44 Magnum loads for my Super Redhawk Alaskan?

[torchroadster]

So I've decided to start reloading for my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, chambered in 44 Magnum (2.5" barrel).

On hand I have H110 and both standard and magnum primers.

I've ordered the following bullets:

Cast Performance 320 gr WLNGC
PRVI Partizan 240 gr JHP

I'd like a really stout +P+ load for the 320 gr and something more standard for the 240 gr JHPs.

Any starting and max load recommendations? I'm happy to try different powders if it makes sense, but H110 is just the closest I have right now that seems suitable.

Thanks to all!

 

[sparkyv]

My heavies are 300 grainers, but H110 certainly will get you go where you want to be, torchroadster. AA#9 may as well. I haven't explored the 2400 potential to its fullest, yet.

 

[Targa]

23.5 grains of H110 with the 240’s let’s you know that you just pulled the trigger on something, that’s for sure.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So I've decided to start reloading for my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, chambered in 44 Magnum (2.5" barrel).

On hand I have H110 and both standard and magnum primers.

I've ordered the following bullets:

Cast Performance 320 gr WLNGC
PRVI Partizan 240 gr JHP

I'd like a really stout +P+ load for the 320 gr and something more standard for the 240 gr JHPs.

Any starting and max load recommendations? I'm happy to try different powders if it makes sense, but H110 is just the closest I have right now that seems suitable.

Thanks to all!

I have never loaded for a short barrel in .44Mag but I have loaded the Cast Performance 320gr and the Sierra 300gr JHC for a 10” Contender and a 7-12” Super Blackhawk. I like Accurate 4100 and Blue Dot for those heavier bullets. No.9 works well for the jacketed Sierra but I didn’t get the best results. 2400 is great with just about any cast bullet in a .44 but since you’re looking for screaming velocity from a snubby, I think 4100 (a.k.a. Ramshot Enforcer) is going to be the ticket.

 

[torchroadster]

23.5 grains of H110 with the 240’s let’s you know that you just pulled the trigger on something, that’s for sure.

What OAL would you suggest for a JHP?

 

[Targa]

Crimped in the cannelure and your good to go,

 

[Rule3]

There is no definition for a +P 44 mag. Using H110 it is pretty much all or nothing
It will be a flame thrower!!!! Lots of blast and flash as limited by the short barrel

Lots of powders can be used. Check manuals For the 240 gr Hodgdon has data.

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

I wonder if Longshot or something else a little faster than H110 wouldn't be more effective out of that barrel?

 

[Hartkopf]

I wonder if Longshot or something else a little faster than H110 wouldn't be more effective out of that barrel?

Nope. Not for max velocity.

Edit: Something slightly faster might produce more velocity in a short barrel, but not Longshot. (I initially responded to Longshot) Accurate No. 9 maybe. It’s almost the same burn rate as H110.

 

[Rule3]

With that short of a barrel you are not going to get max velocity regardless of the powder. Longshot will work just fine, yes with H110 you will get a little more but is it worth the flame? Most of it will be out the barrel. Never understood the 2.5 barrel on that big of a caliber.? This is were a chrono will come in useful
I like 2400 for magnum stuff, a little more wiggle room.

 

[n2omike]

With that short of a barrel you are not going to get max velocity regardless of the powder. Longshot will work just fine, yes with H110 you will get a little more but is it worth the flame? Most of it will be out the barrel. Never understood the 2.5 barrel on that big of a caliber.? This is were a chrono will come in useful
I like 2400 for magnum stuff, a little more wiggle room.

Very good points. Magnums definitely work better when you can actually harness the majority of that extra powder with longer barrel lengths. A chrono and a close eye on pressures would provide good data... but it's not going to shoot like a 6" barrel no matter what you do.

This being said, the best results I've had with higher power loads in both .44 Mag and .50AE were with H110/W296. It was with 6-8" barrels. H110 works really well at higher pressures. Does not like to be under-loaded. Tried to do subsonic 220 grain 300BO with it, and velocity deviation was significant. 4227 may also be another powder to try. 2-1/2" barrel is not much to work with. A MAX load of H110/W296 and just realizing you're going to take a major velocity hit is probably the best formula without doing a crap-ton of testing.

 

[torchroadster]

Thanks to all. All the dies, etc. are on hand now. I hope to have some loads run and tested sometime next week. I'll report back with my results.

 

[n2omike]

Thanks to all. All the dies, etc. are on hand now. I hope to have some loads run and tested sometime next week. I'll report back with my results.

I believe the heaviest bullets will work best with your short barrel. Less powder to burn and more time in the barrel to make use of it.
If it's a bear gun and penetration is what you're after, a heavy bullet with lots of momentum may be the best choice.
You're not going to do well at all trying to accelerate a lighter projective very fast.
Good Luck!

 

[Hartkopf]

Very good points. Magnums definitely work better when you can actually harness the majority of that extra powder with longer barrel lengths. A chrono and a close eye on pressures would provide good data... but it's not going to shoot like a 6" barrel no matter what you do.

This being said, the best results I've had with higher power loads in both .44 Mag and .50AE were with H110/W296. It was with 6-8" barrels. H110 works really well at higher pressures. Does not like to be under-loaded. Tried to do subsonic 220 grain 300BO with it, and velocity deviation was significant. 4227 may also be another powder to try. 2-1/2" barrel is not much to work with. A MAX load of H110/W296 and just realizing you're going to take a major velocity hit is probably the best formula without doing a crap-ton of testing.

Your last sentence sums it up IMO. The short barrel will produce less velocity and there’s no good way around it.



Almost always what produces the highest velocity in a longer handgun barrel also produces the most velocity in a short barrel. Hairs could be split with very similar powders but jumping to a significantly faster burning powder usually isn’t even close. Usually the starting load of H110 will produce more velocity than the max load of faster powders. If a person were going to test a short barrel load to death, I would stay in the realm of 2400, Enforcer, and Accurate No.9.

 

[mdi]

Off topic.

Yeah, being old my mind often wanders. Sorry...

 

[dobedo]

So I've decided to start reloading for my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, chambered in 44 Magnum (2.5" barrel).

On hand I have H110 and both standard and magnum primers.

I've ordered the following bullets:

Cast Performance 320 gr WLNGC
PRVI Partizan 240 gr JHP

I'd like a really stout +P+ load for the 320 gr and something more standard for the 240 gr JHPs.

Any starting and max load recommendations? I'm happy to try different powders if it makes sense, but H110 is just the closest I have right now that seems suitable.

Thanks to all!

 

[MikeInOr]

What are you worried about confronting where a standard 44 magnum load out of your snubby won't be enough? I would just stick to standard loads even though your RedHawk will handle hot loads. Just because you can doesn't mean you need to or should.

I have never felt under-gunned when my Dan Wesson is wearing it's 2.5" barrel and I am shooting my standard "book load" reloads. Even though my Dan Wesson will easily handle "Ruger Only" loads I have never felt a need to go there. That is kind of the beauty of 44 mags, there really aren't many circumstances where a standard load isn't enough and a high power load would make any kind of difference.

Yes, I do understand the fun of making BIG BOOMS!

 

[torchroadster]

Here are my test results, all comments and observations are welcome!

Notes: Surprisingly the Winchester white box achieved very close to the velocity published on the box. All of the reloads achieved lower than published velocities, which was expected with the 2.5" barrel. Pushing the 240 gr JHP harder resulted in little velocity increase and high deviations. I've attached a pic of the primers from the hottest cartridge (320gr WFNGC, 22gr H110) and they don't look bad to me. However with this load the cases were noticeably tight when I ejected them from the cylinder indicating greater case expansion than all other loads. I won't be going any hotter on this load.

Firearm: Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, 2.5" barrel
Air temperature: 98 degrees F
Primers: CCI Large Pistol Magnum
Results are summarized for test groups of 6 rounds each.

Winchester White Box, 240 gr JSP
Average: 1172 fps
Standard deviation: 27.5 fps
Published velocity: 1180 fps

240gr JHP, 23gr H110
Average: 1175 fps
Standard deviation: 25.7 fps
Published velocity: 1413 fps

240gr JHP, 24gr H110
Average: 1208 fps
Standard deviation: 42.8 fps
Published velocity: 1522 fps

320gr WFNGC, 21gr H110
Average: 1161 fps
Standard deviation: 18.5 fps
Published velocity: N/A

320 gr WFNGC, 22gr H110
Average: 1213 fps
Standard deviation: 15.7 fps
Published velocity: 1368 fps

 

[Hartkopf]

Thanks for posting results.

Did you find data for the 320gr bullets? 22gr of H110 seems WAY up there.

 

[torchroadster]

The closest data I found was for 325gr, which specifies a max load of 22gr. This also corresponds to the published velocity I show.

Thanks for posting results.

Did you find data for the 320gr bullets? 22gr of H110 seems WAY up there.

 

[Axis II]

If using for bear protection id go H110 for accuracy and deer hunting i like IMR4227 and 240gr XTP with mag primers and heavy roll crimp

 

[JDeere]

23gr of H110 and 240gr JSPs crimped in the cannelure works for me in my Ruger SBH and my Henry Carbine. That load just makes me grin when I'm firing it at the range or in the field...

 

[jak67429]

24.5 GR H110, magnum primer and a 240xtp works great on black bear and deer. But I have a 7.5 barrel super redhawk.

 

[CraigC]

I tested the 320gr when I did the article for Gun Digest Book of Hunting Revolvers. Hodgdon has data. I thought they had data for H110 but I don't see it now. I'd have to look at my older print manuals.

Slow powders are going to yield the highest velocities, no matter the barrel length. So H110, 300MP and Lil Gun are going to produce the highest numbers.

For the SRH, you can basically just fill the case with H110 and work up to slight compression. You can't get enough powder in the case to hurt the gun.

That bullet was included in Brian Pearce's testing for his 50,000psi data.

Reloading Data .44 Remington Magnum +P / .44 Magnum +P Handloading Data Metallic

.44 Remington Magnum +P / .44 Magnum +P Handloading Data reloading data with 53 loads. Using bullets from Belt Mountain Punch Solid, Speer Plated SP, Hornady HP-XTP, Sierra JSP, Oregon Trail True Shot WNFP-GC, Cast Performance WLN-GC, Rim Rock Bullets LWN-GC. Powders include Hodgdon, Vihtavuori...

loaddata.com

 

[torchroadster]

I tested the 320gr when I did the article for Gun Digest Book of Hunting Revolvers. Hodgdon has data. I thought they had data for H110 but I don't see it now. I'd have to look at my older print manuals.

Slow powders are going to yield the highest velocities, no matter the barrel length. So H110, 300MP and Lil Gun are going to produce the highest numbers.

For the SRH, you can basically just fill the case with H110 and work up to slight compression. You can't get enough powder in the case to hurt the gun.

That bullet was included in Brian Pearce's testing for his 50,000psi data.

Reloading Data .44 Remington Magnum +P / .44 Magnum +P Handloading Data Metallic

.44 Remington Magnum +P / .44 Magnum +P Handloading Data reloading data with 53 loads. Using bullets from Belt Mountain Punch Solid, Speer Plated SP, Hornady HP-XTP, Sierra JSP, Oregon Trail True Shot WNFP-GC, Cast Performance WLN-GC, Rim Rock Bullets LWN-GC. Powders include Hodgdon, Vihtavuori...

loaddata.com

Thank you. That link is very helpful.