Questions re: load data for 240 grn LSWC

[codefour]

I have been reloading for over a year now. Up to this point, I have always loaded predominantly jacketed bullets and the occasional plated bullet (Berry's).

A friend gave me a box of 500, .44 Mag, 240 grain lead SWC made by Laser Cast. The expected handloads are going to be fired from a 7.5 inch Ruger Redhawk. JHP's are getting expensive to shoot for plinking/target loads.

My question is: I have the latest Lyman 49th, Hornady, Nosler, and Speer reloading manuels. They all give different load amounts. For example, a 240 LSWC, Speer recommends 7.0 grn Unique (max load) and Lyman recommends 11.7 grn Unique (also max load). Speer does not rate the hardness in their manuel for the 7.0 grn charge. Lyman recommends a bhn rating of 22 for the 11.7 grn charge.

Usually when I load 240 grain JHP, almost all three books list the maximum/minimum charge to be within the range of 0.5 to 1.0 grains of either 2400, H110, or W296.

I plan to load the Laser Cast 240 grn LSWC using either Unique or W231.

Does anyone know the bhn rating for the Laser Cast 240 grn LSWC..? What would THR members recommend for a powder charge in Unique or W231..??

And finally, one last question: I believe you only taper crimp a LSWC, NOT roll crimp it..??

Thanks in advance for any input you can recommend.

 

[Walkalong]

Speer's data is for soft swaged bullets, IIRC, where Lyman's is for hard cast. Follow the Lyman data with that bullet, and roll crimp into the crimp groove.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5873477&postcount=32

 

[codefour]

Walkalong, thanks for the reply and the link. I had the crimping backwards in my head. Then again, it was 0500 in California when I wrote it.. go figure..

 

[243winxb]

10.0 gr of Alliants Unique

 

[ssyoumans]

10.0 gr of Alliants Unique

+1. This is a very popular loading. I use it in my Marlin 1894. Roll crimp.

 

[mdi]

My Lyman manual says 9.8 to 13.0 gr. Unique for the Lyman 429421. Measure the cylinder throats of your Ruger and use lead bullets of the same size or .001" smaller. You can also "slug" your barrel, but fitting the bullet to the cylinder throats will usually give you a bullet .001" to .002" larger than groove. Rugers are pretty consistant with .430" to .431" throats and .429" barrel groove dia...

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Load data is all over the map for 240's. Speer gives really light loadings to keep leading down.

I recently worked up loads using MBC's Elmer K. My gun shot the best groups with 9 grains of Unique. Speed was a little over 1100 FPS. I tried up to 10 grains and the groups opened up a bit. I settled back to 9. Right now my press is set up and running 240's. I ran off a hundred or so about 3 am this morning.