The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 11, 2007, 09:48 AM   #1
bangbig
Junior Member
 
Join Date: September 11, 2007
Posts: 2
Anyone using "new" powders in .44 mag?

Who is NOT using 2400, 4227, etc? Anybody???

I'm just looking to change things up a bit without sacrificing accuracey.

Shooting an 8 3/8 629 with 240 SWC's at near max velocities.

Nice site by the way!
bangbig is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 10:13 AM   #2
Brian-M
Junior Member
 
Join Date: September 9, 2005
Posts: 4
Power Pistol load for 44 Mag

Power Pistol load for 44 Mag using 200 gr Nosler JHP. 12.4 grams yields 1205 fps from 4" S&W. Mild recoil and very accurate.
Brian-M is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 10:18 AM   #3
TATER
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2002
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 963
Ww-296
TATER is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 10:54 AM   #4
LHB1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 25, 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,545
I use Win 296 in my full power .44 mag loads. Works GREAT!! Excellent velocity and accuracy. Also meters very easily and consistently.

Note that H-110 and W296 are supposed to be the SAME powder, made by one company and marketed under two different names by different companies.
Thus H-110 will also work very well.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
LHB1 is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 11:20 AM   #5
Sevens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 28, 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 11,755
Quote:
12.4 grams yields 1205 fps from 4" S&W
12.4 grams would likely yield shredded metal in many directions!
Yeah, I know you meant grains.
__________________
Attention Brass rats and other reloaders: I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.
Sevens is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 12:28 PM   #6
The Tourist
Junior member
 
Join Date: June 20, 2005
Posts: 2,348
I have over 60 pounds of Alcan AL-8.

I find it a direct replacement for Alliant (Hercules) Blue Dot. And it burns very clean.

The particles are a bit chunky, so sometimes it meters out hard. But thats about the only drawback I know.
The Tourist is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 06:59 PM   #7
Scorch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
Quote:
Anyone using "new" powders in .44 mag?
Quote:
I find it a direct replacement for Alliant (Hercules) Blue Dot.
Too funny! I use Blue Dot. I have used Blue Dot for 30 years. I have tried WW296, H110, 2400, 4227, but I keep going back to Blue Dot. Why? Very consistent velocities, easy cleanup, easy metering, no giant fireball out the muzzle. Who said newer is better?
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs.
But what do I know?
Summit Arms Services
Scorch is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 07:17 PM   #8
Trapp
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 2004
Location: KTN
Posts: 1,221
I just started using hs-7 (discontinued)

I am getting 1280 +or- 15 fps with 240gr XTP's

I guess it's not "new" powder being discontinued and all..........
__________________
HDR Ban!?
It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week...
Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise
Trapp is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 07:19 PM   #9
Mr.RevolverGuy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 24, 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 984
Scorch I am with you here. I just can't find anything better than Blue Dot. Though HS-6 worked well and very clean and accurate I felt it was to much of a spread between rounds, and I know it did not come from metering becuase the first 20 was all hand trickled.
Mr.RevolverGuy is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 09:31 PM   #10
Linear Thinker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 10, 2007
Location: Blue State, NE US
Posts: 202
Accurate #9 is my choice, I was able to get higher velocities with Nosler 240gr JHPs than with Blue Dot.
Tried and rejected the Ramshot Enforcer, the velocities were nowhere near their published data, even out of a 10" SBH.
LT
Linear Thinker is offline  
Old September 11, 2007, 09:46 PM   #11
amamnn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 13, 2006
Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA
Posts: 1,323
Hodgon Lil Gun
__________________
"If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal
amamnn is offline  
Old September 12, 2007, 09:33 AM   #12
bangbig
Junior Member
 
Join Date: September 11, 2007
Posts: 2
Thanks for all the input.

I guess I may try some different powders, although maybe not "new" ones. Maybe I should have titled this thread - What's the most accurate powder you've found for 44mag. I just assumed they wouldn't have introduced new powders if there is no improvement in performance. Shame on me.

I'm looking to squeeze out a tighter group with the 240 grainers if possible. I will only shoot paper or deer with this load. The 4227 and WLP primer compbo is pretty accurate, but I feel there is room for improvement however small it may be.

If it's dirty or lights up the sky makes no difference to me. Nor does an extra 100 fps one way or the other. I want to put 6 shots in one ragged hole @ 50 yrds. Yea, that may be stretching it a bit, but you get the point.

Scorch and Mrrevolverguy, is blue dot also the most accurate of the powders you say you tried?
bangbig is offline  
Old September 12, 2007, 11:45 AM   #13
moxie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 17, 2006
Location: TX
Posts: 513
I've had very good results using Unique for relatively

low power loads. Not a new powder though. I use 2400 for the hot ones.
__________________
If you want to shoot...shoot...don't talk! Tuco

USAF Munitions 1969-1992
RVN 1972-1973
moxie is offline  
Old September 12, 2007, 02:41 PM   #14
Scorch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
Quote:
Scorch and Mrrevolverguy, is blue dot also the most accurate of the powders you say you tried?
Most consistent velocities, gives very good accuracy. As for most accurate, the main thing that affects accuracy in my handguns is the loose nut on the handle (me). I have shot some very impressive groups with my 44 Mag at 50 yds that people swore were fired from a rest.

I have also shot some "shotgun" groups at 50 yds, but we won't go there.
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs.
But what do I know?
Summit Arms Services
Scorch is offline  
Old September 12, 2007, 03:06 PM   #15
Michaelm45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 28, 2004
Location: NV
Posts: 215
Try some WW-296
Lots of good powders here. Buy a few cans and see which one you like.
Michaelm45 is offline  
Old September 14, 2007, 02:58 PM   #16
tkcomer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 23, 2006
Location: Maysville, KY
Posts: 200
Ramshot's True Blue for me. First, it's a tad more accurate than the 4227 I was using and two, the gun is amazingly clean after I'm done. Then again, I shoot lead bullets, so no high power loads.
tkcomer is offline  
Old September 14, 2007, 06:49 PM   #17
rugerdude29
Member
 
Join Date: August 21, 2007
Location: Stillmore, GA
Posts: 41
Have used several powders in .44 Mag., but always come back to 2400. It doesn't always give the top velocities, but it always gives the best, or close to best, accuracy (out of my gun anyway). I use 20.5 grains of 2400 under a 240 grain XTP. It is a little on the warm side, but it gives fantastic accuracy out of my Bisley and I use it sparingly.
__________________
"Ignorance is curable, but Stupid is forever!"
-Granddad
rugerdude29 is offline  
Old November 7, 2007, 08:23 PM   #18
[email protected]
Junior Member
 
Join Date: November 7, 2007
Posts: 3
So what is everyone using for Blue Dot loads?

I loaded 15.0 grains under a 240 hornady xtp and got 1297 fps out of my 6.5 inch model 29 S&W with an ES of 29 for a 6 shot group.

someone please give me some data for blue dot and 44 mag.

i have most of the books, so i would rather hear what people are actually using for loads in the real world not just what the book says etc.

i would pefer max hunting loads

thanks

kurt
goatboy_k@yahoo.com is offline  
Old November 7, 2007, 09:33 PM   #19
Edward429451
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 12, 2000
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 9,494
Quote:
loaded 15.0 grains under a 240 hornady xtp and got 1297 fps out of my 6.5 inch model 29 S&W with an ES of 29 for a 6 shot group.
But, what the heck is wrong with that load? Sounds real consistent.
Edward429451 is offline  
Old November 7, 2007, 09:34 PM   #20
[email protected]
Junior Member
 
Join Date: November 7, 2007
Posts: 3
well yes, i was just wondering what everyone else is doing with blue dot.
goatboy_k@yahoo.com is offline  
Old November 8, 2007, 07:09 PM   #21
VaFisher
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2006
Posts: 596
800X

RCBS rep is recomending 800X for the 44 their digital dispensing unit from what I heard from a friend. Shot some of his loads and the were lite compared to some, he like it anyway.
VaFisher is offline  
Old November 9, 2007, 01:09 AM   #22
Hook686
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 22, 2005
Location: USA The Great State of California
Posts: 2,090
I recently got some W296, for loading .30 carbine. It is so fine, makes such a mess for me, that I really do not like it. My favorite powder is Alliant 2400. Does nice in my .357 magnum, .44 magnum and .30 carbine. Currently I am using the W296 in the magnums, hoping to get through it quickly ... then back to GOOD OLD 2400 !
__________________
Hook686

When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides.
Hook686 is offline  
Old November 9, 2007, 09:58 AM   #23
DMZX
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 6, 2007
Location: E. Oregon
Posts: 563
20 some years ago I had a bad experience with Blue Dot in my .44 Mag (Virginian Dragoon).

I had been using 4227 and H110 and decided to try some Blue Dot.

Using my Speer manual #10, I started with the minimum recommended load 16.2 gr (under a 240 gr JSWC) and loaded 10 rounds.

I took them out to the range the next day and fired one. I noticed the recoil and muzzle blast was significantly greater than anything I had ever used before. I fired a second one and bruised my hand, so I stopped and emptied the cylinder.

The two fired cases did not extract easily and showed badly flattened primers that were blackened and pierced. I was glad that my Interarms Dragoon was known for it's quality and strength, at that time.

I disposed of the rest of those rounds, made a note in my Speer manual (which I still have and use), and never used Blue Dot again for anything (even though I had a great load using it for my M1 Carbine).

2400 is my go to powder for .357 and .44 Mag loads these days.
DMZX is offline  
Old November 9, 2007, 10:29 AM   #24
tyrajam
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 467
I've loaded up some V-110 and some Lil'gun for my 44, and both are giving me good accuracy and great velocity.
tyrajam is offline  
Old November 9, 2007, 11:16 AM   #25
SL1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 8, 2007
Posts: 2,001
DMZX ,

You wrote that you got an obvious overload in your 44 mag using the start load for Blue Dot for the Speer JSWC bullet in the Speer #10 manual. You concluded that the problem was the powder.

I had a similar but less severe experience with a Speer JSWC in .357 mag using the data from the same manual, but 2400 or 296 powder (I don't remember which at the moment). I concluded the problem was the bullet and load data, not the powder.

In your case, the Speer #10 manual data is listed as the same for the JSWC as for the JHP and JSP of the same weight, but you can see by the illustrations on the page (p382) that the JSWC leaves less space in the case when loaded and crimped. So, it should be expected to create more pressure. I was surprised to see the same data listed for both types of bullets. In my case (.357 mag), there were no comparable weight bullets (146 gr) of different design to illustrate that situation.

Speer's maunal #14 does not list data for the 240 gr JSWC any more, but they do list the old JHPs and Gold Dots together. The listed loads are only slightly reduced for 296 (24.0 vs 24.7) and 2400 (21 gr max vs 22.2 gr), and we are told that the new 2400 is slightly faster than the old 2400. But the Blue Dot loads are reduced much more (13.7 max vs 17.2 max). So, I suspect the #10 manual data was too hot to begin with and the use of JSP data with the JSWC bullets made it worse. Since the new manual is establishing pressures at 36,000 psi with the 13.7 gr of Blue Dot under 240 gr JSP bullets, I can only guesstimate that your 16.2 gr load under a bullet leaving less powder space gave something over 50,000 psi! Good thing you used a strong gun!

Speer's #10 manual has long been noted as having some unusually hot loads, and I treat that data very carefully.

Strangely, although the new #14 manual has much tamer loads for many cartridges, there are still some eye popper loads in the new one. For example, they list 28 gr of AA1680 as max for their 123 gr bullet in the 7.62 x 39 cartidge, whereas Accurate Powders manual lists the maximums as only 25.5 gr for the "Speer 125 gr bullet" (?, probably a .308' bullet instead of a .311" bullet), both with pressures around 48,500 cup. Go figure (and be careful how you figure)!

SL1

Last edited by SL1; November 10, 2007 at 09:35 PM. Reason: correcting error
SL1 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07908 seconds with 8 queries