How fast can I launch a 180gr .44 Magnum bullet?

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BigBlock

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I'm just curious about this for now. I plan on starting reloading very soon. Right now I have some Remington UMC 180 grain JSPs that are supposedly about 1600 FPS out of my Super Blackhawk.

I know cheap factory ammo isn't loaded to it's full potential. ;) So I'm wondering, how fast can you safely launch 180 grains from a Super Blackhawk?
 
Actually, that UMC stuff is pretty rowdy. Dirty, but rowdy.

How fast, you ask?

What barrel length do you have, and what powder are you wanting to use?
 
Actually, 1600fps is slow for 180g. You can push 1900.

But the faster I shot 44 Mag, the faster my brass split. Not just at the mouth but down at the base, too. I backed off and went to midddle burn rate powder (like 2400) and got really happy.
 
I plan on starting reloading very soon. So I'm wondering, how fast can you safely launch 180 grains from a Super Blackhawk
Click to expand...


BigBlock....once you get into reloading, I believe you will discover that it is not nearly as important to know how fast you can safely push a 180 grainer outta your gun as it is to know how to accurately push it down the barrel.....whether you're hunting or just range shooting.
 
+1
Another 100 - 200 FPS never killed anything any deader.

Another 2" or 3" off the group size has though.

rcmodel
 
With my 9.5 inch Super Redhawk 30.8 grains of Hodgdon H110 powder gives me 1840 fps. This load is just below the max recommended load for H110 in .44 Rem Mag. This same load gives me 2250 fps from my 20 inch Win 1894 - so barrel length is a big factor.

Using 14 grains of Unique (max load I believe for this powder) gives me 1611 fps from my Super Redhawk and 1850 fps from the Win 1894. (Unique is not an optimal rifle powder).

I also have a Super Blackhawk with the long barrel and get about the same muzzle velocities as the SRH. Accuracy with higher loads of H110 with either the Sierra or Hornady 180 gr HP bullets is outstanding, better than any other bullet weights I've ever tried.

If you have a different barrel length consult the link below to see what muzzle velocity changes to expect.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/index.
 
The factories don`t load light! Remington isn`t going to admit Winchester or maybe Federal ammo is faster then theirs.
The 44mag 180 gr (all wgts) load is clocked from a 4" barrel according to their web site ballistic page.....
 
I agree with the guys above, I don’t try to run a round to its limits any more. Instead of loading a .357 round to 41mag levels I just load a 44 down to 41.

If you really want a very fast and perfectly safe (for someone planning to start reloading soon) 44, get one of the carbines with an 18” barrel and 2100 FPS loads are “in the books” easy.
 
Theoretically, to just below the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). This would yield about 385 trillion ft-lbs of energy, and I'm thinking the recoil would be severe (although I'm also sure there are some who would claim it was still marginal for elk)...

Seriously, the last thing a new reloader should be planning is "How much can I push the envelope?" You need to worry more about safety and precision, in my honest opinion.
 
How fast ?????

If the first question you ask if your planning to reload is "how fast can I push this bullet" you should not be permited to reload!!!!!!! Papa Smurf.
 
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The original post by BigBlock used the word Safely in bold font. I think he gets the safety aspect.

Not be a reloader yet, perhaps he simply needed to be made aware that our goal is generally accuracy rather than velocity. I think he understands now.
 
Just because I don't reload doesn't mean I'm an idiot. I am very aware about the accuracy differences with different charges. If I want to blow something up at 1900 FPS rather than 1600, that's my business...and I need no reason. Furthermore, I'm talking about a Ruger, which would probably take a double charge and ask for more.

Thanks to those that actually tried to help.
 
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How fast can I go? That's not an unusual question at all. I think many of us go through that phase. Read Steve's Reloading Page. I wish I could help, but I sold my .44mag a good while ago and never put any 180 gr through it.

Why Reload?

If you would have asked me that in the 1960's, I would have replied,
"It's cheaper than factory ammo."

If you would have asked me that in the 1970's, I would have replied,
"It's faster than factory ammo."

If you would have asked me that in the 1980's, I would have replied,
"It's more accurate than factory ammo."

If you would have asked me that in the 1990's, I would have replied,
"It's more reliable than factory ammo."

If you would ask me now that we are in the 2000's, I would reply,
"It's just a hell of a lot of fun!"​
 
Furthermore, I'm talking about a Ruger, which would probably take a double charge and ask for more.
Click to expand...

I was trying to help but let us know how that works out.
 
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