Big Bad .44Mag Loads (rifle)
- Thread starter daroccot
- Start date
Sounds like a heavy load with jkt. bullet, I use the 328gr. WFN GC from M.T. Chambers with 20.5 grs .of H-110(same as 296), really lights it up in a handgun.Cast bullet will keep pressures down and I think a steady diet of your jacketed bullet load would be hard on revolvers.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Hogdon lists 19 grains as max for H110 for that bullet in a rifle load in it's online database.
As 296 is the same powder, I would NOT be looking for a bigger load.
As 296 is the same powder, I would NOT be looking for a bigger load.
Yes I read that too. That is undoubtibly using the top cannalure to seat, which will reduce the effective case volume. However if you look at the pistol load and seat to the bottom cannalure (which would give an effective case volume as if you were using a 240 gr bullet) max loads are 22.5gr H110/w296 (speer #13).
The question then becomes am I going to spike because i've now seated the bullet so that it contacts the rifling of the barrel? Previously I have seated to the bottom cannalure and loaded 20gr of w296 with no ill effect. Was the theoretical spike (of seating into rifling) avoided because of increased case capacity? I don't know.
I've even seen some loads of 24gr w296 behind the 240gr XTP over on THR.org (same case volume as the 300gr seated to the bottom cannalure).
If I want to work this load up, what is the reccomended increase interval of powder, in gr or % of load? What signs should I look out for with regards to pressure spikes? Would software programs like quick load be of more help in answering these questions?
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Well I decided not to shoot the bottom cannalure load (on the right from the rifle) Works fine in the revolver though. With the 300gr xtp's and seated to top cannalure 22.0 grains is about the max, I could probably go a bit more but there's no real need to. At 22.0 grains of w296 the primers (CCI 350) are flattened and starting to flow around the firing pin.
The Wichester booklet, entitledd, Winchester ball powder loading data, has the following information.
44 Remington Magnum, handgun. 240 grain lead, SWC, 25 grains of W296.
240 grain HSP, 24 grains of W296.
A footnote states; "Do not reduce powder charges with 296 powder. These loads must be used exactly as shown."
They don't show loads for a 44 mag rifle, but it is generally considered the Marlin will accept the same pressures as these loads shown, 37,500 for the cast bullet and 38,000 for the jacketed.
I have fired thousands of those loads, in four different revolvers, two S&W and two Ruger, as well as in the Marlin rifle.
44 Remington Magnum, handgun. 240 grain lead, SWC, 25 grains of W296.
240 grain HSP, 24 grains of W296.
A footnote states; "Do not reduce powder charges with 296 powder. These loads must be used exactly as shown."
They don't show loads for a 44 mag rifle, but it is generally considered the Marlin will accept the same pressures as these loads shown, 37,500 for the cast bullet and 38,000 for the jacketed.
I have fired thousands of those loads, in four different revolvers, two S&W and two Ruger, as well as in the Marlin rifle.
Ranch dog molds guy recommended to me a maximum of 21 grs of H110 for the 300 cast lead, in my 44 mag trapper.
I use 21 grs of H110 behind the Hornady 265 jacketed bullet, and it packs quite a punch with the little Winchester Trapper gun. Your load would be a little too heavy for my comfort level.
If I need more than power that, I use the 444.
762NATO, My mold is Lyman, 429421. It has a wide lube groove, then above that is a tapered, crimping groove. I always crimp in that groove and have no trouble in it feeding in the Marlin.
I taught two grandsons to become excellent off hand shooters with that rifle. Started out with it when they were maybe eleven. Went from pellet rifle, to 22 rifle to the 44 Marlin. At first I loaded it very light, then built up as they got bigger.
When they got to full power load, either 22 grains of 2400, or 25 grains of H110/W296, I set a cardboard box, about a foot square, out at 30 yards. We loaded three in the magazine and I told them the box was a bear that was going to get us. I had them keep the rifle to their shoulder and put three shots in the box, as quick as they could. They did amazingly well. I may have shot a hair faster (maybe) but those little beggers could make a smaller group on the box than I did!
Through all that the Marlin worked perfect, never once missed feeding.
I taught two grandsons to become excellent off hand shooters with that rifle. Started out with it when they were maybe eleven. Went from pellet rifle, to 22 rifle to the 44 Marlin. At first I loaded it very light, then built up as they got bigger.
When they got to full power load, either 22 grains of 2400, or 25 grains of H110/W296, I set a cardboard box, about a foot square, out at 30 yards. We loaded three in the magazine and I told them the box was a bear that was going to get us. I had them keep the rifle to their shoulder and put three shots in the box, as quick as they could. They did amazingly well. I may have shot a hair faster (maybe) but those little beggers could make a smaller group on the box than I did!
Through all that the Marlin worked perfect, never once missed feeding.
WRT accuracy I haven't put that many on paper, 9 actually three at 20gr seated to bottom cannalure, 3 at 21gr and 3 at 22gr as discussed in this thread. At 50 yards they all grouped under an inch. I suspect I can do better as my adrenelin level was a little high when testing these loads 
WRT feeding rounds seated to the bottom cannalure, I had to modify the marlin feeding mechanism.
WRT feeding rounds seated to the bottom cannalure, I had to modify the marlin feeding mechanism.
