44 Magnum Hercules 2400 Test Rounds

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PCCUSNRET

PCCUSNRET

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I loaded up a couple dozen rounds of 44 magnum using some old Hercules 2400 powder that was given to me several years ago. I have about 8 lbs of this powder that I want to use up before it gets any older. The rounds I loaded are as follows:

Hornady 240 GR HP/XTP
Cartridge O.A.L. 1.605
19.5 grs Hercules 2400 (21 is max)
WLP Primers

I have two 44 magnums to test these in, a Ruger carbine or 7 1/2 stainless Redhawk. Which of the two would you use for testing these rounds?

Say this powder performs well, would these Hornady bullets make a good round for deer hunting? If not, what would you recommend? Thanks for your help!
 
I hope it makes a good deer/hog round, it is my choice. The Marlins don't seem to like the real heavy weights (300+ gr) longer bullets because of their slow twist. A 265gr is about the heaviest I have read works well, but honestly haven't confirm either way.

My load is the Hornady 240gr XTP, 20.0gr 2400, 1.605", with CCI LP primers, mixed brass (Starline and Win). Result across the chrony out of my Marlin 1894 is 1701 fps, ES 25 fps for 1541 ft-lbs. Smooth extraction.

By comparison, max charge of 296, 24.0gr with CCI LPM, run at 1771 fps. A max load of 2400 would probably match it or come very close. I load up some of both from time to time. Sometime I'll have to compare accuracy, but both run good enough for me.
 
I personally would test them in the one you intend to use them in the most. If that answer is 'both' then I'd start off with the carbine because you are more likely to have the OAL a little more limited there.

I like the 240 XTP for deer, pig and our little black bears. Good results.

I bump 1750 fps out of my Marlin 1894 with the 240 XTP, W-W brass, WLP primer and 20.5 grains of the new 2400 at 1.61 OAL. When I worked it up 19 and 19.5 were stringy, 20 & 20.5 bunched up nicely and 21 opened up a little. Just for reference, good luck with your guns.
 
Thanks to both of you for your input. I've decided I'll try them in the Ruger carbine first and then the Redhawk. I would love to try the Redhawk for hunting but with the limited amount of practice time I get I'm a much better shot with a rifle. For deer hunting using this load, do you keep shots under 50 yards? I've never fired this carbine so I'm not really sure what to expect for accuracy out past 50 yards. I know with the Redhawk with Leupold scope I can get 6" groups @ 25 yards but I have not tried any further.
 
Do you keep shots under 50 yds?
Only if that's as far as you can hit with it.

A well placed bullet from a 44 Mag will do a deer in, no matter the distance.
 
When I had my Redhawk, I used 20.0 grs. 2400 with 240 gr. JHP bullets. Nice, fairly hot load. You ought to get better than 6" groups at 25 yards with a scope.
 
"Speer 3" 1959 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 6" 1964 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 7" 1966 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 8" 1970 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1521 fps
"Speer 9" 1974 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........19.5 gr. 2400 1344 fps
"Speer 10" 1979 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 22.2 gr. 2400 1392 fps.
"Speer 11" 1987 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 22.2 gr. 2400 1452 fps
"Speer 12" 1994 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 17.7 gr. 2400 1271 fps
"Speer 13" 1998 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 21.0 gr. 2400 1434 fps
"Speer 14" 2007 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 21.0 gr. 2400 ???? fps
 

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moxie said:
You ought to get better than 6" groups at 25 yards with a scope.
Click to expand...

I agree! Not blaming the gun, it's holding all that weight steady that gets me. If I shoot it from the bench I can bring the groups in considerably but figure this wouldn't be much help when hunting with this gun. Some more range time and weight lifting would probably improve my groups a lot :eek:
 
Clark said:
"Speer 3" 1959 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 6" 1964 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 7" 1966 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 8" 1970 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........23.0 gr. 2400 1521 fps
"Speer 9" 1974 44 mag 240 gr. JSP..........19.5 gr. 2400 1344 fps
"Speer 10" 1979 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 22.2 gr. 2400 1392 fps.
"Speer 11" 1987 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 22.2 gr. 2400 1452 fps
"Speer 12" 1994 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 17.7 gr. 2400 1271 fps
"Speer 13" 1998 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 21.0 gr. 2400 1434 fps
"Speer 14" 2007 44 mag 240 gr. JSP&MSP 21.0 gr. 2400 ???? fps
Click to expand...

Wonder why the major drop in volumes 9 and 12. Would the powder tested during this time have been that much different? A difference of 4.5 grains in max load would defintely make me wonder which lot of powder I may have if some of it was really that much hotter in the different lots they tested.
 
The load I remember some using long ago was 24 grains of 2400 behind a 240 grain bullet...Easy to remember:D

Now you discuss it and most are terrified :evil: Be OK in a DE I have a feeling:)
 
Be advised that 24.0 grs. of 2400 is higher than any published data. As clark has noted above, the max Speer has ever published is 23.0 grains. It's current max is 21.0, which is the same load on Alliant's own website. The 19.5 you are using is a good load. Either the carbine or the Redhawk is suitable for testing. Both are fine guns. BTW, most published loads are somewhat lower than 20 or so years ago due to the litigation thing certainly, but really we now have better ways of measuring pressure and velocity accurately, so current loads are in fact more factual than in the old days.
 
moxie

Yes the 24 grains is outside the box...Not recommending it, just remember long ago it was used by some...

I have mentioned it in past and present, don't recommend...the 22 grain load, Elmer Keith came up with, seems to fill the bill:)

But 23 grain load in a book (speer #3, 6 & 7) always someone pushed it...:what: I have a feeling much of the load did not burn...:)
 
There was someone on the internet a few years back that had some ancient 2400 and loaded that and new 2400 and the velocities were the same.

I don't know the specs or procedures for blended canister powder, but I think Alliant is one of the good ones for consistency.
 
Clark said:
There was someone on the internet a few years back that had some ancient 2400 and loaded that and new 2400 and the velocities were the same.

I don't know the specs or procedures for blended canister powder, but I think Alliant is one of the good ones for consistency.
Click to expand...

I received an e-mail from a fellow at Alliant that indicated the Hercules 2400 had a 30 year shelf life (possibly longer if properly stored in a cool dry area) and that you can tell if it has gone bad by how it smells (If it has a very slight sour or acidic odor then it has turned bad and should not be used). To me it smells just like the powder in one of the newer cans of Alliant 2400 powder so I hope to find out tomorrow if it shoots the same. Thanks again for all your help.
 
I shot 12 of these test rounds through the Redhawk and 13 through the carbine. I like the way they shoot in the carbine a lot better than I do in the Redhawk. It took 2 rounds to get the carbine on paper at 25 yards (it was a new scope and I have never shot this gun before) and then two more to bring it to the center of the target. The carbine cycled with no problem and there were no hang-ups when fed from the magazine. The Redhawk was already sighted in at 25 yards from a previous trip to the range and the rounds grouped at about 3 inches (the last one always messes up for some reason). I took the carbine over to the 100 yard range and found it would do a 4" group with 4 rounds (I ran out of ammo). I will load more of these for the carbine but not for the Redhawk. I believe the Redhawk has seen its last trip to the range by me as it is just too heavy for me to hold steady and it kicks like a mule. Thanks again for all the help.
 
Kicking like a mule is what full loads do in 44 mag:D

My 50 AE Desert Eagle kicks about the same as a revolver in 44mag:what:

440 Corbon 240 grain 1800 fps and about the same energy is nice,
In a revolver 19 grains of 2400 is not bad:) but it is all relative to how one shoots:D
 
Had a Redhawk. Sold it. Never could shoot it well. Part of the problem is the greater than average distance from grip to trigger. It's made for real big hands. The Super Redhawk is much more friendly towards small hands. The carbine is sweet!
 
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