Recommend a powder for 357 mag and 44mag

[Kyle]

I have been loading these calibers for a while for CAS and using trailboss. I would like to load up some hotter loads. Is there a powder that will work well in both calibers?
Thanks
Kyle

 

[Walkalong]

AA #9, H110, W-296, 2400, N110 for max loads- I like AA #9.

Welcome to THR

 

[rcmodel]

Don't forget Unique for medium warm loads in either caliber!

rcmodel

 

[Envisaged]

'Lil Gun will make some pretty stout loads in both of those calibers - depending on how heavy a bullet you are loading.

For .357 it likes 158gr and 180gr bullets. .44 Magnum it will like 200gr and 240gr bullets.

 

[ants]

Of those listed by Walkalong, my personal choice is 2400 as long as you're talking about true magnum loads. It doesn't work consistently at mid or light loads, but stout loads are perfect for it (bullets in the mid-weight range, like 240g).

Way back in the 70's I tried building up 44 mag loads with faster powders, but only ruined the brass. Then I went with slow powders like 4227, but got a lot of unburnt powder. I settled on 2400 (almost identical to Acc #9) as perfect for my magnum loads.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I think you have your answer...

 

[lgbloader]

H110 is my choice. It is a heart pounding, fire breathing, heading turning SOB of a powder. I usually have at least 1 or two people come up to me and ask me what the heck I am shooting when I fire my 357 mag and 44 mag at the range.

* As a sidenote, 460 Mag rounds loaded with H110 can scare the doo-doo out of everyone at the range so use with caution.

LGB

 

[ants]

* As a sidenote, 460 Mag rounds loaded with H110 can scare the doo-doo out of everyone at the range so use with caution.

OK, now I have to buy a 460 just to try that myself, LGB. What a blast...

 

[JayAreOne]

another vote for AA#9

I love AA#9 for 10mm, 44 Mag, .454, and subsonic 6.8SPC. No one around my parts sells it though. I just got Blue Dot for 10mm as a substitute, but it doesn't meter nearly as well as AA#9.

(Minor Hijack, after providing small contribution to OP )

Any recommendations for a consistant metering .44 mag powder? (not full-tilt loads).

JR

 

[rondog]

Interesting. I recently bought a bunch of .44 mag brass, bullets, dies, loaded rounds, and an unopened pound of H110. Also bought a Winchester Trapper carbine, is H110 OK to use in that?

 

[Remo-99]

is H110 OK to use in that?

H110 works well in 44mag and 357mag in the upper power loadings, as does 2400.

Unique is the most versatile for midrange with lead slugs.

Universal Clays also a good clean powder for slinging lead mid pace in those magnums.

IMO

 

[Walkalong]

I love AA#9 .......No one around my parts sells it though

Just order an 8 pounder and pay the hazmat. My favorite .44 Mag powder too.

I just bought some Lil' Gun, and it meters great. Some folks have said it works well in .44 Mag, and Hodgdons data looks to back that up as far as getting some good velocities. I am going to try it. It that available local?

 

[JayAreOne]

There is some Lil' Gun around. Since you say it meters well, I'll give that a try!

I'll also have to see what the hazmat charges are and just get the 8 pounder of AA#9. (I really like that stuff! )

Best regards,
JR

 

[atlanticfire]

gotta love the H110

 

[tlen]

HERCO works for me.

 

[bluetopper]

For mid power loads try Universal. For 7/8 to full power loads I use 2400. It's very accurate, burns pretty clean and recoil is managable.

For firebreathing loads use magnum primers with H110 (W-296) and wear a shooting glove.......it's not very pleasant.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Low power stuff- Unique
Mid power stuff- Unique or W296
Mid to warm power lead- 2400
High power stuff that'll make you think again- AA#9 or W296.

I have some pet loads (target practice/pinkers, bowling pin smashers, up to my Bear and Elk stoppers) that I shoot through my Dan Wesson 15-2VH, SS RugerRH and Ruger SBH I'll share if you PM me.

-Steve

 

[appalachainamerican]

H110 woriks well, havent tried all the others mentioned, but in my python it is great, have a ruger sp 101 that tries to jump ouuta my hand with a max charge of H110

 

[nhlivefree]

H110 works good makes big flames shoot out found my self looking at the flames coming out of the barrel more than aiming

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I'd go with 2400 and Unique. 296 is really good, but it takes magnum primers and a whole lot of it, 16.6 grains behind a 158 JHP.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

If you want REALLY clean loads, with all but maxed out velocity, try Vit N110. Spendy. But EXCELLENT accuracy/velocity in both calibers, and you'll get nothing that burns cleaner with jacketed slugs.

 

[buck460XVR]

I've found Unique to be a good and economical powder for plinking loads in both .357mag and .44 mag., altho it tends to be a bit dirty unless loaded to upper levels. Since H110 and W296 are the same powder I can say I like them both for the upper level loads in both calibers, with Lil' Gun starting to edge them out the more I use it. Only caution with Lil' Gun is not to leave it in the hopper of your powder dispenser for very long as it will etch the plastic.......not that it matters other than cosmetically.

296 is really good, but it takes magnum primers and a whole lot of it, 16.6 grains behind a 158 JHP.

IMHO...a pretty stout load. That load is above max in both Speer and Hornady manuals......and only a .1 grain below max from Hodgdons. I find accuracy wise(what I load for), my 6'' 686 likes 15 to 15.5 grains under a 158.

If you want REALLY clean loads, with all but maxed out velocity, try Vit N110. Spendy. But EXCELLENT accuracy/velocity in both calibers, and you'll get nothing that burns cleaner with jacketed slug

I've heard that from many other sources and since it also works well for 240 and 300 grain jacketed bullets in .460S&W it will be my next powder investment.

 

[dwave]

Yeah, 16.5 grs of H110 is a VERY powerful load with a 158 gr bullet, but fun city! So 16.6 would give just a bit more. I use Hodgdon H110 myself for the Mag loads and Universal for the med. loads. No such thing as a light load in a .357 thats what a .38 is for!

 

[NC-Mike]

You guys are starting to make me worried.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

My Lee 2nd Edition reloading book show's 16.6 grains behind a 158 grain JHP, no minimum load listed, thats it. You're not supposed to reduce 296 more than 3% anyway. Also, out of my 4" revolver, I'm getting 1270 fps, which is just a tick above factory loads at 1250.