Loading 44 Magnum

[Barmcd]

I almost exclusively shoot 44 Special out of my two model 29 Smith and Wesson revolvers. I went through one box of magnum cartridges the last two years, occasionally shooting six at a time and letting a few friends try their hand at Dirty Harry's gun. I've decided to reload a couple boxes instead of buying factory ammo and will use the two powders I have to find a load I like. I have H110 and Accurate No. 9 on hand. I started with H110 and dropped the starting load of 20.7 gr. into the case. Holy Cow! I've never come close to putting that much powder in a case before. It gives me pause. Can you guys that regularly load 44 magnum cartridges reassure me that I'm not going to blow myself up!

I have one other question. I'm using 240 gr. Hornady XTP bullets and when I load them to the middle of the cannelure the COAL is 1.603 and the minimum COAL is listed as 1.610 at max load. I could back them out a little, but I don't know that I'd get to the minimum length anyway. I'm not going to max load, in fact, I'm only using the bottom three loads from the chart.

 

[Palladan44]

I almost exclusively shoot 44 Special out of my two model 29 Smith and Wesson revolvers. I went through one box of magnum cartridges the last two years, occasionally shooting six at a time and letting a few friends try their hand at Dirty Harry's gun. I've decided to reload a couple boxes instead of buying factory ammo and will use the two powders I have to find a load I like. I have H110 and Accurate No. 9 on hand. I started with H110 and dropped the starting load of 20.7 gr. into the case. Holy Cow! I've never come close to putting that much powder in a case before. It gives me pause. Can you guys that regularly load 44 magnum cartridges reassure me that I'm not going to blow myself up!

I have one other question. I'm using 240 gr. Hornady XTP bullets and when I load them to the middle of the cannelure the COAL is 1.603 and the minimum COAL is listed as 1.610 at max load. I could back them out a little, but I don't know that I'd get to the minimum length anyway. I'm not going to max load, in fact, I'm only using the bottom three loads from the chart.

View attachment 1183633

20.7 sounds too low of a starting load for H-110 in 44 Magnum w/ 240 grain xtps. The correct data is published on Hodgdons Website (a default everyone can fall back on). There is old data out there that has downloaded W-296/H-110 loads but those are Crappola in my opinion.

Nobody can promise you any safety, though, no matter what. Too many variables. This goes for everyone.

H-110 when used properly to published data will give you the best velocity in the caliber, while staying in pressure limits.
It's a safe powder to use. Hang on though, it thumps!!
Use a magnum primer and give it some roll crimp into the cannelure. But don't use excessive taper crimp, which will destroy neck tension and make for more erratic behavior, bullet creep, possible setback in tube magazines.

I'm of the opinion that more revolvers have blown up with accidental double charged loads of a fast burning powder in intended to be light target loads, than any one using h-110. There isn't enough room in the case, and pressure builds slowly and steadily.

 

[Alaskamike]

I definitely agree with Palladan44. That starting charge sounds too low for h110 with magnum brass.

For what it's worth, my load using pretty much any normal 240 grain JHP in .44 mag brass with H110 or 296 is 23.5 grains. Yes, it definitely fills the case.

 

[Targa]

Like Alaskamike, my 240 grain full power load is 23.5 grains of H110 and like you Barmcd, I am using 240 grain XTP’s. Yes, it is a stout load, about 100 fps faster than factory Magtech ammo when ran through the chronograph.

 

[Charlie98]

It gives me pause.

Just check your data... you'll be fine.

Slow powders, like H110 and AA#9, require big charges... it's how those powders work. They almost all work better with a case full as well. Starting charges are not usually the most efficient, burn-wise. H110 is NOT a mid-range or plinking powder, it is a full-house Magnum powder, nothing else. If you are trepidatious about loading something like that, maybe start with something not so quite robust... like Unique or a similar mid-range burn rate powder. Using that same XTP, you can make some very nice shooters... check your manual.

 

[Barmcd]

20.7 is the starting load in the Hornady manual, the next two are 22.1 and 23.5, which is where I planned to stop. There are two loads above, 24.1 and 24.8, but I'm not looking for anything that rugged. The Hogdon data is much narrower than Hornady's.

 

[Barmcd]

Just check your data... you'll be fine.

Slow powders, like H110 and AA#9, require big charges... it's how those powders work. They almost all work better with a case full as well. Starting charges are not usually the most efficient, burn-wise. H110 is NOT a mid-range or plinking powder, it is a full-house Magnum powder, nothing else. If you are trepidatious about loading something like that, maybe start with something not so quite robust... like Unique or a similar mid-range burn rate powder. Using that same XTP, you can make some very nice shooters... check your manual.

I may end up doing that if I don't like these.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

20.7 is the starting load in the Hornady manual, the next two are 22.1 and 23.5, which is where I planned to stop. There are two loads above, 24.1 and 24.8, but I'm not looking for anything that rugged. The Hogdon data is much narrower than Hornady's.

Hornady bullet. Hornady data.
Just be aware that at the starting charge W296/H110 does not burn efficiently. You might have some unburnt powder residue in the cases (which is usually the first follow up post, “What’s the deal with these yellow granules in my cases?”)
Start low and work up to your gun’s most accurate load you will shoot without hurting yourself. Just be aware of the powders quirks at less than full loads. And don’t work down from start. Not with 296/110. It’s not productive.

 

[Walkalong]

I have one other question. I'm using 240 gr. Hornady XTP bullets and when I load them to the middle of the cannelure the COAL is 1.603 and the minimum COAL is listed as 1.610 at max load. I could back them out a little, but I don't know that I'd get to the minimum length anyway. I'm not going to max load, in fact, I'm only using the bottom three loads from the chart.

Load them to the center of the cannelure and be happy.

 

[stringnut]

My latest Hornady manual lists 19.8 as a starting charge. Experience with both rifle and pistol show, as has been stated already, you will probably see some unburned powder. H 110 and Win 296 like to run at near maximum . Also needs a magnum primer and a heavy crimp. I am running 24 grains of 296 in my Ruger Number 1. When I had a 44 pistol that is the load used in that.

Your OAL is only short by .007 inch. This is inconsequential.

 

[The Glockodile]

Always remembered jacketed .357 Magnum (158 grain) and .44 Magnum (240 grain) loads as requiring 15 and 24 grains for Hodgdon H110 “full tilt loads,” respectively…

…fixed numbers, not to go down on.

 

[The Glockodile]

Load them to the center of the cannelure and be happy.
View attachment 1183655

Those look nice.

Are they roll or taper crimps?

I do know that most recommend heavy roll crimps for these kinds of revolvers.

*** Heavy Breathing ***

 

[rdnktrkr]

H110 needs to be in the upper 1/3 of loads, a magnum primmer, and a crimp to properly burn. There are other powders that offer softer shooting 44mags and sometimes when I'm at the range I shoot the softer one and save the H110 ones for other shooters.

 

[Show Me]

Hornady bullets and Hornady book data has been darn dependable for the last three books I know of. If your in the sun and see sparkles increase crimp and use max load. I don't have enough mag primers for practice so have switched to 2400 which works very well

 

[LV Gun]

I almost exclusively shoot 44 Special out of my two model 29 Smith and Wesson revolvers. I went through one box of magnum cartridges the last two years, occasionally shooting six at a time and letting a few friends try their hand at Dirty Harry's gun. I've decided to reload a couple boxes instead of buying factory ammo and will use the two powders I have to find a load I like. I have H110 and Accurate No. 9 on hand. I started with H110 and dropped the starting load of 20.7 gr. into the case. Holy Cow! I've never come close to putting that much powder in a case before. It gives me pause. Can you guys that regularly load 44 magnum cartridges reassure me that I'm not going to blow myself up!

I have one other question. I'm using 240 gr. Hornady XTP bullets and when I load them to the middle of the cannelure the COAL is 1.603 and the minimum COAL is listed as 1.610 at max load. I could back them out a little, but I don't know that I'd get to the minimum length anyway. I'm not going to max load, in fact, I'm only using the bottom three loads from the chart.

View attachment 1183633

I load Hornady 180 grain XTP’s @ 30.5 grains of H110/ W296 with a LPM primer it is loud flashy and draws a crowd . As others have said low end of the data it will be a little dirty/inefficient but get to the middle and upper end and it is fantastic. Make sure you use a heavy crimp some say you don’t need to but if you have a bullet back out under recoil it will lock up your cylinder I had it happen once from using a light crimp not fun when it happens. Accurate #9 is a good powder and so is 2400 or Blue Dot some don’t like Blue Dot because it can be dirty at start load but push it close to max and it’s fine . One other suggestion try a 240 grain LSWC I use a lot of lead bullets in 44 magnum they are accurate as hell plus there is a lot of data for them. I have a Taurus Raging Bull 8.5 inch barrel and a S&W 629 Classic Power Port 7 inch barrel with a Vortex Venom sight on it , hope this helps.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I use 296 for mag loads and I use unique for light and cast loads. Done so for 20 years with no reason to look elsewhere

 

[Walkalong]

I load Hornady 180 grain XTP’s

That's what those are in my pic, though I generally shoot 240 Gr in .44 Mag, with either AA #9 or N-110.

 

[LV Gun]

That's what those are in my pic, though I generally shoot 240 Gr in .44 Mag, with either AA #9 or N-110.

How do you like VV N110 ? It is a powder that interests me.

 

[Steve in PA]

I’ve reloaded the 44 Magnum for probably 25 years.

240gr XTP and 24.0gr of H110 seated to 1.600”.

 

[The Glockodile]

That's what those are in my pic, though I generally shoot 240 Gr in .44 Mag, with either AA #9 or N-110.

Those look nice.

Are they roll or taper crimps?

I do know that most recommend heavy roll crimps for these kinds of revolvers.

*** Heavy Breathing ***

Are those roll or taper crimped?

 

[crestoncowboy]

Are those roll or taper crimped?

Roll most likely. You probably won't find any dies that taper crimp 44

 

[Walkalong]

Actually I do have a Redding taper crimp die in .44, but those are roll crimped.

This .44 Spl is taper crimped.

 

[cfullgraf]

I started with H110 and dropped the starting load of 20.7 gr. into the case. Holy Cow! I've never come close to putting that much powder in a case before. It gives me pause.

This has kind of been answered intuitively but to reinforce the answer, with W296/H110, the case will be full.

I load max 357 Mag, 460 S&W Mag, and 300 BO with W296/H110 and the cases are full of powder.

At least for the revolver cartridges a good roll crimp is needed.

I have 44 Mag revolvers but load mostly hot 44 Special loads in 44 Mag cases. I’m not big on shooting full power 44 Mag loads, or any other caliber full power loads, these days. I’m happy with plinking loads in my senior years.

But, if and when I might load full power 44 Mag loads, it would be with W296/H110 and I’d expect the case to be full.

Follow the most current up to date load data, W296/H110 does not play well with light minimum loads

One of these days I’d like to try Accurate #9.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

For a lighter load that is still pushing hunting bullets at killing velocity look at Accurate 4100/Ramshot Enforcer, Alliant 2400, IMR 4227, and/or Alliant Blue Dot. I haven’t tried the VV powders yet but plan to as soon as I run out of the other options listed. That will probably be around 2030 or 2035.

 

[DM~]

I definitely agree with Palladan44. That starting charge sounds too low for h110 with magnum brass.

For what it's worth, my load using pretty much any normal 240 grain JHP in .44 mag brass with H110 or 296 is 23.5 grains. Yes, it definitely fills the case.

My go to load has been, since the 70's, 23.0 grains of H-110 with my own hard cast 250 grain, I have loaded 240 jacketed in the past too.

My fav bullet mould is the RCBS 44-250KT.

DM