.44 Mag Lever Action Hunting Load

Flashman2, I am so sorry I am taking so long to reply to this and respond to your kind offer. The Powder Coated 270 would be great to try but as I'm in the UK, it would seem rather excessive for you to post them here. Very kind though it is.

So, as an update, with various things going on in 2019 and 2020 being pretty much a write off for range time and getting to hunting grounds, I haven't done a massive amount of shooting or reloading and what limited chances I have had to do things has mainly been taken up with shooting specific competitions or going out to maximise chances on deer meaning the .44 hasn't come out much except for plinking with cast loads and Unique.

So, I have got an OK shooting load with the 200gr XTP and the Sierra JHC 210gr but as others have said I have some concerns about the impact velocities and bullet performance given how fast they have to leave the muzzle to make energy requirments - (for the 200 gr XTP I reckon this happens at about 125 yds down range, and I'd hope to shoot my quarry inside that distance).

I should have listened to the collective wisdom here and used the 240gr Nosler JSP quite possibly for several reasons.

1) It would seem to hold up better when used carbine speeds (see above and other web sources)
2) Unlike things with the 240gr Hornady XTP and Sierra JHC, the bullet is shorter so needs seating less deep in the case.
3) N110 seems to have been the powder I should have looked to first as a reloading option rather than H110 as rather more flexible

(If H110 doesn't work out I can easily still get Viht N110 here in the UK for the moment)

So, using Noslers data and Gordon's reloading tool for a 20" barrel and 23.8gr (max) of H110 a Nosler 240gr JSP should get me over the energy limit by about 45 ftlbs. In velocity terms, I should be able to shoot about 25fps under predicted max charge velocity. I have some hope I should be making the required ME requirements even with a load that slightly underperforms the predicted max charge. The one area I think that slightly concerns me is I might be getting a low percentage burn in the barrel. I believe a "heavy" crimp from the Lee Factory Crimp die is called for and I will also use a magnum pistol primer to set things off to give best change of full powder ignition.

As I said, if this load isn't giving me the full requirment I will experiment with N110 which seems to possibly give a better results at least on paper with carbine length barrels.

Scrummy
 
Perhaps checking out a few different loading tables would give you some more power with that H110 load. I used 25gr in my Ruger Blackhawk; I believe the Hornady table was 24.8 or 9 grains. I used a magnum primer also.
 
Scumbag: Have you considered the 265-grain Hornady jsp. The bullet was developed in conjunction with the .444 Marlin rifle. Good, tough bullet that offers good penetration, plus expansion.
 
Perhaps checking out a few different loading tables would give you some more power with that H110 load. I used 25gr in my Ruger Blackhawk; I believe the Hornady table was 24.8 or 9 grains. I used a magnum primer also.

You might have a point.

Hodgdon has a load range of 23.0-24.0gr of H110 for the Nosler 240gr JSP
 
Scumbag: Have you considered the 265-grain Hornady jsp. The bullet was developed in conjunction with the .444 Marlin rifle. Good, tough bullet that offers good penetration, plus expansion.

That might work too but I believe they have stopped making the bullet
 
Pastaway and Scrumbag- thanks for answering a foreigners Questions in regards to who polices the limit...
we have a limit here-- more so a Reccomendation than a mandatory law...... its .270 / 130gr for big Deer...... an of course i wanna shoot em with Smaller ones :D
 
Light bullets. RO means "Rifle Only"
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Here is some data for the 240 gr bullets. Even hollow points always exist a deer. 1700fy lb is doable.

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Thanks Ganderite.

I'm also wondering about the 240gr Swift A-Frame.

Because pictures are fun. Here's the rifle the load is going in:

Currently with a Leupold 2.5x28 Scout Scope

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Skinner carry case:

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Reckon should be good for a cleaning kit / rod and an MTM box of 50 rds.

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And when you unpack it:

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And out on the range:

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Hoping to develop a plinking load (240gr cast lead RNFP and Unique) and a hunting load (Thinking 240 gr Nosler JSP or Swift A-Frame. Maybe the 265gr Hornady over H110 or N110)

I know Skinner is selling a kit they call the Bush Pilot with a 16” version in this case.

Best wishes,

Scrummy
 
That might work too but I believe they have stopped making the bullet

I know this reply is a little late in coming, but I thought would interject that as far as I know, Hornady hasn't stopped producing the 265JSP. I just bought two boxes recently and they do not show it as discontinued in their latest reloading book. That would be disappointing news if true. And I'll need to see if I can source a few more boxes before they disappear.

Update:Well, it appears you are correct, sir. That bullet has disappeared from Hornady's website. 240 or 300 grain XTPs appear to be the options for game animals in a carbine. The Speer 270 Gold Dot is, by all accounts, also a very good bullet for this application, however Speer is showing it as not currently available, as they are for many of their SKUs.
 
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I know this reply is a little late in coming, but I thought would interject that as far as I know, Hornady hasn't stopped producing the 265JSP. I just bought two boxes recently and they do not show it as discontinued in their latest reloading book. That would be disappointing news if true. And I'll need to see if I can source a few more boxes before they disappear.

I'm afraid my friend that if you look at the Hornady website the only 265gr bullet is the FTX

Also noted as discontinued on the Midway USA site: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010481010

Scrummy
 
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Well folks, I have ordered some 240gr Nosler JSP and those should be with me sometime next week.

Thanks for the recommendation, folks. I have H110, 2400 and can get Viht N110 so let's see where we end up ;)

Scrummy
 
The 240gn Swift A-Frame is a long bullet. They reduce the case powder capacity they are that long. The front end is long and light. It's looks like a bottomless pit.

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I have not tried them in my Marlin 1894 44Mag. I have been saving them for a special occasion in the 444Marlin.
I have to trim the 444Marlin cases to min. length then seat & crimp at minimum COL in order for them to cycle.
 
Hi folks,

I’m looking for a load for my 44 mag lever action (20” bbl).

Now, due to hunting regs where I am I need a minimum muzzle energy of 1700 ftlbs

To do that, I need to go with the lighter bullets and higher speeds than a 240gr or 300 gr will allow.

So my plan is over H110 (or maybe Viht110) to load

200gr Hornady XPT
210gr Sierra JHC

Any thoughts and input much welcomed

Thanks in advance Scrummy

which Province has set this limit?
 
Thanks for the info on the Swifts. Must admit I like something without a cavity or hollow point to make the most of useable case capacity.
 
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