Ruger Model 96 44mag
- Thread starter Nodak Man
- Start date
I regretably sold mine, but it was very accurate with 24o grain XTP HP's loaded with H-110.
Nodak man, welcome to the forum. You don't say whether you hand load or not. I have a 77/.44 with a rotary magazine, and that limits the OAL(over all length) of the cartridge used. Something to be aware of. Otherwise Winchester white box .44 mags with 240 gr. JSP will probably work well. Good luck.
gramps
gramps
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
I have one but I don't hunt.
Factory ammo- Federal American Eagle 240gr soft points, Winchester White Box 240gr soft points.
Handloads - Almost any 240gr jacketed hollow or soft points (XTP, Sierra, Remington) shoot well with H-110, Accurate #9 or BlueDot. I like #9 and BlueDot loads reduced by about 10% from max.
I had vertical stringing as the barrel got hot. I keep the barrel band loose to help stop that. I also put some small amount of aluminum tape around the action to keep it snug in the stock. Oh and a 4X scope.
Factory ammo- Federal American Eagle 240gr soft points, Winchester White Box 240gr soft points.
Handloads - Almost any 240gr jacketed hollow or soft points (XTP, Sierra, Remington) shoot well with H-110, Accurate #9 or BlueDot. I like #9 and BlueDot loads reduced by about 10% from max.
I had vertical stringing as the barrel got hot. I keep the barrel band loose to help stop that. I also put some small amount of aluminum tape around the action to keep it snug in the stock. Oh and a 4X scope.
Chronograph results out of a 96/44:
Hodgdon Li'l Gun powder, Starline Brass, CCI Large Pistol Magnum primer, Speer 240 grain JHP, 5 rounds of each:
23.0 grains 1767 - 1792 fps
23.5 grains 1772 - 1806 fps
24.0 grains 1798 - 1842 fps
24.5 grains 1803 - 1868 fps
As the charge increased, the min/max spread increased. Surprisingly, though, the 24.0 load had the smallest groups (although all were pretty close to the same group size).
Hodgdon Li'l Gun powder, Starline Brass, CCI Large Pistol Magnum primer, Speer 240 grain JHP, 5 rounds of each:
23.0 grains 1767 - 1792 fps
23.5 grains 1772 - 1806 fps
24.0 grains 1798 - 1842 fps
24.5 grains 1803 - 1868 fps
As the charge increased, the min/max spread increased. Surprisingly, though, the 24.0 load had the smallest groups (although all were pretty close to the same group size).
