New loads for DE .44 mag

I it the range on the w/e with the .44 DE and 2 sets of loads. #1 was using Longshot with rounds from 11.6 to 12 gr, #2 was using W296 with 23.6 to 24.0 gr. Both were using a 240 gr JHP.

Every round using Longshot cycled the gun no problem. Worked flawlessly. Using W296, all but 1 round cycled properly, I had 1 round with 23.6 that wouldn't cycle the slide fully back into battery. Every other round worked great.

For S&G I tried the rest of the factory Win ammo that I had, 3 of 20 did not cycle properly.

Of the Longshot and the W296, my feeling was the Longshot seemed to work a little better and was a little more accurate, but that could have been my arms getting little tired by the time I got to the W296.

So, I think I will be loading something just under max from now on for the DE, both powders worked well, I think I have a slight preference for Longshot (it metered more reliably), but will prolly have lots more fun doing more "testing".
 
For me, H110/W296 works fine at 23 gn but I get a piece of brass right at my forehead on random occasion. And no, I do not limpwrist. With the Longshot load, it's much more pleasant to shoot and the ejection pattern is much more constant, 5 o'clock 95% of the time.

You might want to take into consideration that my Desert Eagle have at least 1,200 rounds down the pipe. The recoil spring might be a little bit softer.
 
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For me, H110/W296 works fine at 23 gn but I get a piece of brass right at my forehead on random occasion. And no, I do not limpwrist. With the Longshot load, it's much more pleasant to shoot and the ejection pattern is much more constant, 5 o'clock 95% of the time.

You might want to take into consideration that my Desert Eagle have at least 1,200 rounds down the pipe. The recoil spring might be a little bit softer.

Yes, with the longshot the ejection was so consistent, I put my case down to catch the brass and 80% of it was on the case. Finding brass in the snow is such a pain...
 
2400 is my fav powder for anything magnum....19.5 -20 grs under 24o grs Keith style bullet.
Big boom and very accurate!

Elmer Keith developed the 44 mag using 22 grains of 2400 and his famous designed bullet.
If you want power and you want accuracy, it is pretty hard to beat that load.
It is a bit hotter than the oft' quoted 24 grains of H110/W296. None of those three powders are known as powders that retain their accuracy if loaded down very much.
In silhouette shooting with a Super Blackhawk, I found I could lower the 2400 to 20 grains, which still seemed quite accurate, would hit the 200 metre ram by using only one more click of elevation and would still knock them down.
 
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