4895 in a .44 Mag.

[illinoisburt]

Someday I’ll either start sizing my own bullets or find a company that’ll size them to .434, but until then, I’ll probably just stick with the 4895. I still need to test 4198 though. Another option I’ve considered is coated bullets, but I’ve got a lot of cast ones to use up.

Other option is to cheat a tiny bit and pick up plane base gas checks from Sages and push through Lee sizer, then load with whatever powder you already have on hand to full speed if your original plans were not slow plinkers. It will be adding $25 sizer and $20 in gas checks (500) so maybe worthwhile rather than scrounging powders.

 

[C Younger]

Other option is to cheat a tiny bit and pick up plane base gas checks from Sages and push through Lee sizer, then load with whatever powder you already have on hand to full speed if your original plans were not slow plinkers. It will be adding $25 sizer and $20 in gas checks (500) so maybe worthwhile rather than scrounging powders.

Someone gave me three pounds of IMR 4895 and I’m really not doing anything else with them. I’ve got 240 gr Hornady XTPs and Nosler soft nose for when I want full magnum loads. I kinda like the slow plinkers, especially if I’m getting good accuracy.

 

[C Younger]

you need to slug your rifle barrel to see what size bullet you need. the correct size bullet will stop your leading.

I have, it’s .433 groove and .424 bore.

 

[sparkyv]

Never have considered using 4895 in a 44 mag handgun load, but I have used H4895 in my S&W 460V. It was a softie, left just a small amount of unburnt powder, dirtied up my cases pretty good as they didn't expand very quickly, and shot surprisingly accurately.

 

[Charlie98]

Someone gave me three pounds of IMR 4895 and I’m really not doing anything else with them.

That was going to be my comment... Even for a plinking load, that's not a terribly economical load... 20-odd grains IMR4895. Given the current situation with powder availability, I would probably see if someone local would be willing to trade pound-for-pound into a better, more appropriate pistol powder. Just a thought.

 

[Alaskamike]

I experimented with .44 mag loads using 4198, and they worked well, although the cases were a little sooty, probably due to low pressure.

If you wanted to try duplex loads you could probably have better success, with 4198 as well as 4895. You'd be getting into an area of handloading that few play with these days though. Some consider it risky, and others don't see the need with the vast array of available powders. It is discouraged by powder manufacturers.