HS-6 safe to download in .44mag?

[IM_Lugger]

Starting load for HS-6 240gr JHP bullet is 12gr. I’m using 245gr Frontiers. Is it safe to down load to say 10gr? I know .44spl max load (240cast) is 8gr…


PS: I know I can use other/ligher load powders but would like to stay with HS-6 for now...

 

[Big JD-From the hills]

I wouldn't see an issue with it... It can even be used with the low preasures of the .38special, so I don't see a concern with the 44mag. Too light and the worst that could happen is unburned powder gumming it up.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

The old 44-40 has a bigger case than the 44 mag, and I've used 9 grains under a 200 grain bullet. In the 44-40 that gives about 1200 fps (rifle).
I doub't you'll have any problems.

 

[NSRA Member]

From Quickload:

Cartridge : .44 Rem. Mag. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .429, 240, SRA JHC 8610
Cartridge O.A.L. L6 : 1.610 inch or 40.89 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch or 558.8 mm
Powder : Hodgdon HS-6

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt Btime
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 37 8.00 1100 645 12214 727 98.9 2.284
-18.0 38 8.20 1119 668 12765 742 99.2 2.241
-16.0 39 8.40 1139 691 13333 757 99.5 2.200
-14.0 40 8.60 1158 714 13918 771 99.7 2.160
-12.0 40 8.80 1176 737 14520 784 99.8 2.122
-10.0 41 9.00 1195 761 15139 797 99.9 2.085
-08.0 42 9.20 1213 784 15776 810 100.0 2.050
-06.0 43 9.40 1231 807 16430 821 100.0 2.016
-04.0 44 9.60 1248 830 17102 833 100.0 1.984
-02.0 45 9.80 1266 854 17793 844 100.0 1.953
+00.0 46 10.00 1283 877 18502 855 100.0 1.923
+02.0 47 10.20 1299 900 19229 867 100.0 1.894
+04.0 48 10.40 1316 923 19976 878 100.0 1.866
+06.0 49 10.60 1332 946 20743 889 100.0 1.839
+08.0 50 10.80 1348 969 21529 901 100.0 1.813
+10.0 51 11.00 1364 992 22335 912 100.0 1.788

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 46 10.00 1310 915 21083 821 100.0 1.850
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 46 10.00 1239 818 15952 893 99.1 2.039

 

[IM_Lugger]

The 245gr frontiers I'm usung have a pretty short taparing (bullet photo here) so I can probably seat it deep enough in the magnum case to match OAL of .44spl round (1.450")

any reason not to do this?

 

[NSRA Member]

Should be good. Pressure is still below max.


Cartridge : .44 Rem. Mag. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .429, 240, SRA JHC 8610
Cartridge O.A.L. L6 : 1.450 inch or 36.83 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch or 558.8 mm
Powder : Hodgdon HS-6

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt Btime
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 49 8.00 1152 707 16882 680 99.5 2.102
-18.0 50 8.20 1172 732 17725 692 99.7 2.061
-16.0 51 8.40 1192 757 18598 704 99.8 2.021
-14.0 52 8.60 1212 782 19501 715 100.0 1.983
-12.0 54 8.80 1231 807 20436 726 100.0 1.947
-10.0 55 9.00 1250 832 21404 736 100.0 1.912
-08.0 56 9.20 1268 857 22404 745 100.0 1.878
-06.0 57 9.40 1287 882 23438 755 100.0 1.845
-04.0 58 9.60 1305 907 24506 765 100.0 1.813
-02.0 60 9.80 1323 932 25611 775 100.0 1.782
+00.0 61 10.00 1340 957 26752 785 100.0 1.753
+02.0 62 10.20 1357 982 27930 794 100.0 1.724
+04.0 63 10.40 1375 1007 29148 804 100.0 1.697
+06.0 65 10.60 1391 1032 30405 814 100.0 1.671
+08.0 66 10.80 1408 1057 31703 823 100.0 1.645 ! HOT LOAD !
+10.0 67 11.00 1425 1082 33044 833 100.0 1.621 ! HOT LOAD !

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 61 10.00 1365 993 30665 753 100.0 1.688 ! HOT LOAD !
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 61 10.00 1301 902 22882 829 99.7 1.845

 

[sunray]

You can load .44 mag brass to .44 Special velocities with no fuss. It's actually a good idea. If you shoot the shorter .44 Spec cases in a magnum cylinder you'll get all kinds of gunk building up. Not a big deal if you don't then load it with magnums without first cleaning the gunk out.
You do not want to use the cast data for a jacketed bullet though. Nor vice versa.