240 44 mag SWC loads

[Capt. Paul]

Getting ready to load some 240 gr SWC with 2400 powder. I was just wondering what loads some of you use.

Gun is a 629 Hunter Plus.
Thanks in advance for you answers.

Capt. Paul

 

[gwpercle]

Be more specific with bullet.
Swagged Lead
Cast lead
jacketed
Be more specific with power level. Mid range for general plinking , full blown magnum loads for hunting Polar Bear.
Details can matter in reloading,
Gary

 

[Drm50]

Yea, even 240 cast would depend on gas check or not. I load
2400 in my 44s for the actual heavier loads with jacket or cast
GC. Lower level loads with 240 cast and no GC, I use Unique.

 

[Jingles]

I don't get much enjoyment out of full power .44 magnum loads so my favorite load is a 240gr LSWC in front of 4.5gr of Bullseye. It produces a very manageable, accurate load.

 

[JBnTx]

10grs of Unique with a 240gr SWC.

Easy on the gun and easy on my hands.

 

[Capt. Paul]

Sorry guys for not providing more details. I probably will use them for whitetail deer.. Bullet is Missouri Elmer K 240 swc Brinell 18.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Elmer's hot 44 special load will take care of the game you have in mind. You even picked Elmer's powder. 18.5 grains will do fine and not beat you up in the process.

 

[muddocktor]

According to the Alliant load data pdf I downloaded last year, they show a max charge of 20.0 grains for 2400 for a Keith 250 grain bullet. Since that is 10 grains over what the MBC offering is, that would give you a good idea of what you can load to. Drop the initial load down 10% or so (2.0 grains) and then work up your load from there. BTW, are you getting the Hi Tek coated bullets? I hope so, because I have have pretty good luck the the MBC coated bullets in 9MM, 357 and 44 at any velocity. No leading encountered whatsoever, not even in my 20" barrel lever carbines.

 

[cowboy4evr]

On those lil white tails , like mentioned above 18.5 grs is all you need . Shot placement is way more important than a full magnum load to get the job done .

 

[Capt. Paul]

Thanks for all the info on the loads. I am glad I found this forum.
Thanks again to all.

 

[DumpStick]

Someone far smarter, and with much more experience than I once said (regarding lead 44 projectiles);
"1200fps is all you need."

I have no reason to doubt that.

But sometimes I want "Sturm und Drang", and load it up.

 

[GCF]

Back when I still had my 4", 629-4, seems like 2400 / 19.5, under a plain base 240 LSWC (fit to cylinder throat ID), - w/ WW LP primers, was the magic number. Powerful, & accurate - but not "overly" punishing.

Agree w/ previous suggestion not to needlessly beat up the gun. Suggest you start a bit lower (2400 / 18.0), & work up 0.5 grains at a time - to best accuracy.

Additionally, suggest you find a faster powder, such as Unique, Power Pistol, Universal, AA#7, WW231, VV N-330, etc., & a softer (10 - 12 BHN) alloy LSWC - for practice. With these, it wouldn't surprise me, if you found an accurate load in the 900 - 1050fps range, that ended up being a favorite field load for you.

Oh yeah, don't forget to have some fun - in the process...

 

[DumpStick]

..

Additionally, suggest you find a faster powder, such as Unique, Power Pistol, Universal, AA#7, WW231, VV N-330, etc., & a softer (10 - 12 BHN) alloy LSWC - for practice. With these, it wouldn't surprise me, if you found an accurate load in the 900 - 1050fps range, that ended up being a favorite field load for you.

Oh yeah, don't forget to have some fun - in the process...

This is excellent advice.
I have a load with HS-6 & a 240g LSWC that gives me wonderful accuracy, right at 1025fps.

Also a 200g LRN, with Universal, at 1000fps.

Great loads, great fun, and my 120lb wife can shoot them with aplomb.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Was going to suggest 18.0gr 2400 to start with but it seems that I draw too slowly;lots of guys beat me at it.Anyway,start at 18.0 and you can increase bit by bit(I like to increase 0.2 to 0.3gr at a time).Don't go over 20.0gr.Have fun.
Qc

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have found that a 240 gr cast bullet using 8.0 grs of Ramshot Zip , W231 ,HP38 , makes a real nice everyday " field " load . That same 8.0 gr load works real well in the 45 colt with a 255 gr cast bullet . It's the only load my BIL will shoot in his colt clone , very mild recoil . He even shoots that same load in his " 92 " carbine w/16" barrel .

 

[BruceM]

Bullet is Missouri Elmer K 240 swc

Just so you know, that bullet isn't a true "Keith Style" bullet. True Keith type bullet have three equal width driving bands, a long nose and absolutely no gas check or bevel base. The grease groove is the same width as the driving bands and has a square bottom. See later Lyman 429421 or H&G #503.

Personally for a full power load with the Keith SWC, I prefer a max charge of H110/W296 over 2400 although good ammo can be produced with that propellant along with AA#9.

Bruce

 

[moosedog]

I've been using 19 grs of 2400 under a 240 cast for about 40 years now.
Works great in all my 29s.

 

[Forrest r]

A little reading that keith wrote.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Just because it's a semi wad cutter doesn't make it a " keith " bullet . It's just really grinds my gears when someone posts , buying / shooting a " Keith type " bullet . Ellmer Keith did not invent the swc , he just improved it for his purposes . The Lyman 429421 is a close commercial version . It lacks 3 equal size driving bands and in earlier years it had a rounded grease groove instead of the flat bottom that Elmer specified .
I , several yrs ago ordered the H&G 503 from Northern Valley Machine Co . It is the only bullet I shoot nowadays in 44 spl and 44 magnum . It made from his spec's when he went to H&G to correct what Lyman had done to his design .

 

[Drm50]

I have a few 44 mags, all 6"-61/2"-71/2"- 83/8". The only gun
that I shoot hot is a 1960s Ruger SBH. I got this gun new and
was shooting Hornady 240JHPs/ 22.5g of 2400. Not because I
was after a super hot load, it's just where it shot the best. In
my S&Ws, I never found it necessary to do this. With cast or
jacketed bullets 29s seem like they will sight in to any load in
reason. I hardly ever shoot jackets, since I am more into target
with S&Ws. Unless you are taking game there isn't much benifit
in beating up gun and self with full power mag loads. You will
find some single actions don't have enough sight adj. to 0
without tinkering with the load. A little better than fixed sights,
but not much when it comes to elevation adjs.