.44 mag WST or 231/HP38 target loads for rifle

[10mmShooter]

Hi Guys,

I trying to work up some target loads for my 20in Henry .44(in mag brass/240gr LRN). I'm looking for 231/Hp38 loads around 8-ish grains @ 1050-1100 fps or so(I have those powders in my inventory so that's why I'm working with it). I have several loads of SR-4756 and No 5 in the 9.5gr range that yields 1150-1190 fps. These are medium burn rate powders, so I don't want to go too low with them. I have plenty of No 7/No 9 for full house loads.

So that leaves me with my HP38/231 and powder, max load is 11 grs@ 1285fps out of a revolver(per Winchester old manual), so I've extrapolated that 8 grs that should give me about 1060fps out of a 20 inch barrel.

I also have WST I'm thinking 7.0grs should give me 1080fps out a 20 in barrel.

Anyone have chrono data with 231/Hp38 or WST?? out of a 20 inch barrel

[shoot-n-lead]

I am a WST fan...I would try that WST load and see how it does.

I don't use it in 44mag, but I do use it a lot, now, in 44special. 5.5grs gives me 875fps with a 429421 bullet.

[runfiverun]

I never did chronograph it but I sure shot a lot of rounds using 7grs of 231 in my 44 mags.
I still have 4-5 pounds of it here.
I guess on my next load up for the 44 mag I will revisit the load and burn some of it up.

[Thumbcocker]

6.0 of 231 with a 240-250 boolit has been a good lad for me.

[h8dirt]

I am also a WST fan -- especially in the 45 ACP. FWIW, I have found light to moderate loads of WST to be highly position sensitive in big cases like the 45 Colt.

[Blackwater]

Just a comment, but long ago, I tried 231 in my old Ruger SB, and never could get the accuracy I wanted with it. Nothing wrong with the load, since it shot fairly well, but I just got better accuracy in my gun with Unique for moderate loads. Don't mean to pour cold water on your idea by any means, but just thought it'd be appropriate to let you know my experience with it. Guns vary, and yours may just love 231. That's one of the things that makes loading so constantly interesting. Actual shooting tests are the ONLY way to determine what works and what doesn't in any individual gun.

Of course, the above is providing you can FIND some Unique, which these days is an awfully tall order. It seems they're making it of unobtainium now.

[parson48]

I've been loading 6 gr. of 231 with a 200 gr. rfp. Don't know fps, but it's fun to shoot in my Rossi 92, and it's fairly accurate. With open sights and 66 yr. old eyes I don't shoot beyond 50 yards with it.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I agree with everyone else on this. I use 6.0 of W231 for my 429421 .44 Special loads. The same load in a Magnum case will work too, although most people do tend to load Magnums a little faster.

Randy

[Cherokee]

One of my fav loads in 45 Colt is 7 gr 231 and 265 gr SWC. Should work just as well in 44 Mag. I use 5.3 WST in 45 Colt for SASS shooting, again could be nice load in 44/44Mag. Ya gotta try it...

[Wasalmonslayer]

I use 6.5grns of hp 38 with a Lee 200 rf in my RedHawk and my win 94 carbine. Shoots great in both.

[rintinglen]

7.0 of WW 231 under a 429-421 in 44 mag brass shoots well and soft. Never tried WST.