I load the 300 grain xtp for my Dan Wesson 44 magnum (8 3\8" barrel) revolver with a maximum charge of H110 crimped at 1.600" cartridge length as per Hornadys recipe for deer hunting. I get good velocity (1125fps) and decent groups (2-3") at 50yds but keep wondering if I used the other cannalure if I would see any appreciable improvement in accuracy or velocity. Does anyone know if this may be worth pursuing and if so where to find load data for this cartridge length? The second cannalure is about .160" farther down the bullet.
Xtp 300 grain for 44 magnum load question
- Thread starter Electron
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By crimping in the second (lower) crimp groove -- and IF the resulting
OAL will still chamber in the cylinder -- you have still introduced an air
gap under the bullet which completely changes the internal/burn ballistics
of H110.
This is particularly problematical w/ 110/296 ball powders as you must
have near full case loadout for proper ignition/predictable pressures and
still stay within pressure bounds with that additional powder.
Unless you can either (a) find a reputable/published loading source w/ that
longer OAL, or (b) have/are totally comfortable w/ QuickLoad, don't do it.
OAL will still chamber in the cylinder -- you have still introduced an air
gap under the bullet which completely changes the internal/burn ballistics
of H110.
This is particularly problematical w/ 110/296 ball powders as you must
have near full case loadout for proper ignition/predictable pressures and
still stay within pressure bounds with that additional powder.
Unless you can either (a) find a reputable/published loading source w/ that
longer OAL, or (b) have/are totally comfortable w/ QuickLoad, don't do it.
The cylinder is easily long enough for the additional length. I appreciate the warning on these powders and I don't have Quick Load or experience with it. Which is why I am seeking a load data reference. The extra crimp groove has to be there for a reason.
Notwithstanding the cylinder length, it's the cylinder throat that more often limits cartridge OAL in a revolver. You might load a dummy round at 1.735"(?) and see before going any further.
If I do a 300gr XTP/HORNADY 8th ed/Max-pressure loadout for an isopressure QL comparison between 1.6" OAL and 1.735" OAL, I'm told that 10-15% add'l H110 additional can be used for about 60fps gain in a long pistol barrel.
(I'm still dumping ~15% of the powder out of the muzzle)
If I do a 300gr XTP/HORNADY 8th ed/Max-pressure loadout for an isopressure QL comparison between 1.6" OAL and 1.735" OAL, I'm told that 10-15% add'l H110 additional can be used for about 60fps gain in a long pistol barrel.
(I'm still dumping ~15% of the powder out of the muzzle)
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Cylinder length won't be a problem at all in the big Dan Wesson.
300gr jacketed bullets are really a poor choice in the .44Mag. They seat too deeply to allow enough powder capacity to get the velocity up. Which means that an already overweight bullet for deer probably won't expand anyway. So you're really better off with either a lighter jacketed bullet (~240gr) at enough velocity to expand or a 300gr LBT. The LBT can be pushed 1200 to nearly 1400fps, produce a massive wound channel and exit every time.
300gr jacketed bullets are really a poor choice in the .44Mag. They seat too deeply to allow enough powder capacity to get the velocity up. Which means that an already overweight bullet for deer probably won't expand anyway. So you're really better off with either a lighter jacketed bullet (~240gr) at enough velocity to expand or a 300gr LBT. The LBT can be pushed 1200 to nearly 1400fps, produce a massive wound channel and exit every time.
I will seat a dummy load asap but I guess 60 fps gain would only interest me if I saw an accuracy gain or some other significate advantage. So would I increase start load 10-15% and max out at the same percents? Is it possible to see changes in group size as in rifle loads?
rem1858
Member
I used to load those for my Super Redhawk.
Looked in my notes and back in 1995 I loaded the 300gr. HP/XTP(Hornady) with 17.7gr of Accurate #9 with COL of 1.595"(that would be the upper cannelure/shortest) and velocity around 1274 fps.
My notes state "good heavy load".
I know I always had one chamber that shot the best out of the other five and would use that as my first shot at game.
No notes of using the lower cannelure but still have a dummy round with the bullet crimped into the lower cannelure.
Knowing me, I only put in my notes what shot the best.
But your mileage may vary.
Hope this helps.
Looked in my notes and back in 1995 I loaded the 300gr. HP/XTP(Hornady) with 17.7gr of Accurate #9 with COL of 1.595"(that would be the upper cannelure/shortest) and velocity around 1274 fps.
My notes state "good heavy load".
I know I always had one chamber that shot the best out of the other five and would use that as my first shot at game.
No notes of using the lower cannelure but still have a dummy round with the bullet crimped into the lower cannelure.
Knowing me, I only put in my notes what shot the best.
But your mileage may vary.
Hope this helps.
rem1858
Member
LBT = Lead Bullets Technology
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