While I'm sure some of the veterans rolled their eyes when they saw this question and said "Here we go again..." I'm fairly new to reloading and I've abound drove myself mad trying to decide which powder to use. The trouble is that I DON'T want the max loads that H110 or W296 can give and I've gathered that full throttle is where these and the other slow powders like to be. I'm looking now at getting a 250-265gr LCB up to 1200fps while still being able to back that down to 1000fps. I'm having trouble figuring out which powders meet the criteria: 1 Easy metering (I'm tired of the Blue Dot flakes) 2 Good load densities at the 1000fps mark 3 Not too temp sensitive.

Any and all suggestions are welcome...the biggest trouble I'm having is the worry about load density at the milder loads. I'd like to have two loads and one powder but am beginning to think I'll have to find a seperate powder for my hunting and 'fun' load.

BTW does anyone know an online resource that compares powders' density? I've been using the MEC bushings charts to compare the powders' bulkiness.

Nice to meet ya.
I have been having good results messing around with AA powders. #5, and #7 deserve your attention in my view.
Cheezywan

Welcome soilarch.

Try some Alliant 2400. It works well for magnum loads as well as medium velocity loads like you are looking for. 16 grains of 2400 and a 250 grain 429421 will run right at 1100 fps. Quite accurate in the 7.5 inch Redhawk. This load doesn't quite make for a compressed load but there's no chance of double charging either.

With 2400 you can tweak it down somemore with out the worry like you do with W296 or H110.

RJ

If you are after one single powder you will have to compromise. A powder that does well near maximum is likely to burn incompletely and get pretty dirty at lower pressure levels. If you are using faster pistol powders, you don't have to worry about filling the case well other than to avoid double-charging (just look; you'll see right away if the level's too high). No target load I am aware of fills the empty space by more than around 50%, and many even less, and these loads can be real tack drivers. I even have a 0.37" C-T-C 25 yard group of 5 off my bullseye 1911 that was 4.2 grains of Bullseye under a 200 grain Hornady match bullet, and that''s only 38% filling capacity.

1000 fps is hotter than the usual target load, but I would still be looking at a target type powder to get there with. 8 grains of Winchester 231 or Accurate #2, or Vihtavuori N330, or Hodgdon Universal Clays (not to be confused with just Clays) will all put you there and should burn 100% with the bullet in the tube and be at .45 ACP +P pressures and no more.

Using those powders to get to 1200 feet per second, though, requires going to .44 magnum maximum pressures, and you would just marginally be there. For that velocity I would look to 12 grains of Accurate #5, HS6, or Winchester 540. The #5 has the best peak pressure margin of the group. It leaves 2% unburned in a 7.5" revolver barrel, but you could do more with it later.

Nick

I'll ditto the use of AA 2400. Always had great success with it in my .44 Mag loadings.

Hodgedon Universal is a good metering and usually available powder for that range also.

These days Im using 296/H110 and Unique. Depending on barrel length, Unique would probably work for your purposes. I use in in just about everything. 10.0 grains if Unique will give about 1000 fps in a 4 and 5/8 barrel with a Keith 250 in 44 mag. IMR 4227 is also good and can be loaded down, also look at AA#9. AA#9 is often overlooked. It burns cleaner than the other slow burners.

BTW does anyone know an online resource that compares powders' density? I've been using the MEC bushings charts to compare the powders' bulkiness.

MEC bushing charts aren't accurate worth dog spit. ;)

A while back I posted densities at the following link:

http://www.precisionshooters.com/ibforum/index.php?showtopic=2149



DC

I will 2nd 2400

Unclenick mentioned Hodgdon Universal Clays (not to be confused with just Clays), & HS6, among others, and Ironhead mentioned Unique. These are all in the same rate range, and I've used them to get the velocities you wanted. I find HS6 to burn filthy at all power loadings in all calibers. Universal Clays & Unique work well. I buy Unique cuz it's made in USA.

I find Hodgdon Clays ( not Universal ), red dot & Bullseye are too fast for this speed range.

I'll put 2400 at the top of my list for medium to hot .44 mag powders. If I was to say Unique for light to med heavy loads I would also have lots long time reloaders in agreement. Chief

My 44 plinker loads use
44Special brass (Winchesster)
215 grn Bear Creek swc
6.0 grn IMR Trail Boss
CCI 300 primmer
The "trail Boss" is a very light bulk powder (the one pound can only holds 9 oz) a double charge will spill out of the case.
Go to the IMR website and see what they have to say about it.

Ditto the Alliant 2400 & IMR 4227 suggestions.

Beat my brains out w/ the faster powders for a long time, trying to make an accurate midrange load for a 4" S&W 629. W/ the exception of Unique (8.5 grns), most of the faster powders gave inconsistent accuracy, until the point that they pressured up to full house levels. Just couldn't see the point.

W/ 240 - 250 grn bullets, I got best accurracy from 19.5 Alliant 2400, & 20.5 IMR 4227. WLP primers, in both cases. Both loads would shoot into a silver dollar, both were consistent, & neither would be considered abusive.

The 2400 was a bit higher pressure, & the 4227 left a bit more residue.

Interestingly, I tried some CCI magnum primers, w/ the 4227, & found that the residue cleaned up, the same load was still the most accurate, point of impact hit lower, & the pressure went up noticably.

Ditto the Alliant 2400 & IMR 4227 suggestions.

Beat my brains out w/ the faster powders for a long time, trying to make an accurate midrange load for a 4" S&W 629. W/ the exception of Unique (8.5 grns), most of the faster powders gave inconsistent accuracy, until the point that they pressured up to full house levels. Just couldn't see the point.

W/ 240 - 250 grn bullets, I got best accurracy from 19.5 Alliant 2400, & 20.5 IMR 4227. WLP primers, in both cases. Both loads would shoot into a silver dollar, both were consistent, & neither would be considered abusive.

The 2400 was a bit higher pressure, & the 4227 left a bit more residue.

Interestingly, I tried some CCI magnum primers, w/ the 4227, & found that the residue cleaned up, the same load was still the most accurate, point of impact hit lower, & the pressure went up noticably.

I found the same thing with the IMR4227. I liked the pop of the Universal better with some less felt recoil and I love the pop and low recoil of Green Dot.