.44 Rem Mag, Lead GC bullets and H110 loads

[Jumping Frog]

All discussion below relates to finding proper load for .44 Rem Mag.

Primer: LPMag
Bullet: Cast SWC Gas Check, Lyman 429215 Gas Check, 215 grains nominal. (Water-quenched wheelweights, very hard.)
Weight with gas check: approx 234 gr.
OAL approx 1.635" (loaded to fit bullet at crimp groove).

Powder: H110

Although I've enjoyed loading other pistol calibers, I recently picked up a S&W 629 and just started loading for .44. I have a number of rounds loaded for target/plinking using both W231 and Titegroup, but I also wanted to develop some "full house loads" because I would like to hunt with this revolver (I'd also like to hunt using my own cast bullets -- there is a satisfaction there). I've heard and read that H110 was one of the traditional .44 powders so I picked up a lb and would like to work up some loads.

The man I bought the pistol and bullet moulds from told me, and had written notes in the loadbook he gave me, that he has loaded using 26.0 grains H110 and it "shot OK but was 'HOT'". He backed off to 25.5 gr H110 for his "standard" full house load.

Well, researching the load for myself, here is what I have found:

Per "LOADBOOKS USA" (one of those booklets published for a single caliber) (1993 version), here are the loads for H110:
200-210 gr JHP 26.0-27.0 gr
215 gr Lead Gas Check 25.0-26.0 gr (this is the load he had circled in the book with the notes above).
225 gr JHP 23.0-24.0 gr
240 gr JSP 23.0-24.0 gr
250 gr Lead Gas Check 22.0-23.0 gr

Looking at more recent books, my Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook lists ZERO loads for H110.

Lyman 49 lists 255 gr Lead Gas Check as 21.8-22.8 gr.

Hogdon's manual and website lists ZERO loads for H110 in a 240 Lead SWC. For 325 gr LFN Gas Check, it lists 20.0-22.0 gr.

My Hornady manual lists ZERO loads for lead bullets and H110.

My Lee RELOADING GUIDE lists 250 gr Lead as 23.0-23.0 gr.

When I subtract the part of the bullet length that is inserted inside the case and then fill the case up to that line, the available case volume will hold about 26.0 grains of H110.

OK, here are my questions:

1. First, although the bullet weighs about 215 gr, since it weighs about 235 gr with the gas check, I think it is more appropriate to use published loads for 240 or 250 grain lead bullets. Do you agree?
2. That implies the previous owner using the 215 gr load above was in error and loading too hot. Do you agree?
3. When I look at the 250 gr loads above, they seem to be in the 22.0-23.0 range. That is seems to be what I should use. Do you agree?
4. I've read that H110 is one of those powders that you need to make sure pretty much fills up the case; that having a half-full case is dangerous. I've even read articles that talked about simply filling the case with H110 for a maximum load because it needs a full case. Any comment?
5. Normally, I'd have simply proceeded with working up some loads from 22 to 23 with other powders. But this bit about H110 needing a full case has me cautious. Should I be worried or simply give it a try?

Thanks for your help with this because I am one of those reloaders who tries to be very precise and careful.

 

[loadedround]

My current Speer Manual shows a 21-23 gr load using the 250 gr Keith style lead bullet. In My 40+ years of reloading, I have never heard of or read where it was necessary or recommended that a pistol case be filled to capacity to reach optimum proformance. I think you may be confusing that information with bottlenecked rifle cases where there is an accuracy advantage to fill the load the case to approach 100% powder density. I would suggest you forget about filling up a pistol or revolver case and then seating a bullet. If you did that with some of the faster powders like 231 or Bullseye you would have a miniature hand grenade in your cylinder and if fired you would be known as "Lefty" thereafter! Seriously stick with the known data and it's my opinion the previously owner's data is a little too hot.

 

[dmazur]

Here's another related link -

http://www.thehighroad.us/showthread.php?p=5095572

IIRC, the instructions for H110 loads are to not reduce more than 3% below the minimum load shown, to stay away from the problem of underloading H110.

This is different than the typical practice of starting 10% below a load and "working up".

I've used H110 for years (typical 24.0 gr under a 240gr JSP bullet) without trouble.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,


I DO NOT RECOOMEND YOU TO USE THAT LOAD> THIS IS INFORMATIVE ONLY

I load and my wife and I shot littelrally thousands of those loads:

Revolvers:
- Ruger Super Blackhawk 6 1/2"
- Ruger Super Redhawk 7 1/2" (I think Igot that one right..Longest barrel we have)
Powder: 23 grains of H110
Bullet: 240gr GC
Primers :
- CCI large pistol MAGNUM
- Wolf large pistol MAGNUM

I use a very heavy crimp on the bullet.

Thank you

 

[counterclockwise]

Be sure and heed the warning about H110

.
It is on the hodgdon web site: www.hodgdon.com.

written in bold

at the bottom of their intro page to online reload data center.

 

[bluetopper]

In trying to find data, note that W296 powder is the same as H110.

Also, I can't recommend Alliant 2400 powder enough to you for full house loads. It won't quite get the velocity of H110 but it is easy to ignite, performs very consistently and extremely accurate.