OregonJohnny
Member
I am about to load some .44 Magnum for my first Spring black bear hunt. I normally load 240-grain XTPs for all my .44 loads, but want more punch and penetration. I will be using a Marling 1894 rifle, with 1:38 twist 20" Ballard-rifled barrel. I want to use the Beartooth .432" 300-grain hard cast WFNGC bullets (have 100 of them), with Winchester 296 powder and LP magnum primers.
The problem is, published load data with 300-grain lead bullets and 296/H110 powder is non-existant. I have 3 manuals - Lee 2nd Edition, Speer #14, and Hornady 8th Edition. I've also looked at Hodgdon's website. None of these sources list any recipes with this combo. The closest thing I can find is on Hodgdon's website, using 325-grain hard cast bullets with 296 powder - a starting load of 20.0 grains, and a max of 22.0. With a 300-grain XTP bullet and 296, they list starting at 18.0 and a max of 19.0.
Does anybody know a good recipe for my combo? I'm looking for somewhere between 1,500 and 1,700 f/s. Thanks!
The problem is, published load data with 300-grain lead bullets and 296/H110 powder is non-existant. I have 3 manuals - Lee 2nd Edition, Speer #14, and Hornady 8th Edition. I've also looked at Hodgdon's website. None of these sources list any recipes with this combo. The closest thing I can find is on Hodgdon's website, using 325-grain hard cast bullets with 296 powder - a starting load of 20.0 grains, and a max of 22.0. With a 300-grain XTP bullet and 296, they list starting at 18.0 and a max of 19.0.
Does anybody know a good recipe for my combo? I'm looking for somewhere between 1,500 and 1,700 f/s. Thanks!