New to me Redhawk .44mag. Lets talk about loads

[415m3]

240146

I just put this Redhawk in jail, and couldn't be happier with the condition and price. Anyone else here have 7.5" Redhawk, and if so...what profile casts are working for you? Similarly, what loads do you like for punching paper and steel? I have H110, Unique, W231, and Trail Boss handy.

[MT Gianni]

5.5" loaded to 44 levels with the 429421. I really like 6.5 gr Red Dot as a plinker. I have pushed it hard with WC 820/AA9 but find it heavy to pack in the woods and usually revert to a 45 or 44 special.

[458mag]

240146

I just put this Redhawk in jail, and couldn't be happier with the condition and price. Anyone else here have 7.5" Redhawk, and if so...what profile casts are working for you? Similarly, what loads do you like for punching paper and steel? I have H110, Unique, W231, and Trail Boss handy. I think I bought its twin brother. Right down to the pacmeyer grips. Have shot it with 240 gr jaxted with 21 grs 2400. I have recently cast some 240gr lee tumble lube loaded with 16grs vectan 7.5 but have not tested any at the range yet. I expect it will be an upper medium load. The size and weight of the pistol sure helps with recoil. Hav'nt done any real load development yet but working on it.

[415m3]

I think I bought its twin brother. Right down to the pacmeyer grips.

Serial number on this one says it's a 1989. Yours?

[Tom W.]

I like a heavy charge of H110 and a 310 gr. Lee, or a 245 gr RCBS an 21 gr. of 2400. Both very accurate with iron sights out to 165 yards on sillouette steel with a rest, and very good closer in. I just tried them again last Saturday at the sheriff's department range. Poor thing hasn't been outside in six months or so and was starting to whimper.

But mine is a SRH.

[458mag]

Serial number on this one says it's a 1989. Yours?

ser# 501-70303. Don't know where to check for year of make.

[ShooterAZ]

I like the 429421 or similar weight (240-250 gr) with 8.5 gr of Unique for a nice accurate plinking/target load, and 18.5 of 2400 for a mid-range load. I also like the Lee C430-300-RF with a stiff charge of W296 for a heavy load. I have to say that 2400 is my favorite all around powder for the 44Mag.

[415m3]

ser# 501-70303. Don't know where to check for year of make.

That would be a late 1985.

Lots of people using 429421 molds for pistol I see. I was curious about the Lee 200 RnFP or the 240 2r as I hear these feed better in lever actions ( next purchase).

[waco]

Y
I like the 429421 or similar weight (240-250 gr) with 8.5 gr of Unique for a nice accurate plinking/target load, and 18.5 of 2400 for a mid-range load. I also like the Lee C430-300-RF with a stiff charge of W296 for a heavy load. I have to say that 2400 is my favorite all around powder for the 44Mag.
I have to agree on boolits and powder. Only difference is I had Tom at Accurate cut me a copy of the Lee 310 in a plain base mold.
240208

[Dale53]

I bought a SS Red Hawk soon after they hit the market. It has been my "bad weather" hunting revolver for big game ever since ("big game" around here meaning whitetail deer:p):

https://oi269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-2-3.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-2-3.jpg.html)

I have a 2 power Leupold on mine. I have taken several deer with this. I did a much needed trigger job on this right after I got it. Using a near full load of 24.0 grs. of H110 behind a 250 gr. Keith, I get 1300 fps. (25.0 grs. of H110 gives me 1400 fps.). My heavy load is the Lee C430-310-RF ahead of 21.5 grs. of H110. This is a SERIOUS load and shoots exceptionally well at 100 yards.

FWIW
Dale53

P.S. I carried this in a Bianchi accross the chest holster in very rough country without issue. rdm

[Ozark mike]

I run a full charge of 296 in my bh 5.5 with 310 gr

[Texas by God]

Try 8grs Unique for fun and max load of H110 for hunting (240gr SWC) I sure like the old blued Redhawks, good score.

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[415m3]

Try 8grs Unique for fun and max load of H110 for hunting (240gr SWC) I sure like the old blued Redhawks, good score.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Thanks, it cost me $400 for the pistol, a second set of sights, and a bunch of Wolff springs. I’m pretty excited ��

[tja6435]

I use 5 or 6 grains Trail Boss under a MP 44/444-300 boolit. Fun to shoot and doesn’t beat you hands up.

[rintinglen]

I have had very good results with heat treated 429-421's over a bunch of 2400. My load is the old Keith load which is over max for the 21st century load books, but the Ruger can take it. These days though, the Magnum version of the "Skeeter" load, 8.0 grains of Unique under the same boolit, gets most of the duty. My wrists don't like the heavy loads.

[JBinMN]

Thanks, it cost me $400 for the pistol, a second set of sights, and a bunch of Wolff springs. I’m pretty excited ��

I think you got a helluva deal.
;)

I use a SS SRH 7-1/2"bbl I bought new in around '87 for about $350. IIRC. I primarily use 2400 with it, occasionally AA#9, neither of which was on your list, but I did get a fistful of H110 from a buddy to try before I bought any & I have not yet bought any for myself as I still have enough of the other two right now. I have only used 21gr. -23gr. of the H110 for a 240gr. boolit & I thought it was OK. Not enough shooting with H110 to give ya much for suggestion though.

G'Luck!

[Three44s]

My RH is the twin to Dale53’s.

My SRH that I traded for my SRH in 480 Ruger was a 9 1/2” in 44 Mag. The 480 is a 7 1/2” I have now.

A S&W Mountain Gun rounds out my 44’s.

The powders I like most are Titegroup and clays at the lighter end, Unique at the Skeeter Skelton level, HS6 at the level God and Hodgdon’s intended in their #26 manual, Alliant 2400 from 17.5 to 21 gr., and H110 for the most obtuse of targets!

The bullet I favor most is the RCBS 250K.

I do the Lee 310 FN GC dual crimp groove but just in the RH and crimped forward to take advantage of the added boiler room it affords. I only recognize one powder for that slug .... H110

Three44s

[RED BEAR]

I am a real fan of h110 in my black hawk very clean and performs great. Another fan of the lee 310 also like lyman 429422 a 235 gr swc and h110. Unique works good as lighter loads but nowhere near as clean.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

One more that likes 8gr of Unique under a 240 / 250 gr boolit also a fan of 17.5gr of 2400 the days of me shooting 23gr of H110 under a 240gr bullet are gone for the most part for me I just do not see the need for it

[415m3]

I assume you guys are all using LPP with Unique and MLPP for H110, but what about the 2400?

[Ozark mike]

One more that likes 8gr of Unique under a 240 / 250 gr boolit also a fan of 17.5gr of 2400 the days of me shooting 23gr of H110 under a 240gr bullet are gone for the most part for me I just do not see the need for it

I wouldn't load hot but I live in land o grizz

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I assume you guys are all using LPP with Unique and MLPP for H110, but what about the 2400?
I just use LPP with 2400

[trapper9260]

I have a RH and the scope to put on it 7 1/2" and what ever I put in it works. The Lee 310grs I do not shoot much for how it is. But for my Marlin it shoots great.

[415m3]

Good info everyone, and thanks.

[Baja_Traveler]

I just tried 7 grains of Trail Boss under a Miha 250gr this past weekend. Nice mild load that's easy on the hands, but I was a bit surprised at how dirty it was. I'll probably go back to my 19gr of 2400 in the future though. Just put the Weig-A-Tinny rail and reflex sight on, and I'm still getting used to the sight, but I'm really beginning to like it.

240372

[murf205]

STD LPP will work fine behind Unique or 2400 but you better use MPP with H110/296 Winchester. I have has some very bad experiences with std primers and H110. You cant go wrong with a Lyman 429421 or a custom mold like it in 250 grs. If you want to shoot paper or steel like you said, the 8grs of Unique or 17gr of 2400 will be a good bet. If your gun wont like either of those loads it will be the one and only that don't! Great deal, congrats on a revolver that is strong as an anvil and accurate to boot.

[Ozark mike]

Yes make sure you use mpp with 296 h110 and lilgun

[Thumbcocker]

I have shot H110 under 265 rnfp's for years with standard primers. Excellent accuracy.

[murf205]

I have shot H110 under 265 rnfp's for years with standard primers. Excellent accuracy.
I'm glad you have had good luck with std primers. I have pushed the powder charge out of the case and the boolit jammed into the forcing cone on several occasions. It's a mess to clean out all the powder. I called Hodgdon and talked to their ballistician and he said to definitely use magnum primers with H110. The accuracy improved a lot when I went to magnum pistol primers

[Thumbcocker]

I do use a heck of a crimp. Wolf large pistol primers.

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[Arkansas Paul]

You got a smoking deal on that. Good grief.

I too use the Lyman 429421 mold and the Lee 310 mold.
For a light plinking load I like 10 grains of Unique with the Keith bullet.
For serious business, a near max load of H110 or IMR4227 with the Lee 310.

[white eagle]

I shoot a 260 gr Miha 503 copy
I have used 296 but like 8-8.5 gr unique
very accurate in my 5.5 Redhawk both 50 and 100

[Ramjet-SS]

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-270F-D.png

The perfect 44 mag bullet in my opinion is the 270 grain WFN plain base or gas check loaded to 1000 FPS and up. Penetrates s deep as the 310 but with much less felt recoil. Is deadly on game.

[fenderman57]

I agree with Ramjet-SS, I use that mold for a Redhawk 5.5 @ 1300 fps and a Winchester Timber Carbine 444 @ 2050 fps. Hits hard with good accuracy, moderate recoil.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I have that mold too shoots good out of my SBH with 2400

[murf205]

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-270F-D.png

The perfect 44 mag bullet in my opinion is the 270 grain WFN plain base or gas check loaded to 1000 FPS and up. Penetrates s deep as the 310 but with much less felt recoil. Is deadly on game.
Like this, it is a NOE mold that makes a 270 gr. Al did a beautiful job and it makes the same kind of boolits. My 4" 629 loves them.

[415m3]

Desperate for a quick range trip, I took the kids to a local indoor range to shoot the Redhawk and a few other pistols. Thank you all for the load recommendations, I freakin love this gun. I casted and PC a bunch of 429421 and had great success with the Skeeter Unique 8.0gr, 2400 18gr, and H110 23.5gr with a JHP. It is a very accurate gun and was actually quite comfortable to shoot. My 11yr old daughter even took it for a spin.
241910

[murf205]

Y
I have to agree on boolits and powder. Only difference is I had Tom at Accurate cut me a copy of the Lee 310 in a plain base mold.
240208

I see that the mold Tom cut for you actually has a valid crimp groove, quite unlike the Lee. That is my main complaint with the Lee and the fact that I never thought it needed to have a gas check on it's butt. How hard do you drive that pb 300gr boolit? Those are beautiful btw, good job waco.