How much can 2400 powder be reduced in 44 Mag loads?

[Rule3]

Loading 44 Mag with 240gr hard LSWC. Win LPP. The manuals I have list 18 to 20 grs or so. I have been using 19 grs which is a fairly stout load. I would like to reduce it a bit but still have a "Magnum" load and not just a 44 Special.

Can it be downloaded to say 15 or 16 grs without a problem? I know that other magnum powders like H110 should not be reduced by more than 3%

I have other powders I can use but would like to stay with the 2400 if I can.

So any good loads with reduced 2400??

Thanks

 

[Tallinar]

I've gone as low as 18 gr with a 240 gr LSWC, but even that burned a little dirty for me. I was up at 20 grains before it started burning somewhat clean in my Rossi 92. The 20 grain loads were more accurate in my case.

Personally, I wouldn't go any lower than 18 gr. If you're trying to download it that much, I'd suggest you look into another powder for the application (such as Unique), and keep 2400 on the shelf for your magnum loads.

Lyman #49 shows a starting load of 18.5 grains with 240 gr lead, just fyi.

EDIT: That may not answer the question as to *can* it be downloaded to 15-16 grains, but based on my experience with it, it burns dirty with lower charges, and hence raises questions about the consistency of the burn.

 

[zombie44]

I plink with a light load of 17g 2400 behind a 240g .430 hardcast bullet. For anything lighter I go with 13g of Blue Dot.

 

[Drail]

I have gone as low as 15 gr with a 200 gr bullet but it does leave some unburned particles in the chamber and barrel. For lighter loads I use Red Dot, Green Dot, and Unique. About the only powder you can get into trouble with by reducing listed loads is 296/H110.

 

[Jim Watson]

A guy here thinks there is no other powder worth consideration. He wanted some light loads for a foray into CAS with his Super Blackhawk. Seemed to him that 13 grains would be about right. He got a dirty erratic mess. Didn't stick a bullet but the shooting was not good.

 

[SPW1]

It is "safe" to reduce 2400 a lot, I have gone as low as 12.5 grains when fiddling around with reduced loads, but as was said it burns considerably more dirty the less pressure you have. There are better powder choices in that velocity range. The 15-16 grain load your wondering about will work ok but it will give you 44 special velocities. You say you still want to have a "magnum" load and "not just a 44 Special" though. In that case you don't want to go much lighter than the 19grs you are currently loading. That is a decent midrange load for 2400 and a 240 grain bullet in the magnum case. I would guess it is probably giving you around 1300 fps assuming your shooting a revolver with a 6-8in barrel. Once you get much below 18 grains of 2400 in a magnum case with a 240 gr bullet your starting to get into the upper end of the 44 special velocity range and once your down to 15-16 grains your solidly into a safe upper end 44 special load level. Not that that should make a difference though, there is nothing wrong with shooting 44 special level loads out of a magnum.

 

[Steve C]

You can download any of the magnum cartridges to their "special" origins. Thus light .357 mag loads use .38 spl data and light .44 mag loads you can use .44 spl data or anywhere in between. As the "special" version operates at much lower pressure you will have a smokier or a bit dirtier load. Its probably better to use a faster powder like Unique, W231, etc. just for efficiency. Trail Boss is another good option being a bulky but fast powder designed for low velocity target loads in Cowboy action competitions.

 

[GaryL]

I plink with a light load of 17g 2400 behind a 240g .430 hardcast bullet.

I have found 17gr behind a 245gr JHP is a nice load, and clean, but settled on a bit more than that for my mid-power load. Lead is different (obviously) - never quite as clean.
Unique for plinkers.

 

[Rule3]

I have loaded some rounds with 10 grs of Unique and 15 grs of Bluedot, so from what most are saying it is better to leave the 2400 for higher charges of 18.5 or higher.

Thanks, I'll see how the Unique rounds run.

 

[ranger335v]

"I have been using 19 grs which is a fairly stout load. I would like to reduce it a bit but still have a "Magnum" load and not just a 44 Special."

Well, if it's not loaded to 21+ gr. 2400 it's NOT a magnum load, is it? No power burns very well or very consistant loaded much below it's design pressure. A reduced load needs a faster powder for less speed and good accuracy, try Unique instead.

 

[Rule3]

"I have been using 19 grs which is a fairly stout load. I would like to reduce it a bit but still have a "Magnum" load and not just a 44 Special."

Well, if it's not loaded to 21+ gr. 2400 it's NOT a magnum load, is it? No power burns very well or very consistant loaded much below it's design pressure. A reduced load needs a faster powder for less speed and good accuracy, try Unique instead.

How do you determine that 21+gr is a Magnum load? Lyman lists 20.6 as a Max, Speer does not list 2400 for 240 lgr lead and Alliant does not list it for 240 gr either?

 

[Eb1]

Called Alliant before. They say use the 250 load data, and since it is a 240 LSWC 21 sould be fine. This is not advise. Just hearsay. You can call them they are great to talk with. You will find that most all powder companies and bullet companies will be more than happy to assist you.

 

[ranger335v]

"How do you determine that 21+gr is a Magnum load? Lyman lists 20.6 as a Max, Speer does not list 2400 for 240 lgr lead and Alliant does not list it for 240 gr either?"

It IS a magnum load after all. A 21 gr. 2400 charge seems moderate to me and I have other sources, some of which suggest 24 gr 2400 for 240 gr. bullets but that's too hot in my opinion. I have some 40+ years of reloading for an original Smith 29 but I do not reccommend anyone follow someone else's info, everyone should load as they see fit.

 

[CraigC]

Who cares what's considered "magnum" anyway? Why the need to pigeon-hole it?

I don't like to go below 18.0gr because it doesn't burn thoroughly. It's plenty safe to reduce it but if I'm running below 1200fps I use Unique. Anywhere from 8.0-10.0gr is fine but I use 10.0gr under a 240gr cast SWC the most.

 

[Rule3]

"How do you determine that 21+gr is a Magnum load? Lyman lists 20.6 as a Max, Speer does not list 2400 for 240 lgr lead and Alliant does not list it for 240 gr either?"

It IS a magnum load after all. A 21 gr. 2400 charge seems moderate to me and I have other sources, some of which suggest 24 gr 2400 for 240 gr. bullets but that's too hot in my opinion. I have some 40+ years of reloading for an original Smith 29 but I do not reccommend anyone follow someone else's info, everyone should load as they see fit.

I guess if you go way back and use Speer #6 you can find 24 grs of 2400 for 1400 to 1500 fps. But that seems a bit extreme, Maybe in a Ruger. I have no need to go there and still consider 19-20 grs very adequate.

I did shoot some rounds today with 10 grs Unique and that is a nice load. I will have to try a slightly reduced load with the 2400 as I mainly want to use it as I have enough of it.