Light or midreange .44 mag load with H110

[Master Blaster]

Does anyone have a favorite recipie for a midrange 44 mag load using H110 Hodgdon 110? I'm interested in using a 200 grain golddot, or a 240LSWC. Target velocity is 1100-1200 fps. I'm curious to compare the recoil to a Unique propellant load of similar velocity.

I also want to try H110 for .357 mag with 125gr gold dots.

Thanks

 

[stans]

H-110 and W-296 are not suitable for light or mid range loads. These powders really should not be loaded to less than 5% below maximum charge, this according to the manufacturers. The reason is that these powders are slow burning and the case must be pretty well filled to get consistant burning rates. Loading the powders down to mid range ballistics is likely to result in erratic velocities and possibly hang fires or squibs.

Stick with Unique for mid range loads. If you don't like Unique, try some AA#5 or AA#7, both are spherical powders and meter very well. Reload safely.

 

[Fatelvis]

Stans is right. Dont reduce charges with H110 or W296. In my book, Unique and Titegroup are two great reduced power powders. Good luck!

 

[WESHOOT2]

NO

Try Universal Clays, heavy crimp.

 

[Cherokee]

I like Winchester Super Target. High bulk for lighter loads to fill more of the large case and clean burning. I like 5 gr with a cast 200 gr bullet.

 

[Zak Smith]

For ~1000 fps loads, I normally use Unique.

If you want to use a slower powder, try #2400.

Here's some of my data:

Starline cases.  WLP.
240gr Speer Gold Dot seated to 1.594"
200gr Speer Gold Dot seated to 1.607"

powder          200gr     240gr
 8.0gr Unique     925       874
 8.5gr   "        988       904
 9.0gr   "        998       964
 9.5gr   "       1055      1006
10.0gr   "       1127       -

13.0gr #2400       -        798
14.0gr   "        866       903
15.0gr   "       1000      1002
16.0gr   "       1061      1058
17.0gr   "       1151      1085
18.0gr   "       1191      1079
19.0gr   "       1230        -

Notes:

1. stddev for all points were in the range of 20-40, except 16.0gr
   #2400 / 240gr which was 7.1.  2400 has a sweet spot around
   15/16gr for 240gr bullets.

2. For #2400, the 240gr start out faster, but delta-v / delta-charge
   drops off around 18.  Not sure why.

3. For #2400, the same velocities are attained at 15 and 16 gr in both
   the 200 and 240gr.

-z

 

[Fatelvis]

Zak, Ive found that 16 grns +/- .5 grn of 2400, is the "sweet spot" for most cast loads, in 303 Brit class, as well. Seems strange to me, that 2400 acts the same in a case with so much more volume than the 44 mag. Just ponderin` the coincidance!

 

[1badmagnum]

you can reduce h110 slightly,I usually use 24 grains for my loads,I would say about 22 grains should do ya.

 

[Clark]

Hodgdon does not recomend reduced loads of H110 because of possible poor igintion. That does not mean it cannot be done. Old load books have 44 special with H110:

1) "Hodgdon 23" 1979, 44 special, 180 gr 17 gr H110, 1358 fps, 7.5" barrel, 15,900 c.u.p., 210 gr 16 gr H110, 1256 fps, 15,900 c.u.p.
2) "Pacific.." 1967 44 special, 215 gr, 16 gr H110, 1205 fps, 1.615" over all length

AA#9 [Ramshot Enforcer] or 2400 work better.

 

[Watchman]

Accurate Arms No. 5 will do exaclty what you are looking for.

My loads will run at 1000 FPS for 240 grain LSWC and its clean burning witt no leading.

 

[Master Blaster]

Thanks for the replies, I was perusing the speer #13 manual last night, and i noticed an odd phenomenon with the H110 powder.

It seems that in 44 magnum, a heavier bullet 300gr. moves faster with a lighter max charge, than a lighter bullet with a heavier max charge!!!!! Thats odd, because with most powders a heavier bullet uses a lighter charge, but moves slower than a light bullet!!!.

IIRC:

300 grain jacketed with 16.5 H110 goes 1350.

200 gr jacketed bullet with 21 gr H110 goes 1220.

Both at Saami max 40,000 psi

Both from a 7.5" redhawk IIRC.


So H110 is more efficient with heavier bullets


DOUHHHHH

It was the .357 mag in 125gr for the light bullet, and 140gr for the heavy bullet Not .44 mag.

 

[Zak Smith]

Master Blaster,

That load data might be funky, because one of the canonical .44Mag loads is a 240gr with 24.0gr of H110.

Hodgdon's data itself doesn't seem to match up with what you posted very well: http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/44remmag.php

-z

 

[Mal H]

He's right MB. Double check your data. I'm looking at #13 right now and the powder loads and velocities you quoted aren't even in the same city as the ones listed, not to mention in the same ball park.