Incremental 44 mag xTreme 240 gr Unique Loads

[gonoles_1980]

A while back I was asking why I saw such a spread on the 44 mag lead loads.

Speer LSWC 240 gr 6.5 to 7.0 Unique
Layman Linotype 240gr 10 to 11.7 Unique

After much discussion it was determine the big deltas where because Speer has a BHN of 12 and the Linotype was around 21.

I had loaded the xtreme 240gr bullets which have a BHN of 18 loaded with 6.7 grains, I test fired 24 and they worked, but they were really mouse squeaks. I want something more bold, but I had a different load for my stronger loads.

I was asking about a light load, and many have recommended a low end of 8.0, and extrapolating I get a light load of 8.5 for unique. Now it seems a big jump from 6.7 to 8.0, so I was thinking of going to 7.0, then 7.5 if too light, and then 8.0.

Any reason the jumps of .3 (7.0), and .5 (7.5, 8.0) might be too large? Or just I just jump to 8.0 and not bother?

 

[rcmodel]

Older pre-Speer Alliant data says 11.8 Max with a 240 Lead (GC).

A 10% reduction for a starting load would be 10.6.

I'm shooting 7.5 with a 240 cast in my 1950 Target S&W .44 Special, and have been for years.

So no, I would not hesitate to jump right to 8.0 grains in .44 Magnum.

rc

 

[243winxb]

44 magnum and Unique with WLP in Fed, win or Rem brass

Jump to 8, then 9, then 9.5, then 10.0 gr , my maximum with a 255 gr cast lswc.

 

[CraigC]

Remember that the Speer data is for their swaged SWC.

A BHN of 12 in a cast bullet is good for 1200fps.

 

[roval]

I'n my Lyman 49th for 240 gr swc linotype the starting load for unique is 10 with max of 11.7. You can load it lower as well so shouldn't be an issue going to 8.0 . I tried 7.6, 8, 8.5 then 10 and 10.5. In my srh 7.5 inch. I liked 8.5 1033fps and 10.5 1235fps (magnum enough without being too harsh).