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View Full Version : Working up some .44 hunting loads today



Fenring
04-09-2010, 01:24 AM
Today I let off a few loads to sort a hunting load out for the .44 Devastator and the Lee 310gr .44 flat point, out of my Ruger 96/44.

The Lee has been a little annoying in the oversize shank not letting GC's seat properly, so I made up a simple flaring tool out of some steel bar ground to a rounded end. Extra time wasted, but now they pop straight on to this great bullet.

I needed to seat the Lyman past the crimp groove on account of the rotary mag but the Lee works fine and as luck would have it one setting on my seating die suits both boolits. [smilie=p:


Both pills cast from air cooled clip on WW's + are sized to .432 and checked with Hornady checks and lubed with LLA thinned with turps and lubed via "dipping."

These loads are for hunting pigs, we most often hunt them on dirt bikes, finding mobs of them or driving them from cover. So shots are most often 50m or under. Only rarely will you need to shoot much past 75m and most shots are at running targets.

Our ADI2205 powder is the same as H110.

21gr of 2205 averaged 1527fps for an ME with bullet sized and gas checked at 275gr, of 1428ft/lbs. This was a mild load.

23gr saw them whip out at an average of 1684fps for 1732 ft/lbs.

Not bad for a stumpy little pistol case and I don't think too many boars will shrug that off. :D


The big Lee bullet weighs 315gr with a GC on.

A mild load of 18gr of 2205 saw them average 1393fps for 1357 ft/lbs.

The other load was 20gr of 2205 and with that load they averaged 1500fps for an ME of 1574 ft/lbs.

I think I'll settle on 23gr for the Lyman and 20gr for the Lee - though the primer indicates these loads are up there recoil was surprisingly mild offhand considering the weight of these pills and the light 96/44 with solid butt plate.

And my barrel was still nice and shiny after the session also. :D

JesterGrin_1
04-09-2010, 02:08 AM
I use 21.OGr of H-110 with the Lee 310Gr in a Win .44 Mag Case with the LPP CCI not the mag. And you are correct they should hit like a Sledge Hammer. :)

Sorry I did go over your post again and did notice that you seated the Lee 310 past the crimp groove. With this in mind I feel your 20.o Gr load is as hot as you should take it. Depending on pressure signs.

Please by all means report back on the hunt. :)

Fenring
04-09-2010, 04:23 AM
Thanks Jester.

I seated the Lee to the crimp groove but the Lyman Devastator is too long n the nose cone to fit in the rotary mag, so I seated it deeper past the crimp groove.


I'll certainly post some hunt pics - few weeks to wait yet but I'm hoping it will be a good trip.

rhead
04-09-2010, 05:27 AM
Is that seated to the top crimp groove of the bottom crimp groove on the Lee boolit?

COAL?

Fenring
04-09-2010, 06:04 AM
The uppermost one mate. Any longer and it won't fit in the 96/44 rotary mag.

I don't have calipers so can't tell you the OAL.

Frank
04-09-2010, 06:23 PM
Fenring, 23 grns sounds pretty warm. I don't know your bullet length but with what you've got, it's probably OK. Maybe OK too with a model '92, but too hot for a '94.

Blammer
04-09-2010, 09:36 PM
remember it's NOT H110 but close so powder charges may vary a bit for max