Wanting new powder for 44 Mag. - Page 2

Noveldoc · November 7, 2009, 03:17 PM

I would try a good quality cast 240 SWC or, better, a DEWC. I use 4.5 of HP 38 in 44 Spl cases and get teeny groups with these, especially the DEWC.

My Blackhawk has hunting accuracy but not target accuracy if I load full tilt boogie in 44 Mag cases. Still fun to shoot though.

Tom

RidgwayCO · November 7, 2009, 05:09 PM

I agree with ArchAngelCD, it sounds like a copper-fouling problem...

The standard .44 Magnum powders I've tried are 296 and H110 with magnum primers, and 2400, AA #9, and VV N110 with standard primers. If one of these won't work for you, something's wrong with either the gun or the shooter.

Randy1911 · November 7, 2009, 10:56 PM

[QUOTE][/ Are you using a Magnum primer?
QUOTE]

I am not getting any unburnt powder residue. I am using Winchester primers which are listed on the box as "for standard or magnum loads".

I didn't make it to the range today but will defintly go tomorrow. I will report back on the results.

Bailey Boat · November 8, 2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

I am currently shooting off cross sticks for a rest since that is what I am going to take hunting.

What part of the gun is resting on the sticks???? The barrel or the frame???? You probably see where I'm going here?????

Randy1911 · November 8, 2009, 08:25 PM

Bailey Boat - The frame of the gun is what I am resting on the cross sticks. I have tried both ways and it didn't make a difference.

I measured the cylinder throats with my calipers today and they all measured .430. I had a friend try shooting it today and he didn't do any better than I did. We were shooting off sandbads. I am going to take it to my gunsmith tomorrow and have him check it out throughly and if he finds a problem I will send it back to Ruger. I also put a Simmonns(made by Bushnell) 2-6X32mm scope on it yesterday and that helped very little.

ArchAngelCD · November 8, 2009, 09:22 PM

You didn't mention if you checked for copper fouling like I suggested above. Like I said, that will ruin even the best efforts at accuracy.

Randy1911 · November 8, 2009, 11:42 PM

ArchAngelCD - I looked down the bore with a bore light and could see no sign of any kind of fouling. It was clean and bright. I am going to go and see if I can find a box of factory ammo tomorrow to see if that changes anything.

2ndwind · November 9, 2009, 12:08 AM

Make sure the screws holding the rear sight are tight.... I was ready to send a new S&W 625 back....till I discovered there was only one screw holding the sight into the frame....Loc Tight can be your friend....

evan price · November 9, 2009, 02:50 AM

Wow, I use AA#9 and a 240-XTP in my Super Redhawk. Your components are firstrate, any problem is either the gun or the shooter.

DWFan · November 9, 2009, 05:52 AM

From the Feb. '09 issue of Handloader magazine:
Sierra 240gr over 21.0gr AA-Scots 4100 delivers 1403 fps with only a 15 fps deviation in a 7.5" Super Blackhawk.

Radaray · November 11, 2009, 05:30 PM

Well, he said he tried a scope on it, and that didn't help any either. I will tell you something about that albeit very embarrassing. I have a SBH with a 10 1/2" barrel that I normally use a Leupold 4X scope with. However, I take it off and use open sights when working up new loads, so I can see the screens of my chrony. After I finished once, I remounted the scope and never checked it. A group of my shooting buddies got together to do some shooting, and none of them could hit anything with my Ruger. They blamed it on the scope. When I looked through it, it was like looking through a tunnel~~~no magnification or field of view. It was only after I sent off a letter to Leupold when I was removing it to send it to the factory that I discovered that I mounted it on BACKWARDS.
Point is, the loose screw behind the gun can over look some of the most basic errors. Does sound like something either very simple, or a problem with the gun. Most any of those loads will shoot into 5" at 100 yards with my rig, and I'm not a very good shot.

Randy1911 · November 11, 2009, 07:49 PM

I got a surprise today when I back to the range. I was reading in my manual that H-110 required a "HEAVY" roll crimp. So I increased the amount of crimp on my rounds. What a difference something so little can make. I started getting 1-1/2" groups @ 25 yards after doing just that little adjustment. You learn something everyday. I will now start going to the rifle range and trying longer shots. Thanks for all the suggestions from eveyone.

P.S. I bought a box of WWB to test and I don't know what powder they use but they had a light taper crimp on them. But they shot good.

evan price · November 12, 2009, 02:08 AM

The heavy magnum powders need to be confined to a small space until they really start burning to get the best ignition. Hence, the heavy roll crimp.

ArchAngelCD · November 12, 2009, 03:37 PM

Great to hear you found the problem and you can really enjoy shooting your gun.

H110/W296 are hard to ignite ball powders which require a Magnum primer and heavy crimp. (as you found out) The heavy crimp gives the powder time to build pressure before the bullet is released allowing the powder to burn properly and more importantly, burn at the same rate from round to round. Your SD numbers must have been all over the place before and probably much closer now.

November 7, 2009, 05:09 PM	#27
RidgwayCO Member Join Date: February 22, 2006 Location: Beautiful Western Colorado Posts: 302	I agree with ArchAngelCD, it sounds like a copper-fouling problem... The standard .44 Magnum powders I've tried are 296 and H110 with magnum primers, and 2400, AA #9, and VV N110 with standard primers. If one of these won't work for you, something's wrong with either the gun or the shooter. __________________ "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Nope, not a single word about hunting...

November 7, 2009, 10:56 PM	#28
Randy1911 Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 357	[QUOTE][/ Are you using a Magnum primer? QUOTE] I am not getting any unburnt powder residue. I am using Winchester primers which are listed on the box as "for standard or magnum loads". I didn't make it to the range today but will defintly go tomorrow. I will report back on the results. __________________ NRA Member 26 year Reloader

November 8, 2009, 08:25 PM	#30
Randy1911 Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 357	Updated 11/8/09 Bailey Boat - The frame of the gun is what I am resting on the cross sticks. I have tried both ways and it didn't make a difference. I measured the cylinder throats with my calipers today and they all measured .430. I had a friend try shooting it today and he didn't do any better than I did. We were shooting off sandbads. I am going to take it to my gunsmith tomorrow and have him check it out throughly and if he finds a problem I will send it back to Ruger. I also put a Simmonns(made by Bushnell) 2-6X32mm scope on it yesterday and that helped very little. __________________ NRA Member 26 year Reloader

November 8, 2009, 09:22 PM	#31
ArchAngelCD Member Join Date: November 25, 2006 Location: PA, USA Posts: 6,367	You didn't mention if you checked for copper fouling like I suggested above. Like I said, that will ruin even the best efforts at accuracy. __________________ Remember boys and girls, gun control only prevents law abiding Americans from owning guns because the Bad Guys don’t obey the laws, no matter how restrictive or lenient the laws are!

November 8, 2009, 11:42 PM	#32
Randy1911 Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 357	ArchAngelCD - I looked down the bore with a bore light and could see no sign of any kind of fouling. It was clean and bright. I am going to go and see if I can find a box of factory ammo tomorrow to see if that changes anything. __________________ NRA Member 26 year Reloader

November 7, 2009, 03:17 PM	#26
Noveldoc Member Join Date: July 13, 2009 Posts: 289	I would try a good quality cast 240 SWC or, better, a DEWC. I use 4.5 of HP 38 in 44 Spl cases and get teeny groups with these, especially the DEWC. My Blackhawk has hunting accuracy but not target accuracy if I load full tilt boogie in 44 Mag cases. Still fun to shoot though. Tom

November 9, 2009, 12:08 AM	#33
2ndwind Member Join Date: September 7, 2008 Posts: 13	Make sure the screws holding the rear sight are tight.... I was ready to send a new S&W 625 back....till I discovered there was only one screw holding the sight into the frame....Loc Tight can be your friend....

November 9, 2009, 02:50 AM	#34
evan price Member Join Date: December 7, 2005 Location: http://www.ohioccw.org/ Ohio's best CCW resource! Posts: 2,972	Wow, I use AA#9 and a 240-XTP in my Super Redhawk. Your components are firstrate, any problem is either the gun or the shooter. __________________ Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc

November 9, 2009, 05:52 AM	#35
DWFan Member Join Date: May 1, 2008 Posts: 102	From the Feb. '09 issue of Handloader magazine: Sierra 240gr over 21.0gr AA-Scots 4100 delivers 1403 fps with only a 15 fps deviation in a 7.5" Super Blackhawk.

November 11, 2009, 05:30 PM	#36
Radaray Member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Posts: 38	Well, he said he tried a scope on it, and that didn't help any either. I will tell you something about that albeit very embarrassing. I have a SBH with a 10 1/2" barrel that I normally use a Leupold 4X scope with. However, I take it off and use open sights when working up new loads, so I can see the screens of my chrony. After I finished once, I remounted the scope and never checked it. A group of my shooting buddies got together to do some shooting, and none of them could hit anything with my Ruger. They blamed it on the scope. When I looked through it, it was like looking through a tunnel~~~no magnification or field of view. It was only after I sent off a letter to Leupold when I was removing it to send it to the factory that I discovered that I mounted it on BACKWARDS. Point is, the loose screw behind the gun can over look some of the most basic errors. Does sound like something either very simple, or a problem with the gun. Most any of those loads will shoot into 5" at 100 yards with my rig, and I'm not a very good shot.

November 11, 2009, 07:49 PM	#37
Randy1911 Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 357	I got a surprise today when I back to the range. I was reading in my manual that H-110 required a "HEAVY" roll crimp. So I increased the amount of crimp on my rounds. What a difference something so little can make. I started getting 1-1/2" groups @ 25 yards after doing just that little adjustment. You learn something everyday. I will now start going to the rifle range and trying longer shots. Thanks for all the suggestions from eveyone. P.S. I bought a box of WWB to test and I don't know what powder they use but they had a light taper crimp on them. But they shot good. __________________ NRA Member 26 year Reloader

November 12, 2009, 02:08 AM	#38
evan price Member Join Date: December 7, 2005 Location: http://www.ohioccw.org/ Ohio's best CCW resource! Posts: 2,972	The heavy magnum powders need to be confined to a small space until they really start burning to get the best ignition. Hence, the heavy roll crimp. __________________ Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc

November 12, 2009, 03:37 PM	#39
ArchAngelCD Member Join Date: November 25, 2006 Location: PA, USA Posts: 6,367	Great to hear you found the problem and you can really enjoy shooting your gun. H110/W296 are hard to ignite ball powders which require a Magnum primer and heavy crimp. (as you found out) The heavy crimp gives the powder time to build pressure before the bullet is released allowing the powder to burn properly and more importantly, burn at the same rate from round to round. Your SD numbers must have been all over the place before and probably much closer now. __________________ Remember boys and girls, gun control only prevents law abiding Americans from owning guns because the Bad Guys don’t obey the laws, no matter how restrictive or lenient the laws are!

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