. It's a powder that you really need data for to use, no bullet substitutions. But it's safe with a proven recipe.

One thing you can do, with the other powders, is use a 44 special load, but in magnum cases. Because of the extra length of the mag case, you can safely go above the listed 44 special data slightly and duplicate the velocity and approximate the pressure. An example would be, 5 grains of bullseye in special cases can be approximated by 6 grains in magnum cases.

There are several handloader magazines with such data in them, special loadings in magnum cases. I can't recall the numbers without looking.

Lee data sucks in my opinion.

What are the names of some of the loading magazines.
 
I just took my mouth guard back from the wife’s dog, so I can shoot “fire breathers” again. I’ll look for Promo powder.

Last year my LGS had a jug of Promo 8lbs for $150. I haven't seen any since. Since I had a lot of it, I have been using it for target shooting loads so far in 9mm, 45acp, 38spl, 357mag, 44mag. I'm not saying its a great powder and best for everything. I just had a lot and it works for cheap. I'm happy with it. But there is probably a better powder for all those calibers.

I used alliant's website for data.
https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=4
 
I feel 23 is a marginal load with a standard primer and a good start point with a magnum primer. The window is narrow for the best performance. Load development should be short. 23, 23.5 or 24 is going to be the load. If you arent satisfied...follow it up with 23, 23.3, 23.6 and 23.9. Dont throw the powder. Measure the few rounds as precisely as you can to see where the best ignition and accuracy is. If one of the few shots flashes more than others, your ingnition isnt consistent. On the best loads they will all look the same in terms of muzzle blast.

JB
 
Last year my LGS had a jug of Promo 8lbs for $150. I haven't seen any since. Since I had a lot of it, I have been using it for target shooting loads so far in 9mm, 45acp, 38spl, 357mag, 44mag. I'm not saying its a great powder and best for everything. I just had a lot and it works for cheap. I'm happy with it. But there is probably a better powder for all those calibers.

I used alliant's website for data.
https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=4

thsts a nice web site to navigate. Since I’m just getting g started, when I see a powder available, I quickly look it up to see how it fits with my guns. If it works with several and in several bullet weights, I buy all I can get. I look forward to the day when most supplies are available and I can do some experiments intentionally, rather than by necessity.
 
I feel 23 is a marginal load with a standard primer and a good start point with a magnum primer. The window is narrow for the best performance. Load development should be short. 23, 23.5 or 24 is going to be the load. If you arent satisfied...follow it up with 23, 23.3, 23.6 and 23.9. Dont throw the powder. Measure the few rounds as precisely as you can to see where the best ignition and accuracy is. If one of the few shots flashes more than others, your ingnition isnt consistent. On the best loads they will all look the same in terms of muzzle blast.

JB
Thanks. This is the advice I’m looking for.
 
I feel 23 is a marginal load with a standard primer and a good start point with a magnum primer. The window is narrow for the best performance. Load development should be short. 23, 23.5 or 24 is going to be the load. If you arent satisfied...follow it up with 23, 23.3, 23.6 and 23.9. Dont throw the powder. Measure the few rounds as precisely as you can to see where the best ignition and accuracy is. If one of the few shots flashes more than others, your ingnition isnt consistent. On the best loads they will all look the same in terms of muzzle blast.

JB
I don’t have any magnum Primers. So I’ll load a handful with regular LPP and see how they work. Otherwise figure out a .44 Special load with one of my other powders.
 
Originally posted as a response to my thread, by WR Buchanan on castboolits forum.

“Handloader Magazine Issue #236 (July 2005) Call Wolfe Publishing 1-928-445-7810 and they are $10 each.

This issue has the "Definitive Work By Brian Pearce on loading the .44 Special Cartridge from Mild to Wild." Loads range from 15,000 psi to 25,000 psi for certain guns. You will find everything that means anything about loading this cartridge in that one article including about 150 + loads.

Brian Pearce has forgotten more about this subject than all of us put together will ever know.

There is also another issue Handloader#237 (Oct 2005) where he talks about Mid Range Loads for the .44 Magnum.

Handloader #265 (Apr 2010) has loads for +P .44 Magnum for use in Ruger Redhawks and the like, and these are not for the faint of heart.

The current issue of Handloader #326, (June 2020) has an article by him on loading the .44 Magnum using some of the newer powders as well as old standards. Like 3 pages worth of load data.”

I have #236 and #260 which has an article on the ruger flattop Blackhawk in 44 special, with data for 44spl in the +P range.

here’s the link to my thread https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?334751-44-Special-P-load-suggestions/page4
 
I like 23 grains of H110 with a 240 jacketed bullet. It's a full power load but nothing crazy, and I've never experienced either pressure signs or evidence of poor/incomplete burn with it. I absolutely recommend Magnum primers with it.
 
I love the 240 xtp in my Ruger SBH as well. I found the best accuracy with 23.2gr H110, but i settled with 22.5gr, as this load gives me the best accuracy with my Rossi 92 levergun and not much different in the Ruger. I also recommend magnum primers. I use WLP.

Also, the Pearce article from 2018 on +P 44 specials is also good. See: https://www.handloadermagazine.com/44-s-w-special-p
 
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I shoot 23.3 H110/ 296 when I shoot in pistols. With some brands of cases primarily RP the longer case gives additional air space and will give spotty ignition while a 100 load density in a Starline will be shooting perfectly at 22.8-23.0 grains. And yes that just happens to be the sweet spot. Most guys give up a little bit of accuracy to make sure all cases get a little bit of compression. My suggestion is to segregate RP and shoot them by themselves.

in rifle I go all the way to 24.5 I will find my lab chrono data and post shortly. The cases and the gun can take it and I have never had a failure. YMMV.
 
I run the H110 at 23gr and the 240gr XTP roll crimped in the cannelure as Walkalong mentioned. I use the CCI Mag primer and have good accuracy with that combo in my Henry Rifle and my Ruger SBH for hunting purposes.
 
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0BA1393A-92C9-4A95-B0E0-6442DE551417.jpeg 24.5 H110. Collet crimp. CCI LPMP. Crimped in cannelure gives 1770 FPS with a 6.5 SD from my 16.25 inch Handi Rifle. Full data above. Work up to this. It gave no pressure signs and extraction was nice and smooth. Zero flash but snappy recoil. Feels like a rifle load.
 
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