The Firing Line Forums

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

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 26, 2011, 05:14 PM   #1
IGO1320
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 15, 2008
Posts: 112
.44 Mag Hunting Load suggestions

I have a .44 Mag Ruger Super Redhawk 9.5" Barrelled Revolver that I want to work up a deer load for. I have been shooting 180 GR. JSP Remington loads with great success and accuracy with it. I am looking for a recomondation for a simmilar load so that I don't have to buy a bunch of powders to find the right combination. Anyone have any suggestions? I have been reloading for many years but only have been doing .40, 9mm, and .45's. I don't think the powders I have been using for those loads will work.
IGO1320 is offline  
Old March 26, 2011, 05:50 PM   #2
TGReaper
Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2011
Location: Canada EH
Posts: 49
The 180 gr. Sierra Jacketed H.P. ahead of 26 gr.of 2400 works well out of my 7.5 in Redhawk for metallic silhouette out to 200 m. It also works well on white tail deer within reasonable pistol range. ** This load is only one grain below Sierra recommended max.approach with caution**
This chrono's at 1665 fps. out of the 7.5 WW large pistol primers.
__________________
I got no friends,I don't gotta be nice to nobody.
TGReaper is offline  
Old March 26, 2011, 07:57 PM   #3
.284
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 8, 2009
Location: davison, michigan
Posts: 665
26 grs. of Lil Gun under your 180 gr. bullet should do just fine.
__________________
Guns have only two enemies, rust and politicians!

Deer are amazing creatures....so please don't burn the sauteed onions and I'll pass on the steak sauce, thank you.
.284 is offline  
Old March 26, 2011, 08:17 PM   #4
bluetopper
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 16, 2005
Location: Northeast TX
Posts: 1,197
31.5gr of H110 behind a 180gr jacketed bullet will get your attention. 27gr of AA4100 is maybe the most accurate I've tried.
There are other good ones, but 2400, AA4100, and H110 perform magnificently in all bullet weights in the 44 Magnum. H110 does not take to downloading however.
Also, everyone has their opinions, but I would avoid Lil Gun powder.

Last edited by bluetopper; March 26, 2011 at 08:22 PM.
bluetopper is offline  
Old March 26, 2011, 10:17 PM   #5
olddav
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 21, 2008
Location: Lower Alabama
Posts: 727
21.4 grains of IMR 4247 capped with Speers 240 grain gold dot softpoint.
Works well in my S&W 629 (4" barrel) and a friends Ruger Super Blackhawk (10" barrel).
__________________
Never beat your head against the wall with out a helmet
olddav is offline  
Old March 26, 2011, 11:46 PM   #6
Steve in PA
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 1999
Location: Northeastern PA
Posts: 755
24gr of H110 under 240gr HP-XTP's has been my standard SRH hunting load for years.

For black bear I bump it up to 300gr HP-XTP's over 20gr of H110.
__________________
Steve
Steve in PA is offline  
Old March 27, 2011, 09:46 AM   #7
oneoldsap
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 16, 2009
Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont
Posts: 1,602
Steve , which cannelure do you seat to with the 300XTPs . I have a load that's 20Gr. W-296 with the 300 XTP , I seat to the bottom cannelure . It's an excellent load for Deer and Bear . That's a real hot load and shouldn't be used in any Revolvers But the Rugers and Freedom Arms . If seated to the bottom Cannelure they won't chamber in a Smith Mod. 29 , which is a good thing !
oneoldsap is offline  
Old March 27, 2011, 10:07 AM   #8
jeepster11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 3, 2008
Location: fairborn ohio
Posts: 175
i have used

either 200 or 240 grain hornady xtps with h110 with no issues i use h110 in all my magnum loads. like 460 smith 44mag .357 and 454 cassull.
jeepster11 is offline  
Old March 27, 2011, 05:15 PM   #9
grubbylabs
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 11, 2009
Location: Hansen Idaho
Posts: 1,465
I think you would like the 270 grain Speer JSP over a good magnum powder like 4227 or W296
__________________
* (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! *

Nope, the old nag's still dead .
(Capt Charlie)
grubbylabs is offline  
Old March 27, 2011, 05:39 PM   #10
PawPaw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2010
Location: Central Louisiana
Posts: 3,137
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Probably the most recommended load in the world for .44 magnum is a 240-250 grain hardcast semi-wadcutter bullet over 22 grains of Alliant 2400. Alliant doesn't list this recipe anymore, preferring to limit the powder weight to 20 grains. This was Elmer Keith's preferred load for the pistol, but powder changes over time. Maybe 2400 is a little more energetic than it used to be, maybe not.

Personally, I find that a 240 grain cast bullet over 19 grains of 2400 gives me 1345 fps out of my Ruger and it's become my standard load for that revolver. It's very accurate and when you drop the hammer you know that you've got a magnum in your hands.

2400 is an excellent powder for the .44 magnum. It's the one I've settled on and used for a long time. I'm to the point now where I only have one load for the .44 magnum and one load for the .44 special. It uses Unique.
__________________
Dennis Dezendorf

http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com
PawPaw is offline  
Old March 27, 2011, 06:00 PM   #11
Ozzieman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 14, 2004
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 6,117
I’m with PawPaw on the big lead slugs. What I use for both my Super Blackhawk and my Ruger 77/44 are 320 GR SSK's from Penn Bullets.
You need to be smart on the bullet drop but it’s an amazingly accurate round.
I want penetration with as little damage to the meat as possible. These big elephants don’t do much meat damage but the energy drops them in their tracks.

http://www.pennbullets.com/44/44-caliber.html
Ozzieman is offline  
Old March 27, 2011, 06:12 PM   #12
PawPaw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2010
Location: Central Louisiana
Posts: 3,137
Quote:
I want penetration with as little damage to the meat as possible. These big elephants don’t do much meat damage but the energy drops them in their tracks.
That's the beauty of hard-cast lead bullets at normal velocities. They don't expand and do tissue damage, they simply make a big hole going in and coming out, they let a lot of blood out. But, you can eat right up to the hole.
__________________
Dennis Dezendorf

http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com
PawPaw is offline  
Old March 27, 2011, 08:33 PM   #13
GeauxTide
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: Helena, AL
Posts: 4,415
I've had great success with 240JSP Remingtons. They are as cheap as hard cast bullets, and under the appropriate charge of H-110/296 that is lit with Mag primers, will shoot through any deer to 100 yards.
GeauxTide is offline  
Old March 28, 2011, 10:19 PM   #14
IGO1320
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 15, 2008
Posts: 112
load tried

I loaded 200gr Hornaday JHP, 28gr of 296, Winchester magnum primer, and used 1.610 OAL (bullet crimped at the just a few thousands below the very top of cant.)

This was stuff I had laying around and the accuracy was a little better than my friends loads but still not quite as good as the factory load tested so far ( yes I checked back to back to back to back. Results were very consistant. Cases looked good with no signs of deformation, splitting, or primer movement. Load shot high of stock loads so velocity is down some, of course the bullet is heavier. I could try increasing the powder and maybe tightening up the crimp a little more? What have some of you who use the 296 use for powder and crimp type?

If I can't work this out to my satisfaction I guess I will pick another powder to try. I want to stay with the jacketed bullets but I may go ahead and buy some of the Remmington 180 JFP bullets work up a load with that since I like the factory performance and just want to be able to load my own.

I appreciate all suggestions and if I do not use yours do not take it personally it is not a sign that I don't value your opinion, just a lot of different options and you have to pick a route. Thank you again and keep the suggestions comming.
IGO1320 is offline  
Old March 29, 2011, 07:43 PM   #15
Ozzieman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 14, 2004
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 6,117
Use what your happy with, but why do you want the little zippers?
The reason I use big thumpers is that those small light rounds are made primarily as people stoppers.
That is they expand very rapidly. It’s been tested and proven that jacketed hollow points open to their maximum within the first couple of inches of travel and do the most internal damage.
They will work deer, no doubt and probably be more accurate due to less bullet drop at the same range. But having seen what 180 HP’s do to the inside of a deer at 75 yards and how much meat they can destroy got me to give them up for deer.
But that is one nice thing about the 44 mag. You can shoot everything from 180’s to 350’s.
Ozzieman is offline  
Old March 29, 2011, 07:59 PM   #16
bedlamite
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 10, 2000
Location: WI
Posts: 1,395
Quote:
24gr of H110 under 240gr HP-XTP's has been my standard SRH hunting load for years.
This.
__________________
A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.
bedlamite is offline  
Old March 31, 2011, 12:17 AM   #17
ipscchef
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 1, 2008
Location: South Central Pa.
Posts: 427
PawPaw, I love it!

The beauty of the .44 Mag is that you have so many choices, as Ozzieman pointed out. But I agree with him and PawPaw, my "go to load" is a 250gr. Keith bullet from Leadhead bullets, (www.proshootpro) with enough H-110 to go about 1350fps. out of my old 7.5" three screw Blackhawk. It is cheap to load, really accurate out of my gun, and will go straight through a Musk Ox front to back at 90 yards.
And as PawPaw said, you can eat right up to the hole!!. I love that line,Paw!:
But whatever you choose it is hard to go wrong with any suitable bullet in any .44 Mag
I just prefer the hard cast Keith bullets, after all, Ol' Elmer knew a thing or two about .44's and how to design bullets!
JMHO, and as always, YMMV
Willy
__________________
Don' keep shooting them until you think they are dead, Keep shooting them until they think they are dead.- Clint Smith
ipscchef is offline  
Old March 31, 2011, 11:09 AM   #18
Doodlebugger45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 15, 2009
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,717
I played around a couple times with the light bullets for .44 mag, but I always come back to 240-250 gr for the best accuracy at near-max loads. I have better guns if I want a heavier bullet than that. It just seems that weight range is the perfect fit for a .44 mag. As for powders, I love to tinker around with them. When I get to near-max levels, I have always had good luck with nearly all of the slower powders. W-296, Enforcer, AA9, IMR4227, and 2400 have all worked pretty well. I didn't have much luck with Lil Gun but that was the only one. I don't care much for any kind of hollow point. I like hard cast the best, but some of the JSP are OK as long as the jacket goes nearly all the way to the tip.
Doodlebugger45 is offline  
Old March 31, 2011, 11:29 AM   #19
zxcvbob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2007
Location: S.E. Minnesota
Posts: 4,720
What powders do you have? Loading those cartridges, you might have Herco, WSF, HS6, AA7, or Blue Dot already. Any of those will give you a decent high-powered load in a .44 (not the highest possible velocity, but on up there pretty good, and accurate)
__________________
"Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth
zxcvbob is offline  
Old April 1, 2011, 05:37 PM   #20
LOLBELL
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 4, 2010
Location: Fayette AL
Posts: 226
240grn XTP and 23 grns of IMR 4227 out of a SBH Bisley Hunter dropped 3 Alabama whitetails in their tracks this season.
__________________
Don't squat with your spurs on!!

Last edited by LOLBELL; April 1, 2011 at 05:39 PM. Reason: spelling
LOLBELL is offline  
Old April 3, 2011, 11:24 AM   #21
IGO1320
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 15, 2008
Posts: 112
Bullets

I am going to use a semi/jacketed lead bullet, I was just playing with weight and powder's that I had to see how it affected the accuracy, my buddies loads were not very accurate. The off the shelf remingtons I got from Walmart and Gander were much better and they were in the 180 JSP configuration. I agree with all about using the hollow point did not intend on that, just trying to see if my buddie's problem is the load being too light and how the amount of powder effects/can effect the accuracy. Sorry for the confusion. Back to the original question as too how much powder 296 do some of you use with a light bullet in .44 mag with a Super Redhawk?
IGO1320 is offline  
Old April 4, 2011, 11:35 AM   #22
tim s
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 8, 2011
Posts: 223
The Keith style bullet shoots well/ performs well. I've always loaded 240 grain hard cast gas check Keith type bullet over 2400 in my 6 1/2" S&W 29.
tim s is offline  
Old April 4, 2011, 01:15 PM   #23
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,401
180 gr Sierra HP, 20 gr AA #7, seated to cannelure.
They're moving along nicely, out of my 7.5" Blackhawk, and are more accurate than I.

On the flip side of that, is my hunting load for close-range shots on light game (25 yards or less - antelope, small deer):
Hornady 240 gr LSWC, 6.3 gr Titegroup, 1.600" OAL.
They're only doing about 930 fps, but it's plenty of power for antelope and whitetails (and the BHN 9-10 bullets will expand).


H110/W296, 4227, Lil Gun, and similar powders are probably where you'll want to start, if you're looking to get a jacketed bullet moving at a max velocity.
Double check the availability of data, before you buy the powder.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old April 4, 2011, 01:42 PM   #24
sc928porsche
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2008
Location: now living in alabama
Posts: 2,433
I am quite fond of the 255gr keith backed by 21 gr of W296 and CCI mag primer. Alloy is 4 parts wheel weight and 1 part linotype. Hornady are my gas checks and Red Rooster is applied with heated sizer @ .430.

Very accurate out of my 7 1/2 SBH and quite effective on deer (3) and one brown bear.
__________________
No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.
sc928porsche is offline  
Old April 4, 2011, 03:47 PM   #25
Poodleshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 7, 2000
Location: Floating down the James River in VA
Posts: 2,599
Quote:
Use what your happy with, but why do you want the little zippers?
I can't use the 300+gr bullets very effectively.
In my 7.5 SBH, I run out of elevation adjustment getting my 300gr Lee RNFPGC loads on target at 25-50yds. They still hit way high with the stock sight unless I drop their speed considerably.
I'm switching to a 240gr cast bullet this year to alleviate that problem.
Poodleshooter 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 02:50 PM.


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 0.13549 seconds with 10 queries