.44 mag load needed

[Ghost101]

I would like some help for a .44 mag load. I've got a Lyman mold # 4296400V, 856 located below the main number. It's a HP,
GC boolit that should of been 250 gr., but mine are 274, with the GC an Felix lube, sized at .431. Was thinking along the lines of starting with 2400 at 18 gr. Shooting will be out of a early Ruger Vaquero and a Ruger SBH at 4 5/8 barrel.
I believe they are COWW. At the time I wasn't writing everything down like Im trying to do now. Trying hard to get this info stuff down on paper now so I know at a later date what I have.
So anyway If anyone has ideas as to what I should try, I'm all ears or eyes I suppose.


Ghost101

[Tatume]

The Alliant 2400 max load datum for 270 grain jacketed bullets is lower than the charge you proposed.

Alliant data for a 250 grain Keith bullet are in line with your proposal.

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

[josper]

I suggest buying a Lyman cast bullets reloading manual and work up your loads from that.

[Old Caster]

Tough to give solid advice on something like this because it is all going to depend on the gun. Try to make the best bullets you can, be careful with your loading practice, and try all kinds of loads from minimum to maximum. My best is a Saeco 441 out of an Anaconda with 8 inch barrel close to max with H110. I also have a Lyman with a gas check but don't know the number and I don't see it in my pile and may have loaned it out and don't remember. It however was not as accurate as the Saeco plus the Saeco doesn't use a gas check. My BHN runs around 10, I use soft lube, and I size to .428 and crimp on the groove.

[gray wolf]

Was thinking along the lines of starting with 2400 at 18 gr. Shooting will be out of a early Ruger Vaquero and a Ruger SBH at 4 5/8 barrel.

Just saying, but why start out over max ? seems the advise to get a book or two is sound.

[Ghost101]

Oh but I do have the Lyman Cast Boolit Handbook an several others. The book suggests a 250gr starting load at 17.4 up to 19.2 of 2400. But being that this lot weights in at 274 gr., I want to ask before trying to load. If 24 gr. is not a deal breaker then I indeed will go with the 250 gr. loading data. The Saeco at 265 gr., with 2400 starts out at 18.0 gr., but the Lyman 300 gr. boolit drops down to 14.0 gr. of 2400. This is a stumbling block for me when the boolits are over weight to the listed weights and loading data. I'll get to that point, but not there yet.

Ghost101

[gray wolf]

24/25 grains could be a deal breaker and maybe not, DEPENDS.
Also it does not have to be a stumbling block of any sort. You can always take the next bullet weight up and work up the load from there, powders like H110 or 296 may be a problem cause they do not like to be loaded under book loads for a given bullet. But 2400 is not of that sort. When in doubt always ask and double chesk as you are doing, be safe.
If it were me and I had no one to ask I would use the start load for the 250 grain bullet you said that was
17.4 and work up a comfortable accurate load watching for over pressure. IMHO the max of 19.2 will be a warm load.

My hunting load is 19 grains of 2400 with a Lyman 429244 GC bullet, it drops about 255 grains and it is a warm load that chronographs at about 1350

I never just pick a load from the choices given for a given bullet weight and powder, I always work up my load from Min. to max in 2 or 3 1/10 increments looking for the best accuracy, most times it's not the hottest load.

Yes it takes more bullets and a few more primers and a little more powder, but it lets you maintain control of the workup.

[Minerat]

Ifin it was me I'd start with the 14gr and go from there. You can always go up. In this type of situation I usually do 1/2 grain increases from lowest listed load on a heavier bullet to 1/2gr short of the max load with 5 bullets at each level. You can then track the primer changes to avoid an over pressure problem.

I shot some 244 gr GC 429244's last weekend with 18.6, 19.6 & 20 gr's 2400 All shot nice out of the 7.5" SBH. I like hot loads but I'll tell you what, the 244's @ 20gr felt as hot as most of the hot - jacketed bullet loads I shot. Primer were a little flattened (still a little of the round edges on the primer) and I might go 1/2 grain higher before chickening out. I decided I'd go with 19 gr and chronograph the load to see if they were up to par for my needs. But 24 gr with a 250 is more then I'll do. I like my hands and eyes too much.:-P Be safe.

[Boyscout]

Mine cast at 263 gn with WW+2% tin. I have been using 22.5 gn Win 296 with CCI LPM seated to the crimp groove. I get excellent accuracy out of the Handi-rifle and a Ruger Super Black-hawk. The load is within the guidelines of the Lyman Manual.

[Grizzly Adams]

Look at all PUBLISHED data you can find (manuals and web) and make a
SWAG (sceintific wild @ss guess) but be conservitive. That being said, I would start
at 15.5g of 2400 and feel fine about it, but I couldn't say the same about 18g without
running a few lower loads through the particular firearm it was intended for. YMMV

[randyrat]

Check into some loads using Unique for some enjoyable shooting.
For "night fire" FUN you have to try some H110/296 out of the shorter barrel. You'll find a load using 2400 and chances are you'll never look back.
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44%20Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun

[44man]

Go by boolit weight with just the GC on it, don't bother adding lube weight, makes not a whit of difference for the load.
You will be OK just work loads normally. Flat primers will not tell you anything either, the only indication of over loads will be sticky extraction and even then it can be hard to reach that point so don't even look for it.
Friends have used gross over loads in Rugers and brass fell out. One fella went 8 gr of 296 over max in the .45 Vaquero with no pressure signs, Kind of made me spit out my coffee when he told me.
It is not sane to keep loading, looking for pressure signs in a revolver.

[Bonz]

My favorite is a 240gr SWC (3/4 jacket) over 23gr Win296/H110

107533

[Shuz]

I have used 16g of 2400 or 17g of WC820(lot#47320) with the 429640PB or GC for many years. Both loads shoot very well and cases extact easily. Guns used are 629-3 Classic DX,2/ea, 3/ea Ruger SBH's, S&W 329PD, and a 629-4 Mtn Gun.

[44MAG#1]

I have a 270 gr Keith that I use and have shot 20 gr 2400 behind it for years. It seats no deeper than a 250 Keith from the various mold makers and that load works well.
When considering a load one must REMEMBER that seating depth is the major concern. A few grains difference in weight is not as important as depth of seating.
Standard primers are all I use with 2400.
Start at 17.5 gr 2400 and work up and see. You are the Captain of your ship not us. Unless you are looking for a pilot to take it out of port.

[Larry Gibson]

Ghost101

I also use the 429640HP and with my alloy they weigh, fully dressed, at 270 gr. I have pressure tested (Oehler M43 with Contender test barrel) 44 magnum loads with Alliant 2400 and found 20.2 gr to consistently be just under the SAAMI MAP (Maximum Average Pressure) of 36,000 psi. I have found 19.5 gr to be an excellent load and is the one I use with that bullet and 2400. I most often use H110 with this bullet in the 44 Magnum as it gives better performance at less psi. However, if 2400 is what you have and what you want to use it will work very nicely.

Larry Gibson

107557

[44man]

In the old days with my BH flat top I used Elmers load of 22 gr of 2400 and the 250 gr 429421 all the time. Would I do the same today, darn right I would.

[Larry Gibson]

In the old days with my BH flat top I used Elmers load of 22 gr of 2400 and the 250 gr 429421 all the time. Would I do the same today, darn right I would.

That is still my standard load under the RCBS 44-250-KT and an excellent one it is. Out of the same Contender pressure barrel it runs 33,800 psi(M43) and 1462 fps out of my Ruger 50th Anniversary FT.

Larry Gibson

107578

[mpbarry1]

I started a 16 gr w my mihec 272 gr hp. I worked up to 18.5. no pressure signs there, howeber, it was not as much fun nor as accurate as 17.5 grains. I'm staying there. lol

[kweidner]

When you get upwards of 19gr you will know it in a 4 5/8. Although accurate, it's not something I want to shoot all day everyday. 2400 has a pretty steong recoil pulse. I use 2400 for hunting rounds and have loads with unique for enjoying.

[44man]

Nothing I ever ran through my Ruger or S&W , even my 330 gr in the SBH, was as nasty as the original factory loads in 1956. Those things let you know what went off.
I had to buy them for the brass back then and the very first shot from my FT had me look at the gun to see what blew up! From then on it was nothing but grins.

[telebasher]

In the old days with my BH flat top I used Elmers load of 22 gr of 2400 and the 250 gr 429421 all the time. Would I do the same today, darn right I would.

No need to mess with perfection.

[44MAG#1]

While I have never shot any of the hot factory loads of years ago I have been up to 26.5 gr H110 with a CCI 350 primer with a 250 Keith just to see how it would do and it was quite a load. I only shot a few and that was just as an experiment. NOT A LOAD RECOMMENDATION. It was actually told to me by a guy that had a ballistic lab and had pressure tested the load. He did not recommend it just mentioned it in my conversation with him. I took it upon MYSELF to do it.

[44man]

My friend went to 30 gr of 296 in his old .45 Vaquero using the 335 gr LBT without pressure signs.
WARNING TO YOU GUYS OF COURSE! He called Cast Precision to ask for a load and was told to start at 19 gr and work to pressure signs, then back down but he never found pressure signs.
No, I don't know how he got so much in unless he used his drop tube and compressed.
That boolit is perfect with 21.5 gr of 296 and a FED 150 primer. But he turned me white.
Long ago all we had was 2400 for heavy loads, still a great powder in the .44.

[jmort]

That is quite a load, did he get it over a chronograph? Would love to know the FPS

[44man]

That is quite a load, did he get it over a chronograph? Would love to know the FPS
He does not have a chrono so I have no way of knowing. Indications are he compressed so much all the powder could not burn. But as he went up, there were sure loads that did burn all.
Is 30 safer then 24 or 26? OH boy I don't want to go there.

[SSGOldfart]

Humm you might want to try 6.5 grains of Red Dot for a 240gr Lead SWC