Grey Morel
Member
I was looking to build up some loads for my 44 magnum using HP38 (my general pistol powder) and light weight 165gr bullets.
Hodgdon claims the MAX load for this weight is a meager 7gr @ 13,900 CUP, producing only 1,088 fps.
I realize that CUP pressures can actually be as much as 20% higher than PSI pressures as measured by transducer. But that still only give you 16,800 PSI... Less than 1/2 of the 36,000 SAAMI spec.
All of the other powders Hodgdon lists are right there with HP38 for these light bullet loads, so there is no apparent performance to be gained by switching powders.
It seems strange to me that a 44 magnum, with 14 grains more case capacity AND and additional 15,000 psi operating pressure, can't safely throw a 165gr bullet any faster than a 45 automatic regardless of the powder used.
Hodgdon claims the MAX load for this weight is a meager 7gr @ 13,900 CUP, producing only 1,088 fps.
I realize that CUP pressures can actually be as much as 20% higher than PSI pressures as measured by transducer. But that still only give you 16,800 PSI... Less than 1/2 of the 36,000 SAAMI spec.
All of the other powders Hodgdon lists are right there with HP38 for these light bullet loads, so there is no apparent performance to be gained by switching powders.
It seems strange to me that a 44 magnum, with 14 grains more case capacity AND and additional 15,000 psi operating pressure, can't safely throw a 165gr bullet any faster than a 45 automatic regardless of the powder used.