Load recommendations for Henry Big Boy Carbine in .44 Mag

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Bixster_inc

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Hello all,

I’m going through my 10 day “cooling off” period for the above mentioned brass framed rifle so I’d like to get going on some rounds to pass the time.

Not planning on doing anything other than plinking between 50 and 200 yards and maybe occasionally trying to hit my steel sillouette at 440. I’m not excepting exceptional accuracy but obviously the tighter the better. The gun features a 16.5” 1:38 twist barrel so based on reading elsewhere I want to stay away from bullets >270 grains.

I’m thinking about starting with the following.
Starline brass
Hornady 265 gr interlock FP
H110 powder (around 20.5 gr)
W/ Winchester WLP primers

Opinions from anyone who’s loaded for this rifle or similar are more than welcome.

Thanks in advance.
 
We have this same model and love shooting it. I've loaded 19.1 grs of 2400 behind a 240gr. LSWC. Works for us, but haven't shot more than 100 yds so far. I'm pretty sure it'll put a smile on your face!

Cheers!
 
I have a 20" Rossi in 44mag. I have tried a few powders in 44mag, and the best load I have found is a 240gn bullet (Either Hornady XTP/mag, or Zero JSP) along with 300-MP powder. I have a Weaver 4x scope on the rifle, and with the Zero bullets I am getting about 2' - 2.5" groups @ 100 yards with an occasional flyer about 2" away from the rest of the 5 shot group. I am also getting about 1800fps. The H110 loads I have tried were not as accurate.

From my testing, the 300-MP is a great powder for barrels 10" or longer. I get more velocity with less pressure, and it works well with non-magnum primers.
 
Hornady 240 XTP with CCI 350 primer and 23-23.5 grains of Win 296. Great load and shoots equally well in my Win Trapper rifle and Ruger Super Blackhawk pistol.
Edited to correct my mistake on powder charge. Should have been 23-23.5 grains of Win 296 as others have noted my mistake.
 
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Rg1 did you make a mistake on your load data.110/296 should not be loaded under minimum
 
I have the Henry Big Boy .44 rifle (not carbine).

My favorite load for this rifle is a Hornady 240 gr. XTP JHP over 19.6 gr. of Alliant 2400.
 
Rg1 did you make a mistake on your load data.110/296 should not be loaded under minimum
I'm thinkin' he meant 23-23.5. That's what I use under a 240 grainer in .44 mag. For accuracy, a nearly to slightly compressed load of IMR4227 under a good 240 grainer(I like Noslers) is hard to beat in a carbine. Ain't quite as fast a H110/W296, but accuracy and consistency is better.
 
So went to my supply place today and was really disappointed in the selection of .44 bullets.

Really wanted to stay away from the FTX rounds due to the amount of trimming involved coupled with the “4th trip” through the die because the roll crimp doesn’t work with the shortened brass. I thought I learned to stay away from said rounds after I went through this with the .45-70’s I loaded up but it’s basically all they had in stock (apparently there was a mad dash on .44 last week). Because the H110 is a recommended powder for both the FTX in .44 and my future 300 blackout loads I also went that route.

I’ll keep a 100 count of this recipe on hand as well as another batch more inline with the advice given here after I troubled everyone for it.

Thanks again.
 
Rg1 did you make a mistake on your load data.110/296 should not be loaded under minimum
Yes I meant to type 23-23.5 grains of Win 296 powder with Hornady 240 XTP's and CCI 350 primers. Thanks for catching my mistake!
 
Yes I meant to type 23-23.5 grains of Win 296 powder with Hornady 240 XTP's and CCI 350 primers. Thanks for catching my mistake!
I'm using a very similar load 23.5 grains of 296 with a nosler 240gr jhp in my marlin lever gun, accurate with good vel.
 
I have always liked a case full of H110 with jacketed 240s.
11.5 grains of hs-6 under lead 240s has always been good to me.
 
Starline brass , IMR 4227 powder , WLP primers and 240gr jacketed LNFP. The Henry I own likes 240gr bullets the best. I only use jacketed bullets.
 
I was picking up my rifle today and spotted these Berry’s .44 cal bullets at a great price (thinking cheap plinkers) so I bought them along with some starline 44 mag brass to load them in. Since I’ve got home and after I tore into the box I’ve found that I really didn’t want these after all as I don’t have a book with load data that’ll keep me under the recommended 1250fps.

Before I throw these in the trash and suffer a complete loss I thought since the rifle is chambered for .44 special as well why not make a batch of those using < 10gr of blue dot and have something really tame for 10-50 yd plinking.

Is this a good plan or should I cut bait and save my money?
 

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I was picking up my rifle today and spotted these Berry’s .44 cal bullets at a great price (thinking cheap plinkers) so I bought them along with some starline 44 mag brass to load them in. Since I’ve got home and after I tore into the box I’ve found that I really didn’t want these after all as I don’t have a book with load data that’ll keep me under the recommended 1250fps.

Before I throw these in the trash and suffer a complete loss I thought since the rifle is chambered for .44 special as well why not make a batch of those using < 10gr of blue dot and have something really tame for 10-50 yd plinking.

Is this a good plan or should I cut bait and save my money?
There are other powders that will allow loading to lower velocities in 44 Mag brass. My lightest is a cowboy load with Trailboss, but there are lots of possibilities that are still real "magnums".
 
I was picking up my rifle today and spotted these Berry’s .44 cal bullets at a great price (thinking cheap plinkers) so I bought them along with some starline 44 mag brass to load them in. Since I’ve got home and after I tore into the box I’ve found that I really didn’t want these after all as I don’t have a book with load data that’ll keep me under the recommended 1250fps.

Before I throw these in the trash and suffer a complete loss I thought since the rifle is chambered for .44 special as well why not make a batch of those using < 10gr of blue dot and have something really tame for 10-50 yd plinking.

Is this a good plan or should I cut bait and save my money?
Nope. At worst, just put them on a shelf until you figger a good load for them. You don't need to use 44 Special brass for 44 Special level loads, and I have loaded many Magnum cases with Special data. I have loaded everything from 123 gr. balls to 310 LNFP in my Puma (remember, rifle groove diameter is 431" and handgun is .429") and for me/my gun Ranch Dog's 240 and 265 gr. RNFP cast bullets shine. I normally don't post loads (mainly because I ignore any load data from any forum expert, range rat, gun counter clerk, pet loads website, or gun shop guru), but I have used a lot of 2400, Blue Dot and Unique in my 44 Mag. rifle loads...

If you want to use plated, you can just use data for the same weight cast lead bullet. Hint; find a load in your manuals (bullet, powder, primer) before you buy any components. Much less searching and questioning...
 
The best accuracy I've found is an almost full charge of 4227 under a 240gr XTP with a Winchester LPP and a good firm crimp.

Accuracy was better head to head than H110 and 2400 although if top velocity is more important they might be better choices than 4227.
 
If you want to use plated said:
before[/B] you buy any components. Much less searching and questioning...

Yeah unfortunately I still fall victim to impulse purchases with the mindset I’ll figure it out when I get home. Honestly I wasn’t paying attention to anything but 240 grain and the price tag.

I’ve only been handloading since late June and I have purchased Hornady bullets > 95% of the time which isn’t cost effective for plinking. Either if I go magnum or special I feel better about the buy than I did yesterday as it would be nice to have a dirt cheap and slower batch to blast cans with and save my higher end stuff for real shooting challenges.
 
If you are looking for a good alternative to the Hornady 240 XTP, try the Zero 240 JSP. They are about $0.14 each. I’ve had great luck with them in my 20” Rossi.
 
Use those plated bullets with between 7.5-10gr of Unique to find your preferred level of recoil for high volume plinking.

I like about 8-8.5gr for an afternoon of shooting. My full power 4227 loads beat up my shoulder a little too much for much more than a dozen rounds and I find my groups opening up when fed to my 629. A mid range Unique load is still plenty powerful but much more manageable for lots of practice when gilt edge accuracy isn't necessary and economics, and mental/physical fatigue might be a concern.

I've heard good things about Berry's Bullets, but I've mainly used Zero Plated Bullets since they're cheaper even before the THR member discount. Plated bullets always gave me plenty of accuracy for IDPA and general shootin'.
 
I was picking up my rifle today and spotted these Berry’s .44 cal bullets at a great price (thinking cheap plinkers) so I bought them along with some starline 44 mag brass to load them in. Since I’ve got home and after I tore into the box I’ve found that I really didn’t want these after all as I don’t have a book with load data that’ll keep me under the recommended 1250fps.

Before I throw these in the trash and suffer a complete loss I thought since the rifle is chambered for .44 special as well why not make a batch of those using < 10gr of blue dot and have something really tame for 10-50 yd plinking.

Is this a good plan or should I cut bait and save my money?
6.9 grains of Unique is listed as a max load for 44 special with a 245gr. Keith bullet. Needless to say, a Big boy is a fine plinker with that load.
 
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