2400 in 44 special

[4895]

So I am working up loads for a .44 special snub. Tried Unique for a pleasant surprise, but dirtier than 2400. 2400 gave me a ton of unburnt powder and would even cause the brass to jam from grains clogging up the works. Any other powder that works as well as Unique but cleaner? I am going to try 231 next. Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[joneb]

What snub, and what bullet ?

 

[4895]

Taurus 445 and 200 grain XTP

 

[joneb]

I have had great results with W231 for a Taurus 431 and S&W 696 with the 200gr XTP with either F-150 or WLP, I load between 6.2 and 6.5gr. I have also had very good results with AA#5.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/
http://www.hodgdon.com/

 

[4895]

I have never purchased or tried an AA powders. Someday I might get there, I mostly stick with Hodgdon for some reason. I should have loaded up some 231 to begin with. I went to the range kinda last minute and should have at least brought 3 or 4 different powders at different power levels. I did score some range brass tho.

 

[joneb]

I did score some range brass tho.

I know the feeling

I mostly stick with Hodgdon for some reason.

HP-38 and w231 are said to be the same, I have been looking for a substitute for Unique and AA#5 was one and it is a good powder. Now I'm trying VV N340 and the only bullet weight I have had good results with is the 180gr xtp and Rim Rock's 180gr LTC. The next powder on my list is Universal.
2400 in 44spl does better with 240-265 gr bullets loaded near max , I do not wish to go there with my specials, if I had a S&W 24 or 624 I would.

 

[4895]

Friend of mine insists I need to use 180 grain to keep recoil down. Using 200 gr xtp and 6.6 Unique, I felt the recoil to be quite pleasant.

I have a lot of 240 gr SWC bullets. I want to find a nice load for them to plink with and use the XTP for "expansive" work. I might try AA5 as I have heard nothing but good things.

I have too much powder to buy another one at this time, but I think I can sneak in a lb. jug to try it out.

 

[Old Grumpy]

I use 4.6gr of Titegroup under a 240gr LSWC and they ran 745fps. Recoil and accuracy were very acceptable. I did not find them to be "overly dirty" and due to the low recoil I could run through a couple hundred at a time.

I also ran some 240gr JHP over 7.7gr of Unique. They ran 1020fps and had nearly .44mag recoil.

Wish you luck and look forward to seeing a post about your results.

 

[joneb]

I think Unique is a great powder for 44spl but my powder throw will not meter it consistently I found if I worked up Unique it performed very well, I just got tired of weighing each load.
I may get a powder throw that meters large flake powders better, and go back to Unique

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I should have loaded up some 231 to begin with.

I think you are spot on with that statement. I'm sure you will like the results using W231 over Unique. For me it's a very accurate powder and as you know being a ball powder it meters like water. I even use W231 in my .45 Colt ammo although I've been leaning more and more towards HS-6 for that caliber.

 

[4895]

I was thinking that the case fill of 2400 (12.5gr max) vs. 231/unique/etc. (6.6-6.8gr max) would be a plus. I guess not.

Anybody use powerpistol? I show that as a high speed load for Speer Gold Dot 200gr. That will be my carry bullet. I doubt that I will get the advertised velocity of 1000 fps with a 2" barrel. Morel like 850 or so.

 

[Hondo 60]

2400 is probably not the best choice for 44 Special.
2400 is a more of a magnum powder, & as you saw, leaves lots of unburned powder is low power loads.

You'd probably have much more enjoyment from a faster burning powder.
W231 is good one.
I'd offer more choices, but you didn't say what bullet you're using.
If you have plated or jacketed bullets, Tite group would be my first choice.
(but not if you're using lead - it smokes too much, & would melt the end of the bullet)

 

[4895]

The bullets that I have to shoot are the following:

240 Grain LSWC hard cast
240 Grain LSWC Moly coated
200 Grain XTP Hornady
200 Grain Speer Gold Dot HP

I plan to try 231 next with the Moly lead and plain lead. I expect that powder will do well given the low pressure of the 44 special round.

I'm not above buying another powder to try. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for the bullets above. I want to load mostly target stuff with the moly coated lead for plinking. I have a buddy that needs some ammo so I am trying to kill two birds with one stone. Once I find an exceptable load with lead, I can build a run to have for range work. Thank you.