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Latest 44 mag reloads

3K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  palmgopher 
#1 ·
Well - not strictly defensive (other than potentially :wink:) but - in my reloading ''catch-up'' I have reached the stage where I am close to getting done (.454's next then finished). The 800 or so .223's just done should last a wee while.

Got some fired 44 cases reloaded with my near std load with hardcast 240's and also some 240 XTP's, but - decided to make up some heavies. So - 100 new RP cases I have kept aside have been mated with Hornady 300 XTP's ... I know the powder well (N-110) and so have gone ahead with some just sub max loads. They'll be pretty good I think.

Now, the XTP 240's crimping into the cannelure come out just right for OAL at close to 1.6" - so they will be good for the Marlin 94 as well as revo but the 300's which I haven't tried before have a double cannelure. To use the top one and seat for std OAL would probably mean a very compressed charge and they will be for revo anyways.

So, checking my SRH cyl at 1.80", and the Smith 629 at 1.75" - have used lower cannelure which when crimped and done makes them nicely 1.745" - and they'll do good in either revo. No good however for the SBH which is 1.7" cyl.

Always used to load my fave Lyman 250 LSWC's over-long - just for revo use. Anyways - pretty lil devils ain't they! Testing soon as I can get to range - on a cool day. Just another 25 to finish and I'll have the full 100 :smilez:


 
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#3 ·
Thank you John - can't resist snapping something as handsome as that :smilez:

Only trouble is with these XTP's - they are over 12c a pop!!! Still - end result still saves me quite a good bit - probably 50% cheaper than buying factory. Should make a good hunting round.
 
#4 ·
Should be a great hunting round. Looking good w/ the pic too. .44 is so expensive to buy off the shelf , I don't shoot mine all that much. Luckily I have a similar gun in .22 LR.
Can't justify reloading for the .44 , as it is my hunting pistol only.
 
#16 ·
Seems like you could reload .480 Ruger for a similar price as the .44 Mag and it's a lot more gun without a lot more recoil. I love my .480 Ruger SRH... a real thumper with .454 knock-down capabilities but more manageable recoil that lets you get back on target quicker for round #2+.

Brian
 
#5 ·
Price is a factor Rocky that's for sure - even more so with .454. But reloads do get this under control a bit. I reckon I'll use 10 rounds or so for sighting and testing (chrono too if I remember) and then the rest will last ages hopefully!

Question for Bud if he sees this ...... how the heck do you load them 700 grainers for your Smith 50?? I am thinking they need over half the case capacity for that size bullet!!!
 
#7 ·
P95 - I have never seen anyone make ammo look so gorgeous.
 
#8 ·
Thx SOS ........ gotta say that despite the potential lethality of all this stuff, it has for me a distinct aesthetic appeal. Maybe it's just 'shiny things' LOL.

Before loading the 100th bullet I took a pic - the XTP's are rather ''fetching'' :wink: Surprising tho how close up, what looked perfect and shiny is in fact blemished, in particular here some of the cannelure areas.






More ammo eye candy - here is some Greek linked .303 Brit - again a rather nice subject matter.





Finally while I am on an ammo pics roll - a specimen of the latest 'Hot'' .454 loading :wink:

 
#10 ·
nice pics Chris! I just purchased a Ruger SBH in 44 mag for hunting this year (if I get a deer tag) !! I reload for all of my guns also, have a chrono Etc,etc..... Is there anything you have found works better / worse in producing a hunting round for the .44? :smile:
 
#11 ·
Good purchase flag - I have the long tube SRH and an SBH - in fact the latter is an excellent hunting handgun but always love long range fun with the SRH.

I added a B-Square mount to my SBH and a red dot - seems to hold setting OK tho the red dot is a real cheapie - I want to put a Millet on later.

My old .44 rounds were just using 240 LSWC's but am coming to think my latest loads will be much more effective. I have done up 100 each of 240 XTP and the 300 XTP ....... with close to max (But not quite) of Viht N-110 - a powder I like a lot. But H-110, LilGun and 296 I expect - will all be options, oh and good ol' 2400 of course. Only pity with the XTP's - they are spendy!!

I yet have to establish the effectiveness but have great faith in XTP's when driven hard ... I don't think they perform in soft loads but get the fps well up and they'll be good. One good thing is the Ruger will eat top loads well.

So - that's my bullet choice re hunting rounds but still stick to hard cast for plinking.


 
#12 ·
I'm doing a bit of research into Barnes bullets, they seem to be the modern day black talons. I've never hunted with a handgun before, always used the .270 (Ruger #1) for deer and elk. It should be a great experience. I won't need anything heavier than a 240-265 gr. bullet, (the Deer out here in Az are pretty small). I'll play around with some loads and let ya know what I find out. Glad to hear that the B-square scope mount works, I've looked at a few different ones, and was kinda skeptical:blink: I'm going to scope it with a Leopold scope,(I think) but the scope is only as good as it's mount!! Thanks, Rex
 
#14 ·
Ooooooooo, Aaaaaaaah

Ammo Porn,

Chris, you are making a lot of members very jealous right now.
 
#15 ·
flag - well the B-Square is probably easiest to find and I think if fitted carefully and real tight it'll be OK but do reckon it is perhaps not the best compaired with a drill/tap/bolt-on type. That tho is more cost and so the B-Square is certainly adequate IMO. 240 grainers will do you just fine.

palm - I use .44 mag in a Marlin 94 and the extra fps does show. I have to use jackets tho as I have the micro groove rifling.
 
#17 ·
I've always loaded my 300 XTPs to the top cannelure - but only because I didn't have any other data. I think N-110 data is based off the lower cannelure though. I'm thinking of seating farther out and working up some loads with Lil'Gun and H110 - what kind of velocities are you getting with the N-110?

I hope that XTP picture labeled .452 was just a typo...might do bad things to your gun otherwise. :wink:

When I started reloading for my Bisley Hunter I got a few different jacketed 300s to try out - I like them, but hardcast lead with a big meplat is easier to load, and gives better performance as far as I can tell. Cast Performance 320s are my new favorite. :image035:

Austin
 
#18 ·
Austin - no worries - the XTP pic is now corrected - I was reloading for .454 with XTP's when I added the text to that one, and was thinking .452!!

Without notes to hand my velocities with 300 weight should be around 1050 - A full max dose of N-110 should make 1100. With 240's then looking for the 1400 region. Results from N-110 should be close to H-110.

I have some Lil'Gun and want to try it out sometime. I am stoking my .454's right now with H-110.

I certainly with .44 mag make much greater use of hardcasts overall .... reserving the XTP stuff for lever rifle or revo hunting. Not sure re cannelure choice on the 300 relative to N-110 - but my charge would be mega compressed if I seated to top one .. and so used bottom which leaves me just good on COL to suit SRH and M629.

I keep the 240 XTP's at normal COL for lever use... 300's revo only.
 
#20 ·
palm - my Marlin is one with micro-groove rifling - it has similar appearance to that you'll find in most 22's.

Unless I can make and load some oversize cast bullets there is the possibility/probablity they will not engrave well enough and maybe just strip off lead on the way thru. So - best stick with jackets which will take finer engraving and yet still ''bite'' enough to get the spin. I have no measurements to quote but, say std rifling will engrave to depth of maybe 1.5 thou, the micro might only do so to half a thou ... not deep at all.

I prefer std rifling always but had a chance on this lever and otherwise am very content with it.
 
#21 ·
i will have to do some more research on the micro grooving but i read somewhere where it said should shoot cast bullets just fine. again will have to do some more research and i will see if i can put a link on it if i find something important.

ok after a little research there is a way to get cast bullets to work but as you mentioned you need to get the bullets "slightly" oversized to get more bit ont he bullet. as i said i was not 100% so i did my homework. C- =oP
 
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