just a question to those more experienced

[machworx]

What do the people out there say about a # of .44 mag shells I reloaded using Hercules Bullseye powder (10.8 gr) with a copper jacketed 240 grain (Nosler JHP) bullet. Some say that I should only use bullseye with lead bullets & I should have used Alliant Unique powder instead. Will these bullets as loaded destroy my 8" SS Ruger Redhawk?

 

[WestKentucky]

10.8 is fairly stout but I don't know if it's over max or not. Never tried bullseye in anything other than 9mm or 38spl. Alliant only has one 44 mag load listed for bullseye and it was 6 grains at about 900 fps. I would not shoot 10.8 without working up to that weight gradually from the 6 grain load on their website. Others with more experience may chime in with more informed views.

Don't blow yourself up.

 

[243winxb]

I would NOT shoot them. Alliant has data using 6.0gr Bullseye with a 240 gr cast.

 

[WestKentucky]

Even on handloads.com I'm not finding anything that strong with a real quick look. I did find more loads there, and on a pc you can sort much better than I can on my phone. I would go there and see what people have done with bullseye, but beware that the data there is user input data, and some of it may be dangerously high.

 

[fouled bore]

How did you come up with this load?

 

[jmorris]

Bullseye is not a good powder for "magnum" loads for starters, jacketed bullets generally develop higher pressures than lead or plated bullets will with the same powder charge.

7.2 grains of bullseye with a lead 240 is the highest max load in the three books I just looked at.

10.8 gn with a jacketed bullet would be pulled apart if it were me. I am with fouled bore, where did you get the load data?

 

[243winxb]

Alliant Data from 1996 for 44 magnum

Old Alliant data can be found here http://castpics.net/dpl/

 

[BigBore45]

Don't shoot them

 

[steve4102]

Do you have any reloading manuals?

I would suggest purchasing one or three, Lyman 49 is a gooden.

 

[WestKentucky]

Another good suggestion not yet really mentioned is to do what I did. Find the powder manufacturers website. All of them that I have ever looked at has load data on the website. Don't find what you need, email them and ask. They don't publish everything that they have.

 

[Rule3]

Bullseye is to fast a powder for 44 Mag and where did you get that data??

I would not shoot it even in a Ruger.

 

[Dudedog]

I would not shoot them. Time to get out the bullet puller.
Older Alliant Data shows 8.9 MAX with a 240. Your charge is 20% over that.

 

[jmorris]

I'll add this, even if your load was a publish "max" load (and it's above any max load anyone has found so far) you hold never start with a max load.

Start low and work up. I imaging folks starting with max loads is the reason newer reloading books have "watered down" loads over the years. People don't realize their firearm could be different than they one they used for their tests.

 

[TimSr]

I wouldn't even shoot them in a Redhawk. I too woudl liek to know whether this load came from.

 

[mdi]

As the consensus seems to be "too hot", I'll add; too much powder! I have been reloading .44 Magnum since '86 and although I have used Bullseye it was with pretty light loads, nowhere near 10 gr. I just looked in my Lyman 48th and there is no listing for Bullseye used in .44 Magnum...

 

[Schwing]

I agree that this is way too high for any 240 grain bullet with bullseye. Time to get the bullet puller out

 

[Mauser69]

1987 Hercules Reloaders' Guide shows 10.0 grains as max load of Bullseye with 240g JSP in .44 Magnum. That is the highest I could find in old data for this bullet weight/type.

 

[gamestalker]

So a good number of folks responded to the OP's question, informing him he is way over max, yet he hasn't gotten back to anyone. Maybe he's in the hospital recovering from Redhawk shrapnel wounds?

GS

 

[jmorris]

I like this photo as a reminder of when folks think of doing something silly.

 

[Reloadron]

I would NOT shoot them. Alliant has data using 6.0gr Bullseye with a 240 gr cast.

I agree as a 240 grain lead SWC in the Speer #12 reflects a maximum of 6.0 grains of Bullseye. The highest loading of Bullseye I see is 7.1 grains under a 240 grain lead SWC in the Hornady 9th. While I realize load data has been doped down to a point I would not shoot the loads you mentioned.

Ron

 

[Walkalong]

As posted, please don't shoot those, not even in a Redhawk. Pull them, use a more appropriate powder for full power jacketed loads, get data from a proven source, start low and work up towards max.

Welcome to THR

 

[warhwkbb]

To the OP....
Do some research to find out why the powder burn rate is so important. Powder type is calibrated for a particular application.

Faster burning powders are better for light loads in smaller cases. Slower burning powders are better for heavier loads in larger cases. There is considerable overlap however.

You are putting an extremely fast burning powder under a heavy bullet in a large case with a charge clearly over published maximum. This is a recipe for disaster.

 

[joem1945]

IMHO he would be better off using a slower powder. I use #AA9 for .44 and .41 mag loads.

 

[gamestalker]

Jmorris, a 700 blown to pieces makes a good point indeed. I think that's probably the first 700 I've seen in that state.

I've seen a couple Rugers KB'd though, SRH, and a SBH.

Also saw a beautiful Weatherby that had been reduced to a pile of rubble, almost made me cry. The reloader was in almost as of bad shape, cuts, burns and bruises all over his face and arms.

GS

 

[Dudedog]

machworx, Sorry I forgot to say welcome.
It;s late but welcome to THR.

Lots of great people here.

jmorris, a 700 blown to pieces makes a good point indeed. I think that's probably the first 700 I've seen in that state.

Makes me wonder what the estimated pressure was, that reduced that rifle to scrap metal and plastic pieces.