44 Mag, seeking further reloading advise (1 pic)

[The Norseman]

Revolver reloading, 44 Mag (.44 Remington Magnum), I've been scouring my
favorite Web Sites and my many manuals for reloading data.

What I'm looking for is to further my knowledge on reloading data for
180 grain and 240 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Points) bullets, preferably around
1000 feet per second.

Fellow Reloading Enthusiasts could you be so kind as to share your information
and experience. Open to usage in 44 S&W Special also.

Currently I've been reloading;
Remington 180 gr JHP w/cannelure (.430) #RE023.
Hornady 180 gr HP/XTP w/ cannelure (.430) #44050
Sierra 240 gr JHC Power Jacket w/cannelure (.4295) #8610
Used Remington 240 gr JHP years ago.

The powders I have on hand are, I have used them at one time
or another (except IMR 4198).
- Fastest to Slowest;
Bullseye (Alliant Powder)
American Select (Alliant Powder) Very Clean burning.
Trail Boss (IMR - Improved Military Rifle).
Unique (Hercules / Alliant Powder).
Unique (Hercules in small Yellow Tin Can) Very dirty.
Universal Clays (Hodgdon Powder) Very Clean burning.
Winchester 296 (Winchester Powder) 3% less than Max, 1400 out of S&W 629 Classic.
H4227 (Hodgdon Powder) Always yellow grains in cylinder/barrel.
4198 (IMR - Improved Military Rifle) There's been some grumbling on other site.

My concerns are;
1. Data for American Select, I really like American Select (Alliant Powder)
Very Clean burning, any users?
2. The IMR 4198 is interesting, have a lot on hand because of 223 AR15/223 Rem 7/222 Rem 788.
3. Data on Flame Cutting, I am concerned and want to know experiences with Flame
Cutting any of the above (have not seen that yet Win. 296 only 20rds of it in S&W 629).
4. Data on Crimps (slight radius, little, medium, Heavy) with above.

Thank you, in advance.

These are loaded with American Select ready to test.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

1000 fps in the 44mag with a 240gr bullet is pretty slow. I like to load Universal and Blue Dot in that power range. (mediun to slow powder) Any 240gr bullet will do as the pressure is rather low, cast lead, copper plated or copper jacketed.

Universal 8.2gr - 9.2gr good all around.

Blue Dot 11.0gr - 13.0gr (firm crimp) Makes a big boom and that is what I want in a 44mag but a real soft recoil. Very accurate too.

...Jimbo

 

[GP100man]

Ifin ya gonna go much slower switch to lead so ya don`t stik a bullet in the bore !!!

The loads ya got listed seem within loads for jacketed but stay alert !!!

 

[BearStopper]

The determining factor should be the accuracy you get with the load you prefer. I recently loaded some Hercules Unique in the yellow can and found that 11.7 grains was the most accurate load I have ever shot from my Redhawk. So my recommendation is that you test for accuracy and decide from there. By the way, I didnt really notice that the older Unique was any dirtier than the 2400 that I sometimes use. Both produced similiar amounts of smoke. I have some Alliant Unique that I will be going to after I use up this Hercules stuff. My load above was actually with a 240 gr semiwadcutter by Bear Creek Supply which happens to be a moly coated bullet. No leading at all but I am all but out of these now that I have worked up the perfect load with them.

 

[Mobuck]

I use 800X for 200 JHP at around 1100 fps. You might look at the loads for the Univ.Clays as I would expect it to be close to the powder I'm using. Burns clean and uniform w/o much flash or recoil. You didn't give your intended purpose but I'd guess the 240 JHP won't give you much expansion at that velocity. A cast or even swaged(1000fps) would give you as much and cheaper. I'm using the 200Nosler JHP and it expands nicely at 1100 but not too impressive at 50 yards+. My only purpose is to address the issue of cougars. My dog likes to chase anything catlike and I'm concerned he will bush one and my normal carrying 22/45 in 22lr won't do the job quick enough to keep him from a whuppin.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Add a bit more crimp.

 

[flatgate]

You need to hook up with Wil Terry. He's in Single Shoot, SD, er, Metro RC. Perhaps he'll see this thread and respond.

He's an amazing resource, believe me.

flatgate

PS, In MHO, 300 grain cast LBT style bullets over WW-296 is the way to get all the holes to touch on your target.

 

[The Norseman]

Thank you for the replies so far.

I would still like to try the IMR 4198. Is there anyone out there
that can point me in the right direction for good data.

Thank you. See Yeaw

Ah, I just had an idea. Remembered an old IMR light brown
Handloader's Guide (no date, has 10/99 back cover right
hand corner)(got maybe 10 years ago).

IMR 4198 (44 Mag) for Handgun there is nothing.

IMR 4198 for (44 Mag) RIFLE Rifle it says
.44 Remington Mag.
Rem. Case; Rem. 2 1/2 PR
Rem. 240 GR SP
.430" Dia.; 22" BBL.; 1.610" C.O.L.
(9 IMR powders)
One of them is IMR 4198
IMR 4198 25.5C(compact) vel. 1515 Cup 26400
Remember this is their Max load.

Wow I did have something on it. Might just load up 2.

 

[The Norseman]

Hello everyone,

Well I finally got out and shot my American Select reloads in
180grs and 240grs bullets.

The bullets went through the barrel (thank you for the cautions of stuck
bullets in barrels with pulished data)(I've been reloading for too long for
that to happen) just fine.
I was also pleased with the accuracy and how clean the bore and out side
of new revolver was. I've reloaded 20 more to get serious with.

I did load up 2 cartridges with IMR 4198 just to try (haven't been able to get out).
Man, 10% under the published data is really compressed.
Yes, I will be careful.

Well, everyone have a good holiday.

P.S. I finally seen signs of a Mountain Lion (I was told they are here)
Tracked it for a while. Maybe that is why there are so few Coyotes
where I'm coyote hunting?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I did load up 2 cartridges with IMR 4198 just to try (haven't been able to get out).
Man, 10% under the published data is really compressed.
Yes, I will be careful.

I did some looking at IMR 4198 and discovered it is a very slow powder for pistol cartridges. It is slower that 2400, H-110/296 , 4227, Trail Boss and any other handgun powder. It seems to be popular in 45-70 and 35 Remington. I would think it might work in the 44mag in a rifle if you don't mind compressed, but I could not find any new data.

...Jimbo

 

[I_Like_Pie]

I did load up 2 cartridges with IMR 4198 just to try (haven't been able to get out).
Man, 10% under the published data is really compressed.
Yes, I will be careful.

I did some looking at IMR 4198 and discovered it is a very slow powder for pistol cartridges. It is slower that 2400, H-110/296 , 4227, Trail Boss and any other handgun powder. It seems to be popular in 45-70 and 35 Remington. I would think it might work in the 44mag in a rifle if you don't mind compressed, but I could not find any new data.

...Jimbo

Yeah...I imagine that the flash from that powder out of such a short barrel would be along the lines of the 30 carbine pistols

 

[sixshot]

4198 powder is long grained, meters very poorly & is very, very slow when used in a 44 magnum handgun (slow, as in slow burning) you'll never get enough in there to get the velocity up without compressing your load, be careful doing that as you can "break" the kernels of powder, this changes the burning rate & then bad things can happen.
Save the 4198 for something else, get some Unique or Universal for plinking loads & wind it up with 2400 or H110 for serious work. High speed, light weight bullets in handguns aren't usually a good combination, that is for hunting purposes, there are some exceptions but the heavy for caliber bullets work best, especially at distance.
A good, firm crimp always burns cleaner with smaller SD's. Flame cutting usually occurs when taking light weight bullets & running them extremely fast such as the short lived 357 Maximum, usually flame cutting only occurs for a short time but there will be some cutting thats visable on the top strap, these hot rod loads can also erode your forcing cone.
Who's Will Terry! :wink:

Dick

 

[Jimbo357mag]

4198 powder is long grained, meters very poorly & is very, very slow when used in a 44 magnum handgun (slow, as in slow burning) you'll never get enough in there to get the velocity up without compressing your load, be careful doing that as you can "break" the kernels of powder, this changes the burning rate & then bad things can happen.
Save the 4198 for something else, get some Unique or Universal for plinking loads & wind it up with 2400 or H110 for serious work. High speed, light weight bullets in handguns aren't usually a good combination, that is for hunting purposes, there are some exceptions but the heavy for caliber bullets work best, especially at distance.
A good, firm crimp always burns cleaner with smaller SD's. Flame cutting usually occurs when taking light weight bullets & running them extremely fast such as the short lived 357 Maximum, usually flame cutting only occurs for a short time but there will be some cutting thats visable on the top strap, these hot rod loads can also erode your forcing cone.
Who's Will Terry! :wink:

Dick

Great explanation SixShot.

I know Will Terry has one of the Holy Grail of Ruger revolvers but you got to go back to '06 to find a post. He probably has a new screen name.
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=10713

...JImbo

 

[The Norseman]

Morning 44 Mag Enthusiasts,

Well I finally got to test fire my American Select (Alliant powder) again.
240 gr JHC Sierra Power Jacket w/cannelure (.4295) #8610
8grs Am. Select / CCI 300 LP (estimated FPS 1000)

At 25 yds. plus, the reload appeared accurate. Primers look good also.
Bore clean, no unburned powder granulars and exterior of revolver clean.

IMR 4198 Reloads (2 cartridges) of 22.5grs / 240 gr JHC Sierra Power Jacket
w/cannelure (.4295) #8610 / CCI 300 LP

Shot well, but they were move'n. Estimated FPS 1200.
10 granulars remained in case, and about 5 grains remained in barrel.
Crimp was bearly on the cannelure. Crimp was a little more than picture
above. Primers were flat. Accuracy Ok (one flier, one near the X)
Bore clean, some granulars and exterior of revolver remained clean.

I think I'm going to back off to 20grs IMR 4198 (maybe not so compressed then).

 

[The Norseman]

Well I got to try out my 2 reloaded cartridges of IMR 4198 20.0grs
/ 240 gr JHC Sierra Power Jacket w/cannelure (.4295) #8610 / CCI 300 LP.

Results were the same as 22.5grs IMR 4198, they shot well. Estimated
FPS 1000. 10 granulars remained in case, and about 5 grains remained in barrel.
Crimp was in middle of cannelure. Crimp was a little more than picture above.
Primers were not flat. Accuracy Ok.
Bore clean, some granulars and exterior of revolver remained clean.

 

[The Norseman]

Well I tried shooting 10 cartridges of Remington 180 gr JHP w/cannelure
(.430) #RE023 with an even 10grs. American Select (Alliant powder)
/ CCI 300 LP (estimated FPS 1000)
Accuracy was quite good at approximately 30 yards. Crimp in middle of
cannelure and increased a little more. Primers were not flat. Bore clean,
exterior of revolver remained clean. I will definitely reload some more.