I have a Ruger Redhawk and would like to load a very hot round. I will be using Frontier 300 grn plated FP and from what I see H-110 powder achieves the fastest bullet. Basically I am trying to achieve a Buffalo Bore type round. Any recommendations would be helpful as I am new to reloading the .44 magnum.
HOT .44 magnum rounds
- Thread starter cdncowboy
- Start date
Go slowly, read, read again... Work UP to a load while carefully watching for pressure signs...
It's been several years since I sat down at my reloading bench, but I can say that it is a hobby that requires CAUTION!
Good luck, I'm sure someone will chime in with what they load their 44 mag HOT.
Cheers
Jay
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I've safely loaded 20 grs of H-110 and magnum primers with 300 gr jacketed Sierra bullets in a number of guns, but reducing that load to 19 grs is prudent in a M-29 and was necessary in a Ruger Redhawk when heavy recoil caused the mainspring to unhook. I experienced no issue when shooting heavy loads in a SRH, except that I found the combination wood/rubber grips seemed to increase the recoil sensation rather than cushion it, so I prefer a solid wood grip. I'm currently loading 20 grs of H-110 under hard cast 325 gr WFN in my .44 Vaquero, but when loading cast bullets, its prudent to weigh them to ensure you don't get a heavy one. I've found some as heavy as 330 grs, and when bullet weight exceeds 325 grs, I drop the powder charge to 19 grs to avoid difficult extraction.
Edited to add . . .
You said you where new to loading the .44, but if you are also new to loading straight wall cases here's a couple of extra tips:
Bell your case mouths just enough to comfortably accept the base of the bullet; too much and you are over working the brass, not enough, and you will have problems seating the bullet.
When working with maximum charges in small capacity handgun cases, be sure to weigh each charge, don't be content to trust your powder measure.
A loaded round will have a slight hour glass shape as the web of the case cannot be made any smaller, and the portion of the case holding the bullet expands to accept the diameter of the bullet + the thickness of the case wall.
Don't be timid about crimping, if your crimp is marginal, in recoil those heavy bullets will jump the crimp and tie up your gun.
You might find that the Lee Factory Crimp Die is beneficial. Using it ensures that your crimp is sufficient and that your loaded cartridges will chamber without resistance in your gun.
Edited to add . . .
You said you where new to loading the .44, but if you are also new to loading straight wall cases here's a couple of extra tips:
Bell your case mouths just enough to comfortably accept the base of the bullet; too much and you are over working the brass, not enough, and you will have problems seating the bullet.
When working with maximum charges in small capacity handgun cases, be sure to weigh each charge, don't be content to trust your powder measure.
A loaded round will have a slight hour glass shape as the web of the case cannot be made any smaller, and the portion of the case holding the bullet expands to accept the diameter of the bullet + the thickness of the case wall.
Don't be timid about crimping, if your crimp is marginal, in recoil those heavy bullets will jump the crimp and tie up your gun.
You might find that the Lee Factory Crimp Die is beneficial. Using it ensures that your crimp is sufficient and that your loaded cartridges will chamber without resistance in your gun.
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I use 20 grains of H110 with 300 grain cast lead FP in a Ruger Super Blackhawk, chronographed at 1250 fps from a 5" bbl and very accurate. Be sure to back off and work up per manufacturers manuals, don't go below minimums.
As mentioned be sure to use enough crimp; with the longer heavy bullets it doesn't take much creep to tie up the action.
Dan
As mentioned be sure to use enough crimp; with the longer heavy bullets it doesn't take much creep to tie up the action.
Dan
I have run up to 24.0gr of H110 (under a 245gr Keith SWC) using regular pistol primers and had no problems lighting the fire, even in winter temps. Aside from that, I agree with the advice to work up to the big loads and to respect the limits set by loading manuals. No matter how much hotter you go you won't gain more than 50-75fps over a book max load in a handgun, but you certainly can blow your gun up in the process.
Mark
All the powder manufacturers have listed recipes on there websites which will cover just about all the different combinations that you require info on.
Here are a couple.
http://www.hodgdon.com/
http://www.alliantpowder.com/
Here are a couple.
http://www.hodgdon.com/
http://www.alliantpowder.com/
I have loaded and fired thousands of 44 mag absolute max loads in a super Blackhawk using the old Barnes original 300 gn when it was the only 300 gn 429 bullet on the market. I used Win 296 exclusively and CCI magnum primers with a heavy roll crimp. I won't publish the amount of powder I used, but I can tell you it is possible to gain much more than 50-75 fps over book max. Start with about 18-19 grns and go from there, 1/2 gn increments and like Boomer said WEIGH all loads. The heavy crimp is essential as well to promote proper ignition as well as preventing bullet pull. I kept going until I had to tap the cases out of the cylinder with the ejection rod, no falling out. I used this load, like I said for thousands of rounds out of 2 different Super Blachawks and never had any problems with either gun. I would NOT however try them in a fluted cylinder or a split frame double action revolver. The accuracy of this load was truly amazing and was better than I could shoot the gun, it was also a lot of fun and a real handful in the Super Blackhawk I cut down to 5 1/2". I can tell you that with my load the 454 Casull had nothing on my 44 with 300 gn bullets!!!! It was a fingernail shattering experience, which I highly recommend!!!!
PS.........Trim all your brass to one uniform length for this kind of loadings in the 44, it is critical that your crimps be full and uniform.
PS.........Trim all your brass to one uniform length for this kind of loadings in the 44, it is critical that your crimps be full and uniform.
I almost split my thumb nail with the loads I was testing.
Out of a three shot group, I only know 15.5gn of something were used, behind a cast projectile of unknown weight: 1206fps avg.
Out of a three shot group, 16.5gn of something, behind the same projectile gave an average of 1259fps. This last load almost split my thumb nail, but at 10m made one triangle shaped hole, while I was only trying to not hit the chronograph.
I seat the bullet with the seating die, then roll crimp with the FCD. Works great, never an issue with the rounds chambering or problems with the crimp.
Mark
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Examine your fired cases carefully. Signs of pressure on pistol rounds can be subtle. The advice on small, maximum half grain increments to increase charge cannot be over emphasized. A half grain in a pistol case takes up a much larger percentage than the same in a rifle case.
I've never shot the 300, but I have gone to 24 grains of H110 under a 240. I actually found the rifle shot better slightly under that amount.
I've never shot the 300, but I have gone to 24 grains of H110 under a 240. I actually found the rifle shot better slightly under that amount.
About crimping. It should be noted that many millions of very heavy 44 magnum hand loads were crimped with normal seating dies and shot without problems, before the so called factory crimp die came on the market.
The load that Elmer Keith used in developing the 44 magnum, 22 grains of 2400 powder behind his 240 grain Keith designed cast bullet, is probably the heaviest 44 magnum load found in any reloading handbook. That load works fine when crimped with my standard RCBS seating die. I have had the bullets come forward and tie up the cylinder, but only because I try to save wear on brass, by crimping a minimum amount. A bit heavier crimp with the RCBS die and the bullet never moves with these heaviest of loads.
I have also shot a fair number of loads with 24, or even 25 grains of W296/H110 powder behind the Keith bullet. I have measured the case expansion of each load, using a high quality machinest's micrometer, using identical new brass shot in the same Ruger Super Blackhawk. The loads of 22 grains of 2400 Hercules powder always expanded the case more, than did the loads of 24 or 25 grains of Win296/H110 powder.
The load that Elmer Keith used in developing the 44 magnum, 22 grains of 2400 powder behind his 240 grain Keith designed cast bullet, is probably the heaviest 44 magnum load found in any reloading handbook. That load works fine when crimped with my standard RCBS seating die. I have had the bullets come forward and tie up the cylinder, but only because I try to save wear on brass, by crimping a minimum amount. A bit heavier crimp with the RCBS die and the bullet never moves with these heaviest of loads.
I have also shot a fair number of loads with 24, or even 25 grains of W296/H110 powder behind the Keith bullet. I have measured the case expansion of each load, using a high quality machinest's micrometer, using identical new brass shot in the same Ruger Super Blackhawk. The loads of 22 grains of 2400 Hercules powder always expanded the case more, than did the loads of 24 or 25 grains of Win296/H110 powder.
Yep H, that's all I ever used for crimping was my RCBS standard seating/crimp die and I never had one issue with these heavy loads.
