Some Help With .429” 240 Grain Bullets

Status
Not open for further replies.
The Glockodile

The Glockodile

Member
Joined
May 6, 2020
Messages
1,688
Need some help getting pointed in the right direction for .44 Magnum Bullets...

These are meant to be for warmer loads (23.5 to 24 grains of the powder below).

I have enough Starline Brass, CCI Large Pistol Magnum Primers, and Hodgdon’s H110 at hand - but for some reason I put off buying bullets.

My usual choice would have been Montana Gold - but they’re out (of EVERYTHING, it seems)... No idea whether I can push Berry’s Copper - Plated bullets the way I want to, they’re the only ones which seem widely available at the moment.

Any suggestions?
 
Last edited:
Yea, the Berrys probably won’t like full tilt .44 Mag loads. I bought some Powerbond 240 Gr plated to try it a long time ago, never got around to it. I still have some old 240 Gr Raniers that I ran at leisurely velocities with no issues, but I believe they are/were tougher than the Berrys. I got lucky and Picked up 250 Zero 240 Gr jacketed .44s before the run on components started, just pure luck, picked them up at a gun show because I was getting short on them. If you can find some Zeros in stock I can highly recommend them. Magtech 240 Gr JSPs shoot well too.
 
Misplacedtexan said:
How fast are you wanting to push em?
Click to expand...

That’s the thing - not sure how it’ll end up.

I’m going by the common “warm” 24 grain load of H110 up there, typically paired with SOME jacketed round (and Magnum Pistol Primer).

https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/bp-44-429-240gr-thp

Cartridge Name: 44 Magnum
Cartridge O.A.L.: 1.610"
Max Velocity: 1850 fps

I understand Berry’s copper - plated bullets have a maximum recommended velocity of 1,800 fps thereabouts - the thing I haven’t quite figured out is how fast they’ll be exiting my 9.5” Super Redhawk and 6” and 10” Desert Eagle barrels.

I suppose QuickLoad may help...

41D01CCE-3C6F-4E76-B54A-B63A64D6F105.png

Punched some crude numbers in, came up with ~ 1,500 fps.

With my rifles, the software always seemed to suggest rather conservative values...
 
Last edited:
Walkalong said:
If you can find some Zeros in stock I can highly recommend them. Magtech 240 Gr JSPs shoot well too.
Click to expand...

Zeros? I’ll look.

The only other pistol powders I have are Longshot and Power Pistol.

520CB51E-F8E3-4427-8223-52C6E3F72405.jpeg

I suppose I could play around with this load in the meantime...

It came from an older, closed thread.
 
I got absolutely useless accuracy out of Berry’s plated .429 bullets in my SRH and SBH. Both barrels slugged .430. Only when I loaded down to 44 Special velocities did I get decent accuracy. I’ve gotten good accuracy from Hornady, Speer and Nosler jacketed for full power loads.


I believe near full power with soft plated or cast bullets, the bullet needs to be the correct size to get good results.
 
Hartkopf said:
I believe near full power with soft plated or cast bullets, the bullet needs to be the correct size to get good results.
Click to expand...

Ok - I think I’ll have to stick to jacketed rounds, then - we’ll see.

That being said - particularly in my case - beggars can’t be choosers.

Sucks that I forgot to buy some when they were cheap,
 
Last edited:
For what you’re looking at, try the Sierra Sportsmaster 240gr JHC but I haven’t found any for a while actually in stock. I have run the Stateline brand 245gr Keith-style cast up to around 1300fps out of a RSBH 7-1/2” using 24.4gr of I4227 but that’s not a target load. It’s pretty accurate enough for hunting at under 35yds but past that my bad eyes and arthritis take over. 22.2gr for 1200fps (or thereabouts) is just as effective and much less painful. Good luck and look around for those Sierras. They do pop up occasionally but don’t stick around for long.
 
I chronographed a ten round string of 23.5 grains of H110 with 240 grain XTP bullets through a 5.5” Ruger SBH with an average velocity of 1460 FPS so yeh, as already mentioned that might be a bit rough on the copper plated stuff.
You could go a cheaper route than full metal jacket by ordering some lead bullets from Missouri bullets or Montana Bullet works that are designed to handle any load you can dish out with the .44mag. Before I started casting my own, the offerings from these two companies is all that I would use for my full .44 and .454 Casull loads.
 
Last edited:
Walkalong said:
The only velocity specs I can find for Berrys is the same old 1250 & 1500 FPS. Not sure where you are seeing 1850

https://www.berrysmfg.com/faq

And IMHO, the 1250 & 1500 are optimistic
Click to expand...

D543AE40-A752-4D9F-9D61-C794EFFF87E3.jpeg

https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/bp-44-429-240gr-thp

They mention it here, on the product page.

They might work out with Power Pistol and Longshot at 1,200 fps, if intolerant of the higher velocities...

I am weary of slicing through the plating and leading the rifling - my revolver’s only 200 rounds old and still shineeey
 
Last edited:
Walkalong said:
I’ll make you a deal, I’ll load up some of the Ranier & Powebond plated 240s if you’ll do the same with the Berrys.

My load only pushes jacketed 240s to 1350ish from a 5.5” Redhawk.
Click to expand...

I’ll try to call Berry’s tomorrow, and discuss what I’m planning as well as confirm their numbers.

It’ll take me some time to start reloading again - everything’s here, but still packed in various boxes...
 
8CE3B4C7-0C97-4603-92C8-6521756BBD26.jpeg

From Hodgdon...

6CA49074-2D0C-4019-85CE-F3AF77513DEA.jpeg

...and Alliant.

Surprised that Magnum Primers weren’t used with H110 in that table. Longshot’s SAID to be quite accurate and loud (it IS both very accurate and loud in 9x25mm Dillon and 10mm Auto - hence “Loudshot” to those who use it a lot) at stated lower velocity.

No surprise that Power Pistol’s not mentioned for heavier bullets - I’ve always associated this powder with 9mm Luger and .40 S&W, with some overlap with Longshot in both .40 S&W and 10mm Auto, from what I’ve read.
 
Last edited:
25.9gr of H110 with a 240gr bullet is way up there.

Berry’s is a good company and I use plenty of their bullets but they have recommended high velocities and many reloaders report poor results in many cases. Lots of variables, including some reloaders who don’t know what their doing. But not always. Some combinations in certain calibers results in keyholing(40S&W). Sometimes just terrible accuracy. No matter what Berry’s says, you’ll have to test your loads in your guns and see what you get. In 44 Magnum I want better accuracy than what I would accept for 9mm being used for 7 yard tactical drills.
 
I do know that in my D.E. the 44 mag have to be on the hot side or they won't eject in my 29 I load em down about 4 grains
 
Hartkopf said:
25.9gr of H110 with a 240gr bullet is way up there.
Click to expand...

Thought so.

The universally quoted numbers have always been 24 grains for a 240 grain bullet in .44 Magnum, and 15 grains for a 158 grain bullet in .357 Magnum.
 
Last edited:
starnbar said:
I do know that in my D.E. the 44 mag have to be on the hot side or they won't eject in my 29 I load em down about 4 grains
Click to expand...

This made me think of brass management - perhaps 3 loadings with heavy crimps FIRST through the Super Redhawk, then 2 or so loadings with the same brass AFTERWARDS through the Desert Eagle, then off to the Tactical Trash Bin when they fail.

The logic being, case heads are preserved in the revolver while the lips get worn out - and when the lips are about to split, one can batter the rims and case heads with the Desert Eagle as tight crimps probably aren’t as important (since the round is properly chambered in the usual sense).

Does this make any sense?
 
Last edited:
The Glockodile said:
https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/bp-44-429-240gr-thp

Cartridge Name: 44 Magnum
Cartridge O.A.L.: 1.610"
Max Velocity: 1850 fps

I understand Berry’s copper - plated bullets have a maximum recommended velocity of 1,800 fps thereabouts - the thing I haven’t quite figured out is how fast they’ll be exiting my 9.5” Super Redhawk and 6” and 10” Desert Eagle barrels.
Click to expand...

Been loading 240 grainers in .44 mag a long time. I really doubt if you will see 1850FPS outta any of those guns. Biggest concern I have is that the bullet in your link, has no cannelure. To get those kind of velocities, a heavy crimp is needed for the slow burning powders(as in H110/W296). Hard to do without a cannelure to roll crimp into. Then there is bullet jump from the heavy recoiling loads, also why a cannelure is suggested.

I do share your frustration with the lack of component availability. While I still have plenty components right now, I still have backed off my shooting because this shortage has been going on for three years, with little or no end in sight. I never had real accuracy using plated bullets in any of my magnum handguns. Best accuracy was always at mild to moderate levels, not true magnum. But, that's just me.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Reloading .44 Magnum: JSPs - .429 or .431?
Replies
17
Views
3K
murf
murf
J
  • Locked
Data for Montana Gold bullets
Replies
1
Views
533
Walkalong
Walkalong
F
  • Locked
Casting 240 grain 44 Bullets for Encore Barrel.
Replies
4
Views
255
243winxb
243winxb
garandpappy
  • Locked
240 gr MBC .44 Smasher Load Data Help
Replies
4
Views
613
buck460XVR
buck460XVR
M
  • Locked
What Are Some Good Bullets for Target .44 Magnums (240, gr. 1100 ft./sec.)?
Replies
6
Views
874
Rampant_Colt
R
Back
Top