Powder for .44mag

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ArkansasFatboy

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Guys I ams wanting to work up some hunting loads for my 44mag I want somethig that will be accurate and carry some punch. I will be firing the loads out of a stanless steel taurus revolver with a 6inch barrel any opinions would be appreciated
 
AF,
The two most popular powders for full power loads in .44 Mag are WW-296 and H-110. Actually "they" are the same powder sold by two different companies under different names. See the following post:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=186089&highlight=W296+H110

I use 24.0 gr of WW-296 under 240 gr jacketed or 250 gr cast lead bullets with Win LP primers and Win brass in my S&W M629 .44 Mags with 6.5" barrels. Chrono velocities with both loads are in 1400-1425 fps range. Accuracy from my two guns is outstanding. RECOMMEND you start lower and work up slowly. Do NOT exceed published max loads.
As always, do NOT use any load off the internet or from some one else unless you can verify it in at least one and preferably two published reloading manuals. The hands/eyes/etc. you save could be your own.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
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For the lead 240 bullets (pretty much all I use) I load Unique for 900fps (44special level loads) and the real deal full power loads I use 2400 with great success
 
I'll echo what others have said. For full power magnum loads you can't go wrong with WW296/H110 (same powder) or some Lil'Gun. I liked WW231/HP38 (same powder) for 44 special loads.
 
I have been very happy with H-110 in my .44 mag Colt Anaconda, it did a very nice job on a 6-1/2' black bear at 30 yards with only one shot. I use 23.4 grains with a 240 gr JHP,:D
 
My .44 loads carry my own cast bullets, and have done so for decades. While I've used a bunch of H110 over that period, I generally get better results with 2400.

These are not the wimpish loads often recommended by present-day "experts" for such bullets. The non-gaschecked 250-grain RCBS .44-250KT leaves my 7.5" Super blackhawk at almost 1500 fps, and the 4" S&W .44s give me 1300-plus with the same load, and no, there's no "leading".

2400 is a bit more flexible than H110/296, in that it can tolerate having the charge reduced to a rather considerable degree, which H110 doesn't like at all. Also, it's easier to ignite with various primer types. I usually have a bit of H110 around my shop, but 2400 gets the nod for all my magnum-level revolver loads, including .357 and .41 as well as .44s. All of which makes me a fossil to some, but....my guns and loads WORK, and they work very well, thanks.

Incidentally, another superb powder for reduced loads is Herco, which is an almost-unknown powder to today's handloaders. I like it better than Unique in that role.
 
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.


H-110/296 are good powders but IMHO have a very narrow pressure range to work correctly. Yes I've used a bunch of the stuff. 23 or 24 grs. with our standard Keith @ 250 grs. We sold many loads with the Rem 240 HP and 24 grs. The stuff meters great and never bridges in the measure. Most sixguns will shoot this load into 3" at 50 yards.

Handload's article by Ross Seyfried stated he changed from Mr. Keith's load to H-110/23gr./250 Keith. He claimed the same velocity with less pressure. I discussed this load with Brian Pearce as compared to 2400. He is of the same opinon as I, 2400 simply works better, especially in cold weather.

I'm not knocking H-110/296. I'm just saying for my dollar I'd rather use 2400 with standard weight bullets. I shot a 4" M-29 for 8 years using only one load, the Lyman 429421 and 20 grs. of 2400. This load did 1201 fps. It's not hard on sixguns or the shooter and at 1200 fps the Keith bullet will do about all it's designed to do.

IMHO, BruceB is correct. Get 8 pounds of 2400 and when it's empty, you'll be a believer. HEE HEE.........Creeker
 
In that gun, as others have suggested, I would run somewhere between 18-20 grains of 2400 behind a 240-255 HCSWC, depending on how much velocity you want.

No more than 20 if you want the gun to last a long time though. Twenty grains is right at most current published maximums.

It should be a very accurate load. And you'll get more rounds-per-pound with 2400 than 296 anyway.
 
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I use magnum primers with 2400. Speers newest manual says not to. They claim more uniform ignition with standard primers. But magnums always worked for me. More uniform velocities in really cold weather, IME.

So whether you use magnum or standard, make sure you know which one is specified in the manual you are using, and adjust powder charges accordingly, as magnum primers generally generate higher chamber pressures than standard.
 
I liked playing with 1680 and Lil'gun. They were a very good match with the 14" barrel on my TC using 240's and 300's.


D
 
H110 is generally cleaner. But: You have to run it right up against the wall for it to work right. Max effort type loads only.

2400 is just a touch sooty. But it will work happily from the lower end of *mid-range* clear up to 95-98% of what H110 will do. It's just a lot more versitile powder. You can even use it for reduced loads in rifles.

If I could only have one powder for all my magnum wheelguns, it'd be 2400. No question.
 
You guys almost have me talked into 2400;)

I use CCI mag primers with AA-9. Reason I started out with AA-9 was cause I use that powder for 200gr 10MM loads and had some extra laying around.

Been wanting to try other powder and 110 was on the list as well as W296.

A good man here sent me a PM sharing his loads for .44 mag as well (thanks LHB1)

Lenny,
My std full power hunting loads are:
24.0/W296/255 cast bullet/Win LP primer or
24.0/W296/240 Nosler HP jacketed bullet/Win LP.

The H&G cast bullet load chrono's 1425 fps thru my Oehler 35P out of S&W M629 with 6.5" barrel. Would expect you to get more velocity with 7.5" bbl.

Other std loads (mid power) are:
10.0/AA5/255 cast bullet/Win LP primer
11.0/AA5/210 cast bullet/Win LP primer

As always, reduce and work up loads just in case your gun is tighter than mine but would expect the Ruger to handle these loads with no problems. Good luck
 
My Lee powder measure consistantly leaks when I use H110. The powder that I use for .357, .38 Special, and .44 Magnum now is Alliant 2400. I get more loads per pound and it lets me ramp the pressure levels and performance up and down as much as I want to within reason.
 
I reload only for my Deerfield rifle but get excellent results from H110. At 24G with 240g SP it is definitely hotter than a similar factory load and will make the little rifle ‘jump”. I can only imagine what it must feel like in a pistol. I am working on a load with 2400 that will match a factory load. At present I have only loaded some at the low end of the suggested scale and they only cycle in the Deerfield about half the time. I am looking for a ‘paper’ load that is as low as it can go and still function all the time. PS. H110 also leaks out of my lee powder measure.
RJ
 
Powders for 44mag.!!!

I use a lot for BlueDot for my top end 44 mag. loads. Powder charges are quite a bit less than 2400 an/or 296-H110. I get great performance and more rounds per pound using BlueDot!!!. :) Of course I'm a cheap bugger on top of it all!!!:rolleyes:
 
Hi Lenny,
Hope those loads worked well for you in your .44 Mag. They work really well for me, especially the W296 loads. Biggest problem I have these days is finding old wheel weights for casting my own H&G bullets. My sources dried up and haven't found a tire shop on north side of Houston that will sell their old wheel weights.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
After all this time I still haven't tried W296 yet. Been so darn busy getting the 70 Cougar finished that my reloading has been neglected.

I do plan on giving it a whirl here in the next couple of week while the cylinder heads are in the shop getting done. ;)
 
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