Cast 245gr. .44 mag. Load

BigBlue · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:17 am Post subject: Cast 245gr. .44 mag. Load

I recently picked up a used 7 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. I have quite a few 245 gr. Keith designed linotype #429421 bullets and wanted to use either H110 or LilGun powders. I have Lyman's 48th edition loading manual, but the load they list for this bullet using H110 seems somewhat excessive to me. They list a starting load of 24.0gr. and a max. load of 25.0gr. of H110. I know H110 has problems when under loaded so I don't want to drop the load down too far either. Any comments or suggestions would surely be appreciated.
Any favorite deer hunting loads?
Here's a pic of the SBH.
Thanks,
Don

SwampFox · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:44 am Post subject: Re: Cast 245gr. .44 mag. Load

Actually, H-110 can be loaded down a few grains without ill effect, and it shoots at the bottom of its loading and at the top. There is a published load for a 240 Sierra and 18 grains of H-110 at 1100 fps. Try these loads:
23 grains of H-110
18.5 grains of AA #9
12 grains AA #5
15 grains Unique

These loads all run 1200-1300 fps and are accurate in most 44 mag guns. I have shot all of the loads in a 7 1/2 BH, a 10 1/2 SBH and an 8 FA. Make sure you trim and hard crimp, especially on the H-110 and #9, if you expect any accuracy.
Ed

Crackshot · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject: Re: Cast 245gr. .44 mag. Load

I would skip H-110 all together. The bullet you are useing has no gas check and you may not get the accuracy you want with a HOT powder like H-110.
I would try the minimum load of Unique and go up until you get the groups you want or pressure signs say STOP, Or you reach the listed max charges. Thats my 2 cents, Im sure some one will disagree.

SwampFox · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:58 am Post subject: Re: Cast 245gr. .44 mag. Load

Crackshot,
H-110 and 296, its WW cousin, are excellent powders for the 44 Mag. As a matter of fact H-110 is used by most competitors who shoot a 44 mag in silhouette competition and was used in the first 40x40 load, which was shot with a SBH.

Elmer Kieth did not design any bullets with a GC because he did not believe they were necessary in a handgun. Kieth was not bashful about heavy loads, either. I have shot the same bullets with and without a GC in tests, they group into the same group and if hard cast do not lead at normal heavy load revolver velocities.
Ed

Crackshot · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Cast 245gr. .44 mag. Load

I guess, But I have had the opposite results with H110, lead bullets and hot loads. Hard cast or not.

I told you some one would disagree! Very Happy