Looking for a .240 grain .44 mag load - 2400 powder

[Ohio Rusty]

I have two powders on the reloading bench to use ...one is Unique, the other is 2400. I'm looking for a 2400 powder load for the .44 mag for my 10 inch contender barrel. I want a load to shoot a 240 grain WW aircooled Lee gas checked hollowpoint. I'd like to use the 2400 powder as it's designed for good velocity in the .44. I'm hoping to mimick or come close to any factory load that uses a .240 grain lead boolit. I'm using mixed brass, mostly starline and I'm using Federal large pistol magnum primers.
Thanks in advance, looking forward to your help on the load data.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[DragoonDrake]

I like 18grs of 2400 with the 240SWC whether checked or not. I shoot these out of a 14" contender and a 10" Ruger SBH for IHMSA.

[Echo]

I use 22 grains of old 2400 - I would check from 18 t 21 grains of new stuff, and select the most accurate.

[Bullshop]

As I recall the classic Elmer Keith load was 22gn 2400 x 250 Keith in 16/1 alloy.
Its been a long time so as has been said today's 2400 may be slightly different so work up with caution.

[cephas53]

Also using 18.0 grs 2400 with a 245 gr SWC in my 7.5" Redhawk. Use a standard primer, and it chronos at 1170 average. Used a heavier charge years ago but with the "change" in data settled on this. Works well.

[MtGun44]

I use 20 gr 2400 under Keith 250 LSWC. Accurate. Look at the warthog in my
avetar - he took one thru the lungs at about 75 yds.

Bill

[David2011]

Just remember that with a Contender or similar gun you will get a "performance enhancement" from the longer barrel which is perfectly sealed with no cylinder gap. It was quite a surprise to me when I lit off my first 1250 fps revolver load using 2400/250 gr SWC in my 14" Contender. Wow! It's like shooting a hand held rifle.

David

[buck1]

15-20 gr of 2400 will serve you well( anywhere in there will shoot real well). 21 is shootable in my guns but a bit hot and 22 gr is IMHO too hot for a regular diet on a gun you care about. .....Buck

[Blammer]

19gr's of 2400 and the 240gr boolit of your choice (actually up to 250gr's :) ) and you're good to go! Plain base or GC's get good accuracy for me.

[Larry Gibson]

Ohio Rusty

Suggest you look at my loading data in the below 2 threads. The velocity and pressure data is from my Contender and should be applicable with your Lee GC'd cast bullet. 2400 is extensively tested as is Blue Dot, another fine .44 magnum powder.

Larry Gibson

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=51566&highlight=magnum+2400

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=72355&highlight=magnum+2400

[AZ-Stew]

Just a note of detail. The classic Keith .44 Magnum load uses 22.0 gr 2400 under a 240-250 gr (depending on alloy) Keith bullet and a STANDARD large pistol primer, NOT a magnum primer.

As others have said, the latest lots of 2400 may be a bit faster than the old ones, so aproach the maximum load with caution.

Regards,

Stew

[Ohio Rusty]

Wow !! Thanks all for the great info and data !! Looks like I'll start with 17 grains of 2400 and go up if necessary.
\I really appreciate your time and info helping me with my .44 mag load. I'm excited send some bullets down range.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[firefly1957]

You got a lot of good advice but two more things to consider:
A) not all bullet are alike make sure you have enough room in the case for the powder I have a Lee 255 gr mold that I seat out and crimp in first lube groove instead of crimp groove in 44 special I seat them all the way to the crimp groove to reduce the overall length. (Weight is 261 with WW and 268 with soft alloy)

B) you may not want maximum load as it may lead your barrel.

long ago I chose IMR-4227 for my load in my model 29 8 3/8" but the little difference 2400 gives would never be known by the target.:castmine:

Three 2400 does not need magnum primers. And that Contender is very strong and should do well for you I have a super 14 44 mag. and should shoot it more often.

[luvtn]

I have a Redhawk 4 inch barrel in .44 mag. I shot one cylinder's worth of 22 grs. of 2400 under a 240 gr. jsp. IMHO that is too much of a good thing. It practically tore the gun from my grasp each time. I don't believe it was EK's standard. I read elsewhere it was the load he used to take an elephant. I have settled on 19.5 grs of 2400 under a 240 gr lswc. In my gun it gives decent accuracy vs recoil.
luvtn

[TCLouis]

Thank you I missed them the first go round.
Great info.

[MtGun44]

luvtn,

It WAS Elmer's standard load, and AFAIK nobody, let alone Elmer, used a .44 mag to
take an elephant. A totally ridiculous proposition, although these loads do penetrate
very well. The real power is only a small fraction of an actual elephant cartridge. Elmer
loaded hot and blew up more than a few guns, but not with that load.

No offense, but that load in your heavy gun is really fairly mild. Try a 300 gr max load in a
S&W 329 which weights about 26 oz. REALLY nasty recoil, probably about 2-3
times your load & gun combo. I ONLY use it for sighting in and carry in Grizzly
country. I used to think that my 39 oz 629 Mountain Gun 4" kicked hard - I have
learned different. I think the RH weighs around 50+ oz.

Don't even think about .454 Casull or any of the Linebaugh magnums or the .500
or .460 S&W magnums if you are not comfortable with the Redhawk with a normal
max load 240-250 gr load. I personally use 20 gr rather than 22 gr 2400 and really
do not like that level of load unless I am hunting or ammo testing.

10 gr Unique is MUCH more pleasant and very accurate in all my .44 mags under a Keith
250 LSWC. I CAN shoot those hot loads in light guns but don't particulary like it unless
there is a need for the power.

Bill

[AlaskaMike]

I'm with Bill. When I use 2400 I don't go higher than 20 grains with RCBS 44-250-K. I shoot far more midrange loads though. Mine's pretty close to Bill's, except I use 10 grains of Power Pistol.

[MtGun44]

9 gr of PP seems to just about match 10 gr Unique for me, and is a very accurate
load at a bit over 1000 fps.

Bill

[NHlever]

Wow !! Thanks all for the great info and data !! Looks like I'll start with 17 grains of 2400 and go up if necessary.
\I really appreciate your time and info helping me with my .44 mag load. I'm excited send some bullets down range.
Ohio Rusty ><>

If you want to start at 17 grains, let me suggest 16.5 grains since that seems to be a sweet spot with both the 44, and the 45 Colt. It is mild, but you won't find any critters catching it, and throwing it back.

[bhn22]

Literally every animal on earth has been taken with the 44 mag. including elephant. I believe that a few people have taken elephant with the .357 magnum, but I still think that anyone who tries it is crazy.

Sorry for the hijack....

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
BOY AM I THE ODD MAN OUT!
With 2400 my accuracy load is 21GRS. under a Slush quenched cast ww 250GR. GC.,
23GRS. IS MY HUNTING LOAD.
The accuracy difference is very small.
With Unique I use 13 grs. same bullet. as my practice load.
Both these loads should be safe with a lighter bullet.
Gun is a 7 & 1/2" Ruger Redhawk.
Shot these loads for yrs. no problem. 1,000"s of rounds.:Fire::Fire:

[MtGun44]

Probably OK in a monster like a RH. Not so good for a S&W, especially the
older models.

Bill

[fatelk]

I have used 21 gr. of 2400 behind a 240 gr. LSWC in my model 29s for years. It is the maximum I would load in a S&W. Anything more and the cylinder tends to jump backwards occasionally for some reason. I read somewhere that this will happen in older S&Ws with heavy loads.

I understand that Rugers are stronger, but I do love my model 29s. I tend to shoot the lighter loads now. As I get older I don't care to get beat up so much. I can handle the heavier load, but after a few rounds I'm done. I guess I'm just getting wimpy. I really don't care to shoot hard kicking rifles anymore either.

Someone mentioned a S&W 329. I shot two rounds out of one once, the same 21gr 2400 and 240gr slug. After 2 rounds I handed it back to the owner and said I had no interest in ever seeing it again. Might as well just lay my hand on a table and wack it with a baseball bat. I'm sure a lot of you guys are tougher than I am, but it was just no fun.

[Thumbcocker]

18.5 of new 2400 with Keith swc has worked for me and has given good performance on deer. I now use Keith swc and 22 grns of IMR 4227.

[casterofboolits]

My standard load for the 44 Mag was 18.5 grains of old 2400 under the Lyman 429421 245 SWC in #2 alloy. Worked great in two S&W 29's, a SBH and a contender. A great 100 yard plinking load for picking off salvaged clay birds and consistantly grouped under two inches at 25 yards.

[Ohio Rusty]

I really appreciate the load info. I'll work up from 17 to 18.5. The 21-22 grain loads are probably a bit much. I'm not much for high recoil for the sake of velocity.
Sounds like I have great recipes for a good and accurate .44 Mag load. Thanks folks for all the great info !!
Ohio Rusty ><>

[geargnasher]

FYI my accuracy load in a 10.5" M29-3 silhouette is 18.7 gr 2400 under a 229-grain 16:1 plain-based Ideal 429421HP.

Gear

[JudgeBAC]

Ruger Bisley: 5.5" 429421 sized .4305 10 grs. of Unique @1147 fps. std dev. 4. Shoots 1.5 - 2" groups at 25 yards and very manageable recoil.

Same gun shoots impressive groups with RCBS 240 gr gc with 20.5 grs. 2400 but with substantial recoil increase. IMHO a deer hit with either would not know the difference.

[Heavy lead]

Ruger Bisley: 5.5" 429421 sized .4305 10 grs. of Unique @1147 fps. std dev. 4. Shoots 1.5 - 2" groups at 25 yards and very manageable recoil.

Same gun shoots impressive groups with RCBS 240 gr gc with 20.5 grs. 2400 but with substantial recoil increase. IMHO a deer hit with either would not know the difference.

A big plus one, only I now use the Mihec 503 group buy, shoots in everything I have and my chrono out of a 5.5" barrel is right at where JudgeBAC is.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
As long as your load is as accurate as you can hold, & does the job you need it to do, and does not lead . You should be happy.:Fire::Fire:
If you are not comfortable shooting a load it will be hard to get good with it.
My loads must kill deer, elk, & a bear if I need to. Be good for self -defense if necessary.:Fire::Fire:

[sparkz]

Just found this thread, I worked uip a 19gn with a SP J-Word and seems a bit less then an OEM mag shell but very shootable for protection forsure, may work around 1/2gn and see better or worse for accurate Home-Grown

Patrick
Lost Creek, Kentucky

[David2011]

Update: I chronographed my load in the 14" Contender. The boolit is a 250 gr Keith Type from an RCBS mold; actual weight is 255 gr with a linotype alloy including the gas check and lube. With 21 grains of 2400 the loading manual says it's good for about 1350 fps from a 7.5" revolver. It's in the Ruger/Contender only section. In the sealed 14" tube of the Contender it's going 1600 FPS. A hit on a 200 pound feral sow entered the right shoulder and exited the left ham with the boolit apparently still intact. The entry and exit holes were the same size.

David

[gray wolf]

For my SRH 7.5" I worked up and down the load scale with a Lyman 429244 gas checked bullet.
I stopped when I got repeated .500" to .600" groups at 30 yards.
The load was and still is 19 grains of 2400 I don't know how fast the bullet goes down range but my best guess is 1150+ FPS Zeroed at 30 yards from sand bags I can hit pop cans at 100 Yards.
The last time I shot was before Julie got sick. 4 or 5 guys from NY were at the range and one of them put a bunch of pop cans out at 100 yards. They were all shooting rifles and after about 10 minutes I yelled over and asked if I could try one of the cans. Sure go a head was the answer, There was a little laughter from them about me doing that with a pistol. The laughter ended when the first can flew about 8 feet in the air.
The head dude of the NY group ran down to the 100 yard line muttering something like
"" he must have hit the dirt under the can "" He brought the can back with a big hole 1/3 up in the can.
They shut up--I smiled and thought --Old man you still got it.
So My load is 19 grains of 2400 Sorry for all the extra chatter.