Clean powder for .44 magnum

[Old Scratch]

"Shooting is dirty"

Yes, it is. Its also inherently dangerous.

That doesn't mean one cannot take steps to minimize fouling or use safer loading and shooting practices.

Fouling can be a big deal. I have had caked-on soot bind the action of my bolt action 22LR after firing fewer than one hundred rounds.

Certain semi-autos (that shall remain nameless) are also sensitive to fouling.

 

[buck460XVR]

Hi all,



Can anyone recommend a powder good for both pistol and rifle, .44 mag, that's clean burning, please? If it's not the powder, could it be my brass lube collecting scorches? I've never cleaned my rounds after reloading. Is this something I should do?

Thanks!

I have yet to find a better performing powder for .44 mag in both my revolvers and carbines than H110/W296 when loading for legitimate magnum velocities. It has never been a particularly dirty powder for me. If I want to go a tad milder, I'll use IMR4227. 4227 doesn't burn as clean as H110/W296 for me, but it doesn't scorch my cases either. But then, I load for accuracy, not how my fired brass looks. When my guns get dirty I clean them. If I don't know when my guns are too dirty to be safely shot, I shouldn't be shooting.

 

[Old Scratch]

My mistake...the next time somebody asks for a recommendation for a "clean burning" powder, I'll remember to write in and suggest that he should just be happy with what he's got.

That will really provide valuable insight.

 

[gamestalker]

I use H110 and W296 exclusively for those revolvers and can only warn you to not back those powder charges down more than listed. They don't usually have problems sooting if you are loading up in the suggested range or even the middle of the road data. Beee careful with those slow burning powders, never decrease them below listed minimums.

 

[Captaingyro]

Lil' Gun.

 

[ironhead7544]

296/H110 was designed for the .410 shotgun. 2400 and IMR 4227 were designed for pistol sized rifle cartridges. In the long barrels they burn nice and clean. In the pistol barrels they give good velocity but leave some residue. I have only had problems with residue getting under the S&W extractors which may tie up the gun. Never had problems with other guns.
Also, in my experience with 296/H110 if you get a clean burn you have an overload.

 

[mnhntr]

Hodgdon Tightgroup

 

[Cop Bob]

?

What bullet weight?

With lighter bullets (180gr) I have had phenomenal results with IMR 4756. However it's pressure curve is a bit radical for heavier bullets. .20+- near max will go from cases falling out in your hand with no pressure signs, to flat primers sticking cases and primer craters, but amazing velocities and terminal ballistics. Very Clean.

With heavier bullets, H-110, 2400, 4227 all have done well.

I settled on a load of 16grs of 4756 with a Serria 180gr bullet that leaves the tube at over 1400fps. but work into this load with your primer, case and pistol combo. Back off to about 15.4 and work up. Use a chronograph, stand by and be amazed. I know of at least two armed encounters with this load and it resulted in instant incapacitation of armed suspects. It worked pretty good on deer too out of my Marlin Lever.