.44 Mag, Heavy Bullets, Medium Velocities -- Powder?

[insanelupus]

I am not a fan of shooting high velocity loads out of a handgun, though I do prefer heavy bullets. I have recently purchased the Lee 431-310 GC bullet mould.

I originally loaded a Speer 300 grain jacketed bullet to about 1050 fps (chrono'd)and found it to be an excellent load for accuracy using IMR 4227. I wasn't thrilled though with the bullet performance as I feel the bullet is very hard but has a meplat that is too small for my intended use.

Currently I'm loading bullets from Montana Bullet works that are 300 grain WFN LBT bullets, but they are of heat treated alloy. While I like the bullet, the load I've been using with 2400 is not wholly satisfactory to me. Though it is reasonably accurate, the velocity is just over 1100 fps.

I am currently shooting these out of a 5.5" Ruger Vaquero Bisley, .44 Magnum. Slugging cylinder mouths and barrely showed a diameter of .430 was a good place to start with sizing. Soon I may be putting a Bisley frame on a 4.75" Ruger Super Blackhawk, also that requires a .430 diameter.

I use the Vaquero as my every day packing revolver in the mountains in NW MT. Besides targets of opportunity, I have these loaded as a fall back for deer, elk, and black bear under 50 yards max, with an ideal range of 35 yards for the iron sights and my shooting.

When I try this new Lee bullet, I intend to try 2400, IMR 4227, 231, Unique and possibly H-110 and 296. I am afraid even starting loads with the later two will be above the the 1050 fps benchmark I try to stick close to. Ideal velocities will be between 1000 fps and 1050 fps, with good accuracy (6" @ 50 yards minimum).

Are there any other powders to try for a medium velocity load and my new 310+ Lee bullet?

[FN in MT]

Frankly I'd choose UNIQUE.

FN in MT

[Shuz]

Whatever charge of 2400 gave you 1100fps+with the 300g boolit; drop it by about 1 to 1.5g and you should be close to 1000 fps. In my experience, the faster powders like Unique and Green Dot don't work as well with the heavy .44 boolits. You've no doubt also heard the many cautions about reducing charges of H-110 and/or WW296, so if you'd like to drop your velocity, a good powder to do it with is 2400.

[doghawg]

insanelupus

My two favorite powders for loads like you're looking for are HS6 and Blue Dot. I've had good results with one or the other for mid-range loads in everything from .357 to .500.

[Kuato]

My Lyman 48th edition manual lists the Lyman 300gr #429650 boolit with 2400 at a velocity of 1001fps with a charge of 15.7gr (max load). H110 (with mag primer)17.7gr=976fps and a max load of 18.5gr for a vel of 1036 fps.. These loads were chronoed out of a 4" bbl.. No load data for Unique with the heavies....

[runfiverun]

accurate powders 5,7or9 should do ya too
7 would be right in the 1000 plus fps range and 9 in the 1100 plus range

[44man]

The Lee is a great boolit but I think you will be disappointed in accuracy trying to shoot it slow. You will find about 1330 fps is where it works best from a Ruger.
It won't matter if all of your shots are close, 25 to 40 yd's.
The heavy weights need velocity. If you want accuracy and light loads, use lighter boolits.
If accuracy is no concern, I would try HS-6. I would not download with H 110 or 296. Unique is also good.

[NSP64]

I shoot the lee 310 over 16gr 4227 with win primer in my encore 12" gives me 1100 fps, with the cylinder gap and shorter barrel it might give you the 1050fps you seek.

[insanelupus]

Kuato, thanks, I have the 47th edition, but hadn't noticed that, I'll check in mine too. Thank you.

44man, I was afraid that might be the case but wanted to check.

NSP64, that sounds very close the load I used for my Speer loads. What kind of accuracy are you getting with the Lee bullet? Are you using standard primers?

[JesterGrin_1]

Take a look here. http://www.hodgdon.com/ which will give you lots of loads. But to be honest since you said a big word BEAR lol. I would wish to load heavy.

Since I live down south I do not need to worry about such large critters that may eat me lol. Just a back up for HOG or Deer or snakes that I may run across. And that is a simple 240Gr SWC with 5.5Gr of TightGroup with a standard primer in my .44 Mag 629 which is about 950FPS.