2400 44mag 240gr load?

[ShooterAZ]

I need some recommendations on powder charge using 2400 powder in .44Mag 240 grain cast boolit. All the data I have is for jaxseted. Looking for an "all around" load...not necessarily full house load. Any help would be appreciated...

[runfiverun]

18-19 grs will do what you want.
it's got some oomph,but isn't full pressure.

[Blammer]

19gr
good stuff!

[tuckerdog]

Agree with runfiverun I use 19.6 and WLP primer w/255 grn keith but that is my revolvers sweet spot w/that boolit and powder

[Leadmelter]

Ditto
19 grains will give you a very pleasant mag load. I shoot several hundred a year.
Enjoy
Gerry

[Iron Mike Golf]

+1 on Tuckerdog's load. My Redhawk and my bud's Super Redhawk also both have a sweetspot there. That's with Mihec's #503 clone.

[ShooterAZ]

Use regular large pistol primer or magnum? Another question on seating the Lee 240 TL SWC, seat to second or third groove? Thanks.

[odfairfaxsub]

regular this powder in 44 needs no mag. my dad even uses a damn mag primer in 5.8 gr bullseye 44 mag loads i was like and you don't think that powder is capable of burning? the 2400 in 20-24 gr is completely ok to use standard type primer promise.

[flipajig]

19.5 for my Blackhawk 240 grn cast with a CCI LP primer.

[rintinglen]

I run 17.5 grains for general purpose and practice with 429-421's, but just about any load from 16 grains up to 20 will work well. I go a little lighter than most to spare my ruined wrist while still experiencing considerable recoil--(note to self--stay on bicycle. Do not fall off.)

[Lloyd Smale]

I shot a ton of 44s loaded with 18 grains of 2400. Pleasant load that will still get the job done on game.

[44man]

Great loads and pleasant to shoot.
In the old days I used 22 gr but that was with the old powder, with today's powder I would cut that down.
I never use a mag primer in the .44 with any powder, even 296.

[RevGeo]

22gr of 2400 was Elmer Keith's original .44mag load with his 240gr bullet. I'm not sure if the modern day 2400 is that much hotter than the old stuff, but even with the old stuff that was a stiff load.
Maybe ol' Elmer was trying to show what his pet cartridge could do, but that was one gun-rattling load. 18-19gr of 2400 is plenty hot in my .44mag loads. I also use standard (non magnum) primers.

George

[Shuz]

I shot a ton of 44s loaded with 18 grains of 2400. Pleasant load that will still get the job done on game.

I still use that 18g 2400 load with boolits from 215g to 250g and Rem 2-1/2 primers. Shoots well, easy on guns and shooter, kills game cleanly.

[UT Phoneguy]

I've got to go with the rest of the crowd- 18gr of 2400 using the RCBS 250-K is what my 76 year old father calls the "comfortable" load. Accurate and plenty of power. (19gr was good too...)

[ColColt]

In my M29-2 I use 19 gr of 2400-excellent load with the 429421 boolit.

[ShooterAZ]

I will load up with 18gr tonight and go out to try them tomorrow. I appreciate all the input. Still looking for input on seating though...Lee 240 TL SWC...seat to top lube groove or 2nd or 3rd down. Any input? Thanks again.

[Larry Gibson]

Use regular large pistol primer or magnum? Another question on seating the Lee 240 TL SWC, seat to second or third groove? Thanks.

I haven't used the Lee TL 240 SWC with heavy 44 magnum laods. I shoot lots of them over 8.5 gr Unique in magnum cases (very accurate and excellent load at 850 -900+ fps), 7.5 gr Unique in 44 SPL cases (Skeeter's classic 44 SPL load) and 5 gr Bullseye in 44 SPL cases (duplicates standard factory 44 SPL loads). I seat to the 1st groove and crimp in it in magnum cases. I seat to the 2nd groove and crimp in it in SPL cases.

With 2400 I use 22 gr Alliant 2400 under the RCBS 44-250-K in 44 Magnum cases with standard primers which duplicates the old Keith classic 44 Magnum load. I have pressure tested that load and while top end it is still under the SAAMI MAP for the 44 magnum. Pushes 1425 fps out of my 6 1/2" ruger FTBH.

Another very good 44 Magnum load with the 250 Keith is 17.3 gr of Blue Dot. Again this load has been pressure tested and is a very good load. Pushes 1410 fps out of the same Ruger FTBH.

:cbpour:


Larry Gibson

[geargnasher]

Larry Gibson did some pressure tests of "old vs. new" 2400 and I believe that the tests showed there was more variance between individual lots of Alliant powder than than between any given Alliant powder and the samples of Hercules he tested. Basically it's a wash, as always, work up loads with the particular lot of powder you have on hand.

I use 19.5 grains behind a 240-grain Ideal Keith-ish 429421 with a radiused lube groove. Works great with air-cooled wheel weights, water-quenched wheel weights, or 16:1. Like Tuckerdog, I settled on WLP primers. My reason for that was it helped clean up the few unburned grains of powder in the gun and, for whatever reason, seemed to improve accuracy just a little bit with the softer alloys. WDWW liked Federal primers at 100 yards, unburned powder and all. If you're shooting a Smith, wear a glove or make IT wear Pachmayer.

Gear

[geargnasher]

Oh, HI Larry! Yer ears burnin? You posted while I was typing!

Gear

[LUCKYDAWG13]

19.5 for my Blackhawk 240 grn cast with a CCI LP primer.

thats my load

[MtGun44]

I have old and new bottles of 2400, use whichever one I grab first. No notable difference
in the two.

Personally, I have settled on 20 gr as my hunting load under a 250 Keith.

Bill

[Mal Paso]

Use regular large pistol primer or magnum? Another question on seating the Lee 240 TL SWC, seat to second or third groove? Thanks.

2400 burns better in a full case if that helps with seating.

22g is magic but it's a Ruger/Colt Load.

19g is my regular load. 14g in a Special Case will knock down Steel with authority.

[randyrat]

22 grains of 2400 will WAKE you up, rattle your wrist bones and make you feel ALIVE!. I shoot it once in a while. I prefer a little less even for hunting.
Work your load up.

[leadman]

I'm going to be a little different. I load 18.5grs with the Lyman 429421 with rounded lube groove. Very good load.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I am a bit out of step I realize.
The Lyman Cast Bullet Manuel lists 2400 -245gr bullet 18-22.5 grs.
I have had only 2 44mags. Both Rugers a SBH & a RH , and yes I started out with 18grs. with store bought 240 gr cast bullets.
But I soon grew dissatisfied with both.
Went to the Lyman 429244 Kieth SWC 250gr. gc. LIKED IT MUCH BETTER.
Then started increasing powder charge. to it's book max of 22gr for hunting & 21grs for practice.
After much research of 9 different reloading manuals I worked up to 23grs. safely in both guns,WITH THE 250GR. BOOLIT. CCI standard LPP.

THESE LOADS ARE NOT FOR LESSER GUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUT WENT BACK TO THE 22GR. LOAD AS IT WAS MORE ACCURATE.:Fire::Fire:

[casterofboolits]

I'm going to be a little different. I load 18.5grs with the Lyman 429421 with rounded lube groove. Very good load.

That was my standard load for my 6 1/2 inch mod 29 and 10' Contender! Was good for popping clay birds on the 100 yard bank, a couple deer and a hog. [smilie=w:

[44man]

I don't know about the new 2400, never tried any because I stay with 296 so I just listen to what all of you say about it. I used the original 429421 at the time long ago. That and the 358156 HP were the best.
Things have been changed, twisted and spindled too much and the problem with Lyman molds seems to be too many undersize boolits.
I agree with Boom boom about store bought bulk boolits, most are junk. Now we have a choice with some fine boolits being made. I stay far away from bulk boolits. Once in a while I buy Cast Precision or Beartooth for a specific boolit.
I read a lot about recoil from a heavy load but you have to be old and remember the original .44 factory loads! :mrgreen: I think they had TNT in them. Nothing we load will equal them.

[Mal Paso]

IMHO 2400 just edges out 296 in 4-6 inch 44 mags with a 250g boolit. Beyond 6" I suspect it's 296 territory with the number of guys hanging out there. What barrel length do you favor?

[Sasquatch-1]

I have loaded 22.5 with a 250 grn bullet to fire through my Desert Eagle. I have fired some of these through my Super Blackhawk and they are real knuckle busters when shooting single handed. I would stick with the sub 20 grns.

[44man]

IMHO 2400 just edges out 296 in 4-6 inch 44 mags with a 250g boolit. Beyond 6" I suspect it's 296 territory with the number of guys hanging out there. What barrel length do you favor?
My .44 is 10" ( old IHMSA gun) but all the rest are 7-1/2". I like longer barrels.
296 works fine in a shorter barrel too as far as accuracy. I don't care about velocity, just like longer for hunting and long range shooting.

[Roundball]

Chronographed 19.5/2400/ Lyman429244 using current Winchester and Federal Large Pistol Primers. The level of performance was essentially the same-1300-1350 fps. Starline and Winchester brass was used. This load worked out well in the M29 and Super Blackhawk. This will be my standard load henceforth. No more magnum primers with 2400.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I too preferred the 7&1/2" Rugers , & started out shooting the original Rem. factory 240gr loads. They were hot.
Then tried the Super-Vel loads, & have seen nothing store bought come close to those.
But I do not shoot much store bought ammo, unless some one buys them for me or wants to try one of mine in a trade at the range.:Fire::Fire: