Hot .44 mag question

[nonferrous]

I have a few boxes of .44 mag that I loaded several years ago per the manual of that time.
It's Remington brass, a 240 gr lead bullet and 22 gr of 2400. It is a Speer Manual and did not list a 240 gr lead bullet. the max load listed for a 235 gr LSWC is 24 gr of 2400 and the max load listed for a 250 gr LSWC is 23 gr of 2400.
I checked my new Lee manual and they list the absolute maximum, never to be exceeded load as 20.6 gr of 2400. I know that the standards have changed, but what was, should still be, I would think.
The older Hercules manual lists 22 gr as the load.
After seeing the Lee book I wanted to take them apart and reduce the powder.
I was shooting this load in a 7 1/2" Ruger Redhawk back then, but now all I have left are Smith 29's and a 629 and I want to start shooting big bores again.
I guess I am just looking for someone that has been loading this heavy for an 'N' Frame and has had good luck.
Thanks

 

[Nygma]

At one time it seemed the whole world was using Elmer Keith's load of 22 grains of 2400 under a hard cast 250 grain Keith bullet in the 44 Magnum. Mr. Keith knew what he was doing. 2400 may be a little faster now, but you should be OK so long as you used a good, hard cast, non-gas check bullet.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

The manuals have indeed gotten lighter in their recommendations during the past few years.There are numerous reasons which don't need to be elaborated on ad nauseam.

I used loads from the older manuals for many years with good results.Generally speaking,you should "work up"a bit at a time in a specific gun when approaching max but in your case I would say since you're not dealing with something in the proof load class,shoot a few in your guns and check for pressure signs such as stiff extraction,flattened primers,etc.

There is some evidence that a magnum primer raises pressure disproportionately to the velocity increase when used with 2400 but in the early days of using 2400,I used the magnum primer.

The bottom line...the loads that were good then are just as good now.I still use loads which I've used for years which are quite a bit over the max listed in many manuals today.

 

[nonferrous]

Thanks a lot guys, This is pretty much how I felt about it, but it made sense to me to check it out with the brain trust.
Thanks again