255 Grain Keith Bullet - 44 Mag

PALongbow · September 25, 2002, 09:24 PM

Got a question for you lead bullet shooters. I received some 255 grain Keith style bullets from Dry Creek today. I was thinking about using H-110 powder, however Hodgdon told me that this powder would probably create alot of leading in the barrel since it usually pushes high velocities.

Does anyone use H-110 with this grain lead bullet and what is your favorite load with H-110 and the 255 grain lead bullet?? Should I try something like IMR4227 or H-4227 which seems to push slower velocities??? Sorry for the newbie question but this is my first try at reloading lead bullets for my handgun.

Ron

Art Eatman · September 25, 2002, 10:19 PM

I suggest you work backwards from the velocity you want to achieve. You go to the book and see what powder is recommended for that bullet weight and your design velocity. The manufacturer oughta know the upper velocity limit of his bullets, before they begin to shear in the barrel, if you don't have a feel for it. For hard cast, I'd guess that anything under 1,400 ft/sec oughta be okay. Maybeso higher. Research what the factory lead-bullet velocities are...

I've loaded a bunch of .44 Mag over the last 35 years, including all manner of cast bullets around 250 or so grains. I've never noticed a leading problem with a heavy cast bullet. I grant that I don't load every round to the max, but doing some practice with "hot stuff" hasn't left me with a leading problem. This does assume that it's reasonably hard-cast, of course.

A "just messin' around" load is around six grains of 231 behind any lead bullet you can find.

From my Redhawk, I can tell it hits harder than a .45ACP, but the recoil is negligible.

I bought a Lewis Lead Remover, years ago. One of the better tools I've ever had. It cleans lead out of a barrel just really quickly.

I'm 1,400 miles from all my data, so I can't help with heavier loads.

, Art

labgrade · September 26, 2002, 02:49 AM

H100 seems to be "max sensitive" & I've never used it.

BlueDot & 2400 (Unique, too) seem to be a powder that you can play around with a bit better, & of the two, 2400 meters much better.

Leading is a function of a not-right fitted bullet-to-barrel, bullet hardness & lube - at any specific speed. Likely you can get around all that - if these are taken care of - even at max loads.

May be best to use another powder first to see what you have regards fit & function ....

If you can start to push these bullet towards max, maybe then go to H110, if you'd even want to by then.

Poodleshooter · September 26, 2002, 01:11 PM

In a similar vein, last night I loaded up some .44mag 240grLSW with incremental charges of Winchester 296 (which loads almost identically to H110). I'll be testing for leading. As labgrade mentioned, H110 (and WW296) are both sensitive to reductions from the maximum, case filling charges. In theory Hodgdon and Winchester recommend no more than a 3% reduction from max when developing data for these powders, but the variance in "max loads" in available data far exceeds that spread. Experience helps. Use a hot magnum primer if you do load it, and cross reference a lot of data. Midway's loadmap series for the .44 actually give a substantial number of loads for lead bullets and H110.

Desert Pete · September 26, 2002, 01:44 PM

I've found 2400 to be the best powder for cast bullet 44 mag loads. Old Elmer Keith's favorite load used 22 gr, but I find that a bit on the warm side in my M29. I use 21gr for a tad over 1300 fps velocity and the best accuracy. That's for a Keith bullet cast of wheel weights weighing about 250grs. Of course, as always, start a bit lighter and work up to the heavier loads as your own gun allows. As for the leading. Forget about it. I don't know why people fear a little bit of lead in the barrel. It'll all come out in the wash.

cheygriz · September 26, 2002, 06:06 PM

With the 250-255 gr Keith in max or near max loads, I've had good luck with 4227, either IMR or H, 296, H 110 and AAC#9.

My favorite is AAC#9. But not by much. They all seem to work well in max loads.

2400 isn't bad either, but in my personal experience, it doesn't quite measure up to the powders listed above. YMMV

September 25, 2002, 09:24 PM	#1
PALongbow Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2001 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 103	255 Grain Keith Bullet - 44 Mag Got a question for you lead bullet shooters. I received some 255 grain Keith style bullets from Dry Creek today. I was thinking about using H-110 powder, however Hodgdon told me that this powder would probably create alot of leading in the barrel since it usually pushes high velocities. Does anyone use H-110 with this grain lead bullet and what is your favorite load with H-110 and the 255 grain lead bullet?? Should I try something like IMR4227 or H-4227 which seems to push slower velocities??? Sorry for the newbie question but this is my first try at reloading lead bullets for my handgun. Ron

September 25, 2002, 10:19 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I suggest you work backwards from the velocity you want to achieve. You go to the book and see what powder is recommended for that bullet weight and your design velocity. The manufacturer oughta know the upper velocity limit of his bullets, before they begin to shear in the barrel, if you don't have a feel for it. For hard cast, I'd guess that anything under 1,400 ft/sec oughta be okay. Maybeso higher. Research what the factory lead-bullet velocities are... I've loaded a bunch of .44 Mag over the last 35 years, including all manner of cast bullets around 250 or so grains. I've never noticed a leading problem with a heavy cast bullet. I grant that I don't load every round to the max, but doing some practice with "hot stuff" hasn't left me with a leading problem. This does assume that it's reasonably hard-cast, of course. A "just messin' around" load is around six grains of 231 behind any lead bullet you can find. From my Redhawk, I can tell it hits harder than a .45ACP, but the recoil is negligible. I bought a Lewis Lead Remover, years ago. One of the better tools I've ever had. It cleans lead out of a barrel just really quickly. I'm 1,400 miles from all my data, so I can't help with heavier loads. , Art

September 26, 2002, 02:49 AM	#3
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	H100 seems to be "max sensitive" & I've never used it. BlueDot & 2400 (Unique, too) seem to be a powder that you can play around with a bit better, & of the two, 2400 meters much better. Leading is a function of a not-right fitted bullet-to-barrel, bullet hardness & lube - at any specific speed. Likely you can get around all that - if these are taken care of - even at max loads. May be best to use another powder first to see what you have regards fit & function .... If you can start to push these bullet towards max, maybe then go to H110, if you'd even want to by then.

September 26, 2002, 01:11 PM	#4
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	In a similar vein, last night I loaded up some .44mag 240grLSW with incremental charges of Winchester 296 (which loads almost identically to H110). I'll be testing for leading. As labgrade mentioned, H110 (and WW296) are both sensitive to reductions from the maximum, case filling charges. In theory Hodgdon and Winchester recommend no more than a 3% reduction from max when developing data for these powders, but the variance in "max loads" in available data far exceeds that spread. Experience helps. Use a hot magnum primer if you do load it, and cross reference a lot of data. Midway's loadmap series for the .44 actually give a substantial number of loads for lead bullets and H110.

September 26, 2002, 01:44 PM	#5
Desert Pete Member Join Date: August 6, 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 44	I've found 2400 to be the best powder for cast bullet 44 mag loads. Old Elmer Keith's favorite load used 22 gr, but I find that a bit on the warm side in my M29. I use 21gr for a tad over 1300 fps velocity and the best accuracy. That's for a Keith bullet cast of wheel weights weighing about 250grs. Of course, as always, start a bit lighter and work up to the heavier loads as your own gun allows. As for the leading. Forget about it. I don't know why people fear a little bit of lead in the barrel. It'll all come out in the wash.

September 26, 2002, 06:06 PM	#6
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	With the 250-255 gr Keith in max or near max loads, I've had good luck with 4227, either IMR or H, 296, H 110 and AAC#9. My favorite is AAC#9. But not by much. They all seem to work well in max loads. 2400 isn't bad either, but in my personal experience, it doesn't quite measure up to the powders listed above. YMMV