44 Magnum carbine help

[herkyguy]

So i've loaded up some Nosler 200 grain jacketed hollow point bullets with 22.5 grains of Accurate #9, per the Nosler reloading manual. No signs of overpressure with the first four out of my Winchester 1892, but they chrono'd right around 2025 fps when the manual says I should be seeing velocity around 1800 fps.

I used the RCBS Chargemaster to weigh the powder and went this afternoon to re-weigh the bullets (which were indeed the 200 grain bullets I thought they were). That box is the only open box of 200 grain .44 caliber bullets that I have.

The only thing i can think is chrono error? I shook a few of the loaded rounds as well and could hear the powder slushing around a bit, so i am confident i didn't overload them.

So what should I do with an extra 200 fps? I've almost always seen a bit under the test velocity of any round I've loaded and never seen over predicted.

 

[redbullitt]

Is your chrono trustworthy? That would be my first place to look.

Scale calibrated properly and away from drafts, leveled, etc?

Lots of things in play here. Powder variation, barrel variation (some are just fast or slow), weather, CHRONOGRAPH shenanigans, bullet variation. All of these things added up can easily give you what you are seeing in my experience. Your loading book is a guide, and it will give you a guess at what you will end up getting, but it is far from exact.

What is your barrel length vs the data's barrel length?

If possible, zero at an exact known distance and then fire some careful shots a a tall paper target at a known distance (150 or 200 yards should be plenty) and actually measure your drop. Easy to work back to your velocity from there. That will tell us a lot. The bullet never lies to ya, but the chrono can.

 

[Lafitte]

What is your barrel length vs the data's barrel length?

Since 44mag is a pistol caliber and you are shooting a carbine the barrel length is probably the factor. Just back off a little on the charge if you want to make "book" velocity.

Lafitte

 

[Walkalong]

Any time you get what seem like crazy numbers from a chrono, try it again with the chrono in good daylight with a high sun.

If you are truly getting 2025 FPS, something's wrong. Double check the scale as well.

 

[Jack B.]

If you used 22.5grs. of #9 the Nosler manual says that's 100% load density. You shouldn't be able to hear the power slushing around if your O.A.C.L. is 1.580 and you are using Nosler bullets and Winchester cases. They are using a Ruger 18.5 inch barrel for their data. I believe your barrel is 20 inches. Sorry don't have an answer for you but it sounds like you got everything well within tolerance since you are going by what Nosler says is the most accurate load and is also the starting load for #9 powder. Guess you just have a better gun.

 

[buck460XVR]

I don't see an issue as long as your powder charge is really where it's supposed to be at. I'd be more concerned about accuracy as long as I knew I was well within published recipes. Depending on the purpose of the rounds(plinking, target shooting, hunting) I might reduce the powder charge to make the rounds more pleasant to shoot. If dropping the powder charge slightly resulted in a slight reduction of velocity, then I'd know everything was right.

 

[herkyguy]

Thanks for the replies. I intend to use this particular load for NC deer this Fall, so I'm hesitant to back off the powder (also since it's the starting load via Nosler). I re-measured COAL at 1.6" instead of the Nosler length of 1.58" which could explain the powder slosh. It's very faint, but it's there. I am confident in my RCBS scale and dispenser, but thinking about it more and more, i'm not as confident that I didn't have my chrono on a slight decline. I shot 5 more rounds today along with the rest of a box of PMC 180 grain hollowpoints (mostly so I could use the brass). My load is just as accurate, if not slightly better than the PMC. I was shooting a bit standing unsupported and also from an improvised rest.

again, no indications of overpressure in the Winchester cases from my handloads, so I'll probably keep the remaining rounds for deer season.

 

[Toprudder]

Any time you get what seem like crazy numbers from a chrono, try it again with the chrono in good daylight with a high sun.

And I would add to that "move the chrono a little further from the muzzle".