This question is for .44 Mag shooter/reloaders:

If you already have Titegroup and H110 powder and wanted to add another powder for what I call mid-range .44 Mag load with cast and jacketed bullets in the 200-280 grain range what powder would that be?

I am reloading for a Ruger SBH SS Bisley w/ 5.5" barrel.

So far I have used Titegroup for loads up to about 1050 fps with the BTB250grWFNGC and I understand that loading down H110 is dangerous.

HS-6? Longshot?

The more I reload for and shoot the .44 Rem Mag the more I love it.

Thanks guys.

Unique or 2400, they worked for Skeeter Skelton and Elmer Keith, they work for me.

I second using Unique, it is the most versatile powder a handloader can use.

I've just started using 2400 so I can't offer much there. It does meter well from my powder measurer.

Patrick

Unique or 2400, they worked for Skeeter Skelton and Elmer Keith, they work for me.

I use Titegroup alot with my .44 Mag, and it sure is an efficient powder. Be sure to use a Federal or CCI Magnum pistol primer, as the Winchester "for standard or magnum loads" pistol primer gives me large velocity spreads over the chronograph. It is for the lighter loads and such.

I have also done a lot with H110 and H4227. H4227 might be a good option in lieu of H110 because I believe you can load it down a bit relative to H110.

The middle powder I have chosen is 2400. The big reason is I have a 4" bbl on my 329pd, and I do not get any higher velocity with the slower powders than I can get with 2400. It also keeps the powder from being compressed. With H110 or H4227 I get a lot of compression, and case bulge if I am not careful when loading 300 grain bullets with heavier charges. It even can be an issue with light bullets and higher charges under those bullets.

Anyway, I have seen Blue dot recommended as a medium powder, but never used it myself.

I think 2400 is a hard one to beat. With 12 grians and a 240 swc I get 750 fps shooting 44 spcl cases. In that case, I would choose 5.5 grains of Titegroup for about the same velocity.

So if you want an opinion, there is one to ponder.

2400.

Bonz.

17 gr of 2400 behind a 255 gr cast gets me about 1200.

Unique Gets My Vote, I've Been Using 8 To 10 Grains Under A 240 Cast Bullet For Over 20 Years Now And It Makes A Great All Round Plinking/ Practice Load.

Thanks to all who provided recommendations for powder choices in the .44 Mag.

Reading your responses and doing a little research I see that Unique is so versatile and perfect in the .44 that it ought to be standard issue with .44 Mag owners! So I'll have to pick up some Unique and the 2400 too (I can also use that in reloading for the 94 BB 375 winchester).


An old sage (who is a retired Air Force rocket scientist) got me started in reloading about 10 years ago after I bought his .338-06 and when I picked up the SBH .44 he gave me a pound of Titegroup to start out with. As they say, "a little bit goes a long way", and I did a lot of shooting on that original pound of powder.
One of my favorite loads:
[7.0 gr Titegroup/Starline brass/WLP primer/240 gr SWC @ 990 fps/SD=4.62/ES=12fps]*
another:
[8.5 gr Titegroup/Starline/WLP/250 gr BTB WFN @ 1082 fps/SD=10.9/ES=32fps]*
*my results in a Ruger SS Bisley SBH w/ 5.5" barrel

This is a great forum and I do appreciate all the good information that can be gleaned from it's members. Keep it up!
C

Yep, Unique.

I am new to the 44 mag too, and have been trying to figure up some handloads. Does Unique do good in longer barrels also, say a 8 3/8 ? I'm going for low and midrange loads... no hotties. Planning on using a 240 gr JHP.

Does Unique do good in longer barrels also, say a 8 3/8 ? I'm going for low and midrange loads... no hotties. Planning on using a 240 gr JHP.Have you considered using lead bullets for your purpose? At the velocities that you are talking about, low to midrange, lead bullets would work just as well as jacketed and are much more economical to use.

I tend to agree with the ones who suggest Unique. Unique is so flexible that you can use it for both low and midrange loads.

Marshal... Thanks for the reply. I do believe It's a go on the Unique... Hadn't really considered the lead v.s. jacketed. Wonder about the lead fouling though... I can get a pretty good deal on the 240 JHP if I buy 10,000 lot. I'll have to check into the other.

I think unique is fast and 2400 is slow. Something near bluedot is in the middle. All are good.
Cheezzywan

WW 231 does a pretty good job for mid-range loads as well. I'm using 9 grs. of 231 behind a 240 gr. SWC cast bullet at around 1150 fps in my 8 3/8 Smith 629. 7 grs sends the same bullet out at a little under 900 fps.

I would second the advice to try lead bullets. If you can get a great deal on 10,000 JHP's, how much would you be able to get lead SWC's for? Just a thought.

I like Titegroup for light loads up to around 1050 or so fps with a 240 swc. My next powder is 2400, so there is a gap. I notice a lot of powder granules left behind when using 2400 in my 4" 329PD. Is that typical of 2400? Not noticeable with H110 or 4227.

I could stand to get a middle powder like Blue dot from what you guys are saying.

Bonz.

I notice a lot of powder granules left behind when using 2400 in my 4" 329PD. Is that typical of 2400? Not noticeable with H110 or 4227. Bonz. Tried 2400 in my .44 WCF '92 lever action. As I kept shooting, noticed that chambering and ejection had a "gritty" feel to it. Found the unburnt granules in the chamber had scratched up all of the cases. Might use 2400 again in a magnum wheelgun where I can eject muzzle up dropping the cases and unburnt powder but never again in my '92.

I have been loading for 52 years and I favor 2400 and Unique. Unique is just like the name sounds and works from low end to moderately high end loads in the 44`s.

Midrange loads are question for me? You could look to .44 special data? Most powders do not vary by more than a couple of grains for this cartridge. What is your goal?
I will help as I can.
Cheezywan

I have had good luck with reduced loads of 2400 in my .44 magnum with 240 grain jacketed. I found 15.5 grains to be about the minimum for good accuracy.

I believe that many powders have a usable range BELOW the published "start load".

Moving past reduced or moderate loads, I find 2400 to work better than 110 or 4227 on the top end because of the lower powder charge, and thus minimal or no compression with the heavy bullets.

My 329 PD will let me seat the bullets out a good bit more than the cannelure allows. With the 300 XTP, I seat them to the rear crimp groove and have no problem with powder compression issues. My velocity drops off a good 100 or so fps, so I add back in more powder and increase the recoil. It's a not-so-beneficial cycle, and so I end up back at 2400.

With heavy lead bullets that have traditional crimp grooves, I cannot get any better velocity with 110 or 4227 than 2400, so 2400 wins again.

I worked up some 44 spcl cases with a max charge 2400 and a 240 swc. I got the same or less velocity as I do with a top charge of Titegrouup. Definitely not the powder unless you are loading it where you should be already using 44 mag cases anyway.


Bonz.

Got to say in agreement that Unique is very good- use it regularly. Read somewhere that Marshall mentioned the use of No. 5 with a 300grn hardcast believe it was. I have some and am curious about that powder in my Smith 629 with 300grn hardcast. H110 is used often enough for hotties.

I have 3 powders for my 44mag. Bullseye for plinking loads with 429421's, 2400 for midrange loads with 429421's and H110 or 296 with 240 grain XTP's for when I feel brutal.

I've found that when you start to get over 17 grains of 2400 you don't gain much because all the powder will not burn for whatever reason. At least in my 7 1/2" Redhawk.

I agree with you that 2400 doesn't seem to burn completely, and since I use mostly mid-high recommended charge weights, I am using aroun 17 gr more or less with most loads for it. My favorite heavier load is a 275 LBT hard cast with a top charge of 2400, but it does leave some powder behind.

Bonz.

Unique has a very low bulk density ( it's fluffy ). So, it takes up more space in the case per grain.
With reduced loads it takes up more space in the case than other powders, so the primer flash will impact more powder, and gives better ignition.

With a dense powder like 4227, a reduced load will lie in the bottom of the case, and the flash goes right over the top of it, bypassing the powder. It ignites erratically, and one is left with unburned powder.

Yes, I agree, you are right on the 4227 and I wouldn't think of using it for anything close to reduced loads. Tite group has worked great for me, and I load 10 grains of that under a 180 XTP for 1000-1100 fps in my 329 pd. Never had any ignition issues or incosistent velocity. Good load for carrying.

Check this site it is where I got the data for my 44. It has rediced loads for alot of calibers.
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

429421 with 9.5 grains of Unique very accurate and pleasant to shoot.

Accurate #5, Green Dot and Universal have all worked well for me as a light to med loads in the 44 mag. Lead and Jacketed in 240 gr.

I use 14.3 gr. HS-7 with a 265 gr. WFN in .44 mag. Chrono's 1120 fps and is quite manageable. HS-7 has proven more accurate than HS-6 in my guns.