44 magnum guru's help please.....

jdman

jdman

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
299   0   1
Location
............ Socialist Island BC
Hey guru's,


i have a whole whack of loaded ammo given to me from a friend, who bought it from another guy who loaded it....:rolleyes:

Anyways, i was skeptical in shooting the stuff, but anyways we shot some this weekend, afterwords i decided to break some down, and see just what was inside of it.
There is a huge mix of lead wadcutter style, HP's and some Sp's...

Of the lead loads we fired this weekend, i found them to weigh 244-247ish grains. The box (of about 400 rounds said 240gr) anyways the charge inside was from 18.4grains-19 or so of H110.
Next after finding this, i discovered the HP's were right on with weight, but the charges were 21 grains, and 21.5 in the different types.


This has me worried, as the book i have for 240 grain bullets lists something like a range from 23.5-24.5 i think off the top of my head. all of these loads are well below that minimum, so am i missing something? Are newer load books listing minimums way higher that needed, so you buy more powder?

I know, i need to remove the tinfoil, but WTF, does this ammo all have to be broken down for components? There is probably 800 or so rounds left....:rolleyes:


Of note, the loads we fired yesterday were so loud i flinched after every time someone fired it....does not usually happen.....:redface:
 
Are you sure it is H110?

H110 and 2400 are the 2 most common powders for heavy .44 mag loads. The 2400 max is about 21 or 22 grains.

Regardless if the loads are below minimum why the concern?

Edit: Hodgdon's site lists 24 grains max but what is the bullet type, and overall length? If shot out of a revolver it is possible that the guy loading them just didn't want to push the limits, and those loads were in his comfort zone.

I loaded some .44 mag at and above max with my Ruger Redhawk, and it was simply uncomfortable to shoot with those loads.

A couple grains lighter makes a big difference on your wrist and palm at least in a handgun!

Another possibility is he was shooting them out of a cowboy action gun, which he didn't want to ruin with high powered loads.
 
jdman said:
Hey guru's,


i have a whole whack of loaded ammo given to me from a friend, who bought it from another guy who loaded it....:rolleyes:

Anyways, i was skeptical in shooting the stuff, but anyways we shot some this weekend, afterwords i decided to break some down, and see just what was inside of it.
There is a huge mix of lead wadcutter style, HP's and some Sp's...

Of the lead loads we fired this weekend, i found them to weigh 244-247ish grains. The box (of about 400 rounds said 240gr) anyways the charge inside was from 18.4grains-19 or so of H110.
Next after finding this, i discovered the HP's were right on with weight, but the charges were 21 grains, and 21.5 in the different types.


This has me worried, as the book i have for 240 grain bullets lists something like a range from 23.5-24.5 i think off the top of my head. all of these loads are well below that minimum, so am i missing something? Are newer load books listing minimums way higher that needed, so you buy more powder?

I know, i need to remove the tinfoil, but WTF, does this ammo all have to be broken down for components? There is probably 800 or so rounds left....:rolleyes:


Of note, the loads we fired yesterday were so loud i flinched after every time someone fired it....does not usually happen.....:redface:
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a great bunch of good ammunition, for practice rounds.
1) Cast bullets that people make are cast from various alloys, and seldom weigh what they are supposed to weigh. Bullets weighing 247, that are marked 240, is about a normal situation and will cause no harm.

2) 18.5 to 19 grains of H110 is a perfectly normal, light load. I have loaded and shot many in this range, but is about as low as I could go, without getting some unburned powder.

3) The load you state with the hollow points is a normal, light load.

4) Can't understand the loud noise. None of what you state is a heavy load.
 
Hmm, i figured someone would have experience.

Why such a difference in load data then? I have lyman 48th ed. Min load it states is 23.5 with h110.

metlevhora- :D
i am positive it is H110

And for the shooting others reloads in my gun, well i didnt i shot them through his gun, i also made sure he fired them first. :D:cheers:

anybody else with first hand info?

Thanks H4831


Ahh... just re read,m coyboy action sounds right to me, i bet that is what is going on here.....Courtenay has a big cowboy action club.
 
jdman said:
Ahh... just re read,m coyboy action sounds right to me, i bet that is what is going on here.....Courtenay has a big cowboy action club.
Click to expand...

Sounds about right then. Not too many guys are gonna run full house loads through a cowboy gun, unless it's a Ruger, but even then there is simply no need, and cowboy action usually means lighter loads with lead cast.
 
I have found that with the slower pistol powders (e.g. H110, H4227, etc.), they don't react well with less than max or near max loads - they certainly are not suitable to use below published minimum. I have experienced inaccuracy and often hangfires when I have tried that and not just in the 44 Mag.

For light loads in the 44 Mag, I'd stick small amounts of the faster powders.
 
The best post was never ever shoot any one elses re=loads in your gun! You blow

your self up your loss! Don't let somebody else blow you up!

Pull the bullets and the dump the powder into the garden,you can use the rest!

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom