Alliant 2400 loads for .44 Mag?

[NCsmitty]

I've heard that at low charges, 2400 can leave unburnt powder and burns dirty. Have you guys found this to be true?

Absolutely, if you go less than 15 gr. of 2400, you'll have unburned granules in your barrel and less than consistent ignition, regardless of the primers used. Now I know this thread was about using your stock of 2400, but the criteria that you list makes it a less than desirable choice.
There are many powders better suited for your application and my choice would be Alliant's Unique. 8gr of Unique should get you close to 1000fps with a 240 gr cast bullet. Alliant's site list 7gr good for around 900fps under a 240 cast.

NCsmitty

 

[Ben Shepherd]

A few things if you decide to pursue this:

1. Use magnum primers
2. Use a good firm crimp
3. Make sure you have a good amount of neck tension.

However as others have noted, this is a road I would not travel. Spend the 15-20 bucks for a correct powder, or load them up as a true magnum level load.

There is NO getting around it. 2400 burns dirty at low pressures. Nature of the beast.

 

[the foot]

In my opinion 2400 is not suitable for "light" loads. If the load is light, there will be some unburned powder there.

I use 2400 only for hunting loads in 44 magnum. My most accurate .44 magnum loads loads with 2400 are with maximum powder volume and pressures.

So, unless you are ready to "rock the Casbah" with those big loads, choose another powder for .44 Magnum.

 

[Floppy_D]

Absolutely, if you go less than 15 gr. of 2400, you'll have unburned granules in your barrel and less than consistent ignition, regardless of the primers used.

I disagree. I've run my loads as low as 10.0g, which made for complete powder burn, and nothing dirtier than Unique is known for. My ignition was consistent enough that from a rest at 25 yds, I could keep them inside a racquetball, from a 7.5" Super Blackhawk Hunter. I'll put the scope on and see if I can shrink that down a bit.

I'm not saying that there aren't easier ways to get slow 44 loads, but the OP's question was if he could download 2400, and in my first-hand experience, the answer is yes, and remains a choice load of mine.

 

[saltydog452]

I think, maybe, reloading hardware and procedures can get added to the mix.

A 'tight' bullet in the case burns the 2400 powder better as does a longer barrel.

Chronographs weren't available to mere mortals then. So my comments are, at best, subjective.

At least that has been my experience in 45 ACP,45 AR, 36, and 44 revolvers.

Some folks made taper crimp dies for .45 ACP...most revolver dies were roll crimp.

A reloading tip courtesy of Dean Grinnell, circa 1970, turn down the expander ball a couple thousandths. Then you do not necessarally have to heavily fold the brass into the bullet crimp groove to get a tight bullet/case fit.

salty