44 magnum recepe.
- Thread starter CZJief
- Start date
I can't vouch personally as I load the 240gr Campros (11.0gr CFE Pistol), but will the load data on CamPro's website not work for you?
h ttps://www.campro.ca/index.php?id=1021&produit=Cal.%2044%20200gr%20TC%20FCP
| Manufacturer | Powder Type | Grains (Min/Max) |
|---|---|---|
| HODGDON | CFE PISTOL | 12.0 / 13.4 |
| HODGDON | H110 | 27.50 / 28.50 |
| HODGDON | HP38 | 10.00 / 11.90 |
| IMR | 4227 | 25.00 / 27.00 |
| SNPE | BA6 | 19.80 / 24.60 |
| VIHTAVUORI | N105 | 16.80 / 19.40 |
| VIHTAVUORI | N110 | 24.40 / 26.00 |
| VIHTAVUORI | N320 | 10.00 / 11.00 |
| VIHTAVUORI | N340 | 11.70 / 13.00 |
8 grs should work well. I shoot 215’s with 8 grs out of my contender carbine, 20” barrel.
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
And I have another question for the knowledge and experience here:
I shoot Cam Pro 240's and hard cast with 23 Gr. of H110, out of a 77/44 and it works great. Noticeable recoil in such a light rifle, and I have no doubt it would be just fine for deer or black bear.
I am just a little hesitant about shooting loads that hot out of a Smith 629. Any comments?
I shoot Cam Pro 240's and hard cast with 23 Gr. of H110, out of a 77/44 and it works great. Noticeable recoil in such a light rifle, and I have no doubt it would be just fine for deer or black bear.
I am just a little hesitant about shooting loads that hot out of a Smith 629. Any comments?
Last edited:
Your gun should handle the load.
H110 per the load data on Campro's site (also the same data as Hodgdon's reloading centre). Lots of boom to impress your friends. Miserable to shoot though.
I agree. Hard on your shoulder and the gun.
hifiwasabi
Regular
- Location
- I live in a giant bucket.
I see mention of fireballs with 296/H110 from shorter barrels; is there a powder that has complete combustion in a 12” barrel, but still offers full house performance with the 240 XTP?
Tried something new at the range this morning. I have a pile of Missouri Bullet Co 230gr cast SWC bullets that I was loading as a lighter load using Unique (9.0 gr) for my revolver. Since then, I have bought a Citadel 44mag lever action so I thought I'd use up the bullets making a load a little punchier. I also was given from an old-boy who was getting out of reloading an unopened pound of Blue Dot that I don't have any use for.
My Cast Bullet Handbook reloading manual said for a 232gr cast to use 14.4-18.2gr of Blue Dot. The old Lyman #48 shows a 240gr cast being pushed by 14-15.5gr of Blue Dot.
I ended up loading them with 15.5gr and had some pretty terrible results. I had 2 or 3 of those bullets tumble and go sideways through the paper at 50 yards. I didn't pack a chrono so I don't know how fast or slow these were moving. My current thoughts are they were either going too slow to stabilize or maybe an issue that since they don't have gas checks installed they aren't expanding fully to engage the rifling? For now, I will continue to load them light and/or just use them for close range plinking in the revolver. Any ideas would be appreciated
Point to note: before these loadings I've been shooting CamPro 240gr FMJFP using 11.0gr of CFE Pistol and this rifle seems to group about 4" at 50 yards shooting off my elbows using the peep sights, so I know it's not the most accurate rifle, but surely it can do better than the 8" group with the cast bullets
My Cast Bullet Handbook reloading manual said for a 232gr cast to use 14.4-18.2gr of Blue Dot. The old Lyman #48 shows a 240gr cast being pushed by 14-15.5gr of Blue Dot.
I ended up loading them with 15.5gr and had some pretty terrible results. I had 2 or 3 of those bullets tumble and go sideways through the paper at 50 yards. I didn't pack a chrono so I don't know how fast or slow these were moving. My current thoughts are they were either going too slow to stabilize or maybe an issue that since they don't have gas checks installed they aren't expanding fully to engage the rifling? For now, I will continue to load them light and/or just use them for close range plinking in the revolver. Any ideas would be appreciated
Point to note: before these loadings I've been shooting CamPro 240gr FMJFP using 11.0gr of CFE Pistol and this rifle seems to group about 4" at 50 yards shooting off my elbows using the peep sights, so I know it's not the most accurate rifle, but surely it can do better than the 8" group with the cast bullets
Bluedot works better at or close to maximum. Try more powder.
One of the things to consider about the 44 mag in a rifle barrel with the light loads is the twist. I was frustrated in the past with a Henry in 44 mag with light Unique loads and a the 1-36 twist rate. They need more speed to spin faster and stabilized. I tried 27 grains W296 with a 200 grain cast bullet in a 44 mag B92 and had much better accuracy with the same rifling twist.
I was coming back to say something similar. Light loads are great for cowboy action shooting but when you want a hunting load I found you had to be close to maximum to get decent accuracy. Stuff that was giving god accuracy in my pistol at 100 wasn’t working in my rifles. Taurus Raging Bull compared to my Contender and Ruger semi. Another example is my 10” Contender pistol barrel shoots excellent groups at 25 m with 180 wc but my 21” barrel isn’t as accurate with the same load. 240 gr bullet with Alliant 2400 or H-110 at max works well at the hundred.
Not sure if it's the bullet or the powder, but I returned to the range today with a couple more loadings and I can't get this combo not to tumble and stay below 15" groups. As noted above, my reloading manual lists 18.2gr as maximum for Blue Dot and this size cast bullet. I loaded 5 each of:
Black: 16.5 grains
Green: 17.0 grains
Blue: 17.5 grains
Red: 18.0 grains
I was starting to wonder if maybe it was the rifle, so I also fired two groups of five with 240gr CamPro FMJ being pushed by 11.0gr of CFE Pistol, and they grouped about 6". All shots fired in reasonably quick succession, from the elbows, at 50 yards. I know these large peep sights aren't designed for precision, so I expect the FMJ/CFE Pistol to be reasonable
Black: 16.5 grains
Green: 17.0 grains
Blue: 17.5 grains
Red: 18.0 grains
I was starting to wonder if maybe it was the rifle, so I also fired two groups of five with 240gr CamPro FMJ being pushed by 11.0gr of CFE Pistol, and they grouped about 6". All shots fired in reasonably quick succession, from the elbows, at 50 yards. I know these large peep sights aren't designed for precision, so I expect the FMJ/CFE Pistol to be reasonable
