44 Magnum reload

[kestak]

Greetings,

I need some guidance.

I have a bullet 240 grains LSWC and I am using Hogdon H110 .

The Hogdon website lists only the 240 GR. NOS JHP and the load is 23 gr <--> 24 gr

Anyone can tell me what would be the min/max for the 240 grains LSWC with that powder please?

Thank you

 

[DWARREN123]

H110 may be a little much for lead. I only use H110 jacketed bullets.

 

[jr45]

re:44 mag

I use H110 frequenlty when shooting 310 grain gas checked cast bullets with no problems. I have also fired them without gas checks and got some leading of the barrel (more time spent cleaning). I would start of with 23 grains of H110 and see how your pistol performs. Worst case, you'll spend extra time scrubing the lead out of the barrel.

 

[nicholst55]

Shoot me an e-mail; I have some info that will be useful.

 

[Galil5.56]

I guess it would depend on the LSWC's hardness, diameter, and lube. I use a lot of H110/WW296 using cast bullets I make with gas checks and 23.5 grains, but have also used plain base "Hard Cast" Magma style 240 LSWC's that worked well too with about the same charge. If they lead because of factory applied lube, try a very thin coat of Lee liquid ALOX as a potential cure.

Maybe load up a few and see how it goes. I would stay close to starting charge weights w/o reducing, and as SOP when using H110 is for me to use a mag primer, and a good heavy roll crimp.

 

[evan price]

Right around 22.0 grains max, but make sure your alloy is hard enough. If your fingernail won't scratch the projectile, you should be OK. Start a little low.

 

[Brillo]

I agree with Dwarren123. H110 is not a very good powder for lead bullets in 44 mag, but agree with others that if you decide to use it it would be best if the bullets are hard lead and have a gas check. If this is not the case, use another more appropriate powder such as Unique. Hodgdon does not recommend downloading H110. One of my manuals does list loads for a Speer 240 gr. LSWC starting at 22.9 gr. at a MV of 1471 fps up to 24.7 at a MV of 1584 fps. At these muzzle velocities you will get significant leading with soft lead and/or no gas check on the bullet.

 

[Galil5.56]

I would agree to using very modest charges of Unique if using the swaged Speer LSWC's, which are practically pure lead with a smidge of graphite for lube, but curious what personal experience you have with H110 steers you from using it with a "good" cast bullet? I say good as in proper diameter for your gun, hardness, lube, and with or without gaschecks.

If burning rate or velocity is the reason, I can only say that the 44 mag's reputation was pretty well built over 50 years on a mountain of Lyman 429421(plain base) bullets driven by relatively slow 2400, driven fast without much fuss.

 

[Brillo]

If your question is directed to me, I would say that my experience with softer lead bullets driven at MVs above 1200 have a great propensity to lead foul the barrel. In my case it is a Super Redhawk with a 9.5 inch barrel. H110 cannot be downloaded safely to give MVs less than 1450 fps. Unique and a number of other powders can be safely downloaded to achieve MVs below 1200. I don't know if the leading problem is caused by gas cutting or galling. If it's gas cutting then lubricants won't help much but a gas check will. If it's galling a harder lead alloy and lubs will help.

 

[Galil5.56]

If it's gas cutting then lubricants won't help much but a gas check will.

I've found that proper diameter (for throat and barrel) plays the most important role in using cast/lead bullets, and cures more ill's than any other factor for leading, accuracy, consistency... .431"-.432" in 44 mag has cured a lot of problems with all other variables left unchanged. Remember 25 years back when SOFT Remington lead bullets with the partial GC's were sized .432"... I do, and it still makes sense today.

The OP mentioned specific components wanted to be used, and I replied with what has worked for me successfully using that criteria.