Conservative load data for Hornady FTX 44 Mag

tranders · March 12, 2016, 03:26 PM

My Dad likes the FTX in his Ruger 44 mag deer rifle. I told him to get the projectiles and I would load some ammo for him. Bought some H110 for powder and noticed on the Hodgdon site the data is conservation compared to comparable weight standard JHPs.
Max load for the 225 grain FTX with H110 is 21.5 grains compared to Speers 225 grain JHP is 25 grains with H110.
I have no intent to go above what Hodgdon says to use,but just curious as to why so much lighter loads for the FTX?

Thanks !

SSA · March 12, 2016, 04:30 PM

It's a longer bullet, so it seats deeper, and there's less case capacity. Might even need a shorter case to seat to the cannelure for a revolver. Less case capacity means lower charge weight or higher pressure.

rg1 · March 12, 2016, 09:04 PM

Hornady in the rifle section says start at 14.9 grains of H110 for 1300 fps. and maximum at 20.6 for 1650 fps. Hornady 9th tested with Hornady cases, WLP primer, 18" Ruger Carbine. In the pistol section they start at 16.4 and a max at 20.7. Note that you HAVE to trim 44 mag cases to a length of 1.255" using the 225 grain FTX bullet.
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/6873...questions.html

March 12, 2016, 03:26 PM	#1
tranders Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 233	Conservative load data for Hornady FTX 44 Mag My Dad likes the FTX in his Ruger 44 mag deer rifle. I told him to get the projectiles and I would load some ammo for him. Bought some H110 for powder and noticed on the Hodgdon site the data is conservation compared to comparable weight standard JHPs. Max load for the 225 grain FTX with H110 is 21.5 grains compared to Speers 225 grain JHP is 25 grains with H110. I have no intent to go above what Hodgdon says to use,but just curious as to why so much lighter loads for the FTX? Thanks !

March 12, 2016, 09:04 PM	#3
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	Hornady in the rifle section says start at 14.9 grains of H110 for 1300 fps. and maximum at 20.6 for 1650 fps. Hornady 9th tested with Hornady cases, WLP primer, 18" Ruger Carbine. In the pistol section they start at 16.4 and a max at 20.7. Note that you HAVE to trim 44 mag cases to a length of 1.255" using the 225 grain FTX bullet. http://rugerforum.net/reloading/6873...questions.html Last edited by rg1; March 12, 2016 at 09:10 PM.

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March 12, 2016, 04:30 PM	#2
SSA Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Posts: 641	It's a longer bullet, so it seats deeper, and there's less case capacity. Might even need a shorter case to seat to the cannelure for a revolver. Less case capacity means lower charge weight or higher pressure.