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.
Best powder for heavy 44 magnum loads
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Cdog
Member
Load manuals are your best source.
For many, Magnum Handgun = W296/H110.
For many, Magnum Handgun = W296/H110.
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.
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.
Collo Rosso
Member
2400 is another one.
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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.
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.
venomballistics
Member
Accurate Arms #9.
It's as potent as H110, and flexible like 2400.
It's as potent as H110, and flexible like 2400.
twodog max
Member
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.
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.
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.
BigMuddy
Member
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
Good luck!
Dan
joe44va
Member
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.
johnnyflake
Member
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.
Geronimo Jim
Member
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.
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.
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
Larry
venomballistics
Member
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
gwpercle
Member
Elmer Keith says 2400 is best for heavy loads ....might want to try it.
