I Wonder What The Pressure Is ?

I went to the range to shoot a group with a new cast bullet load in the 32 S&W at 100 yards
Oh well about the same as most loads

But there was a member shooting a rifle at another bench ' the loads sounded HOT
So when I was done I waited to get my target till he was done

We talked as we both went down range
He changed paper targets and I saw 5 or 6 holes in the 12" x 12 " paper target
Maybe a 8" group at 100 yards

He complained the rifle didn't like the "New" load
Before I left
I stopped down to his bench to say Good By
I noticed he was shooting a Remington 788 in 44 Mag .... I would like to find one in decent shape myself
But then I looked at the ammo box
Winchester USA box
But on the top he had wrote
Winchester Case
Hornady 240 HP
Federal Large Pistol Mag
AA #7 20 grains ( A Almost 4 grain OVER LOAD )

When I got home I looked at my Accurate Arms reloading manual and saw 16.1 gr of AA #7 was listed as Max at 34,800 PSI
So I wonder what pressure his over load was producing ? :holysheep

Another reason I normally will NOT shoot other peoples reloads

John

I hate to think of one of his loads being fired in a less strong gun than a Remington 788- like most .44 Magnum guns.......
What an idiot.

maybe he was trying to make a 44 mag into a 444 marlin?

i agree, he is an idiot.

Be glad his rifle did not grenade and take both yalls face out. So stupid.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

That's sad. If he would have worked his way down from max, the groups would have been much better I'm sure.

There was a lot of stupid going on at his bench. Did you ask him where he got that load data from? Might have gotten it from the internet somewhere and you could have helped him out before he killed himself.

I think we have all seen loads on the internet from some "expert" that had us saying "wait a minute"..

My neighbor gave me some 44 mags. He said were loaded with 31 grains of H110. There 180 grain hollow points. He said they scare him. Im going to pull them. And make sure he didn't go over. 31 is the max load i think for 180 grain bullets. Im glad you and the guy at the range did not get injured.

I told him I thought the loads were to hot
And suggested he check the FREE Accurate Arms load data
He acted like I was a know it all and IMO ignored me

I was not sure how hot or if the load was over loaded or safe at the time
Bad thing if he got "Help" to figure that load was good or safe

John

The 788 is a strong gun. I have one in 6mm rem, but they were also offered it up to 308 win. If he started low and worked up, checking for signs of over pressure, he could be within safe limits. Maximum loads are usually calculated for the lightest (least strong) gun they may be shot in.

I shoot a lot of 45/70 and 45 Colt in Trapdoor Springfield's and Colt 1873's. Both are low pressure firearms and need to be loaded according.

I also shoot the 45/70 and 45 Colt in a Boltguns/Strong Single shots and the 45 Colt in a 454 Casull and or 460 S&W. In these firearms it's 100% safe to exceed the SAAMI specs for the 1873 and 45 Colt. A 44 Mag is no different and yes you can find published data for rifle only loads.

The AA #7 20 grains ( A Almost 4 grain OVER LOAD ) is correct for a SAAMI revolver but it is a published TC Contender load and under for Encore or Boltguns like the 788. The 788 is a heck of a lot stronger than a Contender.

I have to agree with Greg and M-Mecs.

Load may have been a bit much for a revolver but it is safe in the M788 he was shooting it in.

Seems the problem was one of accuracy. Given the accuracy level of most M788s and the quality of the components I would venture (and that's all it would be) is the guy was having problems with the sights or just can't shoot. Observed inaccuracy of that type at the range is most often the fault of the shooter, not the firearm or the components.

Yes, it is a good reason not to shoot others reloads unless the load is actually known and proven safe for the firearm to be used in. Sometimes it isn't safe to shoot some "factory loads" in some firearms they are chambered for. +P loads and "only for use in" type factory loads come to mind. Those are not much different than the load mentioned which was used in a firearm capable of being safe with it.

Not saying this is the issue with this but in my 45/70's with 300 grain HP's if I push them hard I get the same lack of accuracy. You can see lead dust on the target at 25 yards so for me it's an over spin issue. The none HP bullets of the same weight shoot as they should.