44mag an 41mag ????????????from a newbee

[mrtwister_jbo]

hi just looking 4 some info on these loads
will be loading 2 differant handguns cal. an these loads r 4 plinking
s&w 41mag 8 3/8''barrel 200gr jhp going 2 start out with 15grs of 296 win powder/////
rugar redhawk 7 1/2''barrel 44mag 240gr cast lead with 17.5grs of 296 win powder/////
does that sound about right?????
what is the lowest amount of powder(296) u can use with 240gr 44mag?
a load like a 44sp is what am looking 4??????
mrtwister

 

[Jim Watson]

Do not load 296 lighter than shown in the manual.
If you want your .44 magnum to shoot like a .44 special, get some medium or medium fast burning powder like Unique or 231.

 

[hoghunting]

For more info, check www.reloadersnest.com

 

[Johnny Guest]

Please, find a different powder

Jim Watson is exactly right. The Winchester publication puts it very strongly: DO NOT go below minimum loads shown. There is some danger of detonation.

These comments apply equally to the .41 and .44 magnum cartridges.

Alliant Unique powder is excellent for your stated purpose in both these very useful cartridges.

.41 magnum - - 200 gr. JHP, 8.5 gr Unique - - 1117 fps in a 6" barrel.

.44 magnum - - 240 gr. lead SWC 6.5 gr Unique - - 720 fps in a 7.5 inch barrel.


Best,
Johnny

 

[Steve C]

Save the W296 for full powered magnum loads. If you down load it you wil get squibs. In the .41mag Winchester says to use 20.4grs of 296 and not to reduce loads less than 3%. Your 15gr load would be a 22% reduction, guaranteed to produce squib loads. Same for the .44 mag load you suggested. Almost any other powder than W296 and H110 you wouldn't have a problem with reduced loads but W296 (and H110) are volume sensitive powders that reqire a high load density to work.

For light loads I've found the new IMR Trail Boss makes for a great .41 mag load with 215gr lead SWC's with 5.8grs of powder. Very mild, accurate, clean and shoots to the same point of aim at 25 yds that my 210gr JHP's on top of 17.5grs of 2400 at 1,418 fps does.

Other good .41mag loads using a 215 cast SWC loads are 7.0grs of W231 and 7.8-8.0 grs of Unique.

 

[mrtwister_jbo]

here's what we did

Hi all, thxs for the info.
The only reloading i have done in the past was with a lee handloader,i loaded some hunting loads for my 44mag. 24grs of 296,pushing a 240gr jhp.Thats the powder that i
was told 2 use by my dad.Well dads gone,his buddy pasted an his wife just gave me a rcbs press,scales an a couple of dies sets.
I bought a reloading data book from cabela's 2day, for the 44mag an one for the 41mag.I only had a little bit of the 296 powder left,so we loaded up 100rds of 41mag 20grs of 296 pushing a 210gr remington jhp.
We went to the range an what a load,very manable,an realy accurate.
I used up the rest of the 296 on 44mag 22grs pushing a 240gr cast lead bullet,man that load rocked only had 20.Shot a 3shot group at 25yds an had 2 touching (total group was less than 1 3/4''),the rest were used 2 kill those bad bowling pins. lol lol
mrtwister

Ps,johnny hope that was better!!!!