What's your favorite powder for .44 Magnum?

[texgunner]

I just started reloading for my .44 mag revolver and Marlin 1894 carbine. I also have a bunch of Hornady XTPs 240gr and Winchester 240gr JSPs. What powders are your favorites for jacketed bullets? I'm looking for plinking loads and full house boomers.

Thanks, Tex

 

[Hutch]

Full house = H110. Plinkers, any medium rate powder, like Unique or AA#5. Never had much luck with Universal Clays, but it's supposed to like Unique, but cleaner burning.

 

[ftierson]

H110 is exactly what you need, especially for a carbine...

Forrest

 

[brentwal]

W296

 

[dwave]

Another one for H110.

 

[jcjacobvt]

Same powder as I have used for the last 30 years for .45 ACP, .45 LC, 10mm, .44 mag, .40 S&W, .357 mag, .38 special, 9x19mm and .380 ACP. Bullseye.

 

[neal7250]

H-110 and never look back

 

[cottonmouth]

I'll cast a vote for 2400 in magnum loads and Unique for the mild ones.

J.B.

 

[Idano]

Yup H-110 rules for 44 mag

 

[ftierson]

Of course, keep in mind that H110 and W296 are the same powder...

Forrest

 

[depoloni]

Cast my vote for 2400.

If 50-100 extra fps (in my carbine and pistols at least) MUST be had to kill the animal for you with a LOT less flexibility and far more sensitivity, then go with H-110/W-296. It *is* my second favorite 44mag powder for full-house loads...

Oh, and second Unique as a great reduced load favorite generally. I personally like W-231 and 2400 for reduced loads but have had great success with Unique as well.

 

[Walkalong]

Aa #9

 

[Grumulkin]

I got much better accuracy with 2400 than with H110/Win. 296 in my 44 Rem. Mag.

 

[loadedround]

I guess I must be a little different than the rest of you guys but I have had a lot of success over the years with "Bluedot" for non maximum loads. If I were to load max, then I would defintely use W-W 296. JMHO.

 

[moxie]

Fairly light loads, Unique. Hot loads, 2400.

 

[Mal H]

H110 or W296 whichever is cheaper at the time when I need some more.

I've never had much need or use for plinking loads in a .44 Mag; I leave that up to "lesser" calibers.

 

[ATAShooter]

Herco, 12gr. pushing a 240 JHP. Puts 'em downtown for me ( 629 w/ 8 3/8" )

 

[gandog56]

2400

 

[bertus]

Vv N110

 

[Asherdan]

I load the XTPs as my hunting round. Same rifle as the OPs. Just below max load of 2400 runs 'em to 1750fps for me.

I've used Unique for cast and jacketed range plinkers, push em to 1350fps well under max load. Those are very easy on the shoulder and still good for 100 yard shooting. I used 'em to introduce my son to centerfire cartridges when he was ready to step up from .22lr.

I guess I like the old powders, they haven't given me reason to change.

 

[huntershooter]

H110 for "full house" loads.
2400/AA#9 and HS-7 for "toned down" loads.

 

[Hook686]

2400

 

[texgunner]

Thanks for all the replies. H110 & 2400 seem to be in the lead. I'll probably try both since I like to experiment. I already have some Unique & Bullseye on hand so I'll try those too.

Tex

 

[Snapping Twig]

I've used 2400 and BD. BD was just plain scarey and I poured it in the garden, never to darken my door again.

2400 is good, but you can get more velocity at lower pressure with heavier bullets using H110/W296, and I do.

I rarely use jacketed bullets since premium cast are easy to make and CHEAP.

So, go with H110/W296, and remember, with this powder you need a STRONG crimp, magnum primers are NOT necessary, but a consistend, strong crimp is.

 

[DEDON45]

I use H110 in full house loads... like another poster said, it doesn't make sense to me to create "plinking" .44 Mag loads, so I've not tried another powder...

Remember, with H110, do not reduce your loads below max by more than 3% (this is a warning printed in the Hodgdon manual; the loads shown in my Hornady Manual for this powder adhere to the same rule)... and, as another poster said, Magnum primers are not necessary... my testing has revealed that Magtech 2 1/2, Remington 2 1/2 primers are the most consistent (for me, in my gun), though magnum CCI primers do increase the fps a little. WLPs work fine too, though I found them to be the most inconsistent in my gun with my loads. I load all my .44Mag loads with Magtech primers, cheap and good. Oh, and definitely agree on the strong crimp... unless you like flame-cutting your top strap!