H110 in 44 Magnum

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cladd1

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Was checking on some loads for my S&W PC 44 magnum Light Hunter. I have some H110 and some Xtreme 240 grain plated bullets. Hogdon lists 23.0 grains of H110 up to 24.0 grains - has anyone used a bit more or less than this range?

Thanks!
 
I have used a lot of H110 in 44 mag. I use it mostly with 200 - 210 gr bullets as these are what shoots best in a couple of my guns. I did load some with 240s but couldn't get the accuracy out of them that I wanted. This was several decades ago and not with the bullet you are using. So, I don't see why you couldn't make it work so long as you are getting acceptable accuracy. I was/am using the 210s on Speed Goats and get all the penetration I need but if i was using it on bear of even pigs I might go bigger. I have no experience with either of those two critters.
 
cladd1 said:
Was checking on some loads for my S&W PC 44 magnum Light Hunter. I have some H110 and some Xtreme 240 grain plated bullets. Hogdon lists 23.0 grains of H110 up to 24.0 grains - has anyone used a bit more or less than this range?

Thanks!
Click to expand...




I guess I am not fully understanding your question? Are you asking because you are using plated bullets? If so then read here. It is never recommended to go OVER the max load and with H110 you should also not go under. Although you will find data out there that is different than the Hodgdon data
They used a Nosler bullet which is a better bullet than any plated bullet.



Bullet/Load Info
 
In my experience, 23 to 24 grains is about right, but not with a plated bullet. I’m not sure a plated bullet is suitable for that velocity. Maybe others have tried it but I would look for a different powder/bullet combo.
 
A few years ago I loaded .44mag. cases with Hornady XTP 240 HP.
Powder was H110. I knew my Nephew would use them only from his Ruger SRH . So I maxed them to a 24.4 gr. charge. With no visible pressure signs/primer back out was nill.
We practiced , and got accurate and confidant enough to hunt with handguns only.
Went to an exotic game Ranch, where the Nephew bagged a Big Corsican Ram with the Ruger and my home rolled.
He hit that Ram after a slow stalk and Native American type crawl. Got about 45 yards, and let the power loose.
Ram never knew what hit him. Bang & Drop... Not a step.

(BTW. I bagged a feral Boar . 45-70 from my TC/Contender pistol ) .
 
Not a plated bullet, but with a Speer jacketed soft point (# 4457) in an 8 3/8" 29-3 I got 1375 fps with 25g of H-110, but noted it produced "sticky extraction".

In 2007 I added a note to reduce the load to 23 g of H-110 and noted "extraction clean". I also added a balistic chart from my Sierra Infinity Exterior Ballistics program based on 1300 fps, but can't find and notes from a cronagraph test to confirm how I arrived at 1300 fps. (I do have a cronograph.)

Also by 2007 I had added a 6" 29-3, and used both the 6" & 8" to hunt with. I can confirm both 29's with the 23grain load shoot completely through N.C. sized whitetail does on a broadside shot.

A going away shot through the ham stops under the front shoulder. (Wounded deer tracked and jumped.)
 
Not a plated bullet, but with a Speer jacketed soft point (#4457) in an 8 3/8" 29-3 I got 1375 fps with 25g of H-110, but noted it produced "sticky extraction".

In 2007 I added a note to reduce the load to 23 g of H-110 and noted "extraction clean". I also added a balistic chart from my Sierra Infinity Exterior Ballistics program based on 1300 fps, but can't find and notes from a cronagraph test to confirm how I arrived at 1300 fps. (I do have a cronograph.)

Also by 2007 I had added a 6" 29-3, and used both the 6" & 8" to hunt with. I can confirm both 29's with the 23grain load shoot completely through N.C. sized whitetail does on a broadside shot.

A going away shot through the ham stops under the front shoulder. (Wounded deer tracked and jumped.)
 
I liked H110 but with cast bullets, Keith SWC, 250 gr. I wouldn’t use plated bullets in H110 magnum level loads or in any magnum application. You need a firm roll crimp which would be better served using a cast bullet with a generous crimping groove.
 
240 XTP 23.8 grains H110 629-3 hunter 6 inch

also used a 240 Speer Mag soft point with the same

load my 3 inch 629-6 with 23 grains H110 Speer 240 soft point or also HTP {chronographed at 1218 av 5 shot string}

I've never used plated bullets, so not sure about the viability with such a load.

Good Luck
 
I should have been more specific in my question - I'll be using this (H110 and Xtreme 240 grain plated flat point) for target work at the range. Is H110 a powder I can use a reduced load in for range use - example use 22.0 grains versus the minimum listed of 23.0? I've since read that H110 is not a good powder to try and use for reduced loads? It has a pretty tight range for it to operate properly?

Thanks
 
You could possibly back off to 22 grains, but you stand a chance of having erratic results too. There are better powders out there for reduced velocity range fodder, plus they would be more economical to load. There are many powders that will give good midrange results with 44 Mag.
 
cladd1 , you talk about using a " full " magnum powder for just target practice . Are you wanting to get used to shooting full magnum loads so will be shooting targets to get in the groove for accuracy ? If so then H-110 will definitely give you what you want . But if you are just wanting to get in some mid range target loads , or lower then H-110 is not your powder . Always use the proper powder for the velocity / power that you are wanting . Unique is a good place to start for mid range loads . If you want more power but not quite full magnum then I would look at Blue Dot , HS-6 and 2400 , if that was the only other powder I had . HS-6 really needs a " full " magnum primer for a more complete burn . I only use CCI-350 when needing a " full " magnum primer and not those " in between " primers like Winchester or Remington . Regards, Paul
 
OK....so I no way condone this load data, use this at your own risk.

With that said, I've loaded some Missouri Hi-Tek "44 Keith" projectiles to some serious heat with H110. Out of my 7.5" Super Redhawk, 24.5g of H110 produced an ave of 1508 fps, 24g and ave of 1458 fps. Both of those are rather miserable to shoot.

They are some serious hand slappers though.

For reference, 240g Hornady XTP over 24g of H110 came in at an ave of 1448 fps. The recoil from these is also massive.
 
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I've used 296 / H110 in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum loads, almost exclusively with cast bullets. Accuracy is virtually identical with #2400 powder, though you might give up a little velocity with the latter. There is considerably more leeway in varying the charge weight with #2400 and you can use a standard or magnum primer with #2400. I realize standard primers are usually recommended for #2400 loads and they generally work fine, but on occasion I've found magnum primers to provide slightly better accuracy.

With 296/ H110, I think magnum primers are always recommended. I've used standard primers and they work fine, but I'm not recommending that since the books (real paper kind, not YouTube or Internet) don't.

Also, with #2400, you don't have to deal with the horrendous blast and fireball produced by 296 / H110, unless you like that and some do.
 
H110 and W296 had a disclaimer to only use published loads and as a further check the start load should be the max load - no more than 3%.
 
Many years ago I loaded the .30 Carbine with H110, and since all the loading manuals listed it for the .44 Magnum, I gave it a try.

My results were so positive, that ever since then for full-power loads H110 is all I use in the .44 Magnum.
 
cladd1 said:
I should have been more specific in my question - I'll be using this (H110 and Xtreme 240 grain plated flat point) for target work at the range. Is H110 a powder I can use a reduced load in for range use - example use 22.0 grains versus the minimum listed of 23.0? I've since read that H110 is not a good powder to try and use for reduced loads? It has a pretty tight range for it to operate properly?

Thanks
Click to expand...


For truly reduced loads, than NO it is not a good powder. But yes, you can use the Published start load which is not much of a reduction.
To further complicate things, the old 3% reduction is confusing. If you check all the different manuals and Hodgdon online line you will find MORE than a 3% reduction. Depends on what bullet, when it was tested etc etc.
For target work range use, No, H110 is not a good powder to start with unless you are young and have an iron grip:) Even the start load will get old after a while.

You can pick another powder and use half as much, enjoy shooting more and still have a fairly potent load.

Example Speer starts at 22gr
Hornady starts at 20.7
Lyman 22.5 or 23.5 depending on what bullet

Plus your bullet is not any of them.


Do you have any other powders???????????
 
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