** 2400 + 240 Gr. J-bullets ( did I overload these ? )

[gray wolf]

A while back I mentioned that my friend Clyde had given me some Nosler 240 gr.
Jacketed soft points. I had set them aside and let them be. Now I need something to feed my Ruger super red hawk so I got them out of the dusty corner they were hiding in.
Before you men get up side my head let me add: As soon as I get 25 or 30 $$
That isn't needed for the house, I WILL get a new loading manual, I promise.
My Lyman book is an old one with the spiral binding and loads for 2400 powder seem to differ by opinion. Anyway, my Lyman 45th addition reloading book list
18 grains as a Min. charge for 2400 powder with a 240 grain jacketed bullet for 1022 FPS --- and 22* grains as a Max. for 1300 FPS.
I loaded some with 20.3 and some with 20.6 then I remembered the formula for 2400 had changed a little over time so as usual I thought I would check with the team here. Will I be OK with this load as a trial accuracy load or did I over charge with the 2400 powder ? I would like to load these to about 1250 FPS to get close to a factory load. I do not have H110 or 296
Thank you for your patients and your assistance.

Sam

[3006guns]

I assume we're talking a .44 magnum?

My 48th Lyman book doesn't even LIST 2400, only all the "newer" powders.....so I pulled my 46th edition (1982). It lists two 240 grain jacketed bullets with starting charges of 17.3-17.4 grains. Top loads are listed at 21.5 and 21.6 grains. Velocities are listed at 878-840 at the staring loads and 1160 and 1119 at the top end. I'd say you're a within the safe zone, towards the high end.

[Rick R]

Nosler lists 20.0gr as max on their website:

http://www.nosler.com/44-remington-magnum-handgun

Alliant shows 21.0 with a 240gr Speer Gold Dot on theirs:

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

Each gun is a law unto itself, I'd suggest loading some up lighter before pulling down what you already loaded.

[rintinglen]

My 49th Edition lists two top loads for 2 different 240 grainers=one is 19.5 and the other is 20.5. The first is the Sierra JHC and the second is the Speer JHP. My Speer Manual shows 21.5 max for the same bullet. but is older. My alliant powder guide shows 21.5
It dawns on me that I need buy a few new manuals, my Speer and Hornady are both 20+ years old. I don't mind the days going by so fast, but I object to the speed at which the decades are travelling.

[knifemaker]

Ken Warner's "Pet Loads" manual list 21 gr. of 2400 as a "Near Max" load for the Hornady 240 gr. HP bullet. I would think you have a safe near max load for your Ruger Red Hawk which is a very strong revolver. This is my opinion and my opinion only but I feel that many powder manufactors have reduced previous load data due to liability reasons and not just because they have changed their powder formulas. Changing powder formulas and vicarious libility have both played a part in reducing data from years ago.

[gray wolf]

OK men, It sounds like I am not going to damage anything with what I have so far, + I didn't go hog wild and load to many, 10 of each.
I will dent the primer on theses and see how the accuracy is. If it's acceptable I will load the remaining few, record what they are and save them for something. As a rule I never knowingly load max loads and never get my best accuracy with them anyway.
I am glad I asked cause I see the loads and speed are different in all the books. Another rule I have and don't like to break is that I always work up loads from at least the middle of the scale. Thanks for the help so far.

GW

[gon2shoot]

I've shot much heavier loads than that (see sig line) but my standard was 21gr.

[Tatume]

Ken Warner's "Pet Loads" manual list 21 gr. of 2400 as a "Near Max" load for the Hornady 240 gr. HP bullet. I would think you have a safe near max load for your Ruger Red Hawk which is a very strong revolver. This is my opinion and my opinion only but I feel that many powder manufactors have reduced previous load data due to liability reasons and not just because they have changed their powder formulas. Changing powder formulas and vicarious libility have both played a part in reducing data from years ago.

Ken Waters

[10-x]

I use 19 grns of old 2400 under 240 grn JHP's in a Mdl 29 6".

[knifemaker]

Tatume; thanks for the correction. I do not know why I typed Warner instead of Waters. Must be because I am a old fart.

[williamwaco]

I don't think you are going to blow it up but I would not load 20+ for regular use in an S&W.

I will not pass judgement on the Ruger.

[Cosmiceyes]

20.2 min an22.2 max if your using 2400 you should be using a Magnum primer back then.These days it shows 17.4 gr min. an 21.2 max without a magnum primer. I would say your safe. :)'s

[Beau Cassidy]

Your super redhawk will handle that load and ask for more. Fire for effect.

[Mal Paso]

22g of 2400 behind a 240g bullet is fine in a Redhawk but would beat up on a S&W.

18g is about minimum for consistent ignition but it really depends on the batch. 19g behind a 260g Keith is my favorite load for my 6" S&W at 1260 fps. Jackets were 100 fps slower when I tested.

Standard Primer

2400 is the same as always, Larry Gibson did the tests, there is a Sticky. It's Knees that have gotten weaker!

[hansumtoad]

Let em rip..... Should be no problem whatsoever.

And as far as the S&W bashers, I have two Model 29s from the 60's (S prefix guns). I hate the think how many tens of thousands of reloads of 22 grs of 2400 and 25.5 grs of H110 I've put downrange with these fine revolvers under a Remington 240 SJHP or a 429421 with a CCI Mag primer.

[gray wolf]

UPDATE
Well no problem with the loads, 20.3 grains was not very accurate at 25 yards,
But 20.6 shot 12 rounds into 1 1/4" at 25 yards so that's it for that. The super red hawk ate them like candy and I think the load should be about 1250 1275 in the speed arena.
Glad I checked though, and thank you for the vote of confidence.

Sam

[jonp]

Is there a reason you want to use that much of a load? I'm just asking as it seems like the recoil would be more than I would go for when target practicing. Your Redhawk can probably withstand that but 20gr will probably get what you want done done. imho.

[gray wolf]

Is there a reason you want to use that much of a load? I'm just asking as it seems like the recoil would be more than I would go for when target practicing. Your Redhawk can probably withstand that but 20gr will probably get what you want done done. imho.

I will try to answer that question.
The recoil is not that bad, it's really not -- and I'm 71 Years old, + it's very accurate, + it's not for paper punching. I had a few of these condom bullets given to me so I wanted to load them up like a factory load. Most of what I shoot is what I cast, actually all I shoot is what I cast, My go to loads for cast with a 250 Keith -260 GC and a 265 rnfp are 10 grains of long shot, 12.5 HS6 and 9.4 of Unique. They all shoot very close to the same point of aim.
I guess it's just me but I can't see shooting totally wimpy loads out of a 7.5" Super red hawk.

[jonp]

I will try to answer that question.
The recoil is not that bad, it's really not -- and I'm 71 Years old, + it's very accurate, + it's not for paper punching. I had a few of these condom bullets given to me so I wanted to load them up like a factory load. Most of what I shoot is what I cast, actually all I shoot is what I cast, My go to loads for cast with a 250 Keith -260 GC and a 265 rnfp are 10 grains of long shot, 12.5 HS6 and 9.4 of Unique. They all shoot very close to the same point of aim.
I guess it's just me but I can't see shooting totally wimpy loads out of a 7.5" Super red hawk.
lol, Me neither and that is a heavy gun. I was just wondering what you were trying to accomplish

[mikeym1a]

Modern Reloading, 2nd ed, lists Herc 2400 starting load - 18.5gr @1279fps & max load 21 grs @1434. I presume you are talking .44 Mag, since you are shooting a RedHawk. Lyman Cast boolit handbook #4, .44 mag - starter - 17.4hr 2400 @ 1057fps & max load of 19.2gr 0f 2400 @1167fps. pretty close between the two sources. :grin: