Remarkable 44 Mag Velocities

[bluetopper]

I took some 44 Magnum reloads out to the range yesterday and set up the chronograph. I just shot three of each loading through the chrono and averaged them as I hate to waste ammo like that not shooting at a target.

The results I got exceeded anything I was expecting.

All loadings were shot out of my Freedom Arms 44 Mag with a 10" barrel and Accurate 4100 powder was used.

180gr Sierra HP
27gr. 4100
avg. vel. 1918 fps

215gr hard cast gas check bullet
25gr. 4100
avg. vel. 1826 fps

245gr hard cast gas check bullet
22gr 4100
avg. vel. 1630 fps

All loadings are listed maximums except the 215gr as no info on that weight bullet was available so I had to rely on educated guessing and some experience. All cases extracted very easily and no pressure signs at all were observed. Tula large pistol primers were used, not magnum primers.

 

[Torian]

That 10 in barrel is certainly going to give you a jump, but how much is the question....

 

[Conservidave]

"The results I got exceeded anything I was expecting"

And this is what makes reloading such a great hobby, creating custom loads for our own guns that exceed our expectations. I don't know much about 44 Mag's but those look like pretty lethal velocities. How was the accuracy?

 

[Slamfire]

Did you fire a reference load over your chronograph to ensure that you did not have instrumentation error?

My Chrony, off axis shots give weird, high, velocities.

 

[moxie]

Hmm, light bullets (25% lighter than standard 240), extra long barrel (more than 50% longer than the 7 1/2" "long" barrel) and lots (lots) of powder = very high velocity.

Who'd a thunk it?

Still, wouldn't be bad to check the chrony per Slamfire's advice.

 

[Lj1941]

Check

Any time something seems too good to be true,it probably is.I would fire a known round to see if it is in the ballpark. I have had an experience with low observed velocities and found out the chronograph was not correct. A lot of factors could cause incorrect readings, low battery, overcast day or extremly flashy loads are just a few.:banghead:

 

[jerkface11]

more than 50% longer than the 7 1/2" "long" barrel

10" is more than 50% longer than 7 1/2"?

 

[bluetopper]

Maybe I should just take a slegehammer to my chrony. These number just couldn't be correct is the jest it seems I'm getting.

All I know it has worked like a charm for several years.

 

[buck460XVR]

Maybe I should just take a slegehammer to my chrony. These number just couldn't be correct is the jest it seems I'm getting.

All I know it has worked like a charm for several years.

IMHO, I think folks are just trying to help. I think when you stated in your post that the results were different than expected, some folks thought you were presenting a question to us as to why. Looking at the recipes in the Alliant website, the velocities you are obtaining with the 180 load is only 70 fps faster than what they show. Their max is .2 gr less and they used a 8 1/4'' barrel. So your numbers there are understandable. The numbers with the 245GC are quite a bit higher than theirs but so is your powder charge. If you worked these loads up, did not start at the max loads quoted and no signs of over pressure are apparent, you should be happy if the rounds are accurate too. Your gun, your loads....you are the one that needs to be satisfied and confident they are safe.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Maybe I should just take a slegehammer to my chrony. These number just couldn't be correct is the jest it seems I'm getting.

All I know it has worked like a charm for several years.

IF your chamber throats and barrel are optimal for the bullets you are using, ultra-high velocities are possible. I recall a thread where a fellow with a 44 Magnum Redhawk was getting phenomenal velocities (don't recall what they were, though) and he had many answers, but they all boiled down to "You just have a 'fast' gun. Lucky you."

With my chronograph, I fire a couple of rounds of 22 rimfire over it out of the same gun at each shooting session and the same lot of ammunition I keep around for just this purpose. It checks the lighting and battery, if nothing else. 1210 fps is what I usually get, and if I don't, I put on (or take off) the light diffusers, replace the battery or reposition the chronograph in better light and try again.

Check the website www.ballisticsbytheinch.com for some more illuminating information.

Good Luck. Lucky you.

Lost Sheep

 

[Constrictor]

10" is more than 50% longer than 7 1/2"?

Pretty much yeah.

 

[Lost Sheep]

??? Arithmetic?

10" is more than 50% longer than 7 1/2"?

Pretty much yeah.

10" is 33 1/3 % longer than 7.5"


( 7.5 x 1.3333 = 10" )

Lost Sheep

p.s. 33 1/3% is less than 50%

10" is 2.5" longer than 7.5" 2.5" is one-third (33.33%) or 7.5"

a barrel 50% longer than 7.5" would be 11.25" long.

 

[Hanshi]

Those are amazing velocities. There are such things as "fast barrels" but also such things as "fast loads"; apparently you have both. If they are accurate then you are walking in tall cotton.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I agree with buck460XVR about the velocities you read. They look in line with the newest Accurate manual. The loads for lead look heavy, and the pressures will be in line with the velocities, on the high side. While you have a strong gun that should be able to handle the loads, I wouldn't recommend shooting in a gun with a lighter top strap.

BTW, if your chrony is not working properly, I know of a solution. To end those annoying errant results, simply shoot the screens.

 

[CraigC]

I don't know anything about the loads in question but an FA is going to shoot faster than any other revolver of comparable length. A premium quality barrel coupled with perfect alignment, unrestricted bore and a very narrow gap all lead to higher velocities.

 

[readyeddy]

The velocities are not surprising given the 10" barrel. You will generally gain about 50 fps for every additional inch of barrel length.

 

[jerkface11]

It is a Freedom Arms. They have a very tight cylinder gap. Plus a 10 inch barrel. So extra high velocities should be expected. You might compare what you're getting to single shot pistol data.

 

[huntershooter]

My FA (4.75" barrel) mod 97 averages 150 fps greater velocity than a couple 4" S&W's.
The chambers and b/c gap are MUCH tighter on the FA's.

 

[LeonCarr]

What pretty much everybody has said so far.

It is a Freedom Arms, built to tighter tolerances in the barrel, cylinder throats, and cylinder gap than pretty much all other mainstream revolvers.

Also, I was shooting a similar 180 Grain HP load in my 7.5 inch Ruger Redhawk and it averaged 1799 fps. If you want big fun, go shoot your 180 Grain HP at 1918 fps at a 2 or 3 Liter coke bottle filled with water .

I think Parisite's numbers are spot on, please don't sledgehammer the chrono.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr