Loading up for a Russian boar hunt with my Ruger 77/44 rifle in 44 mag. I have a few choices in powder, but have narrowed the bullet choice down to Cast Performance 300 grain hardcast bullets. Question is, what powder would be best choice for maximum performance in the rifle? 296 or 2400? Any others come to mind? Any thoughts on where I might end up at or near max? Thanks!
2400 or 296 for 44 mag 300gr. Hardcast
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blarby
Member
H-110 Comes to mind.
As long as the bullet is hard enough to take the heat, it doesn't really get a lot better.
If its not, try a harder bullet- or a GC.
In order to get the performance you are gonna want to see out of that bbl length in 44, you're gonna need to cook it pretty good.
As long as the bullet is hard enough to take the heat, it doesn't really get a lot better.
If its not, try a harder bullet- or a GC.
In order to get the performance you are gonna want to see out of that bbl length in 44, you're gonna need to cook it pretty good.
glockky
Member
I would say H110 or W296 in the rifle. I shoot it in my 1894 just make sure you use a magnum primer to get consistent ignition. I have heard others really brag on 2400 but I personally have not ever seen a need to switch. I have always had great accuracy and performance out of W296.
I would probably use a GC bullet for the kind of performance you are wanting.
I would probably use a GC bullet for the kind of performance you are wanting.
dmazur
Member
Patrick Sweeney published a load in Guns & Ammo - Handguns magazine a while back that was 21gr of H110 with an Oregon Trails 310gr WNFP GC Trueshot.
I have loaded a few of these for my 77/44 and I can say that they will feed OK, but loaded rounds will not eject with the magazine in place as the bullet end of the cartridge won't quite clear the ejection port.
If you drop the magazine before ejecting a loaded round, the cartridge hits the true ejector mounted in the receiver instead of the rim of the following round (or whatever makes it kick up early) and then it ejects cleanly.
The Oregon Trails 310gr meets SAAMI spec for overall length, but the "shoulders" are just so wide that they exceed the receiver cutout that Ruger provided.
You might load a few dummy rounds with your wide-nose bullets to see if you have the same problem...
I have loaded a few of these for my 77/44 and I can say that they will feed OK, but loaded rounds will not eject with the magazine in place as the bullet end of the cartridge won't quite clear the ejection port.
If you drop the magazine before ejecting a loaded round, the cartridge hits the true ejector mounted in the receiver instead of the rim of the following round (or whatever makes it kick up early) and then it ejects cleanly.
The Oregon Trails 310gr meets SAAMI spec for overall length, but the "shoulders" are just so wide that they exceed the receiver cutout that Ruger provided.
You might load a few dummy rounds with your wide-nose bullets to see if you have the same problem...
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I wouldn't normally suggest using W296/H110 under a lead bullet and would choose 2400 but those Cast Performance bullets use a gas check. (as said above) For top velocities W296/H110 will deliver what you're looking for or even better, give Lil'Gun a try. I wouldn't use Lil'Gun in a revolver but for your Carbine it's a very good choice.
I don't have velocity numbers for the 44 Magnum but I do for the .357 Magnum when shot from a Carbine. When I tested a 180gr Cast Performance bullet using H110 the AV was 1547 fps. From the same Carbine and using the same bullet the AV was 1657 fps using Lil'Gun. Adding 110 fps is impressive in the .357 Magnum using a 180gr bullet. That's 1097 ft/lbs of energy instead of 956 ft/lbs of energy, not too shabby. I'm sure you will achieve similar results with the .44 Magnum when shot from a Carbine...
I don't have velocity numbers for the 44 Magnum but I do for the .357 Magnum when shot from a Carbine. When I tested a 180gr Cast Performance bullet using H110 the AV was 1547 fps. From the same Carbine and using the same bullet the AV was 1657 fps using Lil'Gun. Adding 110 fps is impressive in the .357 Magnum using a 180gr bullet. That's 1097 ft/lbs of energy instead of 956 ft/lbs of energy, not too shabby. I'm sure you will achieve similar results with the .44 Magnum when shot from a Carbine...
Float Pilot
Member
I use 21.5 grains of H-110, (296) (mag primer WW brass, roll crimp) for a 310 grain SSK hard cast bullet. From my old Model 29 with a 6.5 inch barrel I get an even 1200 fps.
From a Rossi 18 or 20 inch M-92 clone carbine I get 1,690-1700 fps.
I actually had to seat the bullets deeper to work in the Rossi carbine action.
From a Rossi 18 or 20 inch M-92 clone carbine I get 1,690-1700 fps.
I actually had to seat the bullets deeper to work in the Rossi carbine action.
thomis
Member
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
H110/296 (or Lil Gun) will always yield the highest velocities but absolute blistering speed is not necessary. If you're shooting under 100yds, I wouldn't push them any faster than 1400fps. Utilize the load that's the most accurate. That bullet will fully penetrate any hog that lives from any angle at 900fps. So all you're doing is flattening trajectory to extend your effective range.
I like 2400 for the flexibility it provides. My experience with H110 and 2400 in 44mag is that there is only 100fps difference between my upper mid 2400 loads and H110. The difference in recoil is significant. But that is in a pistol, so hard to know about rifle without running them over a chronograph with a rifle.
No contest...W296/H110.
Will give you more than acceptable accuracy; will give you best velocity. You said Russian Boar; these suckers can get quite big. With these guys I want all the power I can get. If you hit the armored section, you'll need every advantage you can get.
Will give you more than acceptable accuracy; will give you best velocity. You said Russian Boar; these suckers can get quite big. With these guys I want all the power I can get. If you hit the armored section, you'll need every advantage you can get.
blarby
Member
One last benefit to h110- you can measure it down to the gnats toothpick for fine tuning, if you should so choose.
41 Mag
Member
Not to try and persuade you otherwise, but with that 300gr CP bullet, if your hitting between 1350fps thru 1550fps with it you going to knock what ever you send it after on it's rear. You will be amazed at how well they work and penetrate.
There is at least a couple of discussions on the velocity and meplat of the WFN type bullets over on the Castboolit site. If you do a search on a member there named 44man, you will find plenty of info on loads for the 44mag as well as first hand experience on what the bullets discussed will do and at what velocities.
From first hand experience using the CP 260gr WFNGC in .452 through my Raging Bull pushed to just over 1500fps I can tell you that they will indeed shoot from rears to ears or visa versa on 250'ish pound hogs. Bumping up in weight to the Lee C452 300RF that I cast myself and push to just over 1500fps from the same revolver, I had no issues what so ever dumping a 100'ish pound sow on her nose at 87 yards. The thing with the WNF type bullets is that if you run them too fast you will simply get a cookie cutter type result where the bullet simply cuts a diameter hole straight through. Running them in the range stated above you will get more actual energy transfer so to speak where the meplat will develop a pressure wave in front and actually disrupt more tissue than if it were moving faster. Sounds a bit bass ackwards but I have found it to be true in shooting a bunch of stuff but for the most part hogs in general.
As for thepowders you mentioned, either will suffice, but 2400 will be more user friendly when working towards a specific velocity rane. The 296/H110 works excellent when looking for the top end of the velocity range, but isn't nearly as versatile. One other powder you might also look at is Accurate #9. I have used it right in along with the others and find it will nearly equal the velocities of 296/H110, but can be loaded over a bit wider velocity range.
Anyway hope this helps.
There is at least a couple of discussions on the velocity and meplat of the WFN type bullets over on the Castboolit site. If you do a search on a member there named 44man, you will find plenty of info on loads for the 44mag as well as first hand experience on what the bullets discussed will do and at what velocities.
From first hand experience using the CP 260gr WFNGC in .452 through my Raging Bull pushed to just over 1500fps I can tell you that they will indeed shoot from rears to ears or visa versa on 250'ish pound hogs. Bumping up in weight to the Lee C452 300RF that I cast myself and push to just over 1500fps from the same revolver, I had no issues what so ever dumping a 100'ish pound sow on her nose at 87 yards. The thing with the WNF type bullets is that if you run them too fast you will simply get a cookie cutter type result where the bullet simply cuts a diameter hole straight through. Running them in the range stated above you will get more actual energy transfer so to speak where the meplat will develop a pressure wave in front and actually disrupt more tissue than if it were moving faster. Sounds a bit bass ackwards but I have found it to be true in shooting a bunch of stuff but for the most part hogs in general.
As for thepowders you mentioned, either will suffice, but 2400 will be more user friendly when working towards a specific velocity rane. The 296/H110 works excellent when looking for the top end of the velocity range, but isn't nearly as versatile. One other powder you might also look at is Accurate #9. I have used it right in along with the others and find it will nearly equal the velocities of 296/H110, but can be loaded over a bit wider velocity range.
Anyway hope this helps.
JLDickmon
Member
I'd use 296 in that application.. it's a touch slower burning than 2400 and in a Ruger, well, it's a Ruger.
H110 is suppossed to be the same powder, but all my burn rate charts list it between 296 & 2400 for burn rate..
you could also use VV's N110 for excellent results
H110 is suppossed to be the same powder, but all my burn rate charts list it between 296 & 2400 for burn rate..
you could also use VV's N110 for excellent results
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