44 Magnum Fast Movers: Chronograph ResultsPorted vs NonPorted

Mr.Revolverguy · Nov 1, 2020

Believe it or not in over 20 years of reloading I have never pushed the edge like I have with these loads in 44Magnum. I always look for accuracy first and velocity second.

With encouragement from a friend I decided to load up some 44 Magnum fast movers. By the way though not seen in the video these loads were worked up to, even though they were considered to be book safe being 1 full grain below max.

I wanted to make it a bit more interesting by testing these loads in a ported vs non-ported barrel. This video will display reloading information. This data is not intended to replace the appropriate reloading manuals data and should not be used without verifying and double checking the loads between two different official published reference points — IE reloading manuals. If you elect to utilize any of this data it is at your own risk. As seen these loads were safe in the firearms used.

What do you think about 800X in 44magnum? The cases came out really clean, the primers looked great though I know it is not a real indication of pressure.

Should I load up a few more and put a couple through some gel?

I wonder if the XTP would hold together under that kind of velocity?

Reloading Data at the End

mcb · Nov 1, 2020

I love 800x under 240 gr JHP. Nearly the same speed possible as H110 with none of the muzzle blast and flash. You will get more velocity out of the lever gun with the H110 than the 800x but from the revolver I find 800X much more well behaved. Good video!

Mr.Revolverguy · Nov 1, 2020

mcb said:
I love 800x under 240 gr JHP. Nearly the same speed possible as H110 with none of the muzzle blast and flash. You will get more velocity out of the lever gun with the H110 than the 800x but from the revolver I find 800X much more well behaved. Good video!

MCB,

Thank you for the info on the lever action of H110 vs 800x I suspect because 800x is a much faster burning powder than H110.

Lennyjoe · Nov 2, 2020

I’ll give 800x a try. Also, have either of you tried Lil Gun in .44 Mag? I have a couple pounds sitting idle in the safe and came upon this.

Mr.Revolverguy · Nov 2, 2020

Sir though I have 25 years of loading I still consider myself to be learning and a novice. I will not use lilgun in a revolver due to all of the conversation around top strap cutting. Though I have not experienced it, I had a close friend show me a S&W model 29 beautiful firearm that he sent back to Smith who said the frame needed to be replaced. He says all book value loads no hot rodding, I will try to get a picture. He decided to keep it as his and hang it up in a shadow box for display purposes.

243winxb · Nov 2, 2020

Good video. Wrong powder.

800X "loads like corn flakes" & each powder drop needs to be hand weighed. It will bridge in some measure drop tubes. Some cases will get to much powder, others less.

800X is better as a shotgun powder in a Mec loader. I have some left over from my shotgun days. I find 800X to be a more accurate powder , with cast bullets, then Unique in 357 Magnum. Alliants 2400, better then both.

The 44 mag 180 gr ammo i first seen, was back in the 70s. Super Vel was selling it. Hand loaded accuracy was great with a scoped M29. As the video said, less recoil then 240 grs. with high velocity.

Hodgdon lists many powders that are more user friendly then 800X.

Alliants Unique does well in 44 mag with cast 240/250 gr lswc. See my photo album "targets"

Mr.Revolverguy · Nov 2, 2020

243winxb,

I do call that out at the end of the video and said the exact same thing measures like corn flakes so I used a rcbs 1500 and weighed each load on a RCBS balance beam scale.

CraigC · Nov 2, 2020

I don't care for light bullets in the .44Mag. I like a bullet that stays together and penetrates. I remember talking to gunsmith/writer Mic McPherson over 20yrs ago about loads for the Marlin. He insisted the Marlin could live at 40,000psi with 240's at 2000fps.

In fact, the XTP has a tendency to separate at any velocity.

Typetwelve · Nov 2, 2020

CraigC said:
I don't care for light bullets in the .44Mag. I like a bullet that stays together and penetrates. I remember talking to gunsmith/writer Mic McPherson over 20yrs ago about loads for the Marlin. He insisted the Marlin could live at 40,000psi with 240's at 2000fps.

In fact, the XTP has a tendency to separate at any velocity.

I like to play with the 180g XTPs. I've pushed them up to 1800 fps from my 7.5" Super Redhawk and H110, but I have better results from 2400 loads and running them at 1675 fps average. Either way, both are serious fireball makers. Those same loads run well in my Henry, but I've yet to chrono them. I'll say this, both guns prefer IMR 4227 to H110, Unique, 2400.

I've read that Hornady advises against pushing their XTP's much hotter than 1600-1700 fps, unless you move to their XTP-MAG line. I'll be honest that I didn't really put much thought into it until I wandered down the 460 S&W rabbit hole and found out that they don't recommend running their std 45 cal XTPs at super mag velocities.

mcb · Nov 2, 2020

Typetwelve said:
I like to play with the 180g XTPs. I've pushed them up to 1800 fps from my 7.5" Super Redhawk and H110, but I have better results from 2400 loads and running them at 1675 fps average. Either way, both are serious fireball makers. Those same loads run well in my Henry, but I've yet to chrono them. I'll say this, both guns prefer IMR 4227 to H110, Unique, 2400.

I've read that Hornady advises against pushing their XTP's much hotter than 1600-1700 fps, unless you move to their XTP-MAG line. I'll be honest that I didn't really put much thought into it until I wandered down the 460 S&W rabbit hole and found out that they don't recommend running their std 45 cal XTPs at super mag velocities.

800X will get close to the same muzzle velocity in a Revolver as H110 under the same bullet but without any of the muzzle flash and noticeably less muzzle blast and slightly less recoil due to getting to the velocity with significantly lower mass of propellant.

The XTP/MAG versions only exists in the 45 cal and 475 cal lines. All the 44 cal XTPs are "regular" XTP/HP. Hornady no longer publish the recommended impact velocity chart on their website for some reason but you can find copies of it all over the web. The 44 Cal 180gr XTP/HP has a recommended impact velocity of 750-1400 fps.

black mamba · Nov 2, 2020

No prob!

Lennyjoe · Nov 2, 2020

800X is an excellent powder in various handgun cartridges. Yes it meters like cornflakes but if your patient and use an electronic metering scale you can get great accuracy and performance from that powder.

44 Magnum Fast Movers: Chronograph ResultsPorted vs NonPorted

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