Suggested charge for .44 Magnum.

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stchman

stchman

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Hello all.

I am reloading some .44 Magnum ammo. Gun to used this is a Ruger Super Redhawk 9.5".

What I have:

240g LSWC bullets.
Wichester large pistol primers
IMR 800X powder

A friend of mine reloaded some rounds for me a while back using 11.0gr of the 800X powder. They work, but are a tad bit weak(I like a little more boom).

Has anyone loaded this combination in a .44 Magnum? I have read that you don't want to use a charge for 240gr SJHP or SJSP bullets.

I have been reading that some suggest 13.0 gr of powder but they have never dropped it.

If you go to Hodgdon website for 240gr LSWC, they say Maximum Load is 13.4 gr, but don't give a starting load. What gives?

Thanks.
 
Whenever one load is given, that is a maximum load. Reduce it by 10% for a starting load.

FWIW and an aside; I tell new reloaders to pay very little attention to any load data they see from any forum expert, range rat, gun counter clerk, pet loads website, or gun shop guru. They may just trying to be helpful, but just smile,say thanks and find load data in a published reloading manual, or powder manufacturer's website. Start with "starting loads" (they are called that for a reason) and work up. For a new reloader that is the safest and easiest method (and I've been doing it that way for 30+ years).

Go slow, double check everything, and most important, have fun...
 
What MDI said. Start at 11.7 (10% below max) and work up. I reloaded a lot of .357 and .44 with 800x during the powder shortage and had surprisingly good results. It meters horribly so I dipped them all by hand but they made for some very accurate loads.

For myself, I found the best accuracy at max loads for both .357 and .44 but start low and work up.
 
From the Hodgdon reloading website:

Case: Winchester
Twist: 1:20"
Primer: Remington 2 1/2, Large Pistol
Barrel Length: 8.275"
Trim Length: 1.280"

240gr LSWC cast bullet:
Manufacturer: Hodgdon
Powder: 800-X
Bullet Dia.: .430"
C.O.L.: 1.620"

Maximum Load Data
Powder usage: 13.4gr
Velocity: 1,395ft/s
Pressure: 39,600 CUP
Click to expand...

Now seeing that 13.4gr is the maximum, I should use 12.06gr (10% less) as a starting point. I will load a few rounds using the lower charge and see how it works.
 
stchman said:
From the Hodgdon reloading website:



Now seeing that 13.4gr is the maximum, I should use 12.06gr (10% less) as a starting point. I will load a few rounds using the lower charge and see how it works.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is correct. .90% of 13.4 is 12.06 grains. You can risk it and go with 12.1 grains:)

From the Hodgdon site even though 800x is not the slowest burning of the mag powders it does seem to produce some darn good velocity!. Have not used it myself but is listed as a good choice!
 
800-x is a very coarse powder. If you are loading to decimal points, you might want to weigh the charges by hand for a dozen test rounds. Then think about what powder measure can give reasonably consistent powder drops.
 
RealGun said:
800-x is a very coarse powder. If you are loading to decimal points, you might want to weigh the charges by hand for a dozen test rounds. Then think about what powder measure can give reasonably consistent powder drops.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to be loading thousands of rounds so I will measure by hand. I'm planning on loading 50 here and 50 there.
 
"...don't want to use a charge for 240gr SJHP..." Absolutely not for a cast bullet. Hodgdon shows an 800X max load only for a cast 240 of 13.4. Reduce that by 10%(12.1) and you'll be fine. There is no risk involved. Velocities will be a bit less as they used an 8.275" barrel.
 
As usual there are variations in the max charge from various sources of tested data. The 13.4 grain max with a 240 lead semiwadcutter was published by Dupont before the transition to "IMR Powder" and now ownership by Hodgdon. Same source had 14.3 under a 240 jacketed for similar pressures. Hornady has a max of 14.1 under their 240gr jacketed........so we have an idea where the ceiling is for 800x in 44mag with 240grain bullets. Despite all the caterwauling about how 800X meters, it is one of my favorite powders. It is extremely versatile and delivers near top velocities in magnum handgun cartridges very economically.......however, I am not entirely comfortable trying to go to the very top velocity with a medium-slow shotgun handgun powder compared to a "slow" powder. 2400, H110 and Accurate #9 are pretty stable at the top end, By their very nature faster powders build pressures faster and can be a bit "touchy" at maximum pressures. With that said 800x seems to share the nature of Unique in igniting easily and functioning well over a broad peak pressure range .....but it is enough slower to get top velocity in the magnums....Enough personal musings, it works at the top but I find that it really shines in the middle. The loads that are WAAAY more than a 38 or 44 special. Oomfy enough that there is no doubt you touched of a magnum load but well under those gun battering, earsplitting,wrist wrenching, all that the gun was designed to tolerate loads.My 240 grain lead bullet 44 magnum charge of 800x is 11.2 grains. A 240 grain at 1100 fps is enough for almost any purpose IMO.
 
The Ruger is about the most sturdy .44 magnum there is. If you stick to loading manuals you really should not have any problem, even with max loads. Got one too..... :)
 
I gate to disagree with so many members but I have to. Alliance governing the max charge and tells you to reduce 10% for the starting load. Hodgdon on the other hand on their site provides both starting and max loads unless they don't want the charge reduced from the max. They do this a lot with Winchester Powders but of course with others in certain circumstances.

They are recommending 13.4gr 800x under that 240gr LSWC without reduction.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
I gate to disagree with so many members but I have to. Alliance governing the max charge and tells you to reduce 10% for the starting load. Hodgdon on the other hand on their site provides both starting and max loads unless they don't want the charge reduced from the max. They do this a lot with Winchester Powders but of course with others in certain circumstances.

They are recommending 13.4gr 800x under that 240gr LSWC without reduction.
Click to expand...
That seems to be projecting wisdom where there is none. Didn't Hodgdon simply offer whatever data they inherited by acquiring Winchester Powder? For the 13 or so handgun cartridges I reload, I reviewed my copies of Hodgdon and Winchester load data and found only 38 Special +p to have only one number, no min and max. I found that the Hodgdon online data center is currently not working, at least not for me.
 
I'm just telling you what read. Do with it as you see fit. I'm no expert of course but that's what Hodgdon does. Companies like Alliant only supply the max charge and leave it to you to arrive at the starting charge where Hodgdon does not.

I'm fairly sure they don't want you to reduce the .38 Special +P data either but I'm not sure of that.
 
Went to the range over the weekend and tried a .44 Magnum load with the following:

12.2gr 800X
240 LSWC
Large Pistol Primer

The round shot very well from my 10.5" SBH. It was still a bit wimpier than I like. I will try bumping up the charge to 12.6 gr.
 
stchman said:
Went to the range over the weekend and tried a .44 Magnum load with the following:

12.2gr 800X
240 LSWC
Large Pistol Primer

The round shot very well from my 10.5" SBH. It was still a bit wimpier than I like. I will try bumping up the charge to 12.6 gr.
Click to expand...
I wonder about the source of the loading and why not simply use a magnum powder in a gun like that.
 
If you want to push more power, maybe a copper clad bullet is better? I dont know, just saying. Watch for leading if you push the power/velocity.
 
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