265 RD 44 Mag 2400 Starting Load Suggestions

[Djones]

I'm loading 44 mag for the first time. I am having trouble finding a whole lot of data for the 265 Ranchdog boolit. I have 2400 and LilGun. I started with 15.6-18.0 grains of 2400.

In your experience is this a safe starting point and range? I plan to hunt deer with a Ruger SBH and a Marlin 1894.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/A8148C0F-135A-4970-8818-180834CE2452-3943-000001F09C3C48E9_zpsbe3572f4.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/A8148C0F-135A-4970-8818-180834CE2452-3943-000001F09C3C48E9_zpsbe3572f4.jpg.html)

Thanks for the help!

David

[44man]

I use that boolit with 22 gr of 296 and a Fed 150 primer for 3/4" at 50 yards and 1-1/4" at 100.
It will kill deer, no problem.
Toss Lil'Gun, BAD powder with too much heat.
2400 is good but I have no load for the boolit.

[454PB]

I'd start with 20 grs. of Lil'Gun and work up until you're happy or have reached your recoil limits.

[paul h]

Just use starting loads for 250 gr bullets and nock 1 gr off the top end.

[Nemo288]

My favorite load with a CP 260 gr. WFNGC 44 in a Redhawk is 18 or 19 gr. of 2400 (depending on the brand of brass).
One of the most accurate loads I have ever used in a handgun.
Your loads look to be in the right range. Loads up to 20 grains are listed but I stopped when they all went into
one hole :)

85905

===
Nemo

[dmize]

Try this
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/TLC432250RF/data/selection.html

[Djones]

Thank you all for the help. I did forget to mention I am using new Starline brass. I really appreciate your help.

I have never loaded cast boolits up close to a max load before. I usually load cast in 45-70 and near starting loads kill deer.

I hope to try the loads up to 18 grains soon.

[Djones]

My favorite load with a CP 260 gr. WFNGC 44 in a Redhawk is 18 or 19 gr. of 2400 (depending on the brand of brass).
One of the most accurate loads I have ever used in a handgun.
Your loads look to be in the right range. Loads up to 20 grains are listed but I stopped when they all went into
one hole :)

85905

===
Nemo

Awesome Group! You have your reloading and shooting mastered.

[bhn22]

It's on his website: http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/TLC432275RF/data/loadnotes05.pdf

You could also use Hornady 265 gr jacketed bullet starting loads to get started.

[Djones]

You could also use Hornady 265 gr jacketed bullet starting loads to get started.

I looked at both the 8th and my buddies 9th edition neither has a load for 2400 or LilGun for the 265 grain bullet.

I think I will be safe with the 15.6-18 grain load. Thank you all for the help.

[Djones]

Well tomorrow will be the day. I just picked this SBH up yesterday and I have 40 cast boolit loads ready to go. Thanks for the help guys.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/219210C6-23EC-45FB-A2B5-2E119BB27086-7872-0000037374AC5506_zpsa8c4c4f1.jpg

[bhn22]

I looked at both the 8th and my buddies 9th edition neither has a load for 2400 or LilGun for the 265 grain bullet.

I think I will be safe with the 15.6-18 grain load. Thank you all for the help.

Did you notice my link to Ranchdogs website? There are loads for both powders at that site.

[Djones]

The ranchdog website is where I got the data for a max of 18 grains 2400. Thank you for posting the link.

[jackmanuk]

i use 16 grains of 2400 in my 44 with a 240 grain bullet and thats fine iv had 18 in it and was fine

[gray wolf]

I shoot a 260 grain Lyman 429244 with a gas check and 19 grains of 2400 in my SRH.
It delivers repeatable 1/2" groups at 30 yards and the recoil is less than a factory round.

[Larry Gibson]

Under a 270 gr cast 429640HP 20 gr of 2400 is what I consider a maximum load. A 10 shot test for pressure (Oehler M43) and velocity out of my 8.4" Contender barrel yield an average psi(M43) just under the SAAMI MAP at 34,800. Velocity was 1481 fps at the muzzle. With 2400 I use 19.5 gr which gives excellent accuracy at 32,100 psi(M43) and 1443 fps at the muzzle.

Nice looking SBH.


Larry Gibson

[Djones]

Thank you all so much for the input on your loads. My gun seemed to like 17.4-17.6. I went up to 18 with no pressure signs in my SBH. My dads marlin 1894 did show a bulge at 16.5.

Here are some pics of recovered bullets at 10 yards through a cardboard box full of cardboard and into wet mud. I am new to the44 mag so I wanted to see what factory ammo felt like.

The 180 grain Remington ammo was downright nasty. Flames, recoil and poor bullet construction. The 240 winchester was not too bad still a bit much in the recoil dept. I really liked my cast boolits. They seemed to hold together great and yet expanded nicely too. Recoil was much lower and actually fun! I need to get the chrono out after I practice some more.

Before I forget to mention, 338s aluminum gas checks worked great. No leading and only list a few checks and I think it was due to a few of my boolits it completely filling out.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/DDFB63B2-C897-4683-AC32-677C2A91CFEA-8910-000003EEAE661B7B_zps20bb1f71.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/CBF684E0-CEC7-4E31-B804-8BE4B0715D53-8910-000003EEC433C117_zpsef10d543.jpg

[Djones]

I cast some hollow points. The boolit comes out at 230 grain before gc and lube as a hp. That seems like a large hollow point. The flat point was 265ish before gc and lube. What are the chances these will keyhole? I dont know much about cast HP. This is my first mold. I havent had much chance to get to the range lately with daylight savings time....ugh!

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/52B4A4ED-9B9C-4E35-AAFD-B0403687B118-14712-00000652F2DFF265_zpse39618fe.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/52B4A4ED-9B9C-4E35-AAFD-B0403687B118-14712-00000652F2DFF265_zpse39618fe.jpg.html)