"Goldilocks" 44 mag load?

[brewer12345]

I shoot 44 in a Marlin carbine and have the sights set up so that I can shoot cowboy action type lead loads and full house leverevolution deer loads without changing the sights. I have been trying to work up a load that is in between the two with jacketed bullets (Nosler sporting 240 grain JHPs) and Unique, but I am about to give up on this combination. The bullets hit so low at 50 yards that I cannot stay on the paper without changing the sights, which I am loathe to do. I am wondering if a different powder would be worth trying. I do NOT want a full house load, just something with more oomph than the light lead loads and which will have a similar trajectory. I am guessing that more velocity than I am getting with 11 grains of unique is what will get the load to shoot higher.

Any suggestions on powder? I have on hand Lil Gun, longshot, HP38, universal and 800X. If there is something that might be the bee's knees I can go buy a pound at the store, but it would be nice to avoid it. I was thinking HP38 might be worth trying at 9 grains and up (11 grains is max).

 

[someguy2800]

you'll likely have better luck playing with bullet weight than powder type. I was able to get what you are looking for with a 357 revolver by playing with bullet weights and types and fine tuning with powder load.

 

[243winxb]

Less Unique, lower velocity may raise bullet impact . Seems to work that way with revolvers at 25 yards.

The 10.3 grs of Unique is maximum for a 240 gr at Alliant's website, in 44 magnums.

 

[brewer12345]

Less Unique, lower velocity may raise bullet impact . Seems to work that way with revolvers at 25 yards.

The 10.3 grs of Unique is maximum for a 240 gr at Alliant's website, in 44 magnums.

Yes, 10 grains did ok at my last outing, so I may give that another try. Lyman shows up to 12 grains of unique. At 11 I saw no pressure signs.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'd try a different powder or max out the Unique. More velocity and more recoil should raise POI. I really like the performance of IMR4227 with the 240 Noslers in my .44 carbines(both a marlin lever and a ruger bolt) but I'm shooting a nearly compressed load. Still, for deer with a .44 carbine, I'd think you would want more than cowboy load velocities. I'm also not a big fan of the leverevolution loads for deer in .44. If it's irons you are using, why the issue with changing rear sight height?

 

[brewer12345]

I'd try a different powder or max out the Unique. More velocity and more recoil should raise POI. I really like the performance of IMR4227 with the 240 Noslers in my .44 carbines(both a marlin lever and a ruger bolt) but I'm shooting a nearly compressed load. Still, for deer with a .44 carbine, I'd think you would want more than cowboy load velocities. I'm also not a big fan of the leverevolution loads for deer in .44. If it's irons you are using, why the issue with changing rear sight height?

My state has silly laws about required rifles for deer hunting, must have 1000 foot pounds at 100 yards. 44 is barely adequate by that standard and leverevolution is the only factory shells that meet the rule I have found to be accurate.

 

[MovedWest]

Nosler's #6 manual shows 800X as a good powder for the bullet in 44mag. They show 3 rifle loads from a Ruger 18.5" barrel: 11.6gr (1317fps), 12.1gr (1356fps) and 12.6gr (1398fps - best accuracy). Listed OAL=1.610"

I like 2400 myself because of it's versatility. Max load for a 240gr XTP is 21.2 grains, but I lighten 'em up a bit to 20.5gr and they group really well out of my revolvers. Hornady 8th edition (rifle load data) shows you can go as light as 17.3gr (~1400fps). I imagine that might get you in the range of what you're looking for. Just note you may have some unburnt powder with 2400 at those lower pressures.

 

[brewer12345]

I thought about 800X but I am reluctant simply because it meters poorly and getting a consistent drop might be a pain. If the HP38 load does not work, I may try it out.

 

[MovedWest]

I thought about 800X but I am reluctant simply because it meters poorly and getting a consistent drop might be a pain. If the HP38 load does not work, I may try it out.

I've never tried 800X, but if it's anything like 700X I understand. I weigh every charge since I load on a single stage, but on a progressive press it'd be a little more worrisome for me. 700X (or Green Dot) in 44spl is really nice, though.

 

[brewer12345]

I've never tried 800X, but if it's anything like 700X I understand. I weigh every charge since I load on a single stage, but on a progressive press it'd be a little more worrisome for me. 700X (or Green Dot) in 44spl is really nice, though.

To give you an idea, I load 20 gauge shells with unique and 800x. With unique I get drops that are plus or minus .1 grains of my target. With 800x it is like .4.

 

[LoonWulf]

Im running 11.5grns of longshot for 1250 with hornady 240xtps from my 7.5" blackhawk. Recoil impulse feel right between factory .44 specials, and full power .44 mag loads, which the velocity suggests it should be. switching between this and the factory mags, all my shots stay on a 10" steel plate at 65-70yrds, but i havent shot them at paper to actually see what the trajectory difference is.

I agree on 800x. For heavy .45 super loads i uses it, as it seems to be better behaved than longshot in that application, but i drop all my charges .5 low and trickle up to my set weight.

Longshot on the other hand meters very well, so it gets used for my normal, and midrange .45 super loads...and my mid range .44 loads...

 

[FROGO207]

If you are worried about charge weights trickle up to find a good load then make a scoop that will match that and scoop your charges. Harder on a progressive though.

 

[brewer12345]

Im running 11.5grns of longshot for 1250 with hornady 240xtps from my 7.5" blackhawk. Recoil impulse feel right between factory .44 specials, and full power .44 mag loads, which the velocity suggests it should be. switching between this and the factory mags, all my shots stay on a 10" steel plate at 65-70yrds, but i havent shot them at paper to actually see what the trajectory difference is.

I agree on 800x. For heavy .45 super loads i uses it, as it seems to be better behaved than longshot in that application, but i drop all my charges .5 low and trickle up to my set weight.

Longshot on the other hand meters very well, so it gets used for my normal, and midrange .45 super loads...and my mid range .44 loads...

Thanks for this suggestion. I shot 50 of these loads (11.5 grains of longshot) and they are just what I was looking for. Recoil is healthy, but nowhere near what the full blast hunting loads entail. I will be loading a bunch of these up.

 

[LoonWulf]

Thanks for this suggestion. I shot 50 of these loads (11.5 grains of longshot) and they are just what I was looking for. Recoil is healthy, but nowhere near what the full blast hunting loads entail. I will be loading a bunch of these up.

Cool, glad it works for you!