Help guessing at a velocity for 44 Mag hunting load

Smaug · November 22, 2008, 11:06 PM

I just rolled a box of deer ammo.

- Hornady 240 gr. JHP XTP
- 24.0 gr. of H110
- Winchester WLP primers
- Good crimp at the cannelure, OAL came out to 1.610", per the book.
- It will be shot out of a 7-1/2" Redhawk barrel

The Lyman book has 23.5 gr. of H110 at 1196 fps, and 24.5 at 1233 fps.
They shot it out of a Universal Receiver w/ 4" barrel. Theirs will have a better gas seal, but I've got almost twice as much barrel in which to build pressure.

I bet this is a pretty common magnum load, and I'm hoping someone here has chronographed it or something very close to it, so I can make a good guess about trajectory.

Thanks!

LHB1 · November 22, 2008, 11:40 PM

Smaug,
I would guess that 24/H110/240 JHP would give you 1450-1500 fps from a 7.5" barrel Redhawk. When comparing my loads, note that W296 and H110 are acknowledged to be the same powder marketed by two different companies.

My closest loads from 6.5" barrel S&W M629 Classic thru Oehler chrono:
23 gr/W296/240 gr Nosler JHP = 1350 fps
24 gr/W296/250 gr cast SWC = 1425 fps

Loader9 · November 23, 2008, 12:16 AM

The sierra manual shows a 7.5" Blackhawk firearm and 24.2 grs H110 gets 1400'ps with a 240 gr bullet. The bearing surface will be close to the XTP and speeds will be close.

Chuck Dye · November 23, 2008, 01:21 AM

Empirical data always beat calculated predictions. A well thought out (in advance) range session or two will give you a working knowledge of the bullet's trajectory from your gun. Shoot a group or three at a convenient near distance and a few more at a greater range, I'd go for 25 and 100 yards, then take your results into a ballistics program (on line, I like the Norma website with its sliders and define your own bullet function.) The range data will tell you how to hold for the range of a given shot, the ballistics program will give you an estimate of your muzzle velocity (sort of a field expedient chronograph.)

The Oehler Ballistic Explorer's Ammo Library lists the Hornady 240 grain XTP, catalog # 44200, as having a ballistic coefficient of 0.205. Using velocities taken from the Hornady website, the Ballistic Explorer calculates 0.207

Gun 4 Fun · November 23, 2008, 02:25 AM

Smaug -I have shot that exact load [except for the primer, cci 350] from my S&W 29-5 w/ 6"bbl. and I registered 1310 fps @ 15", on my Oehler 35P.
For what it's worth, Hodgden and most other sources recommend magnum pistol primers for use with ball powders like H-110 & 296 since they are harder to ignite. You will also get more consistant velocities, and lower extreme spreads. That last statement is according to them and verified by me.

RidgwayCO · November 23, 2008, 09:19 AM

For what it's worth, QuickLOAD predicts a velocity of 1440 fps using your data.

Smaug · November 23, 2008, 10:27 AM

I found this great ballistics calculator. It is super fast and super simple. Thought you might enjoy it.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/

Looks like a 50 yard zero would also be zero at 30 yards. Seems pretty ideal for handgun deer to me. What do you think?

Swampghost · November 23, 2008, 11:37 AM

Why can't you accept it for what you bought it for? I jacked up the loads enough to splt a cylinder on a Ruger Super Blackhawk. The gunsmith produced a few S&W's with the cylinder and topstrap blown out (S&W's weak point is to the rear) so you get to eat everything.

Want a larger round, buy it!

November 22, 2008, 11:06 PM	#1
Smaug Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 3,210	Help guessing at a velocity for 44 Mag hunting load I just rolled a box of deer ammo. - Hornady 240 gr. JHP XTP - 24.0 gr. of H110 - Winchester WLP primers - Good crimp at the cannelure, OAL came out to 1.610", per the book. - It will be shot out of a 7-1/2" Redhawk barrel The Lyman book has 23.5 gr. of H110 at 1196 fps, and 24.5 at 1233 fps. They shot it out of a Universal Receiver w/ 4" barrel. Theirs will have a better gas seal, but I've got almost twice as much barrel in which to build pressure. I bet this is a pretty common magnum load, and I'm hoping someone here has chronographed it or something very close to it, so I can make a good guess about trajectory. Thanks! __________________ -Jeremy "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." - Eric Hoffer

November 22, 2008, 11:40 PM	#2
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Smaug, I would guess that 24/H110/240 JHP would give you 1450-1500 fps from a 7.5" barrel Redhawk. When comparing my loads, note that W296 and H110 are acknowledged to be the same powder marketed by two different companies. My closest loads from 6.5" barrel S&W M629 Classic thru Oehler chrono: 23 gr/W296/240 gr Nosler JHP = 1350 fps 24 gr/W296/250 gr cast SWC = 1425 fps __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

November 23, 2008, 01:21 AM	#4
Chuck Dye Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2002 Location: Oregon-The wet side. Posts: 949	Empirical data always beat calculated predictions. A well thought out (in advance) range session or two will give you a working knowledge of the bullet's trajectory from your gun. Shoot a group or three at a convenient near distance and a few more at a greater range, I'd go for 25 and 100 yards, then take your results into a ballistics program (on line, I like the Norma website with its sliders and define your own bullet function.) The range data will tell you how to hold for the range of a given shot, the ballistics program will give you an estimate of your muzzle velocity (sort of a field expedient chronograph.) The Oehler Ballistic Explorer's Ammo Library lists the Hornady 240 grain XTP, catalog # 44200, as having a ballistic coefficient of 0.205. Using velocities taken from the Hornady website, the Ballistic Explorer calculates 0.207 __________________ Gee, I'd love to see your data!

November 23, 2008, 11:37 AM	#8
Swampghost Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: Florida, east coast Posts: 2,106	Why can't you accept it for what you bought it for? I jacked up the loads enough to splt a cylinder on a Ruger Super Blackhawk. The gunsmith produced a few S&W's with the cylinder and topstrap blown out (S&W's weak point is to the rear) so you get to eat everything. Want a larger round, buy it! __________________ NRA Patron Member

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November 23, 2008, 12:16 AM	#3
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	The sierra manual shows a 7.5" Blackhawk firearm and 24.2 grs H110 gets 1400'ps with a 240 gr bullet. The bearing surface will be close to the XTP and speeds will be close.

November 23, 2008, 02:25 AM	#5
Gun 4 Fun Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2008 Posts: 956	Smaug -I have shot that exact load [except for the primer, cci 350] from my S&W 29-5 w/ 6"bbl. and I registered 1310 fps @ 15", on my Oehler 35P. For what it's worth, Hodgden and most other sources recommend magnum pistol primers for use with ball powders like H-110 & 296 since they are harder to ignite. You will also get more consistant velocities, and lower extreme spreads. That last statement is according to them and verified by me.

November 23, 2008, 09:19 AM	#6
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	For what it's worth, QuickLOAD predicts a velocity of 1440 fps using your data.