.44 Mag loads - cleanest burning?

[Kapp]

I've been loading .44 Mag for many years, mostly with 296 and 2400, and I have never really been concerned about how much powder residue was involved since I was loading for revolvers. Now, however, I have acquired a Ruger .44 Carbine that I plan to shoot a lot, and I'm wondering about how various loads will affect the rifles gas port/piston. So, what in your experience is the cleanest burning load using 240 jacketed bullets?

Kapp

 

[Shadow1006]

I don't have the gas op carbine but I have been using Blue Dot for some clean burning loads from my S&W mod 29 8 3/8" and Marlin lever rifle.

My favorite load is 16.2 grains of Blue Dot under most 240 gr jacketed bullets...this loading is above most current book loadings for pistols so use care and work up slowly to find what works for your guns. Speer 11 and Hornady both show even higher loading than what I am using.

This load has been very accurate for me!

Good luck!

 

[fredj338]

If you are running full power loads, you might try AA#9 or switch to VV110. I think the newer manuf 2400 burns pretty clean if kept near the top end. The great thing about 2400, it works loaded down a bit, H110 does not.

 

[Arub]

I've been using 18.5 grains of 2400 behind a 240JHP in a Marlin 1894. Seems clean to me. As you already use 2400 you might want to give it a try. Chronos around 1550 ft/sec.

Can go a little hotter but this is a hot as I want to go with my Super Blackhawk and don't want to inventory two different loads.

 

[Snapping Twig]

My go-to load is a 265g GCSWC and 22g W296/H110 with a WLP.

I use it in everything from a 3" 629-2 up to an 1894 Marlin and there's little residue to be dealt with, certainly no unburned powder. The lube from the cast bullet, that leaves a little scum outside the muzzle, but no big deal.

I'd say you're already there with your current components.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Full throttle 44Mag loads of any weight jacketed bullet and either W296/H110, AA#9 or Lil' Gun will give you the results you want.

The gas system is a bit finicky when using cast bullets from what I have heard but jacketed bullets will give you no trouble at all.

The powders I have mentioned will not tolerate reduced loads very well and if not a top end load, you might get a stuck bullet if reduced too low.

I have a Ruger M77/44 and 2 Marlin 1894 rifles that my 240gr Hornaday XTP exit at right around 1800fps. If that bullet, going that fast, doesn't get it done, I am in the wrong place, period. Took a wild boar with it at 40 yards. Right eye going in, behind right ear exit, hog dead right there.

It works, clean.

 

[TippyRacer]

I use a lot of IMR4227, and it's a great powder but it's a bit weird. You'll see a lot of people saying that it's clean and accurate, and it is, but you'll also see a lot of people talking about this weird ash flake it will leave behind.
I know what I said is strange, but it isn't "dirty" in the traditional sense. And the flakes will blow right out.

Also I started using some VV N110, and that is a clean and accurate powder! I picked it up to try since I've used so much N320, N340, and N350 for pistol powder, which is also top notch stuff.
All of them are especially great with cast, even though I read your post about using jacketed.

 

[papajohn428]

Full throttle 44Mag loads of any weight jacketed bullet and either W296/H110, AA#9 or Lil' Gun will give you the results you want.

The gas system is a bit finicky when using cast bullets from what I have heard but jacketed bullets will give you no trouble at all.

Exactly what I was gonna say. So great minds clearly DO think alike.

 

[dla]

Although my favorite 44mag powder is Ramshot Enforcer, I've found that 2400, (a thick flake), burns cleaner than any of the ball or squashed ball powders (AA#9,H110/296,LilGun) commonly used in full-house loads.

 

[primersp]

vitha n110 very clean powder