44 Magnum loads for max muzzle blast fun

Calahan

Calahan

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SW Ont.
I shoot 44 Magnum out of a S&W 629 and a Desert Eagle. I've always enjoyed the spectacle of the Remington 180gr factory ammo... it's a real crowd-pleaser with a sound that's different than all other factory loads and reloads I've ever shot, and has an impressive fireball. Let's face it - a big boom and a huge flame is part of the fun of shooting magnum handguns.

I've never been able to duplicate the pizzazz of the Remington factory loads with my reloads. I've used a variety of bullets, with the usual suspects for powder (2400, H110/W296).

Does anyone have any idea what the secret is?
 
The secret is the very light bullet. Typically we use 240grn bullets in 44magnum. Did you try with some lighter ones?

That being said, there's usually a huge fireball when I shoot my 44magnum with a 240grn bullet over H110. Not sure how much more of a fireball you could get tbh.
 
Thanks for the tips, guys - I'll try some of them out. I thought maybe the lighter bullet might be part of the equation (it makes sense, since the loads use more powder). I've only used 240, 265 and 300gr bullets so far in my reloads.
 
You mentioned 180 factory ammo giving the effect you are after. They likely use a ball powder similar to H-110 and with the charge weights as high as they typically are with a bullet that light it would explain the huge fireball. I use 240grn bullets in my .454, the fireball is nearly 3 feet long and about 18" wide. It is enough to screw with my chronograph even on a bright day.
 
Also, I've found in my 460 Mag that 2400 flashes more than H110 despite being a slightly quicker burn rate. I have plenty of both and use 2400 for the blinding fireballs.
 
MuthaFunk said:
Also, I've found in my 460 Mag that 2400 flashes more than H110 despite being a slightly quicker burn rate. I have plenty of both and use 2400 for the blinding fireballs.
Click to expand...

2400 and Blue Dot both give off an incredibly bright white flash. Not your typical orange fireball.
 
23.0gn H110 (which isn't even max load) with 240gn CamPros has enough snap to make guests believe they are shooting a magnum and creates a huge fireball... in my case has pleased many
ps : The ceiling in my cubicle is supposed to be white, not pink!

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31 gr of h110/win296 with winchester large pistol primers hornady XTP 180gr 1.6 OAL with a heavy crimp. like very heavy. use good brass like hornady or starline.
 
UPDATE:

Thanks again for all the tips. Clearly, using a light bullet is the key - as the bullets get lighter, the powder charges get heavier and the fun begins.

Light bullets (180-200gr) for the 44 aren't as easy to find as the regular 240gr, but they're out there. I got ahold of some 200gr JHPs, and put them over 28gr of H110. The result was exactly what I was looking for, very similar to the factory Remington round (maybe even a bit more spectacular). They functioned perfectly in the revolver (of course), as well as the D.E., and everyone in the range was impressed. In fact, a couple of guys were surprised to find that my D.E. is "only" a 44 Mag - with the noise and fireball they assumed it was a 50AE.
 
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