Suggested load for 310gr boolit -- 296 powder

[ghh3rd]

A couple of friends want to shoot tomorrow, and try my new Ruger .44 SBH. I just picked up powder and primers and checked my only reloading book (I know, I should have more than one), and it doesn't have load data for my boolit using 296.

The boolit is a Lee 430-310-RF 44 (310 Gr). Can someone tell me the powder range for 296 with this boolit?

Thanks,


Randy

[Trey45]

I have load data for a 300 gr 429650, perhaps you can extrapolate data from it?
Starting load for 296 is 18.2 grains, max load is 19.0 grains.
From the Lyman 48th edition.
Load data tested using universal receiver.

Added:
Starting load of 18.2gr yields 982fps @ 34,500cup, max load of 19.0gr yields 1064fps @ 38,300cup

[lwknight]

I have a friend that uses H110 which is exactly the same in every way as 296 and he uses 20.5 grains with his 300 grain 44mag SBH with great accuracy.
I know this is not exact but it will get you started. Also you do need magnum primers with 296.

[lwknight]

Trey, those books are entirely too conservative. The Ruger SBH can tolerate easily 50,000 cup and I know that I have chronoed the 300 grain up to 1200 fps with 296 powder.

[ghh3rd]

I should have looked (remembered) better -- just found a post where 44man said he uses the Fed 150 primer (which I actually have :-)), and 21.5 gr of 296 for the Lee 310gr boolit.

I have a Lee .430 sizer, and a box of gas checks, but wonder if I should have looked for something more like a 432 sizer.

Also, I've never used gas checks before, and figure that if I have a problem with them, I'll just size to .430, without gas checks (this time).

And as far as lube -- I have beeswax on order from randyrat, and have started to gather the other ingredients for Felix Lube, so I may have to resort to using a couple of coats of Lee Alox on these boolits.

I'm not good at being patient, and although I wanted to do my finest work on my first boolits to go through this new gun, I guess just getting something functional enough to let my friends experience the gun with me will be good enough, this time.

Randy

[Trey45]

I'm only willing to accept liability for what's written, if he wants to, or if you want to go higher, be my guest. I may go higher too, but I won't tell anyone else to do it. BTW, I shoot 44mag out of a SBH too, but you won't find my load data online or in books. There's way too many sue happy people in this world and I'm a firm believer in the 11th commandment, Cover thine own a**.

[44man]

I should have looked (remembered) better -- just found a post where 44man said he uses the Fed 150 primer (which I actually have :-)), and 21.5 gr of 296 for the Lee 310gr boolit.

I have a Lee .430 sizer, and a box of gas checks, but wonder if I should have looked for something more like a 432 sizer.

Also, I've never used gas checks before, and figure that if I have a problem with them, I'll just size to .430, without gas checks (this time).

And as far as lube -- I have beeswax on order from randyrat, and have started to gather the other ingredients for Felix Lube, so I may have to resort to using a couple of coats of Lee Alox on these boolits.

I'm not good at being patient, and although I wanted to do my finest work on my first boolits to go through this new gun, I guess just getting something functional enough to let my friends experience the gun with me will be good enough, this time.

Randy
Yes, that is my load and I size 432" if the boolit is large enough to start with. Actually I don't call it sizing, just removing excess lube.
I have worked to 23 gr before starting to flatten primers, no sticky cases. If you call Cast Precision they will tell you 19 gr of 296 is a starting load for their 320 gr LBT WLNGC.
Be very careful with reduced loads.
With my 330 gr boolit I use 21 gr.
Put gas checks on the boolits, you need the drive length.

[O.S.O.K.]

I size my Lee 310gc to .431" and use 21.0 grains of H110 (same) for excellent accuracy out of my Marlin 94 with mg barrel.

[fredj338]

I use the same bullet sized 0.431" w/ 20gr in my RBHB. It is not max but it is accurate.

[ghh3rd]

Boolits cast, but for naught. Was about to start decapping, but can't find the #30 shell holder that I bought :groner: Dissapointing, since I wanted to try out the new cannon tomorrow.

[dualsport]

I have shot the Lee 310 in my old SBH as cast with LLA, no gc for 4" 5 shot groups at 50 yds. I'm not the steadiest hand around, I'm sure that combo will go smaller in the right hands.

[Tom W.]

I use 21 gr. of H110 with my SRH, and have no complaints...

[jack19512]

Also you do need magnum primers with 296.







Are you sure about that?

[44man]

I have a friend that uses H110 which is exactly the same in every way as 296 and he uses 20.5 grains with his 300 grain 44mag SBH with great accuracy.
I know this is not exact but it will get you started. Also you do need magnum primers with 296.
Not so in the .44. Too much pressure just from the primer that can move boolits out of crimp. I might use a mag primer if it was bitter, bitter cold. Mag primers triple my groups.
All of my friends and I use the Fed 150 and I have since all my testing when I shot IHMSA, long ago, early 80's. My SBH has seen over 56,000 rounds with a standard primer and only mag primers for testing. Then the pile of other S&W and Ruger .44's I have owned.
The 150 works just fine in the .45 too but playing with a WLP has shown maybe a little tighter group but the back and forth groups with each can't let me form a decision.
Now a larger case like the .475 does a lot better with the mag primer but still shoots OK with a standard.
Even cutting down .460 brass for the .454 has shown the standard primer will light off 296 starting loads when the SR mag primer will fail. Accuracy in the .454 with a LP mag primer is a whole lot better then using .454 brass with ANY SR primer.
Don't believe the printed word and your gun will out shoot any shooter.
It irks me when I read a gun rag and they use mag primers in the .44. Has the writer ever tried other then what is printed?
Three shots at 200 yards from my SBH using Fed 150 primers.