.44mag starting load suggestions

Status
Not open for further replies.
SARuger

SARuger

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
655
Location
Virginia
I'm getting ready to load my first .44mag loads for my 10.5" Super Blackhawk. I have always shot the Winchester 240g JSP's for deer and bear. It does well with this round.

I have some Hornady 240g XTP's that I want to try. Powders that I have on hand that will work are 2400, Unique, and IMR4227.

What would be a good starting point? Which powder would you start with? What increments would you step up?

Lyman 49th says IMR4227 with a starting point of 19.3 and working up to 23.1

Looking for practical experience and thanks in advance!
 
What is the goal for this round? If just plinking, use the unique. 8gr is a nice light load able to be shot all day.

2400 and 4227 are magnum powders and are for your full tilt wrist snapping loads.
My Srh loves 24.0gr of 4227 with that same horn 240xtp. That's .2gr from max so start lower and work up. Id start at 20 and go up in half grain incremnts. You'll find 4227 burns much cleaner towards the high end.
 
I like 4227 in the .44 Magnum but there is nothing wrong with 2400. Where to start, start where you usually start when working up a new load. With jacketed bullets I usually start near the middle of the charge range but that's me. You should start at the lower end and click up till you find the load that is accurate in your gun. With a 4gr spread half grain increments is probably a good idea.
 
Last edited:
For hunting, I'd do loads with both 2400 and 4227 and see which one you and the gun likes best. 4227 likes mag primers. 2400 I've never loaded, so not sure on primer selection there.

For targets, I see no need for mag loads, but that's just me.
 
I never had any luck with 4227 in my 7 1/2 RSBH in 44 magnum 2400 and BlueDot worked best if your looking for full house loads H110 and win 296
is what you need
 
The Unique load mentioned by ColtPythonElite is a good one. That load with a 240 XTP or a 240 Hard Cast SWC will exit a deer or Black Bear with no problems. and with the 10.5 inch barrel the extra velocity and lower muzzle flip is a bonus.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Favorite load for 44 Magnum in a 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk and Winchester Trapper 16" rifle has been using 240 Hornady XTP's with CCI 350 primers and 23 grains of Win 296. Don't reduce Win 296 and I wouldn't go below 22 grains and 24 grains maximum. Very accurate in both pistol and rifle and top velocity. Best 44 Magnum full power powder I've tested.
 
SARuger said:
I have some Hornady 240g XTP's that I want to try. Powders that I have on hand that will work are 2400, Unique, and IMR4227.



Lyman 49th says IMR4227 with a starting point of 19.3 and working up to 23.1
Click to expand...

For hunting with the 240 XTPs, I suggest the IMR4227. It works well for me in my 629s and carbines. It really likes long-piped revolvers. It also works best at or just under a compressed load. Hornady shows a max of 23.7. I thinking that is compressed. While it still performs well at lighter charges, 4227 will leave a lot of residue/unburnt powder at lower charges. I use Nosler 240 gr JSPs for hunting and found 22.8-23gr to work well for me. I would think 21.5-22gr would be a good start. While 4227 does not give me the velocities of H110/W296, it does give me better consistent accuracy over the wide range of temperatures I may experience while hunting.
 
Plinking, 8 to 10 grains Unique
Hunting, 20 grains 2400

Start low, work up
Click to expand...

These loads have an important context of a specific bullet, especially lead versus jacketed and certainly weight. What do you use?
 
Unless I want a light-for-caliber load, I use a magnum powder, which is significantly slower in burn rate than the typical handgun powder like Unique and others in that general range. I have not found a good reason NOT to use 2400, since I have 44 Special as a separate gun. On XTPs I use 300-MP, since Hornady #9 is one of the few sources with tested/suggested loads for that Magnum specialty powder. It's not a powder to use with lead unless guessing at the load, whether wild or educated.
 
I like Blue Dot for my 44 Mag. Start at midrange and work up accordingly. I hardly ever start at the absolute low end. Unless the low end and upper end max are not separated by much. Check out the Alliant and Hodgen powder websites for load data. There are free.
 
I'm a hodgdon H-110 guy but I think 2400 is the best of the ones you mentioned based on what friends who use it say. Again, I don't use it myself.
 
OK, I'll be the jerk; What does you reloading manual(s) list as a starting load for a 240 JHP? Your Lyman manual is a better source than a reloading forum...

I will never use any load data from any anonymous screen name on a forum...
 
mdi said:
OK, I'll be the jerk; What does you reloading manual(s) list as a starting load for a 240 JHP? Your Lyman manual is a better source than a reloading forum...

I will never use any load data from any anonymous screen name on a forum...
Click to expand...

The OP states the starting load in his first post.

Lyman 49th says IMR4227 with a starting point of 19.3 and working up to 23.1
Click to expand...

I too would never take the word of an anonymous person on the internet to what was safe in my guns without first verifying it with tested and published sources. Still, if I need to develop a load in a new caliber or with new components I have no previous experience with, I will come to a forum I know, with posters I have come to respect and ask an opinion. Kinda what we do.........
 
RealGun said:
These loads have an important context of a specific bullet, especially lead versus jacketed and certainly weight. What do you use?
Click to expand...
The Unique load will work with any 240gr bullet, jacketed, plated or lead. Personally, I use it only for range loads (lead or plated).

The 2400 load is good for 240gr jacketed, or for hardcast lead, although depending on your firearm and bullet hardness, you might get lead fouling. Never tried it, but I imagine you'd lose the plating off a plated bullet pushed this fast.

As always, verify loads, OAL's, etc., for your specific projectile before proceeding.
 
Originally Posted by mdi View Post
OK, I'll be the jerk; What does you reloading manual(s) list as a starting load for a 240 JHP? Your Lyman manual is a better source than a reloading forum...

I will never use any load data from any anonymous screen name on a forum...

The OP states the starting load in his first post.
Click to expand...

Did you bother to read the second sentence? The first sentence was a rhetorical question...http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetorical
 
Last edited:
Just came in from garage where I've been tearing through my dwindling stash of Unique. It is the best "light load" powder IMHO for .44mag. I love 8.6 grains pushing a 240 gr LRNFP. As it has been stated: USE YOUR MANUAL 1st!
 
As it has been stated: USE YOUR MANUAL 1st!
Click to expand...

I always do, I just got my new Sierra manual in yesterday. My bookshelf is getting full in the reloading room! I buy one a month at least. I learn something new everyday.

I dont load anything that isn't in print and in front of me, period!
 
Hey sorry SARuger, not trying to be a jerk... I didn't notice you just joined us this month.
Welcome to THR! You will find we can get a little gruff in our replies, but it is mostly kind hearted :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Bull Nutria
  • Locked
need a 44mag load for Handi rifle?
Replies
10
Views
2K
the Black Spot
the Black Spot
F
  • Locked
Heaviest recoiling 44mag load for SBHH?
Replies
15
Views
614
Floppy_D
F
D
  • Locked
Low end .357 load
Replies
20
Views
2K
340PD
3
3
  • Locked
Pull it or Shoot it?
Replies
20
Views
1K
Win1892
Win1892
D
500 mag loading
Replies
16
Views
613
OrangePwrx9
O
Back
Top