Promising load for Ruger 77/44.......

[Marksman]

Ruger 77/44's seem to have a reputation for not being very accurate, and the one that I purchased earlier this year was no exception. Early targets had patterns rather than what you could call groups. I started out using 2400 & Unique because that was all I had, I wanted to try W296 or H110. It took a couple of gunshows until I found some W296. I backed off the charge a little less than the suggested 10%, this weekend's range session was very satisfying. Groups could easily be held in a 3" circcle @ 100 yds., the second load I tried showed more promise yet with clusters of cloverleafed shots. I plan to continue to work with load development to see just how accurate the little rifle can be. My 77/44 was made in the first year of production and has a very nice trigger, the same cannot be said of end of production synthetic stocked models. I installed an aftermarket trigger in my brother-in-laws late model and now his rifle has a nice crisp trigger with approx. 3# pull versus the gritty 7# plus trigger it previously had.

 

[Tell Sackett]

44mag rifle loads

Marksman,
Bullet weight and type please!

I know up here in Northern Indiana there are lots of folks that have sworn off of the Ruger going with the Marlin/lever action guns because of what you have stated about inaccuracy.

I have heard though that heavier bullets shoot better in the Ruger. +260gr.

The Marlin's rifling at 1-38 tends to help the lighter bullets and hinder the heavier ones. I think the Ruger has a 1-20 twist and would lend itself to heavier bullets.

I have been using 240gr jacketed bullets from anyone in my Marlin loads and can't tell any difference at all in accuracy. 2" @ 100 yards consistently with Lil' Gun. With my load they average 1800fps or so.

Gonna have to try some H110 though. I have heard nothing but rave results from very knowledgeable people, including John Linebaugh!

I don't hunt much but I do load for a friend that does. He took two deer yesterday. A 200+lb 6pt buck and a nice sized doe.

Both shots were at less than 100 yards and were broadside. The doe was kind of angling rear to front but both were through and through.

Those bullets were 240gr JSP from Remington over a midrange load of AA#9.

At any rate, thanks for the report!

 

[H Richard]

If you aren't aware, H110 is identical to W296.

 

[steveno]

not the same rifle but I had a Browning M-92 in 44 mag and the 265 grain Hornady soft point shot quite a bit better than any 240 grain bullet. the down side was the recoil was a bit more than the 240 grain and with the smooth plastic butt plate it was a hand full.

 

[tdan]

You don't mention what bullet you are trying to load for. I have a Ruger 96/44 lever action that I believe uses the same barrel as your 77/44. Mine is quite accurate with 240gr. jacketed bullets sized at .430........especially the Hornady XTP's. I load these with H-110 and WLP primers. I get a velocity of 1720 from that 18.5" barrel. This gun is sighted in at 50 yds. and 8 shot groups average inside an inch.........essentially one ragged hole. I believe the triggers are more of the limiting factor on these Ruger carbines rather than the barrels. The lever action triggers can be easily tuned to a crisp 2lbs.

 

[Marksman]

In my excitement about shrinking group size, I forgot to mention that I was shooting Hornady 240gr. XTP's. I am aware that W296 and H110 are identical, would have used which ever was available I have used both in the past. Glad to hear there is still more improvement in group size to be had. I am using both the Hornady Loading Manual and Midway's LoadMAP to develop loads and I am astounded at the difference in published velocities for the same load. Midway is 300 + more than the Hornady Manual. Has anyone chronographed thier best shooting load? What velocity did you find to give best groups?

 

[Tell Sackett]

Marlin 1894 44Mag recent results

Marsksman,

I am experimenting with these loads as well with one exception. I want to develop a lead bullet load, one I can cast bullets for myself.

I just got a 200gr RNFP Cowboy bullet that is sized to .432" and have started to have great success. I am just in the initial development stage but the results are promising.

I used H110 and got an average of 1366fps from my 629 Classic in 5" that then gave me 1905fps average from the Marlin. Mine is the Cowboy Special with 22" octagon barrel. That is an increase of over 30fps per inch barrel difference.

At 50 yards I had a group that was just over 1 1/2". That wasn't shot from a rest and the temperature today was around 45F when I shot. The "ES" and "SD" numbers need to be better than I got today but then again, I have some room to move up in powder weight.

As for getting powder, do you live near Michigan City, IN? If so there is a store there that has several 8lb kegs of it!

 

[tdan]

"I just got a 200gr RNFP Cowboy bullet that is sized to .432" and have started to have great success. I am just in the initial development stage but the results are promising."

You are flirting with disaster trying to hot rod a lead bullet that I am quite confident is at least .002 larger than the chamber throats on your 629 Classic. If you are getting velocities in excess of 1300 fps with a "cowboy bullet", I'm betting you are asking for some barrel leading issues. More leading.........more pressure. This is what causes Kabooms!

 

[Tell Sackett]

tdan,
No leading! I haven't cleaned either one yet but these bullets are hard enough that the pressure is going to do it's job and obturate them.

I have friends, and I have done it MANY, MANY times,that have gotten no leading up to 1800fps with my alloy. The thing that causes leading, more often than not is too small and too hard. These bullets are neither.

The load I used is well under maximum fpr a bullet that weighs 15gr heavier.

If these were anywhere near KB territory, there would have been some sign of excessive pressure. There were none and like I said, I am well under maximum.

I know you have to watch light charges with H110/W296 and I am not going to drop it any more.

One thing I should have said though to help with the size issue is this: "The bullets dropped from the mold @ .432" and I sized them to .431."

In one of the older Speer manuals, and I am going to have to find it again, it has a chart that shows the pressure changes in relation to several factors. One is size, one seating depth and for the life of me I can't seem to remember what the other ones are. When I find that article I will have to scan it and post it.

The rifle though needs them that big or I get a pattern and not a group!

****** Wanted to add that Phil Sharpe is probably the only one from his era that thought lead rifle bullets needed to be bore size. It's in his book. At the time, and the book makes mention of this, EVERY other expert that was asked thought .002" to .003" over bore size was the right place to be.