XTP Hunting Loads for 629-6

[sjs]

I am getting ready to load some hunting loads for my 44 mag 629-6 for the first time. So far I have only loaded target loads and they have been mild to moderate 240 gr. loads.

I have some 240 gr Hornady XTP and some 300 gr XTP bullets and I have A2400 and H110 powder, as well as Bullseye and HP38.

I think the -6 has the Endurance changes but still have the impression I should not push it too far. The Hornady factory ammo pushes the 240 gr to 1350 fps and the 300 gr to 1150 fps.

I will try to load to those velocities but have no chronograph so it will be a guestimate. My question is if I have any risk going lower than that. I have read that H110 does not have a very broad window.

I have several loading manuals but not the Hornady manual and have not found data on their website. Do you think I am OK as long as I don't go below the starting loads in the manuals I do have?

[Protocall_Design]

H110/WW296 is sensitive to too low of a powder charge. If you don't go below the starting levels you will be OK. You need a magnum primer for those also. A mag primer is a good idea on any big charge of powder.

My Metallic Silhouette .44 Mag load is 18 gr. of H4227 with a 300 gr. XTP and a CCI Large Pistol Magnum primer. In my 8-3/8 M629 it is going 1050 FPS at the muzzle and 900 FPS at 200 meters.
This is a 315 power factor. The recoil is mild by .44 Mag. standards. I have shot 80 rounds in a day many times with no discomfort in the hands, wrist or elbows. The gun would shoot this load to 6" groups at 200 meters (217 yards) off sandbags with a scope.

The steel rams weigh 54 lbs. I have never failed to knock one over that was hit. I think it would be a great deer or hog hunting load. You can load this powder to quite a bit higher velocity if desired, according to the loading manual.

[sjs]

Thanks Toolguy. My Lee, Lyman and Hogdon manuals have H4427 loads and I can study those as a starting point. I have trouble getting primers but have a stock of Large Winchester Pistol and Federal Large Pistol Magnum to start with.

I take it you are comfortable shooting 300gr bullets and don't worry about your 629 handling them?

[phonejack]

This should help

[BLUEDOT37]

No issues downloading 2400. Don't know what starting weight(s) you're looking at but if you go lower it'll just start leaving unburnt kernels. Use regular primers with 2400.

300gr JHPs loaded to SAAMI max pressures will be safe, just expect extended use to hasten wear. Within reason it shouldn't be an issue.

.

[Fishinfool]

Any book load using 2400 or H-110 (same as W-296) will be safe in your revolver. Use mag primers with H-110, along with a firm crimp. 2400 is a little more flexible with less than full power loads for what that's worth.

Personally, in your shoes I would use either powder with the 240 grain XTP, loaded to about 1250 fps. Recoil is not bad, less than a hot 300 grain load, and is plenty for any whitetail you are going to shoot within reasonable range with your 629 (it does have the endurance package, by the way). I have taken dozens of whitetails with the same load, and it works well. Placement is key, as is any good shot on game.

If I was hog hunting, specifically, then I would switch over to the 300 grain XTP for the added penetration, based on the two decent sized boars I have taken with that bullet.

The XTP bullet is a good one, that does not expand as fast as the typical handgun bullet designed for primarily self defense. They penetrate deep and hold together well.

Larry

[KLYDE]

Per my Hornady #8 the data for the 300 gr XTP #44280 is as follows:

2400 powder lists a a start of 14.8 grains and a max of 17.1 grains. The max load velocity is listed at 1150 fps.

H110 powder lists a start of 17.5 grains and a max of 20.1 grains. The max load velocity is listed at 1200 fps.

No data for the H4227 only the IMR. (reportedly the same powder) The max velocity for the 4227 is lower than the 2400.

I've shot hundreds of the 300 XTP from my SRH loaded with 17 grains of 2400. The recoil is substantially stouter than a 240 grain bullet.

I'll agree with Fishinfool on using the 240 grain bullet. The 300 is not needed for deer.

If you need the data for the 240 let me know.
Klyde

[sjs]

Thank you very much guys, that is all very helpful.

Klyde, if you don't mind I would appreciate the Hornady load data for the 240 grain with 2400 and H110.

I would prefer to hunt with 240 gr for the reduced recoil and I think it will be better for deer. But I am new to the low country of SC and I am told where I hunt that I will be in areas where I can run into hogs at the same time as deer. Most hogs will be small enough for 240 but it is swamp and marsh with thick cover, shots will be close and there is the possibility of a large and unfriendly hog so I bought the 300 gr bullets as well. Not sure if I will load the 240 gr, the 300 gr or a few of both. I am going to do load development first and then decide.

How do you gents work up loads in a 44 mag handgun; I mean in this range of powder charge would you try .2 gr increments, .3 gr, .4 gr, etc. ?

[KLYDE]

Again directly from the Hornady 8th.

300 gr #44280
start 2400 max
1000 1050 1100 1150 1200
14.8 15.6 16.3 17.1


H110
17.5 18.2 18.8 19.5 20.1


240 gr #44200
start 2400 max
1100 1200 1300 1350 1400
17.4 18.9 20.4 21.2


H110
20.7 22.1 23.5 24.1 24.8

Was a lot younger when I used to shoot the 300 grainer. 9 1/2" Super Redhawk which is a big gun as compared to the 629. Recoil was like a mule, but was young and full of P & vinegar. Don't think I'd want to do much shootin with that load now. Good luck.
Klyde

[sjs]

Thank you very much Klyde.

[Rule3]

You can use the Hodgdon website data for H110

The 240 gr Nosler and use your XTP

They do test the 300 XTP

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

[KLYDE]

I'll tell you a story in regard to substituting different manufacturers load data for the same weight bullet. Back when I was using the SRH for deer hunting I had worked up a load using the Sierra 300 gr soft point. 19 grains of 2400 was within published specs and shot nice from my gun. Just before hunting time I ran out of the Sierra's and could only find the Hornady 300 XTP. No time to work up the load before hunting. Also did not have a Hornady book and was before the internet. I loaded up a batch of the XTP's at the "tested load" I had worked up on the Sierra 300. I figured the same weight bullet must be OK. WRONG!!!!

Got up to hunting camp and wanted to check POA with POI. Took a shot and the report was funny. I stopped and opened the cylinder and went to eject the fired case. It was sticky but came out OK.

I promptly went down to town and bought a box of Factory ammo. After I got home I had time to purchase a Hornady manual. Listed max from the Hornady is the 17.1 grains of 2400!!! I had loaded my cases at 19 grains of 2400 per the Sierra manual applicable to their 300 grain bullet.

No doubt in my mind that if I had not been shooting the Super Redhawk I would have fragged the gun. Ever since then I have only used the Factory manual for the brand of bullets I'm loading.

Lesson learned with no harm. USE CAUTION
Klyde

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by KLYDE

I'll tell you a story in regard to substituting different manufacturers load data for the same weight bullet. Back when I was using the SRH for deer hunting I had worked up a load using the Sierra 300 gr soft point. 19 grains of 2400 was within published specs and shot nice from my gun. Just before hunting time I ran out of the Sierra's and could only find the Hornady 300 XTP. No time to work up the load before hunting. Also did not have a Hornady book and was before the internet. I loaded up a batch of the XTP's at the "tested load" I had worked up on the Sierra 300. I figured the same weight bullet must be OK. WRONG!!!!

Got up to hunting camp and wanted to check POA with POI. Took a shot and the report was funny. I stopped and opened the cylinder and went to eject the fired case. It was sticky but came out OK.

I promptly went down to town and bought a box of Factory ammo. After I got home I had time to purchase a Hornady manual. Listed max from the Hornady is the 17.1 grains of 2400!!! I had loaded my cases at 19 grains of 2400 per the Sierra manual applicable to their 300 grain bullet.

No doubt in my mind that if I had not been shooting the Super Redhawk I would have fragged the gun. Ever since then I have only used the Factory manual for the brand of bullets I'm loading.

Lesson learned with no harm. USE CAUTION
Klyde

Hornady data is sound but usually tends to be on the low side with most data.

If you look at the comparison of the 240 Nosler vs 240 XTP in Hodgdon there is not much difference.

240 gr Nosler from Hodgdon is 23.0 to 24.0

240 gr from Hornady is a WIDE 20.7 22.1 23.5 24.1 24.8

Which clearly is out of the recommended do not reduce more than 3%

That said, I use Hornady data for most calibers and have used their lower charges and the work fine.

The 300 gr bullet is the SAME bullet!

So what is the issue?

One can safely use data for the same weight and profile bullet
Especially towards the high end of a super slow mag powder.
Your dilemma was something else, what I don't know.

[KLYDE]

I don't know. What is the issue??? I was giving a word of advice from my past experience between the Hornady and Sierra 300 grain bullets. I made no quote of your post. If the data between two different bullets is the same then all is good. I don't know how one would know they are the same without access to both. In that case I'd use the correct manufacturers info. In my case it was drastically different and I didn't have access to the correct data. Assuming it is the same based on same bullet weights can have major consequences. Just passing that along. We are all here to stay safe.

Do me a favor and don't quote my posts in an attempt to start an argument over nonsense.
Klyde

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by KLYDE

I don't know. What is the issue??? I was giving a word of advice from my past experience between the Hornady and Sierra 300 grain bullets. I made no quote of your post. If the data between two different bullets is the same then all is good. I don't know how one would know they are the same without access to both. In that case I'd use the correct manufacturers info. In my case it was drastically different and I didn't have access to the correct data. Assuming it is the same based on same bullet weights can have major consequences. Just passing that along. We are all here to stay safe.

Do me a favor and don't quote my posts in an attempt to start an argument over nonsense.
Klyde

As your reply came right after mine, the way I read it was your were questioning what I said about using the data for Nosler bullet for the XTP bullet.

Which you can.

Looking in Lyman 49 you can find similar data for Speer and Nosler

Not an argument on my part just pointing out that powder companies data is accurate also. The more sources of info the better.

As you are discussing a 300 gr bullet and 2400.

Hornady XTP data is 14.8 to 17.1 gr

Lyman 49 for the Nosler JSP is 15.7 to 17.5

Nosler lists 16.0 to 17.0 grs so, where did you get 19.0 gr??

as you can see they are all pretty close

44 Remington Magnum Handgun Load Data - Nosler

[Nevada Ed]

You might be over thinking this thing...........

Just remember, the old 30/30 Winchester only pushed a small 150gr bullet.
It had a speed of 2100 to 2200fps for 150 yard kills.

A 240 or that 300gr. bullet will work if you do your part.
Just find a load that you like and..............
practice.

Good shooting.

[daverich4]

Originally Posted by Rule3

Nosler lists 16.0 to 17.0 grs so,[I] where did you get 19.0 gr??

KLYD said he uses the bullet manufacturers data for his loads so I took a look in my Sierra manual. It lists a max of 19.1 grains of 2400 for their 300 gr. JSP.