I loaded some .44 mag loads with 8.5 grains of unique in my Redhawk with some Beartooth 265 grain flat points. It seems as if the bullets are tumbling. I have used the same bullet with a good healthy charge of H-110 and have had excelllent accuracy. Anyone have a similar experience?

I'm not sure why,question: are you getting keyhole's on paper?, what I do know W296/H110 perform very good with magnum revolvers, The raped apes of revolver powders, good crisp ignition, hang on;) I never used Unique with Magnums, I have used unique using the 44SP and shotguns, Did well. I thought Unique was a little dirty compared to W296/H110. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

Keyholing is a problem with some wide nosed bullets at low velocity in some guns, from what I've heard. I saw it once, with the Lyman 358665 cowboy bullet. What range were you shooting at? A bullet can recover from a severe wobble at the muzzle and stabilize down range. If you're getting keyholing at 20 feet, test them at 50 yards or more. That's the real test and they might do well. On the other hand, it's well known that a .38 Special full wadcutter load that chews up the X-ring at 20 yards might not stay on the paper at 100 yards.

If you can't get good groups with the Beartooths with light loads, save them for full snort loads and get some semi-wadcutters or round-nosed bullets for light loads.


Bye
Jack

Hey Deano,
I thought I was the only one who ever had this happen. In my case it was with the 280gr WFNGC bullet in my 44 mag handgun. Just like you, it was a tack driver with a good H-110 load but with a light load, it tumbled almost right out of the barrel. My solution was to save the good bullets for the hotter loads and use the cheap swc bullets for low velocity work.

Still in all, you may be only 100 fps or so away from fully stable bullets with a warmer load. I really do not know at what velocity it will start to behave. I can tell you that with a warm load, the 265gr bullet has shot well for me out to 200 yards in my Redhawks. It is a great bullet. If Unique will not push the bullet fast enough, you may want to give Blue Dot a try.

Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

Best.......... Bill