The best 44 rem mag powder

[Edward429451]

I have to ask the question that no one has asked. What is your barrel length?

It matters some. Shorter barrels like fast powder, longer barrels like slow powder generally speaking. I use 2400 a lot because it loves my 7.5" barrels.

[Jumping Frog]

Originally Posted by zxcvbob

Those "max loads" for Alliant powders must be from their latest catalog

Yep, we all know loads have lightened over the years as the lawyers have wreaked their damage! Compare a Speers reloading book from 25 years ago to their loads today.

You are right, the loads are the current published loads found online at Alliant Powder Reload Recipes.

[AlaskaMike]

I have to ask the question that no one has asked. What is your barrel length?

It matters some. Shorter barrels like fast powder, longer barrels like slow powder generally speaking. I use 2400 a lot because it loves my 7.5" barrels.

In my experience it's mostly irrelevant. When talking about velocity, the powder that makes the best velocity in a long barrel will generally also make the best velocity in the same type of gun with a short barrel. When talking about accuracy, there are many other barrel characteristics which could equally be responsible for an increase or decrease in accuracy besides length.

Now, if a guy had a short barreled gun and didn't want the blast and flash associated with slow powders, that's a perfectly valid reason for using faster powders. But that's more the shooter liking the faster powder than the gun liking the faster powder.

Mike

[scottrussell]

i also just started reloading my 44 mag ruger super redhawk. i have gone thru 175 rounds of xtp 240's loaded with 20.7 grains of H110 and cci 300 primers. excellant load but boderline light for the powder and i am changing to magnum primers due lot of forums like this advising it for safty reasons with this particular powder. I have also loaded 150 rounds of trailboss at 7.3 grains pushing a 240 gr. lswc..very fun and light load...getting some 300 gr. xtps for working up a mean hog round.

[sk330lc]

2400 x2

[WESHOOT2]

For 'regular' ammo I use Universal; also used in my Major PF load ('cause I use my 44 Redhawk for USPSA; I use Universal in my 357 Redhawk Major PF loads, 'cause I use that one, too).

For heavy-bullet rip-snortin' hairy-chested manly loads I have 2400, AA9, N110, H110, and W296.
My W296 is old, and is W296.

But if forced to choose ONE I'd pick AA9.
For its accuracy.....

Two? Universal and AA9.
For the accuracy.....

[shooter_from_show-me]

for me I like and so does the gun it would have to be Titegroup. 9.2 gr behind a 240 gr lead bullet from Missouri Bullet Co.

[Rifleman1776]

I may be selling my beloved Ruger Redhawk .44 mag. today because physical limitations will not allow me to shoot it anymore. I loaded a lot of ammo for it for years. There is no 'best' powder. Each has it's own qualities. Do read the loading manuals and test your loads. Testing is expensive but, hey, it is shooting and that is fun. When active shooting slowed down I did settle on a single all-around powder, and that is H110.

[shooter1911]

Although everyone has said about all there is to be said about loading 44s, I'll add my .02. I have been loading 44s for about 20 years for a 5 1/2 in SBH, and a 4 in S&W 629 Mountain Gun. All of my needs have been met by using 2400, W296/H110, and Unique. As soon as my can of 2400 is gone I'll stick with W296/H110 and Unique. For the most fun you can have with your 44 don't forget to load some 240/250gr lead in 44 Specials with a light load of Unique. Don't just try to load the hottest 44 Magnum you can. That ruins all the fun.

Good Luck, and be careful when loading.

[budman46]

plaz,

from other postings, i see you're interested in cast bullet loads for 9mm, .44 mag and .45 acp. adding jumping frog's data, i'd pick hp38/win231 (same powder, different name) to keep my inventory simple. no compromise will give you maximum performance in every case, but it's hard to argue with the cost vs. power afforded by this choice.

budman

[sc928porsche]

For cast, I prefer IMR 4227. For jacketed I love Win 296. (same powder as H110 according to Hogden).

[Doodlebugger45]

Like most folks here, I had mostly stuck with 296/110 or 2400 for powders. Today I finally shot some low-powered rounds I loaded up this winter for the old Vaquero with the 5.5" barrel. Wow! talk about accurate and FUN! I loaded some 240 gr cast bullets over 6.4 gr of 231. I could shoot these things all day long. No idea how slow they were, but they sure do group nicely.

[458winshooter]

I will vote for N-110.It gives velocities as good as H-110/W296 but with much less flash.I have a can of H-110 and a can of W296 before I knew they were the same but after trying N-110 I just let them set there.I got
2400 recently and it would be my next choice.Most of the time I use Unique.I have done so for years since I was not loading full tilt loads it was fine.N-110 is a bit more expensive here everything is in the 18 to 20 dollar a pound range but N-110 comes in a 2 pound can for $43.It burns clean and doesn't require a mag primer either.

[m&p45acp10+1]

I load for .41 mag, and will soon be loading for .44 when I get the Red Hawk paid off. I will probably use the same powder for each.
For light target, and plinking loads with lead. I like Trail Boss. This is the load that I have to pry my gun out of people hands with after they shoot it.
A step up from that would be TiteGroup Good general purpouse load.
I tried 2400 it works well with my cast LSWc's. I then found Acurate #9 it is way better than 2400. Much cleaner, less flash, and more enjoyable to shoot.
Full big boom loads. I like H110. Lots of power out of the loads I have run with it.

[Blue Grass]

AA#2 for very light loads, AA#9 for wrist breakers. Trail Boss is very good for lead bullets.

[Elkins45]

Unique for light cast loads, 2400 and H-110 for full power.

[mnhntr]

I am a new reloader also and have been loading about 2yrs. My 44 magnum powders are H110 for full mag power and Tightgroup for target loads.