Rookie reloader question

[RB98SS]

Hello,

Been lurking for a few months and acquired quite a bit of knowledge from the forum here, thanks for all the great info.

I do have a question regarding reloading .44 magnum for my Desert Eagle. I purchased The Complete Reloading Manual for the .44 Magnum and have a concern about the COL of the current bullets I am reloading. In the recipes, the information is based on a COL of 1.600" for the 240 gr Hornady bullet and seeing as I would like to shorten the COL to about 1.585, my question is what affect would this have on the powder formulas listed? Would I need to back off on the amount of powder or would it have little affect on the load?

I currently am not loading the max formulas so there is room for error but I need to keep my loads hot for this particular pistol.

Thanks, Gary

 

[LHB1]

Gary,
You should always drop below a given load quotation by approx 10% and work up to it anyway. This allows for differences in OAL, bullet shape, case thickness, seating depth, bullet diameter, chamber dimensions, barrel dimensions, variations in powder scale or measure, etc. If you are shortening the OAL significantly, then just allow a little more reduction to start your testing. Note that for some special slow burning powders, the manufacturers do recommend limiting reductions in charge weights. I have never had any problems in this area but it is worth noting.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Sunray]

"...what affect..." None. Why do you want to shorten the OAL? 1.6" not fit in the mag?

 

[RB98SS]

"...what affect..." None. Why do you want to shorten the OAL? 1.6" not fit in the mag?"

Additional reading specific to the Desert Eagle has led me to believe a shorter COL chambers better than the normal 1.610" maximum or the 1.600" in the manual. Most DE reloaders are setting their COL to around 1.580"-1.585". As far as the "affect" I am referring to -- that would be the end result of less volume area for the powder once the bullit is seated deeper in the case.

 

[scrat]

you will be fine considering that if you are loading below the max load. dont even worry about it. .15 will raise the case pressure just a tad but as long as you are not loading at max charge dont even worry about it.



a lot of new reloaders worry a lot about weather or not they put too much powder in their loads and if the overall case length will blow them up.

As long as you are not loading at the max load and you are within 10% of either the max overall lenght or 10% below the starting load or around the starting load you will be fine. go fire the rounds.

then play with them a little. Remember one thing the guys who wrote the max oal and max loads determined this with their firearms. Your firearms will be different. that is why a lot of us start of with the safe safe loads then work up from there. Inspecting your brass after fireing them will give you clues on how safe your loads are once you start charging them higher.

 

[Sunray]

"...specific to the Desert Eagle..." Hi. That's kind of what I thought. Fifteen thou won't make much difference in pressures or case capacity. It's the same thickness as 4 sheets of 20 lb. copy/printer paper. It's not enough to worry about.

 

[Doug b]

RB98SS I would be more interested in getting a uniform crimp on the forward edge of the crimp ring on the bullet,than being 15 thou under the max. oal.
Also take note here if you are loading h110 or w296 reduce only 3% from max load listings.These powders like pressure.

 

[RB98SS]

Thanks everyone, for the info.