hp38 in 44 mag

[bubbacrabb]

While I know hp38 is a versatile powder, I picked up like 25 lbs of it in 2011 for use on 9, 38, 45acp. I have started casting my own Lee tl 240 swc and wondered if it would be a decent candidate for some target loads with hp38. I got some 2400 and unique, but way more hp38. It seems to flow great in my 550.

[Petrol & Powder]

The answer is yes, HP-38 / ww231 can work in the 44 magnum with a 240gr bullet. That case is rather large and HP-38 is a relatively fast powder that is better suited in small cases like the 9mm and 38 Special but it can be made to work in 44.
2400 is better suited for maximum loads in the 44 and Unique works very well at the slower target load speeds but Unique doesn't meter as well.
I use a Dillon 550 a lot but avoid using Unique in the powder measure. It will work but there are other powders that work better.

[Outpost75]

I had good results with 8 grains of W231 with the 260-grain Saeco #430 cowboy bullet loaded in .44 Magnum brass for my Ruger Vaquero. Performance is like a .45 Colt load, accurate, economical, pleasant to shoot and powerful enough for most purposes. Velocity is about 900 fps. You can get the same results with 7.2 grains of Bullseye, 9 grains of Unique or 10 grains of Herco.

I have not used HP38, but people say it is the same as 231, I cannot testify to that from actual experience, but the 8 grain charge would be a safe starting load based on experiences with other powders of similar burning rate.

[bubbacrabb]

My Dillon doesn't seam to mind unique. I've ran a lot of it thru it. I may just use the last of it with the 44. I figured there would be to much empty space in the case using hp38. I guess I need to just try a few and see how it works on the chronograph. I know I like it in 9. I just realised I got 25k large pistol primers and only 10k spp. So I'm trying to stick to shooting some bigger stuff for a while.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I use HP-38 in all my pistol calibers up to and including the 44 mag. and 45 LC. When I shot PPC a lot back in my younger days I used the same 3.5 gr. load of either HP-38 or Win. 231 in my .38 spcl. behind a 148 gr. WC boolet.Robert

[runfiverun]

231 works fine in the bigger cases.
I used 7 grs in the 44 under a 240 swc for quite a long time, and a bunch in the 357 for plinking and even for squirrel/grouse type shooting.
the 7gr load was accurate and very mild.

[bobthenailer]

Hardly ever used HP-38 / 231 but have used a lot of Bullseye & Tightgroup powder with excellent results in the 357 ,44 mag, & 454 casull for reduced loads @ 800 to 1,100 fps for many decades.

Im sure you will find a good load with HP-38 / 231 powder

[Lefty Red]

I use 231 and 700x in my 44 magnum loads for a good mild/medium load under a 240 grain SWC. .7cc of 700x or 1cc of 231.

Jerry

[osteodoc08]

231/HP-38 is great for mid range and plinker loads. I shoot a bunch of it in my 45acp and 357/41 Mags.

[jfvacc]

I load 7.1 gr of HP-38/Win 231 under a 240gr LSWC. Out of my 6 1/2 inch Model 29, I get an average of 976 FPS. It's laser accurate and fun to shoot.

[NuJudge]

I used to use 7.5gr of 231 (which is the same as HP38) under a 240gr Keith SWC for Bowling Pin shoots. That load was accurate, and with a hit anywhere near the center of gravity of the Pin, the Pin moved off the table with authority.