Lee 200 RNFP in 44 Mag and 2400 powder ?

[Indybear]

My pet target load is the Lee 200 RNFP is any LP, mixed 44 mag cases and 8.2-8.4 Unique or 7.8-8.2 HP38/231. Very pleasant and extremely accurate in my SRH or my friends Henry Big Boy.

I've been toying with the idea of throwing some 2400 under these and seeing how hard I can push them. I'm thinking the combo of light bullet and semi slow powder would make for some nice muzzle flash, big bang, high velocity and some exploding milk jugs for the teenage nephews.

Anyone have a good starting and max load and estimated velocity for a 9.5" SRH? Lever gun?

[ironhead7544]

The Lyman #47 shows 20.0 gr 2400 start with a max of 25.0 for a 215 gr SWCGC bullet. The max load shows 1310 from a 4 inch barrel. In the rifle section they show that same bullet with a max of 23.5 gr 2400 at a velocity of 1735 from a 18 and 1/2 inch barrel. The bullet number is 429215.

I have been using 10.0 gr Unique with a 200 gr RNFP cast bullet. 1200 fps from a 5 and 1/2 inch barrel and 1475 from a 20 inch. Makes a good load for plinking.

[MichigammeDave]

I've been using 22 grains of 2400 under a 200 grain RNFP in my Ruger 96. I don't have a chrono, so I can't give you numbers, but it shoots well and hits where I aim.

[Indybear]

So far my 2400 under the Lee 200 RNFP experiment has not worked well. I'm up to 19.4 gr and accuracy is not there. I've tried CCI 300 & 350, S&B LP and WLP and upped the crimp and still no joy. I think the 200 is either too light for 2400 or the Lee 200 RNFP does not offer a large enough crimp groove to get it to burn well. Sure shoots well with Unique, Universal, HP38, RD, AA#5 or BE. Was hoping for a semi hot blasting and varmint load for the boys. I'm going to continue to up the charge but I think I will need to drop back to 240-250SWC and take the hit on my lead stock.

[TCLouis]

Indybear
Do ya mind sharing the Universal, RD, BE and # 5 loads that did well for ya?

I was moving boolits around the other day and realized I only have a few pounds of those boolits left.

Looks like it is time to run 25 lbs or so!

[Indybear]

Universal did best in the 7.8 - 8.2 range but up to 9.8 worked well too. Burns really clean and I have run thousands of these !!!
RD, #5, & BE were also good at the lower end but I do not recall the load data. When I get home I'll check my records and post.

[Shuz]

Indybear-- I've found 18.0g of 2400 and the Lee 200gRNFP to be an excellent shooting load in my Winnie Trapper .44 mag.
I size to .431, because that's what my gun likes best. Have you checked bore diameters in your guns?

[Hamish]

So far my 2400 under the Lee 200 RNFP experiment has not worked well. I'm up to 19.4 gr and accuracy is not there.

Post #2-"The Lyman #47 shows 20.0 gr 2400 start with a max of 25.0"
" In the rifle section same bullet with a max of 23.5 gr 2400"

Post #3-"I've been using 22 grains of 2400"

Indy, you're not even into the Lyman no.47 Start range yet. Might want to give it another go,,,,,,,

[Indybear]

Continued to increase the load to 24 and still no joy. Dropped back to my 8.2 Unique load and found it did not shoot well either plus I got a tiny amount of leading. Normally I can run 1000s of the Unique load without cleaning, the barrel stays completely lead free and is extremely accurate. I'm beginning to suspect an alloy issue with this batch and unfortunately I made over 1000. Seem strange in that my 120 TCs for my 9s run extremely well with the same alloy....

BTW: I use a lee sizing die honed out to .4305

[Indybear]

Solved the alloy issue but still no joy... I can drive them hard with 2400 but they are not accurate beyond 20 yards no matter what I do.

I do not get it since 2400 is my best powder for the 240-250K SWCs for medium and up and my SRH is as accurate as a rifle with them.

I've found an old metal unopened can of W296 in the back of my powder cabinet that may get a try..... I've given up on 2400 with 200 RNFP......

[Indybear]

ACWW+2%, carnauba red, 27.5 of H110/296, WLP, sized .4305 and crimped until it squeals, is hot, extremely accurate and fun in my SRH. Up to 10 of Universal is very clean also very good.

As always... be careful with the H110/296 loads. Not sure I would feed one of the small frame Taurus or older generation S&W a diet of these.

[Indybear]

Just got back from a Thanksgiving blasting session with the boys. Henry big boy seemed to like WCWW+2% with slightly reduced charge of 296 (27). The rifle also did fair with 18-19 2400 but with SRH it was still like a shotgun @ 25-50 yards.