44 special powder ?

ericuda

ericuda

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Shooting in a 6" anaconda. MBC coated 240g rnfp.

Finally found some 44 spec brass. Loaded up a few with 7.5 unique and worked well but a little Smokey. Not interested in increasing charge with unique.

Manual shows titegroup, 2400, bullseye and 231 which I have.

I figure 2400 is not the best option.

Does anyone have thoughts on the other 3. I am going to try titegroup and reduce my unique charge to around 6.0. Looking for nice soft load in anaconda and 1894.
 
2400 is my favorite powder for the .44. In the Spl I prefer 15.0 gr for 1050 fps. I use 16 grains in the 44 magnum.
 
ericuda said:
Shooting in a 6" anaconda. MBC coated 240g rnfp.

Finally found some 44 spec brass. Loaded up a few with 7.5 unique and worked well but a little Smokey. Not interested in increasing charge with unique.

Manual shows titegroup, 2400, bullseye and 231 which I have.

I figure 2400 is not the best option.

Does anyone have thoughts on the other 3. I am going to try titegroup and reduce my unique charge to around 6.0. Looking for nice soft load in anaconda and 1894.
Click to expand...
Any of the three will work well for close range targets. I would probably try W231 for better case fill and TiteGroup for because it is less position sensitive.
Winchester 15th Edition gives 4.9gr W231 with 240gr lead for 800fps from a 6-1/2” barrel as a standard Cowboy load.
What’s your velocity goal? And what kind of accuracy?
 
231 works fine for me in both 8” anaconda and 6.5” 629 with 240gr anything lead. Bullseye likes lswc and plated fp only for me, but works fine.

2400 is for fire and fury magnum loads, never tried it reduced in 44 though. Tried 357, that didn’t work at all.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
What’s your velocity goal? And what kind of accuracy?
Click to expand...
Just looking for minute of hanging plates from 15 to 75 yds, most at 25 so a good plinking load. Accuracy is of course a plus. I can chrono loads but not sure that is a must for me.

My Lyman shows 4.5 to 5 titegroup and 4.5 to 5.5 231 for lead. I'd usually lean towards unique but didn't like smoke at 7.5.

I use a lot of titegroup in 9 and it treats me well. 231 is also a favorite.
 
I'd save the 2400 for spicier loads, likely too much for everyday target use. I don't have a good time down-loading 2400 in 357 or 44 mag. It burns erratic, and gets very dirty.

The other 3 powders you mentioned are all just fine using published data. Take your pick. Any 3 of them have an equal shot at making an accurate target load for you.
 
Not in your list, but I'm pleased with 700-X in my 44 Special ammunition.

I'd use Unique or W-231/HP-38 as an alternate.

I have not used 2400 since Hercules got out of the powder business and sold out to Aliant. When I used Hercules 2400, I got too many unburned kernels of powder in my 357 Magnum loads. I stopped using 2400 then.

I use W296/H110 in my revolver magnum ammunition which is not appropriate for 44 Special.
 
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I like bullseye for standard pressure 44 Special. Not that I don’t like others. I’ve had good accuracy with charges from 4.4-5.5 grains with bullets ranging from the RCBS 44-240-SWC and 44-250-K to the Ranch Dog 432-265-RF.
 
I have been using Promo in 44 Spl, mostly because I have a large quantity, but it is a bulky powder and fills the case well. I find that for my casual shooting, just about any fast(er-ish) powder works. If I want heavy 44 Spl, I have a 44 Mag.

I'm thinking about working up some loads with CBI powder, because I have maybe 15 pounds of it. And it was cheap.
 
6.0gr of #231 under a 200gr or 5.0gr under a 240-255gr bullet.
It doesn’t get any better.
Accuracy is whatever the bullet/gun is capable of.
I’ve gotten 1-hole accuracy @ 25yds from a M29 I had in late ‘70’s, as well as my current M69 4”. A M-329 PD shot best with the loads in .44mag cases.
I cast my own using w/w and range scrap. Size to .431”, lube with SPG or Lee liquid Alox.

#2400 is a great powder, but needs a bit of pressure to “clean up”. For mid-range loads LongShot is VERY good. I’ve been using a lot of GreenDot recently as I was gifted most of an 8lb caddy. Speed is similar to #231, but bulkier. Burns clean. Unique is smoky at lower charges. Bullseye is very close to #231.
I’ve burned probably 70lbs of Bullseye shooting.38’s in PPC. However, all but two of the dozen or so 240’s @50yds were with #231/HP38.
 
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JT-AR-MG42 said:
cfull said it all.

700X is my number one choice for comfortable
and accurate .44 Special loads (and I give his posts credit for steering me to try it).

JT
Click to expand...
It's great with lead or coated lead for sure. It works very well with plated or jacketed, but I really haven't tested much with those.

The game plan was to test BE-86 after it worked so well in intermediate .357 Mag, but I haven't gotten around to it. I need to do that.
 
Never seen 700x in my area and I don't see it on midway. Powder valley shows but of course out of stock.

I'll have to add be86 to test along with titegroup, bullseye and 231. Be86 shows 6.7 for lead rnfp.
 
2400 will also cause MORE felt recoil, and MORE muzzle blast.....even if it's pushing the same bullet the same speed as a faster burning powder with lighter charge weight 😃
That's just another reason on top of many other reasons not to download 2400
 
Unique is my favorite 44spl powder. Have to load it beyond 44spl max load to get a good burn.
I load 10gr under a 180gr jacketed bullet, don't getting any noticable smoke.
For use in 44mag guns only.
I need to try CBI in hot 44spl.
 
ericuda said:
Never seen 700x in my area and I don't see it on midway. Powder valley shows but of course out of stock.

I'll have to add be86 to test along with titegroup, bullseye and 231. Be86 shows 6.7 for lead rnfp.
Click to expand...
Before the plandemic there were rumors Hodgdon’s was discontinuing orders for 700X. This was just after they announced the end of 800X so it seemed inevitable. I haven’t seen - nor heard about - 700X being available in almost two years but it still on Hodgdon’s site as a current offering; it’s also still out of stock.
 
My bullets are coated so not sure where "smoke" coming from. Don't really wanta load unique higher than 7.5 or I'd just goto mag case and loads. I bought the 44spec cases for loading Speer shot capsules but don't need 200 of them loaded up.

I bet it is discontinued , no way current price is 25 for 14oz.
 
ericuda said:
My bullets are coated so not sure where "smoke" coming from. Don't really wanta load unique higher than 7.5 or I'd just goto mag case and loads. I bought the 44spec cases for loading Speer shot capsules but don't need 200 of them loaded up.

I bet it is discontinued , no way current price is 25 for 14oz.
Click to expand...
I’ve not noticed Unique being smoky either but if it’s not working for you then it’s not working. There’s plenty of good powder still available for plates and cans in .44Spl; including W231.

W244 is available and has had some fairly good reviews.
 
I hope Hodgdon will not discontinue 700-X. It is my main powder for 45 ACP, has been since 1980.

I've used it in 380 ACP and 44 Special as well. It could be used in other, similar low pressure cartridges.

I do have alternate loads already worked up with different powders where I like 700-X. Mostly W-231/HP-38 or Accurate #5.
 
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