.44 mag for Ruger Carbine

Saint Dennis · August 26, 2014, 08:38 PM

I have the old style (tube fed) Ruger .44 Mag carbine. I want to load some 240 gr. soft point bullets for deer hunting loads. My question is, is there some powders that work best to produce a pressure curve that is appropriate for that rifle? The only other autoloading rifle I have loaded for is my M1 Garand. My reloading manual lists Garand specific loads so that is easy.

spaniel · August 26, 2014, 08:50 PM

In a lot of ways, the same issues apply as for the Garand. You need a powder with an appropriate pressure curve for the location of the gas port. People often think these guns are broken because they won't cycle with factory loads, but factory loads are for pistols and use fast-burning powder. Try a stout (but safe, work up) load of H110 or 2400 and your gun will perform well for you. They love the slower-burning powders. I use both, slightly under book max, and have yet to have a failure to feed in a gun which the prior owner thought was nothing better than a single shot because all he shot was factory ammo.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · August 26, 2014, 10:42 PM

I use to use 296 & Blue Dot for mine. Both are reasonably clean burn pistol powders when purposely ignited with Mag primers and having heavy crimps. Had no problem with cycling or having to clean my rifles gas port when using either powder. Frankly my rifle did not like lighter weight bullets >(period) and I always shot jacketed only. Never cast under any circumstance.

Clark · August 26, 2014, 11:55 PM

I am using 240 gr JHP 24 gr H110 heavy roll crimp and that works well for me.
My gas hole was drilled to be ~ the same size as a stock old Ruger carbine barrel.

With a non adjustable gas path, you want enough powder to make is cycle reliably, but not so much that the bolt slams the receiver.

jtmckinney · August 27, 2014, 07:35 AM

I have one and use mostly 240 grain jacketed hollow points or soft points. Like Clark I also settled on 24 grains H110. Hornaday manual shows 24.8 grains as max but I was getting ejection marks on my brass, dropped to 24 grains and marks went away.

Hornaday manuals have a couple pages in their rifle section where they used the Ruger Carbine for the test firearm. Bullet weights from 180 thru 300 grain.

Mine started to give me cycling problems so I bought a set of replacement Wolf springs but haven't put them in yet, I need to get around to that.

chiefr · August 27, 2014, 08:06 AM

Been reloading for the carbine for many years. 110/296 are my favorites. IMHO, they burn cleaner than 2400/4227 and I have never achieved the accuracy I demand with anything other than 110/296.
(interestingly, 2400 gives me better results in the hand guns)

Concur on heavy crimp. I insist on using cannelured bullets only for the carbine and lever guns.

Also keep in mind the Ruger manual said do NOT use cast or lead bullets in their carbine. Jacketed only.

WESHOOT2 · August 27, 2014, 02:55 PM

AA9.

Clark · August 27, 2014, 03:08 PM

In bottle necked cartridges I get the best accuracy from jamming into the lands, but in 44 mag and 45 Colt rifles with H110, I get the best groups from heavy crimping into the cannelure... a long way from the lands.

I could make up some reasons, but I really don't know why.

Armed_Chicagoan · August 28, 2014, 01:02 AM

I've found that I had to adjust the piston plug set screw to match the load... if it ejects the fired case but fails to chamber the next round back it off a bit. If it ejects the fired casing along with the next round screw it in more.

For some reason these carbines (or at least mine) are very sensitive to reloads, it loves American Eagle factory 240gr ammo though!

chiefr · August 28, 2014, 06:49 AM

Quote:

I've found that I had to adjust the piston plug set screw to match the load... if it ejects the fired case but fails to chamber the next round back it off a bit. If it ejects the fired casing along with the next round screw it in more.

For some reason these carbines (or at least mine) are very sensitive to reloads, it loves American Eagle factory 240gr ammo though!

You are spot on.
Reloads must near factory loads as far as pressure and FPS or the carbine will not cycle. WW uses 296 in its factory loads. That is why I obtain 100% reliability with 296 or H110. H110 is the same powder as 110. If your loads duplicate factory, no adjustments are needed.

Also read on another forum some time ago where a gunsmith had worked on a number of 44 Carbines for various issues. The gunsmith related all of the problems were a result of firing lead bullets.

August 26, 2014, 08:38 PM	#1
Saint Dennis Member Join Date: March 31, 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 97	.44 mag for Ruger Carbine I have the old style (tube fed) Ruger .44 Mag carbine. I want to load some 240 gr. soft point bullets for deer hunting loads. My question is, is there some powders that work best to produce a pressure curve that is appropriate for that rifle? The only other autoloading rifle I have loaded for is my M1 Garand. My reloading manual lists Garand specific loads so that is easy.

August 26, 2014, 11:55 PM	#4
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I am using 240 gr JHP 24 gr H110 heavy roll crimp and that works well for me. My gas hole was drilled to be ~ the same size as a stock old Ruger carbine barrel. With a non adjustable gas path, you want enough powder to make is cycle reliably, but not so much that the bolt slams the receiver. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

August 27, 2014, 07:35 AM	#5
jtmckinney Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 490	I have one and use mostly 240 grain jacketed hollow points or soft points. Like Clark I also settled on 24 grains H110. Hornaday manual shows 24.8 grains as max but I was getting ejection marks on my brass, dropped to 24 grains and marks went away. Hornaday manuals have a couple pages in their rifle section where they used the Ruger Carbine for the test firearm. Bullet weights from 180 thru 300 grain. Mine started to give me cycling problems so I bought a set of replacement Wolf springs but haven't put them in yet, I need to get around to that. __________________ “Government does few things well but it does them at great expense” Cal Thomas “When Government Can’t Be Trusted” 6/11/2013 When I am weaker than you, I ask you for freedom because that is according to your principles; When I am stronger than you, I take away your freedoms because that is according to my principles. Frank Herbert "Children of Dune"

August 27, 2014, 02:55 PM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	AA9. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 27, 2014, 03:08 PM	#8
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	In bottle necked cartridges I get the best accuracy from jamming into the lands, but in 44 mag and 45 Colt rifles with H110, I get the best groups from heavy crimping into the cannelure... a long way from the lands. I could make up some reasons, but I really don't know why. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

August 26, 2014, 08:50 PM	#2
spaniel Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2008 Posts: 217	In a lot of ways, the same issues apply as for the Garand. You need a powder with an appropriate pressure curve for the location of the gas port. People often think these guns are broken because they won't cycle with factory loads, but factory loads are for pistols and use fast-burning powder. Try a stout (but safe, work up) load of H110 or 2400 and your gun will perform well for you. They love the slower-burning powders. I use both, slightly under book max, and have yet to have a failure to feed in a gun which the prior owner thought was nothing better than a single shot because all he shot was factory ammo.

August 26, 2014, 10:42 PM	#3
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	I use to use 296 & Blue Dot for mine. Both are reasonably clean burn pistol powders when purposely ignited with Mag primers and having heavy crimps. Had no problem with cycling or having to clean my rifles gas port when using either powder. Frankly my rifle did not like lighter weight bullets >(period) and I always shot jacketed only. Never cast under any circumstance.

August 27, 2014, 08:06 AM	#6
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	Been reloading for the carbine for many years. 110/296 are my favorites. IMHO, they burn cleaner than 2400/4227 and I have never achieved the accuracy I demand with anything other than 110/296. (interestingly, 2400 gives me better results in the hand guns) Concur on heavy crimp. I insist on using cannelured bullets only for the carbine and lever guns. Also keep in mind the Ruger manual said do NOT use cast or lead bullets in their carbine. Jacketed only.

August 28, 2014, 01:02 AM	#9
Armed_Chicagoan Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2013 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 776	I've found that I had to adjust the piston plug set screw to match the load... if it ejects the fired case but fails to chamber the next round back it off a bit. If it ejects the fired casing along with the next round screw it in more. For some reason these carbines (or at least mine) are very sensitive to reloads, it loves American Eagle factory 240gr ammo though!