44 Mag primer question. . .please help

[patjucrv]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little advice. I've been reloading for my 629 for a little over a year now. My favorite hot load is a 200gr hornady XTP over 22.0gr of 2400 and CCI #300 primers. Lately due to the primer shortages, I had to buy #350 magnum primers. I can't seem to find any load data using this combination. I'm thinking I'll back off to 21 grains of powder with the magnum primers, does anyone see a reason to back it off further?

I have all the major reloading books and there's no light on this subject.

Any help or experience would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[patjucrv]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little advice. I've been reloading for my 629 for a little over a year now. My favorite hot load is a 200gr hornady XTP over 22.0gr of 2400 and CCI #300 primers. Lately due to the primer shortages, I had to buy #350 magnum primers. I can't seem to find any load data using this combination. I'm thinking I'll back off to 21 grains of powder with the magnum primers, does anyone see a reason to back it off further?

I have all the major reloading books and there's no light on this subject.

Any help or experience would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[tdan]

According to my Speer #12, 21gr. of 2400 is max for their 200gr. JHP bullet. The primer used for this load was the CCI-350. I would back your charge off further........Keep in mind that Hornady XTP's are sized at .430. Speer sizes their 44Mag jacketed bullets at .429. Have you chronographed your previous loads? Without a chrono, you are really guessing about pressure........especially when approaching max published load data............just my 2 cents!

 

[patjucrv]

That's what I was wondering. My books say max load is 24 grains with a #300 primer. Apparently the magnum primers have a little more oomph than I thought.

The last load I chrono'd yielded 1490fps out of my 8 3/8" barrel. The empty cartridges came out great, no signs of over-pressurization. That's kinda why I like this load so much, it's fast but not abusive.

 

[ricks1]

I use the mag primers for every load in any case that uses them[45acp up] I drop 2gr but I dont load out to max. I found in a 45acp that it is much cleaner with unique and titegroup.

 

[toroflow1]

I found this, thought it might be of some interest:
Speer # 7 table of CCI primer energy

Small pistol - 500 ......... 5.50 ft. lbs.
small pistol magnum -550 .......... 8.80 ft. lbs.
small rifle - 400 ...... 6.00 ft. lbs
small rifle magnum - 450 ......... 7.20 ft. lbs.
large pistol - 300 ......... 7.10 ft. lbs.
large pistol magnum - 350 ......... 9.15 ft. lbs.
large rifle - 200 ......... 9.20 ft. lbs.
large rifle magnum - 250 ......... 9.45 ft. lbs

 

[canoe on the yukon]

In years past,most manuals listed magnum primers being used with 2400 anyway.In the past few years the trend has been to use standard primers with it.Magnum primers will raise pressures as you surmise however you may be exagerating the issue in your mind.

Since you're using the Hornady 200 gr XTP,lets look at a couple of Hornady manuals.

4th edition

Starting load....20.5/2400....1400 fps
max load.........22.5/2400.....1500fps



5th edition

starting load....22.1/2400....1300fps
max load.........25.3/2400....1550fps

ALL the above data is with the same 200 gr XTP bullet and the primer used is the Winchester WLP which Win rates as a STANDARD AND MAGNUM primer.

Your estimate at backing down to about 21 grains doesn't sound bad at all.