What should I shoot at the competition?

[44Blam]

I'm going to shoot my Ruger Redhawk in 44 Magnum for a local shooting competition... What should I shoot?

[gunarea]

OK 44Blam
You may want to reconsider your poll parameters and widen the information platform. A case full of Trailboss pushing a 310gr. semi-wad, won't knock over an IMHSA ram, even if the sights had enough adjustment. A case full of 2400 and a 200gr rf will probably set fire to a 7yd paper target. My Redhawk did not hold up well to several years of Ram toppling loads. The wife and I, now only shoot 3 screw Ruger super Blackhawks at steel. Our light target loads of paper punching variety, preform best using early high pressure spike propellants. The Redhawk does not lend itself well for most of the walk and shoot games. Maybe the game is make the most noise? Most smoke? Big holes in paper generally score lower. Light weight projectiles are much less effective on steel targets. We shoot several disciplines and approach them all differently.
I am trying to be respectful and diplomatic. What are we doing?

Roy

[Wayne Smith]

Whichever one is the most accurate in your gun. Too many variables to comment more. We can't do your load work up for you - every gun is unique.

[Thumbcocker]

Paper or steel targets?

[wbrco]

I'm going to shoot my Ruger Redhawk in 44 Magnum for a local shooting competition... What should I shoot?I signed up for a pin league. Expecting real wood pins loaded moderate loads under a 358156. Then I get there only to find that the pins are hollow plastic.

I'm not over gunned, and the swc do better than the plastic fantastics with megaclips.

While you can really tell that I hit a pin, my times are the worst in the league. Did I say that I'm the only one shooting a revolver?

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk

[mdi]

Oh so many questions. This poll is like saying "I'm going to race a car. Which one should I choose?"

I have used Bullseye, W231, Unique, Universal, Trail Boss, Blue Dot,True Blue, 800x, AA9, W296/H110 and WC820 in my 44 Magnum loads...

[LUCKYDAWG13]

2400 or Blue Dot powder shoot the best in my RSBH H110 / 296 are also vary good but I'm not a fan of full house loads for all day fun

[44Blam]

This made me giggle:
"A case full of 2400 and a 200gr rf will probably set fire to a 7yd paper target. "

If I use the RH, I almost always use Trailboss loads at the comp. Part of the reason is that I didn't really want to be obnoxious. But last time I used some factory rounds for one of the courses because the target was a knock down target and it was fairly heavy... After the first shot, everyone was quite surprised.
Most people out there are much faster than me and shoot 9mm and generally super light plinker loads. I kind of feel like just walking up with a wheel of thumping W296 and see what the reaction is...
I know I won't win the pistol comp, I just like to shoot it. I might be able to take a couple of the rifle courses, though.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Just guessing here, but shooting AT the competition may be illegal and badly received, no matter what you shoot :p (Yeah, 5amish and I'm in a weird mood!)

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Just guessing here, but shooting AT the competition may be illegal and badly received, no matter what you shoot :p (Yeah, 5amish and I'm in a weird mood!)
Had the same thought, I usually shoot at the targets.
Your W296 loads would be like the time I had 10 rounds of black powder in my 45 Colt at a Cowboy Action match. shot low power loads all day, up til the last stage, loaded the BP, which need a full case of powder, and started off. Timer operator kept backing up. it was fun, it was loud and it created so much smoke I could not see the targets for all 10 rounds. Best part was the line to start the stage was "Hey yall, watch this!".
CF

[Geezer in NH]

It would be nice to know what the competition rules and type are.

What targets are?

What power requirements are?

Hard to give help without.

[country gent]

Heres what I will recommend under your given perameters. If a power factor just meet it. If steel or target that needs to be knock down over or off just enough to do the job reliably. If no power factor or other limiting reasons, use the most accurate lightest load possible. The added accuracy will score higher the light load and recoil will keep you at you peak longer. As fatigue sets in scores drop heavy recoil loud muzzle blasts really can tire quickly. Theres a reason 38 spl wadcutter loads are used in so many competitions. Light report very light recoil= better scores. Of your listed powders unique would be my choice with the light loads around 800-850 fps maybe even a little lower.

[fredj338]

What kind of competition? That will dictate what kind of load. I used to shoot met sil, pretty much max loads for 220y steel. IDPA, I would be shooting pretty light, 200gr bullets @ like 700fps. Just paper targets, same thing. Pins, just about any midrange load with 240gr SWC will move pins nicely off a table.

[gwpercle]

The less information I have the better I can give you a proper answer.
How far away will the competitors be standing when you shoot at them ?

[tazman]

The less information I have the better I can give you a proper answer.
How far away will the competitors be standing when you shoot at them ?

I think after the first shot or two they will be moving in a random fashion. Maybe a shotgun loaded appropriately.

[Shiloh]

What distances. I'm not familiar anymore with the exact size if the various silhouette targets.

Shiloh

[44Blam]

Oh geez! No one is shooting AT the competitors!!!

I was talking about the reaction when they hear the BANG and see the fire shooting out of the barrrel (and possibly knocking over the targets) when shooting at the targets!

The comp is all steel targets the pistol portion is about 15-20 yards and is 6 shots / course. It's not a sanctioned comp at all it's kind of a little club of folks that like to spend their Saturday morning plinking targets and bullsh*tting.

It's all for pins and bragging rights. :)

[Mr_Sheesh]

44Blam, well, punctuation matters :P (And better folks think us a smart donkey than a dumb one?) Bad humor is an art form :p

[44Blam]

44Blam, well, punctuation matters :P (And better folks think us a smart donkey than a dumb one?) Bad humor is an art form :p

It's the whole:
Let's eat, grandma.
Vs
Let's eat grandma.

[44Blam]

Oh lord, I'm slow....

"What should I shoot at the competition?"

[Mr_Sheesh]

:) It's a free service, think of it that way!

[bedbugbilly]

If I load cartridges with Unique, Trailboss, A2400 and W296. . . . .and get on the 9:10 train heading east out of Omaha to Norfolk, five minutes after leaving the Omaha station I fire one cartridge with each of the powders out the open window of the car in a northeast direction, we stop and lay over in Des Moines for 1 hour and are on time leaving there, which boolit will reach Charleston first?

[Green Frog]

I’m going fishing... what kind of bait do I need to get?

Unless I’ve missed it (I’ve only had one cup of coffee :coffeecom) you still haven’t defined the kind of competition. As somebody already said, we need to have a fuller set of parameters to answer this.

Froggie

[Green Frog]

OK, I reread post #17 and have a better understanding. If it were me, the reload would be full wadcutters with a medium load of 2400. Accuracy and controllability would be my concern over sheer power in the situation you describe.

Froggie

[tazman]

Accuracy is always important. If you need to knock over the steel, you will need a certain amount of power.
That suggests using the heaviest boolit and load you can shoot accurately. Or the lightest load that will consistently knock over the targets.
It may be that both loads are the same thing with your handgun.

[fredj338]

Oh geez! No one is shooting AT the competitors!!!

I was talking about the reaction when they hear the BANG and see the fire shooting out of the barrrel (and possibly knocking over the targets) when shooting at the targets!

The comp is all steel targets the pistol portion is about 15-20 yards and is 6 shots / course. It's not a sanctioned comp at all it's kind of a little club of folks that like to spend their Saturday morning plinking targets and bullsh*tting.

It's all for pins and bragging rights. :)

Then it is about speed, as any 44 bullet will topple any steel target at 20y. So I would go with a midrange load, something like 240gr bullet over 7-8gr of unique.

[44Blam]

Then it is about speed, as any 44 bullet will topple any steel target at 20y. So I would go with a midrange load, something like 240gr bullet over 7-8gr of unique.

This month, it's Unique. I've got a nice little 9grn load that works nicely with my Redhawk.

[Walks]

44Blam,

fredj338 has it right on the nose.

Yep, 240-250gr over 8.0grs UNIQUE.
In a Super RedHawk - 7 1/2" bbl should be like shooting a .22lr.

[Green Frog]

Oh lord, I'm slow....

"What should I shoot at the competition?"

Yep, that sentence just works wrong on so many levels! :coffeecom

I, too enjoy shooting in competition, but have always been discouraged from shooting at the competition. It makes the award ceremony so lonely! :roll:

Froggie

PS. Having reread ( or re-reread) this thread, I’m going to go with a Keith-type 240 grain bullet over 8-8 1/2 grains of Unique. That will be pleasant to shoot but at those relatively close ranges will bulldoze your steel targets right over. I might even use 44 Spl brass and drop back to a grain less powder. If you are breathing fire or shaking the ground, it’s definitely overkill for that application you described.

[popper]

You failed 3rd grade math. train heading east out of Omaha to Norfolk Norfolk is north of Omaha. Even Johnny knows the answer to that one.

[Mr_Sheesh]

popper, even us Washingtonians know that train tracks can be curved though :P

[44Blam]

You failed 3rd grade math. train heading east out of Omaha to Norfolk Norfolk is north of Omaha. Even Johnny knows the answer to that one.

And remember:
226733

[popper]

Jonny Carson - Norfolk NE.

[00buck]

I use H110 in my 44.mag
And just middle of the road loads.
Still packs a wallop

[Jtarm]

Oh geez! No one is shooting AT the competitors!!!



I’m gonna try it at my next match.

Probably the only way I could win.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Jtarm, uh... I'd think you'd win a bunch of free Lead, I imagine, some in the form of J-word bullets. That's not something I am eager to win any day soon, but YMMV.

[Victor N TN]

A friend shoots "Cowboy" stuff with 44 mag rifle and pistol. All they do is punch paper. Some standing still, some moving, 20 yards max. He loads his pistol rounds with 4.5 grains of 700X and a 200 grain round nose, flat point Lee bullet. Not much sound and very little recoil. I don't know what he loads for his rifle.

[44Blam]

A friend shoots "Cowboy" stuff with 44 mag rifle and pistol. All they do is punch paper. Some standing still, some moving, 20 yards max. He loads his pistol rounds with 4.5 grains of 700X and a 200 grain round nose, flat point Lee bullet. Not much sound and very little recoil. I don't know what he loads for his rifle.

Ah - the Trailboss is kind of a cowboy load. Its super light recoil and sounds/smells very distinctive.

[William Yanda]

I think you want to ask what should I shoot in the competition. If you shoot at the competition they may not invite you back.

[44Blam]

It's that time again. ☺️. Gotta start loading up some cartridges for the competition.

Last month was 9 grn unique under a 240 grn boolit. They (and I) shot great.

Thinking I'll do the same this month.

[Chad5005]

how many rounds are normally shot in this style competition

[44Blam]

how many rounds are normally shot in this style competition

30. It's 5 stages with 6 rounds each.

[44Blam]

Red October!
228550

[44Blam]

So at this point, Alliant 2400 is the clear winner. Funny thing about 2400 is that I've loaded it a lot of ways for 44 mag.
I think of a 6 grn trailboss load as a gnat fart load and a 23.5 grn 296 load full house.
15 grn of 2400 is nicely in between those. BUT 21 grain of 2400 is right there with the 296 in boomer-fire ball land...
2400 is really a very versatile powder. But I tend to use it as a magnum load in the 21 or so grn range.

I've been loading Unique recently and I found 9 grn under that 240 grn boolit is really nice. It has recoil, but the recoil (in my mind) is light (middle of the road) and it is pretty accurate even at 50 and 100 yards in a pistol.