They illustrate max charge for 200 gr cast as 7.4gr @ 1039fps for .44 MAGNUM. Max for 240gr cast is 11gr @ 1334fps. Why is the 200gr max charge so much less? Would think the max velocity for 200gr should be about the same if not higher.

I just shot 231 for the first time this afternoon. The slightly slower burn rate compared the fast powders (Titegroup, Clays, Bullseye) sure makes a difference in felt recoil and muzzle flash. Less of the prior, and lots more of the latter. The recoil is so tame I want to load this up to about max with 231, and see what I get.

Only 5.5grs in a 357 magnum...........

What caliber are you shooting?

looked it up on the sight ... 44 magnum.
Yeah, I wish everyone made it easier with basic information.
in fact, I wasted so much time getting a foothold, I forgot the question

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it just needs more voltage

I remember playing a game called '20 questions'. It always started out with 'is it bigger than a bread basket?'.

Your original question: hopefully the answer: With cast bullets the shape, seating depth and driving bands vary greatly. These things factor in on how pressures peak. Therefore it's very possible that a lighter bullet may require less powder because of the three factors previously stated.

I think you should consult another reference or two.

David

I looked in my Speer #14 and Hornady books, and they don't even show a 200gr cast bullet for the .44 Magnum, only the .44 Special. I wonder if it has to do with the length of the 200 grain bullet, and its stability.

at 16.7K CUP, Im thinking they are playing softball.
200G is not going to leave a whole lot of meat to engage rifling after you cut the lube and crimp grooves into it.

the 200G LRNFP listed, is a typical cowboy action bullet.

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it just needs more voltage

If you look at the Hodgdon site you will see they list a charge of 11.0gr W231 for both a 240gr Nosler JHP bullet and a 240gr LSWC bullet.

As for the the 200gr bullet being listed with only 7.4gr W231, Hodgdon is afraid of leading so they keep their Magnum lead loads in the "Special" pressure range. That 7.4gr load with the 200gr bullet is listed at only 16,700 CUP, hardly a magnum at all.

If you're going to load lead bullets I highly suggest you purchase a copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition. It had a lot of data from many different molds and they supply data for full powder loads...
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook: 4th Edition Book

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Lyman 49 doesn't have a load for a 200gr. but does list a max load of 12.8gr. of 231 for a 210gr. so maybe something in between would work.