Ruger Forum

5Sport · March 2nd, 2013, 10:48 AM

For a .44 mag, load, how is this: 240g Hornday XTP with 20.5 grams of 2400 powder and a WLP primer?

5Sport · March 2nd, 2013, 04:34 PM

So is the load I am talking about ok? How hot is that compared to a factory 240 grain load?

WheelGun44 · March 2nd, 2013, 08:07 PM

According to the load info I have, max powder charge for that set up is 20.0 gr of 2400. It shows 36000 psi of pressure and 1450 fps. I load that bullet at 18 grains and get 30,700 psi and 1334 fps.
It may work but it is on the extreme high end!!

(Info is from a Midway USA LoadMap book)

justsoIcanupvotethis · March 2nd, 2013, 08:20 PM

Alliant says 21 grains of 2400 with Speer GDHP gives 1434 fps. I would think that you are safe with .5 under what they listing.

5Sport · March 2nd, 2013, 09:13 PM

A buddy of mine loaded these for me and gave them to me. I don't want to be rude, but how hard is it to pull these apart and lighten the load. I have another friend that reloads but I'm not sure if he has .44 dyes.

I have a 4 5/8 in SBH and don't really need a hot load.

Thanks

justsoIcanupvotethis · March 2nd, 2013, 09:32 PM

It depends on how much crimp they have. If you have a good kinetic puller its not hard. Im not sure I would ever trust anyone elses reloads for that matter. If I was certain they were 20.5 grains I would not be afraid to shoot them at all.

dhom · March 3rd, 2013, 02:25 AM

I have used that load in my Bisley hunter without pressure signs, but I started with lighter charges first and worked my way up to it. That load is pretty much where I would stop, Actually I backed of to 20 gr/ 2400/ WLP and it proved to be very accurate with a Hornady 240 XTP. I would not recommend starting with that load unless you are very familiar with you 44.

429421Cowboy · March 3rd, 2013, 07:34 AM

Not meaning to be rude, just asking for clarity, are we talking grams or grains here?
That seems like an awful stiff load for jacketed, I personally don't like getting beat up that bad. If you have access to dies and a inertial puller the bullets should be in good shape, you may have to use a flaring die to iron out the crimp a little if your buddy used a heavy crimp (and with loads like that, i suspect he did).

Good luck!

terry_p · March 3rd, 2013, 07:45 AM

Alliant lists 21.0 gr of 2400 with a 240 gr JHP as their max and I believe (I am not home where my manuals are) Speer has the same. I have loaded 20.5 gr and it does fine in my revolvers. I find 20.0 gr more accurate but every firearm is different.

5Sport · March 4th, 2013, 07:53 PM

Sorry, I meant grains. 21 grams would be an awful lot : ).

I will go ahead and try the load. I don't like to get beat up when i shoot. I know absolutely nothing about reloading, so I'm sorry if my questions aren't very good.

Thank you for the replies.

Iowa Fox · March 4th, 2013, 08:02 PM

Thats a pretty stiff load. I don't think I would want to touch one off in anything I own.

3Recon · March 7th, 2013, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5Sport

For a .44 mag, load, how is this: 240g Hornday XTP with 20.5 grams of 2400 powder and a WLP primer?

5Sport is this the first time shooting a 44Mag. ? The reason I ask is that your taking what Hornady has in their 8th edition reloading book and your about 5% under their suggested Max. I don't usally get involed in someone's loads ( everbody has different flavors)but, you did mention you wanted something enjoyable and I believe you'll have more fun working your way Up from Hornady's min.1100 FPS for that bullet ,powder and primer (they tested 7.5 RH). The load you mentioned in the begining. just doing the math is going to clock just a little around 1305 and maybe 5 to 10% over when or if you get a chance to chrono.
Trying to tread lightly happy shooting

3Recon · March 7th, 2013, 12:13 AM

I missed a couple of threads, invite your buddy out shooting with you :-) and then ask him to make some up around 1100 to 1200 for punching paper

mikld · March 7th, 2013, 11:47 AM

Not really any need for max. loads in a .44 Magnum, especially with a new reloader. I've reloaded 2400 in .44 Magnums for many years and allways go with what my published manual lists. Check your manual and begin at the starting load, you may be surprised at the "Boom" and recoil that provides!

BassMan · March 7th, 2013, 08:48 PM

18 grains of 2400 works real good, it is enough to get good results.

Many years ago, the Elmer Keith, a gun writer who liked heavy bullets and .44 Mags used 22 grains of 2400 with cast bullet or either 240 or 250 grains in a S&W 29 - way too much for me. It is claimed he shot a mule deer at 600 yds (!!!) with this load.

When I used 2400, I worked my way up to 20 grains with a jacketed 240 gr. bullet but I found the 18 grain load was easier to shoot.

Now, I use 18 grains of AA 9 with the 250 gr. Sierra jacketed match bullet in a 4 5/8 Ruger SA.