A question for the .44 magnum reloaders.

kam582

New member
I am a newbie at reloading, having reloaded for my .223's for about a year. That seems to be going fine. I recently loaded up some .44 magnum loads to see what might work. I am using once fired Hornady brass, with Win296 and Hornady 240 grain XTP's. Today was a nice day here in Iowa, so I got out and shot my test rounds.

This is a 5 shot, 50 yard group using 20.7 gr., which is the minimum load in the Hornady manual. Shot out of my Ruger Super Blackhawk, 7 inch barrel.

P1030327.jpg


This is 22.5 gr.

P1030329.jpg


Both would serve my application with the .44, which is Iowa Whitetail, and hogs, if I can ever find a place to hunt them that fits my budget. I obviously like the 20.7 gr. group, and Hornady lists that at 1100 fps, and the 22.5 gr. at about 1250 fps. My question is, will the lower loading work on Whitetail, or do I need to use the higher load?

Thanks,
 
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The 20.7 gr load will kill deer, but it may shorten your range a bit.

You may want to try different powder such as Hogden

My son and I both shoot Hogden 110. We get great power and accuracy. A few years back before I got old I would shoot stones on a river bank in a remote area or acorns on a dirt trail. Hardly ever missed. Here is the load data for 100 powder

240 GR. NOS JHP Hodgdon H110 .429" 1.600" 23.0 1413 25,200 CUP 24.0 1522 36,200 CUP

I wouldn't be shy of using any brand 240gr jacketed hollow point, but if you look in another manuel such as Lyman's you will find a varity of loads. I don't load anything without first checking my Lyman manuel, but quite often the higher powered loads are too hot, so you have to work your load up and watch for accuracy changes while you shoot.
 
Been hunting with and reloading a .44mag for a lot of years.

My pet load is 24.0gr of H110 and 240gr HP-XTP. My gun is a scoped Ruger Super Redhawk.

This is a picture of a typical grouping at 100yds. The circle is 3" in diameter. Darn flyer!!! LOL

240HP-XTP44mag-1.jpg


1016091545.jpg
 
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Nice shooting----
Nothing wrong with that W-296, your targets prove that; though I too use H-110. Those two powders have been the go-to powders for 44s for years.
 
I hunt with the .44 out of my bow stands during Iowa's gun season, so I am not too worried about range. I kind of limit myself to 50 yards anyhow. If the low power load will work, I will go with it, at least until the W296 is gone. Then I might try the Hogden. I have heard good things about the Lyman manual. That's my next purchase.
 
I don't even know anyone that has put as many rounds through .44 Magnums as I have. Many tens of thousands. I had to have my 3 screw Super B (that I bought new) rebarrelled by Ruger several years ago because I had completely shot out the original. That took a lot of shooting.

If limited to one upper end powder these days for the .44 I would be fine with WW 296. For that matter I would also be content with H110, Lil Gun, AA #9 or good old 2400. They have all served me well over the years. A good 240 grain bullet such as the Sierra 240 grain JHC and you be more than a match for any deer that ever lived. Plenty enough for most all creatures you are likely to find in North America.
 
It might be interesting to chronograph those loads. They may be going faster than you think. My .44s were shooting faster than I thought, and faster than the book quoted. I never would have known if I had not checked it.
 
I think your loads would be fine for deer hunting out of a tree stand! For Hog hunting I don't know for sure? It depends on the size of the Hogs! Some guy's call the little ferral pigs hogs,(I guess they are) that weigh around 80-100lbs. But if your talking about a Russian wild boar weighing 300-450 lbs. that's another story. For Big Hogs,I used a 315gr. hard cast GC bullet with W296 behind it! It really anchored them right there with a high sholder shot! Ron
 
Good point. I'm thinking meat hog, not a huge boar. For that I would probably go with my .06, or my slug gun. It's kind of a moot point cause I can't find a reasonably priced place to hunt them.
 
296 is a great powder for the 44 Mag. I have been using it in my Ruger for 30 years or more.. My load involves 200 grain Hornaday HP's.. And it is extremely accurate.. I would think that a 240 grain bullet will be more than enough for deer..
 
Originally Posted By: rks1949 I used a 315gr. hard cast GC bullet with W296 behind it! Ron

Ron, That is the best 44 hunting bullets,IMHO. A Hard Cast Gas Checked bullet in the 300gr. range with W296, 2400, #9 or 110. All of those powders have worked well for me using GC bullets. I like a hole on each side and they provide it. I have taken Caribou, Antelope and Whitetail deer with the 300gr. GC and I like them.
Flyrodder
 
Stop if I'm wrong because I am getting forgetful. But I thought W296 and H110 were the same powder.

I've only been shooting the .44 for about 8 years now. My favorite powder is 2400 hands down. You can load it down or up, something you can't do with H110.
 
You might want to try some H-110 with 180 gr xtp's they are sudden death on deer and tremedousley accurate to boot.I was pushing them 1800 fps out of my super red hawk.It had I beleive a 10" barrel.
 
I shoot a S&W 629 Classic loaded with 23.0 grs H110 and a Nosler 240 gr JHP. It will shoot a ragged hole at 50 yds.
I shot this doe this past fall at 65 yds.
IMG_0324.jpg

JD338
 


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