I’m going to load up some 44 mag for deer hunting. I was talking to a few guys at my range and they were shooting Ruger Super Redhawks with 7-1/2 barrels in 44 mag. They both just bought these handguns and did not want to mess with trying out multiple loads so they just picked a load from the Hodgdon reloading manual. They shot handloads using Starline brass with Hornady 240 grain XTP’s. They just loaded the max 24 grains of H110 as stated in the manual and went shooting. They said they really grouped well and they were pleased with the load. They stated recoil and muzzle blast was less than anticipated with the 24-grain charge.

I was going to load 20 each of 22, 22.5, 23, 23.5 and 24 grains using the same bullet and brass then go out and see how they shoot out of my Ruger SBH with a 10-1/2” barrel. Hodgdon states not to reduce H110 more than 10% of max load; this would make a starting load of 21.6. I always load in increments of 0.5 grains so I rounded 21.6 up to 22. Am I wasting my time with the 5 different loads? Should I narrow it down to the top two or three? Will I see any difference between a 23.5 and 24-grain charge.

Another question I have is - what do you guys think of H110 for the 44 mags? With a large magnum pistol primer and a good solid crimp does H110 burn clean? I loaded some 45 Colt for my son using 8.5 grains of Hodgdon Universal with 200 grain Lasercast RNFP and a good solid crimp. The loads shoot great but it leaves the gun all sooty with powder residue and they smoke like he** when you shoot them. Since I have never used H110 I don’t know what to expect. I’m set on using this powder but don’t what a sooty smoky load like with the Universal. Any comments on likes and dislikes of H110 for the 44 mag would be great. Thanks

Hey rrrrrushhh, H110 is the perfect go to powder-I like to use it on both my 44 mags and my 45 LC. I believe you will like it as it does give very good burn is accurate. I too use Unique for both caliber of handguns I shoot. H110-hot loads, Unique - for practice and beginner shooters in and around 1000fps. Stick to your manual and find the perfect load-have fun. :D

H110/WW296 is best for top loads. I wouldnt drop any lower than 23.0 grains with a 240 gr jacketed. They will leave some unburned powder in the barrel and cylinder. This wont bother the Rugers but the S&W is more finely fitted and you have to keep the area under the extractor clean. No big deal. Accurate Arms #9 is similar but burns clean. The H110/296 give a little more speed usually. I have been using 23.0 grains of WW296 with a Speer 240 grain Magnum softpoint as my accuracy 44 mag load since about 1972. You might see some difference with 23.5 or 24.0 but it depends on the individual gun. BTW, if you use AA#9, look up the proper load. Its somewhat less than the H110/296.

. . . Hodgdon states not to reduce H110 more than 10% of max load

Actually, Hodgdon states not to lower it more than 3% (http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/index.php). 24 grains x .97 = 23.3 grains minimum. This is a funny powder. All the commercial data produces very reasonable pressures that are not near maximum. The problem is it is ignition variation sensitive, and if you get it below the published load range it can lose pressure as the bullet exposes the barrel/cylinder gap and actually squib out, leaving a bullet stuck in the barrel. I think this low-load problem is unique to the revolver, but they apply the warning to all H110 loads because they worry about people mixing up loads in different guns. Lawyers and liability strike again.

Nick

Nick - thanks for pointing that out. I should have rechecked my Hodgdon book. Like you stated - if you reduce it 3% that’s a starting load of 23.3 grains. I might as well just load the 24 and go for it. I don't think the ranges between 23.3 and 24 grains are going to have a large effect on accuracy. I already shoot this Ruger fairly well with iron sights. Off a rest at 50 yards my groups using Federal American American Eagle 240 grain JHP are a little smaller than an orange and off-hand are grapefruit size. With these new handloads they should be a little better. I dont plan on taking a shot out past 50 yards deer hunting anyway.

I'm torn between leaving the gun alone or having the top strap drilled and tapped for a mount. I have had this Super Blackhawk since I was 17 and now I'm 43. Just don't want to drill this 26-year-old Ruger. I would go out and by a Super Redhawk if I was to mount a scope, but I hear of all the problems on this site about the scope rings working loose and you have to keep tightening them to the point they mar the finish on the gun. Think I will stick to iron sights. I'm hunting with a rifle but carrying this in case a 50-yard or less shot presents itself.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

As others have noted, H110 needs to have "heavy" loads and a firm crimp. I wouldn't bother with loads below 24gr, but it may be worth the effort to try a couple of heavier loads. Look for accuracy (or more precisely, precision...) and stop when the groups open up.

I have used H110 extensively, but have recently switched to AA#9 as it burns cleaner and has a wider range. I still keep a jug of H110 on hand for a couple of loads that are really good in certain guns.

. . . Off a rest at 50 yards my groups using Federal American American Eagle 240 grain JHP . . .

Yes, American Eagle is surprisingly consistent and good stuff. My Redhawk with 1.5X scope off the bags will work wonders with it. The picture below is out of my file of keepers for comparing future loads, though it was shot awhile ago, the gun still shoots this way.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2948/redhawk50ydtarget3rf.jpg

I've had similar results loading the 250 grain Sierra truncated cone match bullet with 23.5 grains of H110, but not better results. I was fortunate in that when I bought the gun the store had three identical Redhawks in stock, so I was able to do a side-by-side comparison of the timing, barrel/cylinder gap uniformity in profile, and of the alignment of the chambers with the bore axis, then select the best one. It seems to have paid off. The one flier in the group always shows up and is due to one chamber being narrower at the mouth than the others. I have considered reaming to uniformity, but the darn thing shoots so well as it is, I don't want to mess with success. It is easier just to leave a plastic dummy in that small chamber and avoid using it.

Nick

I use H110 in my .44 rifle 21gr below a Honady 265gr flat point. Groups two rounds over lapping of a sand bag rest at 50 yars and with in a beer can at 100. The powder is not as clean as I like but the hand loads shoot so good I do not want to mess with it. I bought some 240gr XTP to try too. Maby tis sommer I'll get a load worked up.