Cartridge too long.. Handloading issues and solutions. Range Page 2 & 3 44-40WCF

Found bit of time to dig in my old loading notes, and dig deep in the old powder jugs. I found some loads to work up for rel 7, titegroup, and 700X, with powders to match.

Hmmm the 700 X came from a store that's been out of business for quite some time, price tag says $5.xx. Times were good, and we didn't know it!
 
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John Y Cannuck said:
Found bit of time to dig in my old loading notes, and dig deep in the old powder jugs. I found some loads to work up for rel 7, titegroup, and 700X, with powders to match.

Hmmm the 700 X came from a store that's been out of business for quite some time, price tag says $5.xx. Times were good, and we didn't know it!
Click to expand...

How true. I've just opened a container of Bullseye the other day that I had left over from my 'Bullseye match' paper punching days. Recently picked up a Kimber Super Match II that I was prepping some loads up for. The sticker price on it, $4.25.
 
Ok, time for the latest batch of loads.

A few comments first, the loads below include some of my personal work, not in any manual I have ever seen. These I developed a few years ago, over an extended period of heavy research, head scratchin', and shooting from very low levels to work them up.

Note also that these were again in SHORT 44-40 cases and fired in a Model 92 Winchester (Very strong action) I expect there would be no issue using the loads in standard length cases, except they would tie up the feed mechanism of my '92. See Post #1 for details.

For the most part, these are not safe in handguns and rifles of lesser strength. If you don't know, don't use them.

For each load listed I fired a number of work up rounds. A few at each charge weight change, before settling in to the test load for that powder. If there had been an indication of pressure during work up, I would not have done the test, and I'd be pulling bullets.

Please note that the loads developed in this thread are loads designed for CAST bullets, Jacketed bullets will have higher pressures, possibly dangerously so.

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I'll start right off with one of my work ups.

Reloader 7 22 grains.
250 grain Cast bullet
CCI 350 (Mag) primer

1016
1041
1006
1002
1004
1036
1049
1065
979.9
1035

This load was pleasant to shoot, and gave a 2.5" group @ fifty yards. Barrel clean. Low and slightly left.

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44-40 250 grain cast bullet
CCI 350 primer
9.5 Grains of Unique

1318
1319
1293
1281
1279
1302
1290
1294
1315

Only one shot hit the damned paper, High and left. (Forgot my scope, and camera) didn't find that out until I was changing targets. So no group size.
Bore clean.

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44-40 250 Grain Cast
19 grains 4759
CCI 350 primer

1436
1388
1347
1398
1497???
1406
1387
1489??
1406
1342
1386

Ok, This one I will have to re-shoot. I suspect that each charge needs to be weighed with this powder. I dropped them using a Redding micrometer powder measure as I did all the rest, but I recall that the loads did not meter well.

3" group, clean bore. Low and center.

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44-40 250 grain Cast bullet
11 grains of HS6

1217
1225
1235
1212
1230
1231
1235
1213
1227
1251

Clean bore 3" group, a bit low

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Here's another one of my old home brewed loads.

44-40 250 grain cast
CCI 350 primer
9 grains 700X

1302
1326
1330
1298
1299
1312
1310
1305

This load seems to have a sharp recoil, and primers condition is different from the other loads, it is somewhat flattened, indicating that this is near Max.
4" group, clean bore. A bit right of Bull.

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Now you just can't go shooting without a little fun, so I loaded up some of the tiny bit of Black powder I have.

All that would fit tightly compressed in these shortened cases is 33.5 Grains (BY VOLUME!)

44-40 250 grain cast bullet
33.5 Grains (Volume) Compressed black powder Goex FFG
CCI 350 primer

1001
1011
1018
1003
989.7
1029

Had to wait for the smoke to clear from each shot to check the chronograph. Bore dirty as hell. (That's why I left it to last)

3" group low and left.
 
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Oh FFS!

I had a couple of misfires during these tests, and I've had a few before, so, with the last round of shooting being Black powder, and the resulting mess, I decided on a complete strip and clean. Gummy firing pin right?

Nope, ^&**& broken firing pin! It broke in just the perfect place that the tip didn't fall out the front of the bolt. That's why I could continue to shoot.

So this project is at an end. Until I get another pin, or maybe make one, but that might be an episode with no lathe. I do have a couple of friends with machine shops though.
 
Ive had problems Crimping pills into .375 winchester cases, I bought a LFCD an found it wasnt the best as it wasnt pushin the case into the bullet cannelure, So i now stick the loaded pill in from the top of the Lee FCD an crimp it that way... seems to be working.
had a couple fall back into the case....

il make a new topic
WL
 
44-40 short 250 grain cast bullet Hogdon bullet lube
8.5gr 700X

1256
1175
1237
1260
1235
1234
1256
1221

Large group off paper to the left??

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44-40 short 250 grain cast bullet Hogdon bullet lube
18.5gr 4759

1403
1387
1409
1447
1413
1438
1383
1408
1452

7" group right

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44-40 short 250 grain cast bullet Hogdon bullet lube
9.0gr Unique

1253
1258
1245
1253
1234
1247
1245
1234
1192
1246

4" group a bit low. Unique is promising in it's consistency.

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44-40 short 250 grain cast bullet Hogdon bullet lube
9.0 gr Green Dot

1238
1239
1264
1232
1261
1254
1232
1224
1248
1259

This stuff looked fine until I went down range. Not a mark on the paper, and the backing paper was too shot up to see a group anywhere at this point. I will need to repeat this one. The velocities were consistent.

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44-40 short 250 grain cast bullet Hogdon bullet lube

19 gr AA5744

1175
1119
1170

(&*&*&&*(!!!! I broke my ejector and jammed the rifle Empty thankfully.

4" three shot group Need to redo this as well, when I find an ejector!

The bolt in this rifle, although it's tight headspace wise, is corroded at the bolt face, probably from black powder usage many years ago, it's a black powder bolt, in a more modern receiver. I may have to hunt up a bolt.
 
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