Loading 44 Magnum

[Riomouse911]

Shooting full house magnums can be fun, it sounds like you have the powders and bullets on hand to load up some good ones.

If you can find a pound, I will bet 10.0 gr Unique and a 240 gr LSWC will quickly become a .44 Mag favorite of yours, like it has for so many other reloaders over the decades.

Enough oomph to let you know you aren’t shooting Specials anymore, without beating up your hands, nerves or revolver in the process.

Good luck!

Stay safe.

 

[2zulu1]

How do you like VV N110 ? It is a powder that interests me.

For 180gr and 200gr XTPs, N105 is the way to go IMO, I like AA#9 for its accuracy. The most accurate load in 44mag that I've tested was AA #9 and Sierra 240gr JHPs, 0.91" at 31 meters, S&W 629/6.5" barrel.

 

[2zulu1]

This is a 240gr XTP load I chronographed in September 2007, 4200ft, 105F and single digit humidity.

240gr XTP, Starline virgin, WLP, AA #9 21.0grs, (within Hornady #6 published data) S&W 629/6.5"

MV 1416fps/1068fpe, ES 23fps, SD 08fps

I don't see any reason to load max and I have a Win 92 for longer distances, YMMV.

 

[Walkalong]

I love folks who keep good records!

 

[Charlie98]

I use 296 for mag loads and I use unique for light and cast loads. Done so for 20 years with no reason to look elsewhere

That is my SOP at this point. The one caveat I have to that is IMR4227... I use it in lieu of W296 because it doesn't require Magnum primers, and it works really well in the Marlin, even with cast. I save the Magnum primers and W296 for full-snort, Jacketed bullets in the .41... which isn't very much these days.

 

[Yamifrk]

Not sure if it’s as plentiful where you are, but look for some Enforcer. Especially if you are looking to be on the bottom end of “mag” performance. It downloads nicely, burns clean, and shoots really well in mid range loadings.

 

[buck460XVR]

20.7 is the starting load in the Hornady manual

Than, regardless of what others say, you will be fine as long as you are using a magnum primer. It's when folks go below minimum start charges and using standard primers with H110/W296, that folks get into trouble. Starting charges with them, also generally do not give the best accuracy either.

Load them to the center of the cannelure and be happy.

^^^This. Unless you trim your cases to the exact same measurement as they did in the book, there is no way you will get the same OAL when crimping into the center of the cannelure. The minimal difference in OAL is not going to impact safety at all as long as you stay within book charges and your gun is a modern firearm and in good condition. Any .44 magnum revolver is going to be a "modern" firearm.

 

[crestoncowboy]

That is my SOP at this point. The one caveat I have to that is IMR4227... I use it in lieu of W296 because it doesn't require Magnum primers, and it works really well in the Marlin, even with cast. I save the Magnum primers and W296 for full-snort, Jacketed bullets in the .41... which isn't very much these days.

I use Winchester primers so there is no magnum and standard.

 

[Charlie98]

I use Winchester primers so there is no magnum and standard.

Winchester primers, and particularly LP's, are a 4-letter word in my house. I'll stick with standard or Magnum CCI's...

 

[LV Gun]

For 180gr and 200gr XTPs, N105 is the way to go IMO, I like AA#9 for its accuracy. The most accurate load in 44mag that I've tested was AA #9 and Sierra 240gr JHPs, 0.91" at 31 meters, S&W 629/6.5" barrel.

Didn’t Vihtavuori discontinue N105 and Tin Star ? My LGS told me they did but I don’t know if it’s true.. For accuracy loads I have always liked 2400 or Blue Dot when I can find them , I have never tried #9 I may have to give it a try. I just loaded 50 with Ramshot Enforcer going to give it a try it was all they had , no H110/W296 , no 2400 , no Blue Dot or even Long Shot.

Edit Remark- Finding the powder’s you like here in Las Vegas for the big bores can be challenging .. but on the other hand I get to try different powders, I like working up new loads

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Don't worry about it. 296 fills the case, for sure.
I shot some today with 21.5 grains and a 280 grain SWC bullet. They certainly let me know I had ahold of something.

As others have said, there are other powders that don't require you load it full throttle. If you can find them these days.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Winchester primers, and particularly LP's, are a 4-letter word in my house. I'll stick with standard or Magnum CCI's...

Between 40 and 10mm and 44 (and a few 454 and 460) I've used over 100k Winchester primers. Never had an issue. I have 2 duds in rifles with fed and cci but I'm pretty sure niether were quite seated by my progressive

 

[Charlie98]

Never had an issue.

I have, and a fairly significant one at that.

 

[derek45]

max load for hunting-
24gr H110/win296 with a 240gr.
and a FIRM roll crimp

Warm load for practice and plinking-
10gr UNIQUE or 9gr UNIVERSAL
240gr

light load-
6.5gr win231/HP39
240gr

 

[joneb]

I load the 240gr xtp in 44mag with 22.3gr of H110 it works pretty good in a Ruger Redhawk.

 

[Barmcd]

I went out this morning and shot loads of H110 and Accurate No. 9. I shot 36 rounds and now remember why I shoot 44 Mag sparingly. I got the best results with 23.5 gr. of H110, just like several people said I would. I've never gotten ES and SD numbers like that with a pistol. The other two loads of 20.7 and 22.1 gr. had erratic ES and SD numbers, but you could see the numbers coming down as the charge went higher. I'll use 23.5 as my standard 44 Mag load.

20.7 gr.
Average velocity - 1100
Extreme spread - 129
Standard deviation - 47

22.1
Average velocity - 1157
Extreme spread - 94
Standard deviation - 30

23.5 gr.
Average velocity - 1252
Extreme spread - 16
Standard deviation - 6

I wasn't as pleased with No.9. The velocity was good, even higher than I got with H110, but it was erratic with a large ES and SD. However, like H110, the higher load provided better ES and SD numbers. I just don't want to shoot any hotter loads to get good ES and SD numbers.

16.3 gr.
Average velocity - 1085
Extreme spread - 65
Standard deviation - 22

18.0 gr.
Average velocity - 1207
Extreme spread - 164
Standard deviation - 54

19.6 gr.
Average velocity - 1284
Extreme spread - 42
Standard deviation - 14

Theses were shot through my six inch Model 29-2 with Starline brass, 240 gr. Hornady XTPs, and CCI LP Magnum primers.

 

[.38 Special]

23 grains of H110 with a 240/250 grain bullet is one of the "gold standards" in the .44 Magnum, and is generally the load I start with when trying out a new gun.

My experience with #9 in the cartridge is similar to @Barmcd's: it works, but tends to be somewhat erratic. At 25 yards I can't tell, but vertical stringing will often show up at 50 and beyond.

10 grains of Unique works as well here as it does in many other big sixgun cartridges, and I often use it when I'm not looking for full power.

 

[CraigC]

H110 likes volume and pressure, with very little air space. It's always going to burn cleaner and more consistently above the starting charge. It's a great powder for heavy loads, perhaps only eclipsed by Lil Gun and 300MP. AA #9 and #11FS seem to work better with the solid copper bullets.

Though I agree the 10.0gr Unique is a better every day load.

 

[Charlie98]

had erratic ES and SD numbers, but you could see the numbers coming down as the charge went higher.

That's my experience as well with the slow burners in pistol. More than faster powders, they will tell you where their Happy Place is if you are paying attention.

Unique works as well here as it does in many other big sixgun cartridges, and I often use it when I'm not looking for full power.

+1

My days of the Big Boomers in pistols are pretty much done. Now that I'm down to just the 3 .41's in revolvers, 95% of my shooting is done with Unique.

 

[jmorris]

I started with H110 and dropped the starting load of 20.7 gr. into the case.

The OAL looks ok per Hornady’s 4th.


You are below the starting charge weight and I generally do not do that with H110/W296 because I have been told it does goofy things with reduced loads. To be fair, if I did, I would know if that is factual or just another rumor that became popular…

They actually list the length you mention as a maximum, not a minimum, in that book.



Also worth noting is suggestion of a faster powder for reduced loads, there at the bottom. That would be my suggestion too.

 

[Durango_Dave]

I too have a S&W model 29. I love that gun. I have never purchased factory ammo for it. I handload all my ammo. I only purchased 44 magnum brass so I've never shot 44 Special out of it. I often load mild 44 Mag at only 830 ft/sec.

I use brenell hardness 12 for the cowboy loads and brenell 18 for the magnum loads.

I use 21 grains of H110 with 240 grain bullets. The all lead bullets are a bit faster than jacketed bullets with the same powder charge.