Reloading 44 mag for rifle

DUNITALL · March 17, 2021, 03:26 PM

I just got a Henry big boy 44 mag and wanted to see if any one had a favorite rifle load using IMR 4227 I am thinking of 22.0 gr Looking forward to your reply Thanks to all

T. O'Heir · March 19, 2021, 01:55 PM

"...favorite rifle load using IMR4227..." Yes, but it's not a .44 Mag load. My M1 Carbine loves IMR4227. Gives a very satisfying BARK! sound when it goes off. snicker.
A cast or jacketed bullet and weight?
22 grains of IMR4227 is the Max load for a 225 grain jacketed bullet. It's the Start load for a jacketed 240. You need to work up the load, not just pick one. What shoots well out of one rifle, even an identical Henry won't necessarily shoot well out of yours.

ciwsguy · March 19, 2021, 04:50 PM

My Marlin 1894 (Remlin with Ballard rifling) will not shoot .429 or .430 jacketed bullets well. They’re all over the target (up to 8” group) at 50 yds. Mine needs .431 or .432 bullets to stay on target, Its the rifle in my case.
I find H110 near max load provides the best groups for me with 240 grain polymer coated bullets. Haven’t yet tried gas check bullets.
Sorry but I don’t have and cannot get IMR 4227. These days it’s not just primers that are hard to get. Powders are scarce too.

rclark · March 19, 2021, 07:50 PM

I tried to look up 'ridle' but seems that isn't a word

.

Now if you meant rifle (big boy qualifies), then use the same loads you normally use in your .44 mag revolvers. You didn't specify what 'bullet' you'll be using with 4227, so can't comment on 22g. That said, looking over my load testing, I really didn't care for 4227 in .44Mag. Of course your mileage will vary, but that was my experience from 17gr to 23gr under 240g SWC in a SBH using a magnum primer.

rc · March 21, 2021, 11:13 PM

H110 is a wonderful powder for rifle in magnum revolver chamberings.

**44 AMP** · March 22, 2021, 01:01 AM

A quick look in a Hornady book shows IMR 4277 loads reaching max pressure at velocities about 200fps slower than max loads with H110 and about 100fps slower than 2400.

Test gun was a Ruger .44 Mag carbine.

results in your rifle might be different but I would expect them to hold to the same general pattern.

Sharpshooter284 · March 22, 2021, 07:32 AM

I'll agree with the H110. My Remington made Marlin likes .430 Hornady XTP better than .429 Nosler soft points, I'm sure because of the larger bore but I've never slugged it. You should be able to do well with heavy bullets too, compared to the Marlin. Marlin uses a slow twist of 1/38" vs your Henry's 1/20".

**Unclenick** · March 23, 2021, 06:41 PM

Dunitall,

Per Ciwsguy's observation, you may want to slug your bore and learn it's true groove diameter. Figure that jacketed bullets should be at least equal to that for good accuracy. Lead bullets are usually sized 0.001" over, but my Marlins and revolvers all seem to prefer about 0.002" over for accuracy.

H110/296 (both are canister-grade WC296; same powder, different brands) is great, but seems most consistent with magnum primers. If you don't have magnum primers available, Alliant 2400 does very well.

Targa · March 23, 2021, 08:14 PM

If 4227 is what you have it would be ok but certainly not what I would buy with the intent of using it in .44mag. Like others, I would be going with 2400, H110/296, Accurate #9, Ramshot Enforcer, Lil Gun.

March 17, 2021, 03:26 PM	#1
DUNITALL Member Join Date: April 15, 2010 Posts: 46	Reloading 44 mag for rifle I just got a Henry big boy 44 mag and wanted to see if any one had a favorite rifle load using IMR 4227 I am thinking of 22.0 gr Looking forward to your reply Thanks to all

March 19, 2021, 04:50 PM	#3
ciwsguy Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2008 Location: KY Posts: 304	What brand of rifle? My Marlin 1894 (Remlin with Ballard rifling) will not shoot .429 or .430 jacketed bullets well. They’re all over the target (up to 8” group) at 50 yds. Mine needs .431 or .432 bullets to stay on target, Its the rifle in my case. I find H110 near max load provides the best groups for me with 240 grain polymer coated bullets. Haven’t yet tried gas check bullets. Sorry but I don’t have and cannot get IMR 4227. These days it’s not just primers that are hard to get. Powders are scarce too. Last edited by ciwsguy; March 19, 2021 at 06:11 PM.

March 19, 2021, 07:50 PM	#4
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,632	I tried to look up 'ridle' but seems that isn't a word . Now if you meant rifle (big boy qualifies), then use the same loads you normally use in your .44 mag revolvers. You didn't specify what 'bullet' you'll be using with 4227, so can't comment on 22g. That said, looking over my load testing, I really didn't care for 4227 in .44Mag. Of course your mileage will vary, but that was my experience from 17gr to 23gr under 240g SWC in a SBH using a magnum primer. __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.

March 22, 2021, 01:01 AM	#6
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,080	A quick look in a Hornady book shows IMR 4277 loads reaching max pressure at velocities about 200fps slower than max loads with H110 and about 100fps slower than 2400. Test gun was a Ruger .44 Mag carbine. results in your rifle might be different but I would expect them to hold to the same general pattern. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

March 23, 2021, 06:41 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,138	Dunitall, Per Ciwsguy's observation, you may want to slug your bore and learn it's true groove diameter. Figure that jacketed bullets should be at least equal to that for good accuracy. Lead bullets are usually sized 0.001" over, but my Marlins and revolvers all seem to prefer about 0.002" over for accuracy. H110/296 (both are canister-grade WC296; same powder, different brands) is great, but seems most consistent with magnum primers. If you don't have magnum primers available, Alliant 2400 does very well. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 19, 2021, 01:55 PM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...favorite rifle load using IMR4227..." Yes, but it's not a .44 Mag load. My M1 Carbine loves IMR4227. Gives a very satisfying BARK! sound when it goes off. snicker. A cast or jacketed bullet and weight? 22 grains of IMR4227 is the Max load for a 225 grain jacketed bullet. It's the Start load for a jacketed 240. You need to work up the load, not just pick one. What shoots well out of one rifle, even an identical Henry won't necessarily shoot well out of yours.

March 21, 2021, 11:13 PM	#5
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,808	H110 is a wonderful powder for rifle in magnum revolver chamberings.

March 22, 2021, 07:32 AM	#7
Sharpshooter284 Junior Member Join Date: February 24, 2021 Posts: 5	I'll agree with the H110. My Remington made Marlin likes .430 Hornady XTP better than .429 Nosler soft points, I'm sure because of the larger bore but I've never slugged it. You should be able to do well with heavy bullets too, compared to the Marlin. Marlin uses a slow twist of 1/38" vs your Henry's 1/20".

March 23, 2021, 08:14 PM	#9
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	If 4227 is what you have it would be ok but certainly not what I would buy with the intent of using it in .44mag. Like others, I would be going with 2400, H110/296, Accurate #9, Ramshot Enforcer, Lil Gun.