Your favorite load - 44Magnum with 240gr XTP

[BKS]

Anyone want to share their favorite load for the 44 magnum with 240gr XTPs?

 

[Fishinfool]

I like that bullet / cartridge combo for whitetail hunting. I run them between 1200 and 1300 fps with Winchester 296 or Alliant 2400 and a magnum primer.

Larry

 

[alwslate]

My standard hunting load for Whitetail Deer with my 7&1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk and Ruger #3 single shot with the XTP or pre XTP Hornady was 24.0 grs of 296 with a magnum primer. Basically a factory duplication load. Took a few Deer with both guns but I had to give up Deer hunting due to age and health problems

 

[venomballistics]

You will find a lot of H110/win296 use behind virtually all the available JHP projectiles.
For now, it's the gold standard and most everything else seems to be an experiment.
Alliant 300-mp seems to show promise with slight velocity gains.
Might be worth playing with... If you could find it in the wild.
Till then... H110/win296 ... In accordance with the prophecy.

 

[Skeet 028]

I've never really cared for the XTPs...at least in a handgun. I prefer Nosler and Sierra 240s. I have used the XTPs in my Savage Smokeless powder MLs. Has more vel and does a good job and does mushroom on deer. I use LSWC in 240-250 gr. in handgun hunting

 

[trulyapostolic]

For reduced loads I've used N340 (11.0 gr) and Unique (didn't write that one down), both shot well. For full power, in my gun, around 21.5gr N110 produced <3" groups @ 100 yards.

 

[Nemo288]

My standard 44 magnum load was the standard mentioned: 24gr. W296/240 XTP.
If I was shooting those loads any more I think I would lower that one grain to 23 gr.
I also like the Sierra 240 JHC.

Then I discovered the LBT style 260 WFNGC (this one by Cast Performance) over 18-19 gr. 2400.
It's more accurate in my early Redhawk that has oversized chamber throats.
Over the years I have given up on ball powder in general and W296 in particular.
That cast bullet is my new standard in the 44 magnum and also works well in the Supermag.

 

[BigMuddy]

My load with the XTP, or any other 240 jacketed, was the favorite of the late (and great) Hal Swigget. 23.5gr H110/WW296 and a magnum primer. He took a lot of large animals with that load. Shot some last week in a pair of Ruger FT’s. Always amazed at how good it shoots.

Dan

 

[One Holer]

In my Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley .44 mag I use 24.2 grs of Winchester 296 behind Hornady's 240 gr XTP with a magnum primer and Winchester brass. Complete pass throughs on deer with good expansion. I still have a box of 50 loaded but when those are gone I will probably reduce the charge as that's a hot load. Use at your own risk, but it is in Hornady's loadbook (1995 vintage). YMMV

 

[BKS]

I appreciate the replies. I have been shooting them over 23.5grs was just looking to see what else was out there.

 

[Drm50]

Have been running 240JHP over 22.5gr of H-2400 in my Ruger SBH since back in 65. At this time we tested 240JHPs. Found that Speer was hardest
Sierra middle and Hornady the softest. We wanted max expansion so went with Hornady. I don’t remember the reason but we switched to XTPs some time ago. Maybe older JHP was dropped?
I don’t run jacketed bullets or magnum loads in my m29s. No point in beating them apart. A 214gr HBWC at 750fps will kill anything that I may encounter.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Will jump on the 296/H110 bandwagon with 23-24gr through my Super Blackhawk Hunter with the 240gr XTP...

I do typically shoot 10 times as many 240gr plated and various LSWCs through it at the range, but it's always a fun experience to fire a full house 44 Magnum round upon occasion!

Cheers!

 

[smithra_66]

Anyone want to share their favorite load for the 44 magnum with 240gr XTPs?

23 grains of 296 with a CCI 350 spark will be a nice load. Depends on what you're doing with it, though.

For big game I like solids out of a handgun, like LSWC's.

 

[Marksman]

In my Remington 788 .44 Magnum 240gr. XTP's I'm shooting 24gr. of H110, sighted 1" high @ 50yds. it's dead on @ 100yds. Five shot groups are often one ragged hole, that rifle and load are amazingly accurate.

 

[Miracle Man]

I still have a bunch of 240 gr. XTP's loaded with a stout load of H110 in 44 magnum. And shot very well out of my scoped Ruger Super RH. Was one of my favorite loads.

But I've gotten to the place where they're not as much fun anymore, lol. I believe I'm going to step down to 2400 or CFE Pistol or something not quite so intense.

 

[Skeet 028]

In my Remington 788 .44 Magnum 240gr. XTP's I'm shooting 24gr. of H110, sighted 1" high @ 50yds. it's dead on @ 100yds. Five shot groups are often one ragged hole, that rifle and load are amazingly accurate.

I too have a 788 in 44(and 30-30). I loaded 240 gr Sierras with 22 gr H-110. It shoots better than I can at 100 yds. Spreads open up a bit at 150. I loaded the same for my FILs Marlin 1894. It was a real good whitetail shooter to 100 or a bit more. But it was a bit of a kicker so I traded him a 336 30-30 that was easier on him. He took blood thinners that made him look beat up. I eventually sold it too. It wasn't much fun to shoot The 1894 in 41 is much more fun to shoot

 

[Kinman]

I don't use XTPs in a .44 Magnum, I prefer an older Speer JHC 240gr. bullet over 22.0gr. of H-110.

 

[BillBro]

Like Skeet028 Ive not always had the best results with the XTP bullet in 44mag, or the Special for that matter. Not that I have that many 44's but my Redhawk, my 29 and the Henry all seem to better with other bullets.
I believe my best one was 23.5gr of H110 with the 240gr and then 18gr of IMR800X with the 200gr version screams out of the Henrys 20" barrel at 2100fps and is more than accurate enough for me. Seems though that my guns at least all prefer other bullets and will always do better over a wider range of charge weights, powders etc. I will give up on the XTP's and then try them again, maybe some day Ill luck into a good consistent load that my guns seem to like. The XTP is almost always available and priced well most of the time.
Its weird too, my 357's love them with almost any powder and my 454 and 45lc seems to do fine with them too..
Interesting thread though because I still have 5 boxes of .430"'s under the bench that Ive been eyeballing, maybe Ill learn something from your question and the responses.

 

[diyj98]

I always used between 19 and 21 grain of 2400 with a 240 jacketed bullet depending upon what my gun shot best. Lately I've switched to H100/W296 just because I couldn't find 2400 at a price I was willing to pay.

 

[Tim Stapp]

In my Ruger Super Blackhawk (10-1/2") and my Marlin .44 Mag lever action with the Hornady 240 gr. XTP it was 20 gr. 2400. Same load that I used for a 170 cast in my .308.