Surplus powder for .44 mag -- WC 297 or 820?

[Sven]

Does anyone have experience load ing either of these two powders (WC 297 or 820) in a .44 mag? I read the thread on 820 and .357 mag which got me to wondering. Which would be better between the two? How do the burn rates compare? I'm new to surplus powders and thought I'd ask before buying.

Thanks!

[beagle]

I've burned many jugs of WC820 in the .44 Mag. The Lyman 429421HP and 17.0 grains of my lot gives me a very nice shooting load in both my Winchester M94 and my Ruger SBHs. Kind of my standard load and shoots well in both the rifles and pistols.

Velocity is 1436 FPS out of the rifle./beagle

[Shuz]

I've burned several jugs of WC 820 in various S&W and Ruger .44 mag revolters. It's great stuff, but there are several different burning rates out there, so a guy needs to work his loads up carefully. I currently use 17g of lot number 47320 with 250 to 270g cast boolits. I always use CCI 350 mag primers with WC 820, but others have had good luck with standard primers.

[BCB]

I like it also—15-16 grains and the Lyman 429650 (320+ grains). My particular lot number is 47320 and the burn rate is “exactly” the same as AA #9 I do use magnum primers.. Good-luck…BCB

[Sven]

Thanks for the info. I should have mentioned that I use Winchester Large Pistol primers, so magnum primers shouldn't be an issue. I figure if Win. uses them to ignite 296 and it works, I should be good to go.

[Lloyd Smale]

either will work fine but 820 is what you want. 297 is alot alot slower burnig and would be ideal in the 454s and up. For the 44 I cant see 297 as 820 will do anything you need and do it cheaper.