I am new to the reloading game and have started with unique loading 44 magnum. Started low and have made it to 10 grains of unique with a 240 grain XTP bullet. Seems to me that at 10 grains the gun still does not feel like a full 44 magnum load. Since buying the gun I have shot winchester 240 grain soft tips out of it. The Winchester ammo is way hotter then any hand load I have loaded so far. I am using Winchester large pistol primers also. Any help would be appretiated.

Load manuals are your best source.

For many, Magnum Handgun = W296/H110.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

As noted above W296/H110 is the best powder to use for full power
44 mag loads in a revolver. Most manuals list 24.0-24.5 grs with a
240 gr jacketed bullet or a 240-250 gr lead bullet as a standard full
power load and specify magnum primers. These loads out of my three
screw Ruger Super Blackhawk with 7.5 " barrel chronograph at a little
over 1400 fps with a 250 gr cast SWC and a little below 1400 fps
with a 240 gr Hornady JHP. These loads are perfectly safe in a good
revolver as pressures are within current industry levels which are a bit
less than older maximums. Try a few and I assure you that you will
feel like you have fired a magnum revolver. I see no reason to exceed
them in a revolver although some have done so in the super strong
Redhawk.

Accurate Arms # 9 -- available, reasonable price, load data on the net.

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S&WHF 366

2400 is another one.

For decades 2400 was the go-to powder for the .44 because it's what Elmer Keith used. But that has been eclipsed W296 these days.

The only advantage to 2400 is you probably won't find Magnum primers necessary. But if you're going for Magnum "feel" W296 will give it to you. For sure.

Accurate Arms #9.
It's as potent as H110, and flexible like 2400.

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it just needs more voltage

H110/WW296 is arguably the most widely used powder for full strength 44 magnum loads. Follow the data from Hodgdon to the letter and you will do well.

Accurate powder is highly recommended but around here it has never been widely available so I have no experience with it. Alliant 2400 was used for years and I have shot a lot of it too but I have not seen any available in a LONG time.
Use the recommended recipe for H110 and I am sure you will get the full magnum experience that you are looking for.

Alliant 2400 always works well for me. And it is available at my LGS. Maybe it's becomoig more widely available again?

Unique is fine for the "lighter" loads for practice and has the added benefit of using less than half the amount of H110/W296/2400.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

Are magnum primers required with 2400 H110 and w296 ? Or can i use the large pistol i already have ?

Most recommend magnum primers for H110/WW296 (same powder). I have found non magnum primers work fine in mild weather but ignition got a little erratic when it got cold. 2400 does not require magnum primers nor does AA#9.

Good luck!
Dan

Use magnum primers with 296/110. Also, don't reduce the loads below the minimum starting load. Google 296 powder for words of wisdom on this powder.

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Foster Positivity.

I have been loading .44mag loads for over 40 years and over the last five years or so .454 Casull as well. 296 and 2400 are my powders of choice. If I had to pick only one, I'd go with 2400.

Started loading 44 Mag in the early 1970's. 2400 was always
go to powder for heavy loads. Accuracy always better with
a number of guns.

Powders like power pistol and bluedot are another option. They don't give allot up to 2400/h110/296. But they use around 60% less powder per load. 13 1/2gr to 14 1/2gr is allot easier on the $$$$ compared to 18+gr to 24gr per load.

Per alliant data/240gr jsp:
Unique 10.3gr 1,250fps
power pistol 13.5gr 1,400fps
bluedot 14.4gr 1,380fps
2400 18.7gr 1,440fps

The other thing about power pistol and bluedot is they have allot of other applications for hot loads in the 380acp/9mm/38spl p+/40s&w/44spl/45acp p+. Powders like 2400/H110/296 don't do so well in those calibers.

I can either load 374 rounds of 240gr 44mags with a # of 2400. Of I can load the same 374 rounds with power pistol and give up 40fps (1440fps vs 1400fps) and have enough powder left over to load 260 225gr p+ 980fps 45acp rounds.

Just something to think about.

240 gr. cast bullet and 22 grs. of 2400 will give you the feeling of shooting a .44M. Larry

It seems 300MP doesn't get much attention, but it has delivered serious magnum power for me in the 44.

as I imagine it would.
The glitch is, this one came out in the middle of a shortage spanning several years, thus not everyone is familiar with it.
As I recall, early data had this stuff a tad hotter than the great H110

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it just needs more voltage

Elmer Keith says 2400 is best for heavy loads ....might want to try it.

My first choice: H110.
My second choice: 2400
My third choice: Unique

Blue Dot, Acc #9, Alliant 2400. You will be able to get a hot magnum load with any of these, but the 296/110 gets the highest velocity in more bullet weights.

The 2400 is so close to a max magnum powder with some bullet calibers/weights it's hardly discernible. Once it gets to "Hurts Like Hell" a little plus or minus doesn't make a lot of difference.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I know it is a figure of speech but, reloading is no game. An enjoyable and satisfying hobby seeing you are dealing with things that can kill you, your loved ones and other innocents.
W296/H110 is by far the best powder for heavy, jacketed, 44mag loads. Can you use it for lead? Yeah but 2400 is far better for them.
Use magnum primers with W296/H110, always and, especially in colder weather. If not, you could have a stuck bullet and chase it with one that goes off......Not a good scenario. I also like AA#9 but with jacketed bullets, the others work better. I also have a military surplus powder I use for my carbine loads. It is pull down from 30 Carbine. Works great, burns clean and I get great velocity out of the Marlin.
I can tell you this though, there is lots less power needed in a handgun cartridge to get the job done than full power loads. An Elmer Keith bullet over a healthy dose of Unique is both powerful and fun to shoot.

p.s. If you live in a cold place, Blue Dot is not your friend.

It hasn't been mentioned Hodgdon Lil Gun.
Keeps the pressure down but you still get the higher velocity.

2400, Blue Dot & Lil Gun are better with out all that hot gas 296/H110 give you.
And I have several LB of H110 & 296 laying around.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Too much muzzle flash from Blue Dot.

I've probably shot more 2400 than anything in my (currently) 7 .44 mags, and still stock it when I can find it. But I've really come to like AA-9 as well. I have a load of 17.5 grs with standard LP primer and my cast 429244 GCHP bullets that chronos 1350 fps from my 7 1/2" flattop Ruger and is not too nasty in the recoil department. Still if you want absolute top drawer .44 magnum loads, H-110/296 is your powder.

Thanks for all the info guys. I bought some Unique the other day at a local shop and they had H110 available. I think I will try that and magnum primers. If they have any 2400 might try that instead so I can use the large pistol primers I already have. Is the 2400 alliant Powder ?

Good magnum load.

Of the powders in this thread, unique, power pistol, blue dot, 2400, and 300mp are alliant powders. Alliant data for 300mp also calls for standard primers, fwiw.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

Unique is a great powder. I shoot a lot of it. It's too fast for top velocities in magnum cartridges. As others have stated, 296 or it's stablemate H110, would work well. However, they have a (deserved, IMHO) reputation for drama in the form of flash and muzzle blast. 4227 is a good choice and does its job without much of the drama associated with 296 or H110.

K, if you are going to talk muzzle flash, don't leave out the world champion Blue Dot.

I will load a big SWC over just 19 gr. of 2400. Shoots fine, and it's still magnum enough for just plinking with my Model 29. I reckon it would still kill about anything 22 gr. would.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Yes it will!

I like this load a lot. It's very powerful, but not exactly top tier .44 Mag. The few less grains used, allows this round to be just tolerable enough to shoot 30 or 40 rounds without too much discomfort.

The much used and recommended load of 22 grains of 2400 is I think maybe a little on the warm side. I have shot it enough to come to believe for myself that maybe 2400 these days is a little faster than when Elmer used it back when. I have settled on 20 grains when I have 2400 to use.
For me the big attraction to the Alliant powders is the ability to use standard primers. Makes life simpler.

I use both H110/W296 and IMR4227 in my .44 Mag hunting loads. While IMR4227 does not give me quite the velocity of H110/W296, it does give me a tad more accuracy and is more insensitive to the wide temperature fluctuations we may have here during hunting season(80* to -10*). IMR4227 works best for me when it is just at being compressed and with bullets of 240 gr or more. IMR4227 also likes long piped revolvers and handgun caliber carbines and is my go to powder for my .44 hunting carbines. It also is my go to powder for heavier bullets in my .460 Mag.

You are right on that the 10 grs of Unique does not feel like a full magnum pistol load......................

since that is the "Starting load" in the old Speer #8 loading manual for that weight bullet.

Have fun.

Dittos with 19 grains and 250 SWC (Mt Baldy or Dry Creek). Worked up in .3 or .5 gr to 21.5 and found that the velocity did not increase as much as up to 19gr. The blast did but not the velocity. It did increase but not worth it to me for the pounding on me and my gun. And it does kill just fine deer, elk, gophers, prairie dogs and grouse in my experience.

If you have Winchester large pistol primers they are good for regular and magnum loads.

H110 is pretty much all or nothing meaning there is not much wiggle room from min to max loads.

Yes 2400 is an Alliant powder,

There online load data is not the greatest, consult MANUALS

Alliant Powder - Home

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Still Running Against the Wind

Yes

This sentence added because 'yes' is too short a response to submit

This forum is great so far. I have been reloading a week so I am an ameatur for sure. The next question is ? When the book says 1.6 coal does that mean it has to be exactly 1.6 or is that just the maximum ? Like if it is 1.585 or 1.595 will the round build to much pressure if it is to short ?

Manuals will give the COL as THEY tested it. The COL will vary on the type, weight and shape of the bullet tested. So unless you use the exact bullet tested (Like a 240 gr XTP HP) then the COL will be different. Generally for revolver loads just load to the crimp groove or the cannelure

Yes pressure will increase the shorter you seat a bullet that is why you always start with the minimum load!

It is different for semi autos.

The max COL is that specified by SAAMI which in theory is the longest that should fit any modern firearm

SAMMI spec is 1.535 to 1.610 but that is going to vary with the type of bullet used.(for the 44 Mag)

http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc...n%20Magnum.pdf

You need to read the first chapters of a several reloading manuals,

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Still Running Against the Wind

That just means that is how long the round TESTED was.
If you make it shorter the pressure will go up. Not good.
On the other hand if you make it longer (say in a revolver with a long cylinder like the Redhawk or Dan Wesson)
the pressure and velocity may go down.
Obviously you don't want the bullet hanging out the end of the cylinder.
The longer cylinders are great for the heavier bullets as they allow more room for slow powders like 4227.

If you are following a recipe, make the length EXACTLY as listed in the data.
The length will change when you change bullet weight, style, or brand.
If you have the weight of powder and bullet the same as the recipe but are using a different brand or style,
try to match the listed velocity and you will be close to the correct pressure.

As Rule3 mentioned, in true magnum loads you will be crimping into the cannelure to prevent bullet jump
so adjust the powder in this case to achieve the desired velocity.

I used to use the "standard" load of 24 gr. 296 under a 240 gr. bullet.
After I discovered some of these loads had congealed the powder into a solid mass over 20 years of storage
and given me a couple of misfires (and a stuck bullet), I started moving away from ball powder.
My current favorite load is 18-19 gr 2400 under a 260 gr WFNGC (by Cast Performance).
I adjust the powder depending on the brand case as the case capacity varies which affects the accuracy.
This load will do any hunting chore the 44 magnum is capable of.

Attached Images

CastPerformance-260WFNGC-18gr2400-Redhawk7.5-IronSights-800.jpg (68.7 KB, 38 views)

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

I like 10-12 grains of Unique pushing a 240 gr LSWC bullet.

At the beginning of the load data for each caliber most loading manuals will list the maximum OAL. In the header for each bullet they will list the OAL as tested with that bullet. Plus or minus 0.005 is normal variation and nothing to be concerned about. Even 0.010 short is not going to cause problems unless you are at max charge. It is a good idea to hold it as consistently as possible but it will not be catastrophic if not exact.

As others have said, the book OAL is load as tested. Keep the OAL within the cylinder! You might find an accuracy enhancement by getting the bullet into the cylinder's throat. For example I load 250 SWC at 1.71 OAL.

I have kind of gotten away from shooting my 629 Classic, but it ate a whole lot of Lyman 429421s pushed by AA #9. It always seemed to me that AA #9 kind of slowed down when it was pushing a heavier projectile, and didn't give me the pressure rise I saw with others like Blue Dot, 2400, etc. Seems to me I was loading somewhere around 19 grains behind that Lyman 250, and it was every bit as accurate as I was, if that makes sense.