loading 44mag with 2400

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Rockets

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Looking to load some 44 mag for my 629-2 with 2400. Anyone here used 240gr Keiths from MB over 19gr of 2400 ?.
 
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rocketblend said:
Looking to load some 44 mag for my 629-2 with 2400. Anyone here used 240gr Keiths from MB behind 19gr of 2400 ?.
Click to expand...


I use 18.5grs of 2400 with the Missouri Bullets 240gr SWC.

It's a Keith "type" bullet. Not a true Keith, because it has a beveled base.
Missouri Bullet Company

It's a lite load, but it's very accurate and pleasant to shoot.
It shoots great in my M29 and Ruger Super Blackhawk.
NO leading at all.
 
JBnTx said:
I use 18.5grs of 2400 with the Missouri Bullets 240gr SWC.

It's a Keith "type" bullet. Not a true Keith, because it has a beveled base.
Missouri Bullet Company

It's a lite load, but it's very accurate and pleasant to shoot.
It shoots great in my M29 and Ruger Super Blackhawk.
NO leading at all.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll have to try that.
 
Rocketblend, I load 44 mag with a Lasercast 240 grain bullet, Winchester large pistol primer and 20 grains of old 2400 powder. It is a stout load but not excessive in my old model Super Blackhawk. Work your load up with care starting at 18 grains.
 
For a 240 gr. SWC-BB I use 18.5/2400, and for a true Keith, a Lyman 429421, I use 20/2400. Both fine in a 629 or a Ruger SBH.

Regards
 
240 grain laser cast SWC over 20.5 grains of 2400 and a Winchester large pistol primer. Shoots one hole at 20 meters from a 329PD. Does recoil a bit though...
 
Been a while since I loaded .44 Mag, but as I recall I put the powder behind the bullet. Found it works a bit better that way. (smiley face)
 
Your load of 2400 is a pretty good load, but mebbe you'll have to fiddle with it, up or down a bit, to get the best outta your gun. BTW the Lyman manual says 18.5 to 20.6 of 2400 under a 429421, LSWC @ 245 gr. What does your manual say? One major factor for shooting lead in your revolver is bullet to gun fit. All my revolvers (7) prefer lead bullets sized to the same diameter as the cylinder throats. My .44 Magnums haven't seen a jacketed bullet in over 13 years, and I don'y have to scrub the bores, either...
 
I've been single stage loading 240gr laser cast swc over 19.5 gr 2400, Winchester primers and starline brass, for my 629. I like the load, it's accurate and recoil is not extreme. At some point, I may load a little hotter just to compare how the hotter load shoots.
 
I load 20 gr. of 2400 with a Keith 250 SWC and shoot them from both a model 29-2 and a Super Blackhawk. Very accurate and the empties fall from the chambers.
 
TdocZ said:
I've been single stage loading 240gr laser cast swc over 19.5 gr 2400, Winchester primers and starline brass, for my 629. I like the load, it's accurate and recoil is not extreme. At some point, I may load a little hotter just to compare how the hotter load shoots.
Click to expand...

19.5 of 2400 behind a 240 LSWC has been my do-everything 44 Magnum load since 1975.
Hunting, silhouettes, everything else.
 
2400 powder is hard to not like in the 44!

It's the powder that Elmer Keith used to develop heavy 44 Spl loads which, in turn, led to the 44 Magnum. It's also the powder he worked with when the longer magnum cases (and heat-treated guns to go with) came out.

It has some very nice qualities, including: high-end performance, bulkiness to fill the case well, ability to load it down a little below max, and great accuracy.

I've found in magnum cases, with 240-250gr cast bullets, 18.0-22.0(+) grs shoot well. The only high-velocity/power load powder I like better is IMR-4227, and the difference is marginal.
 
TAROMAN said:
19.5 of 2400 behind a 240 LSWC has been my do-everything 44 Magnum load since 1975.
Hunting, silhouettes, everything else.
Click to expand...

Do you use gas checks ? Are these commercial cast ?
 
I literally wore out a Model 29-2 in the mid/late 70's w/ 22/2400, Lyman #429421, 245 gr, WW cases, Std primers. That load would be too hot today, IMO, due to the difference in burn rate of current 2400. About 20 gr seems about right with today's 2400.

Be careful about loading down 2400. It's flexible, more so that the ball powders, but my experience with it in the .357, .41 and .44 Magnums is that it's cleaner and more accurate at full throttle. Another beautiful thing about it is that standard large pistol primers are just fine (it lights off pretty easy).
 
In my 629s I have been loading with 2400 as follows:

17.5 grains of 2400 behind a 240 grain Laser Cast bullet for target loads.
I will up that to 19.5 grains for a bit more oomph. 21 grains is just a little too hot, for me.
17.5 grains may be a bit dirtier but compared to 8.5 grains of Unique, another favorite target load, I would be hard pressed to notice.

I've used CCI, Winchester and Federal primers all with consistant results.

None of these lead up the barrel at all.
 
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