Which .44 mag powder

[Huhwhat?]

I have 100 brand new .44 mag brass to fill. Probably with 240 gr. Hornady XTPs.


On hand I have H110 and Lil' Gun.


Pressures look to be a little higher with the Lil' Gun (a couple thousand CUP), than with H110, but so do velocities (about 50 fps or so).



Anyone have an opinion about one powder over the other? And before someone says "Go buy some other powder", I have H110, and Lil' Gun, and I am not going to be buying some powder I do not have.

 

[loaded round]

Go with the H110 powder. It just might help to check out a good reloading manual.

 

[Huhwhat?]

I have several. Just bought the Hodgdon Annual update.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Either powder will do just fine. That said, I prefer 2400 and IMR 4227 to either of those two but I don't run any of my guns with maximum loads.

 

[phonejack]

Either powder will do just fine. That said, I prefer 2400 and IMR 4227 to either of those two but I don't run any of my guns with maximum loads.

Yup! Same here.

 

[loaded round]

Are you aware that all Hodgdon loading data is available online for free? I was buying their annual manual also until I found Hodgdon's website a few years ago

I have several. Just bought the Hodgdon Annual update.

 

[Huhwhat?]

Yes, I know that it is online.

That's how I now the pressures and velocities for the two powders.

 

[jgt]

While I am a big fan of all of the powders mentioned above, in this application I would use H110. Why, because you are using it with a 240 grn bullet. Lil Gun comes into its best application when using heavy for the caliber bullets at top velocities. I look at what will give me the best velocity with the least pressure when picking a powder to start working up a load with.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

The two I use are Unique and 296. Since H-110 is argued to be the same powder as 296 (or mighty close if it isn't), I'd go with it. 2400 is another favorite in .44 Mag, but hard to find at the present. And look for a "medium grade" powder. too, cuz you're gonna be loading full house with either 296 or H-110, and something a bit lighter will be a lot more fun to shoot for a longer session. 2400 is a bit more versatile in that department than 296/H-110, while Unique and Universal are a couple often suggested (again, neither is easy to find right now.) Maybe HS-6 if the books show anything you like? Some suggest Green Dot, too, though my own experiences with it haven't been as good as some others.

Rick C

 

[Jimbo357mag]

It's a dead heat between the two. Just remember that Hodgdon says not to reduce H-110 more than 5%.
I shoot 24.0gr of H-110 with 240gr XTP bullets in my Deerfield rifle. They are very powerful in a handgun. :D

 

[Huhwhat?]

Thanks, guys.

 

[SMP]

Lil'Gun has been known to erode forcing cones in revolvers because it is very hot.freedoms Arms recommends against using it in their revolvers,I would do a search for the info and stick with H110

 

[Huhwhat?]

If I want low velocity, I shoot .44 specials.

 

[Rclark]

If I want low velocity, I shoot .44 specials

I think about it differently.... I load my cartridges to the power level what I 'want'. For example, I load my .44Mag loads down to around 1100fps. That's where I want it to be. In the .44 Special I use the Skeeter load, again because I like to be around 1000fps. One of the reasons I have never used H110/296 as it is an all or nothing power. Use 4227 or 2400 instead. Also I 'prefer' to use only .44Mag cases in a .44Mag revolver. Leave my .44Special cartidges for the .44Special revolvers. Reloading lets each of us taylor the loads to what we want to shoot.... Which is the beauty of reloading!

 

[Huhwhat?]

I use Trail Boss or Clays in my .44 Specials. I have H110 or Lil' Gun, which is what I'm loading with right now.

 

[GetGunz]

H110/296=Best

 

[Tom W]

H110...

 

[Yetiman]

I haven't used either powder myself, but looking at the data, the H110 is only one grain difference from min to max for that bullet where the Lilgun has a two grain spread from min to max which gives more latitude and still has higher velocity.

Depending on how much need I had for one or the other I would use the one I had less use for in other loads.

 

[Huhwhat?]

All of that is very nice, but I have H110 and Lil'Gun, and that is what I am going to be using for the time being.

 

[Rclark]

but I have H110 and Lil'Gun, and that is what I am going to be using for the time being.

Then go use it ;) . Simple as that. Either will work just fine. Grab a manual and reload :) . Testing is part of the fun. See which is more accurate. Setup a chronograph and see what your velocities and ES is... Sounds like a plan to me!

 

[superblackhawkhunter]

New To This Forum, But Not To Reloading, Have Used All the Above to Reload, No Favorite, But Have Plenty of The New Kid on The Block !!! Power Pro 300MP, No Magnum Primers Required, Works Best With Heavy For Caliber Bullets !!! Good in My .41, .44 and 45 Colt Loads , Also in Heavy 357 Loads !!! My New Favorite !!!

 

[langenc]

I couldn't find H110 but Jays did have W296 so I bought that for my new 77/44.

Im using 240 gr Sierras w/ 22 to 23 gr. Waiting for some cast 250s to try.

 

[se3388]

I use Lil'Gun in my 357 Maxi (it seems tailor made for it) and H110 in my 44 mag and 45 Colt along IMR 4227.

Steve..........

 

[Amistad]

I have 100 brand new .44 mag brass to fill. Probably with 240 gr. Hornady XTPs...

I note that about 7 months have passed since this was first posted so any interested readers may have passed by and gone on to other things. But on the off chance that it may be of help to someone, I'll offer a comment. When using these Hornady 240 gr HP/XTP bullets, my favorite load for my Super Blackhawk .44 Mag uses 23.0 gr of H110. The OAL is 1.60. When using the lighter 200 gr Hornady HP/XTP bullets, I set the charge at 27.5 grains of H110. These work really well for me...

Clear sights and straight shootin' to ya!

Amistad

 

[sliclee]

Jimbo-have you ever killed a deer with a 240 that load

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Jimbo-have you ever killed a deer with a 240 that load

????? No. I shoot targets and I have shot a bunch of them with 240gr XTPs in front of 24.0gr of H-110. What does it matter if I have killed a Deer with it? The OP asked about 240gr XTPs and H-110 and Lil'Gun not hunting Deer.

 

[langenc]

Im using W296-supposedly the same as H110-

with Sierra 240s (#8610)and 22 or 22.5 grs to 1.60 and 'some crimp'. In my 77/44 Im getting practically 4" 'groups' at 50 yrds?? Gun is new and Im at about 60 rounds down range w/ it. What is wrong??

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Im using W296-supposedly the same as H110-

with Sierra 240s (#8610)and 22 or 22.5 grs to 1.60 and 'some crimp'. In my 77/44 Im getting practically 4" 'groups' at 50 yrds?? Gun is new and Im at about 60 rounds down range w/ it. What is wrong??

Lots of people have had accuracy problems with the 77-44. It is not a rifle cartridge and as such you will never get that kind of accuracy. From what I have heard the 2-piece bolt is part of it. Perhaps some other problems might be pressure on the barrel or loose stock mounting, the barrel could be defective or maybe it just doesn't like the load. I would buy some factory Federal 240gr classic ammo and see how they shoot. Perhaps you can search for some tips as I have see this problem discusses many times on the forum.

I have two 44 mag rifles (not a 77-44) and they both shoot about 2"-3" at 50 yards and I am happy with them. :D

 

[langenc]

Im just going to shoot some more and see what difference that makes. Just ordered another 100 bullets so...

Id read where they wouldn't shoot, couple yrs ago. Then lately they were reported better so I jumped in. Previously the barrels were blamed but that was supposed to have been fixed when Ruger started to make their own barrels.. guess not.

I wanted it for woods deer gun, 75 yrds or a little more.. If it don't improve Ill unload it and try a pistol, perhaps.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Im just going to shoot some more and see what difference that makes. Just ordered another 100 bullets so...

Id read where they wouldn't shoot, couple yrs ago. Then lately they were reported better so I jumped in. Previously the barrels were blamed but that was supposed to have been fixed when Ruger started to make their own barrels.. guess not.

I wanted it for woods deer gun, 75 yrds or a little more.. If it don't improve Ill unload it and try a pistol, perhaps.

Yes the newer guns with the synthetic stock were supposed to shoot much better. I don't know the reason for that but that is what has been reported here. Good luck with your new gun. Keep working with it if you can. :D