44 mag 240 swc velocities

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roval

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shot my reloads last Sunday with MBC coated swc BH 18 . Used Unique 7.6, 8, 8.8, 10, 10.5 11 , 800X 12.5 and 13 , 4227 21.5, 22, 22.5 and 296 22.5, 23 and 23.5

None of the brass showed pressure signs and the 44 mag loads were gleaned from lyman's 49th but they used a 4 inch universal receiver as compared to 7.5 inch Super redhawk barrel.

What's a good upper velocity for this bullet? I couldn't chrono the 4227 and 296 as the shock waves I think is what was being read even though I have my chrono set as far as possible allowing for cord sag in my beta master chrony.

Any problems shooting the stronger 4227 and 296 loads ? since there were no pressure signs should be ok right? For 800 x I got 1305 ave for 12.5 gr and 1352 for 13 gr. Don't know if the velocities are higher for the other 2 but I got erroneous readings testing the 2 so may have had a stronger shock wave.( readings up to 1800 to 1700 fps)

I did have a small amount of leading but not too much at this time.

recoil was nice and stout for the heavier loads but not too bad for the heavy gun and it sure made the gong jump.
 
I shoot MBC SWC, 18 BRN, that are not coated, over 24gr 296/110 as my less expensive hunting load duplicate, and I shoot a LOT of them. My Redhawk 7.5" likes them, and long distance accurracy is great.
 
44 magnum S&W M29

W296 at 24.0gr with Lyman #429421 at about 245+gr produce 1339 fps average back in 1979. Over time the load has been reduced to 23.0 gr. A steady diet of W296 with 245+ gr cast bullets caused peening of the cylinder metal into the center pin, causing it to stick inward. A new center pin was installed after drilling the cylinders hole to bring the mouth back to the correct diameter. Red Arrow.
th_SampW%20M29_zpsfs8qcvab.jpg
[/URL][/IMG] Going 1/2 gr above 24.0gr caused a pressure spike, doing most of the damage. Mag-Na-Port does not hurt the velocity out of a 8 3/8" barrel.
th_Mag-na-port29.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
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Forget about so-called pressure signs in revolvers.

You should be able to step on it with the coated bullet. I run a standard 240gr bevel base SWC at 1450fps out of my rifles. In revolvers, there's no reason to exceed 1200-1300fps.
 
What velocity did you get with 10 grains of unique through the 7.5 " barrel? I also use the same manual and load 10 grains behind a 255 grain WFN LBT style bullet, and it clocks 1154 fps average out of my 8 3/8" barrel model 29.
 
44 magnum W296 powder

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
At one time, 1995, Winchester said to not reduce 296 loads. W296Powder%20001_zpsjamxlx1v.jpg Later is was said, OK to reduce by 3% This data can be found at Castpics. See link below.
 
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In revolvers, there's no reason to exceed 1200-1300fps.
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YAHTZEE a big +1 to that.

Even John Linebaugh who knows more than anyone that posts here states that in this article he wrote http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12

Though he states IIRC 1100-1200fps which is what I've started using as rule. This also meshes with what Marshall Stanton, the proprietor of Bear Tooth Bullets states as well http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/61

Hmmm what do you know two people saying virtually the same thing who knew. Both of these men know what they're talking about and it has been borne out many times. Here is but one such example scroll down and read the posts by sixshot http://singleactions.proboards.com/thread/15265/terminal-performance-cal-swift-bullets

He tells of how a 250gr WFN fueled by enough Unique to get about 1100 fps went through both shoulders of a 700lbs cow elk at 74 yards and exited. I posted a link to that in the .41 magnum associates thread. I learned the hard way that besides flatter trajectory, all that extra velocity does is put more wear and tear on both shooter and the firearm period.

When I got my Ruger BH .41 mag all I could think about was trying out Keith's load of 19.0gr of 2400 under his H&G designed 220gr Keith bullet. Call me a wuss or whatever I don't care but after 5 rounds of that stuff I was done, and I had a few choice words for those loads afterwords as well. As Mr. Stanton said 1100fps is good load that allows the shooter to learn the gun and load and is easier on both, I whole heartedly agree. Once the bullet has gone through an animal you've done all you can do. It's already been proven that even the lowly .41 magnum with a 250gr bullet at a pedestrian 1100fps can traverse a elk. The elk or whatever isn't going to care if the bullet was going 1100fps or 1400fps, but your wrists and firearm will over time.

At the end of the day it matters not what big bore revolver your shooting, however it's big comfort to know that you don't need to subject yourself to undue pain for big game performance.

Quote:
There is nothing to gain but a flatter trajectory.
With 296/110 you also "gain" not having the sqibs they warn you about by not loading below minimum.
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This is horse pucky, any good reloader knows this and also knows that is why there are powders like Unique etc.. for reduced performance loads.
 
With 296/110 you also "gain" not having the sqibs they warn you about by not loading below minimum.
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Well then obviously H110 wouldn't be the best choice for 240's at 1200-1300fps would it? :rolleyes:
 
This is horse pucky, any good reloader knows this and also knows that is why there are powders like Unique etc.. for reduced performance loads.
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I don't know. 296/110 seem to be very popular for 44 magnum loads, and some of the people using it are probably "good reloaders". I would think "any good reloader" using this powder would follow the published data.

The OP wanted to know if upper end of the scale loads with 296 or 4227 powders would cause problems in his Ruger SRH. He didn't mention hunting or reduced performance loads at all. He mentioned "making the gong jump". He did not mention pass throughs on the gong.

My advice remains the same. Repeated upper loads of 296 or 4227 will not harm your Redhawk so if you want that gong to jump, load away. Typical velocities for 240gr will be 1300-1500fps. No need to throw your 296 away because of some writer's opinion on shooting elk. If you want to load down to .43 LC because the recoil is too much or the gong is too loud, you can't use 296, and I'd pass on both those powders for that purpose.
 
thanks for the replies. I actually had a long winded post with the velocities but as I was posting it it asked me to re log in so I lost the post.

To Cleveland48 my unique loads velocities were

7.6 gr 951.68 ave es20.08

8 gr 996.3 ave es 22.8

8.5 gr 1033 ave es 28

10gr 1189 ave es29

10.5 1235 ave es 37

11 gr 1270 es11 but only 4 shots, started picking up the shock waves in 2 readings

I don't hunt so this was for the range. No pass throughs for the 1/2 inc AR 500 gong but the higher 240 gr 44 mag loads and 357 4227 loads did leave a small depression on the steels surface.

I'll likely use the 10.5 and 8.5 unique loads mainly. In fact I had loaded 100 of the 7.6 gr unique even before chronoing the load. I 'll likely load 296 23 gr since it appears to be a safe load and still within lyman recommendations along with the 4227 @22.5 since it seemed "magnumy " enough.

The 800x seemed really accurate as was born out of lyman recommnedations and I'll probably finish that single remaining pound of it before I go back to 296 or 4227. I will weigh it individually given it's poor metering.

this whole thing was the outcome of my old post "me like the bang, me like the clang"

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=776307
 
No need to throw your 296 away because of some writer's opinion on shooting elk. If you want to load down to .43 LC because the recoil is too much...
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You completely misunderstand. It has been determined through testing and killing that exceeding 1200-1300fps with cast bullets serves no useful purpose. Another 200fps doesn't make it any more effective. All it does is beat up the shooter unnecessarily. Has nothing to do with "loading down because recoil is too much". If you need more, go up in bullet weight. Which is where H110 really shines anyway.
 
In revolvers, there's no reason to exceed 1200-1300fps.
Click to expand...

This.

There is little more killing power added by going much beyond about 1250 fps, as it mainly serves to flatten trajectory...and to beat the gun up.

At reasonable ranges, if you can't kill it with a 240 at 1300 fps, you can't kill it with 1500.

Not even Elmer Keith envisioned upper 1400 fps levels for his .44 Magnum. He asked for his 250-grain SWC loaded to 1250-1300. Instead, he got (The original .44 Magnum loading) of 240 at nearly 1500. Even Uncle Elmer said that it was a bit much for its intended purposes.
 
THE OP IS SHOOTING A GONG! Did Elmer kill a lot of gongs?
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There's no need to yell, and the OP got a lot of good information on loading data, velocities and trajectories...and how not to hasten the demise of his revolver by trying to get that last 50 fps or so.

But...okay.

If he can't ring a gong loud enough to suit him with 1250-1300 fps, he can't ring it loud enough to suit him with 1500, either.
 
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