I'm brand new to loading. I inherited magtech 240gr SJSP bullets and Winchester WLP primers. I don't have powder.

I need a recommendation for powder and load data. I can't find anything specifically mentioning the bullet and primer together. I know that switching primers and bullet type can lead to big changes in pressure, so I'm hesitant to just find something close.

When suggesting powder, I'd like to load 9mm eventually also.

Any help is seriously appreciated. Thanks!

What 44 Mag are you going to shoot these loads in?

Do you want full power loads or near full power loads?

For mid range and plinking loads I would use lead bullets.

I've got a S&W Mountain gun. Near full power load - still working my way up... I really want plinking loads - just want to shoot more and the price of new 44mag rounds got me in to reloading.

Maybe it's a better idea to load these as full power hunting loads and get some lead bullets for plinking?

I mostly bow and black powder hunt - loading is brand new...

The S&W Mountain Gun is one of my favorites, I carry one a lot in the field.

I would get some Alliant 2400.

I would start with 16 grains. In a 4" barrel that should give you around 1100fps in a 4".

I would load 6 with 16 grains. 6 with 17 grains, 6 with 18 grains and 6 with 19 grains, looking for pressure signs.

You should find a load that suits you.

I would also get some 240gr hard cast lead bullets.

For my midrange loads I use Unique.
I would start with 7 grains and work up to 10 grains, until I found the light load I like

7.5 to 8 grains of Unique makes a good light load. I use 9.2 grains for my normal field carry loads, when I do not want or need Magnums.

I have been using 2400 and Unique in the 44 Mag handgun since 1970.
There are onter good newer powders out there, but I have never seen any reason to change my loads.

In longer barreled guns for full power and heavier bullets, I use H110.

I use Unique when I load for the 9mm, 38 Special, 357 Mag, and 45 ACP as well.

For full power loads I use H-110/296 and Federal magnum primers, for mid range loads Unique gets the job done

Do you own any reloading manuals? If not, get yourself a few. The powder companies out data on and you should be able to find this online or in a store that handles loading supplies. You need one good manual. Rubberband off the load data portion of the book and sit down and read the front portion. This is going to be boring, but this is information you really need to understand.

HAHA! What do you know NITRO! You've only been reloading for 42 yrs. Don't trust him, LOL!. No really I'm a relative youngster compared to Nitro, I've only been reloading my 44 since 1987. Ditto the loads they will work for you. C ya.

This is the entry to each of the powder companies loading information.

Accurate Arms Data

http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/

Alliant Data

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

Hodgdon/IMR Data

http://www.hodgdon.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html



I would get any of the loading companies manuals and read about reloading before loading. I prefer Hornady, but that is just me.
The main entry to any of these powder companies web sites will have additional information on loading.
Loading is a simple stepwise process as long as one FOLLOWS the steps that have been worked out.

I would shoot some of the Magtech's to smooth the barrel before I jumped off into cast bullet shooting.

As others have already mentioned, Unique and 2400 are hard to beat for the medium and full power shooting you want to do.

If it were me I would start out with low to medium power powered cast bullet loads and get an accurate load that shot well and I could afford to shoot LOTS of.

This is true with all firearms, but especially a pistol . . .

Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

Shamelessly stolen from one of the the gun writers to whom I would give credit, IF I only knew to whom to give credit.

Thanks for all of the help. I've been away a couple of days and couldn't respond sooner. You have me sold on Unique and 2400. I'll start with Unique. I have a few manuals.

Please let me know if this "recipe" is safe to start since none of the manuals match my bullet and primer specifically (still learning what can be substituted...

Magtech 240gr SJSP, Winchester WLP primers with Unique 9.2grs to 10.3grs.

The Speer manual says : 44mag 240gr JSP with Unique 9.2-10.3

Modern Reloading 2nd Edt. says: 240gr Jacket Bullet w/ Unique 9.3-10.3.

The complete Reloading Manual for the 44mag says : 240gr JSP Unique 10.3.

All mention different primers and I know the Mag primers can increase pressure. I also know bullet shape and jacket change load recommendations (the speer says "Loads may be used with the 240gr JSP-SWC by reducing max charges by ONE grain. I didn't realize that the SWC made a real difference...

I'm probably worrying too much, but didn't want to assume that my bullets and primers were "close enough" without some expert advice.

After shooting the magtechs, I'm thinking that I'll get the lead like you are suggesting. and start some light loads at 7 grains and move up (I'm assuming that the WLP primers will still work fine...). (speer lists a range of 6.5 to 10.2 of unique for the lead 240gr)

How much do I need to worry about different primers from what is recommended in the reloading manuals?

Please let me know if I've got it right as i'd like to keep all of my fingers : )

You definitely need to start on the low end of the scale, but it would appear your have consensus on the load range.

WLP primers will work great, I have been using them for the last several years.

Start at 9.2 gr Unique, load some at 9.5 and load some at 10gr. see what shoots the best.

However I would get some 240gr lead bullets pretty quick and load a bunch with 7.5gr of Unique for a fun practice load.

Then work up till you fine a load your gun and you like.

I would try to save most of the jacketed bullets for 2400 loads.

Will do. Thanks for all of the advice - sincerely appreciated!

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
The S&W Mountain Gun is one of my favorites, I carry one a lot in the field.

I would get some Alliant 2400.

I would start with 16 grains. In a 4" barrel that should give you around 1100fps in a 4".

I would load 6 with 16 grains. 6 with 17 grains, 6 with 18 grains and 6 with 19 grains, looking for pressure signs.

You should find a load that suits you.

I would also get some 240gr hard cast lead bullets.

For my midrange loads I use Unique.
I would start with 7 grains and work up to 10 grains, until I found the light load I like

7.5 to 8 grains of Unique makes a good light load. I use 9.2 grains for my normal field carry loads, when I do not want or need Magnums.

I have been using 2400 and Unique in the 44 Mag handgun since 1970.
There are onter good newer powders out there, but I have never seen any reason to change my loads.

In longer barreled guns for full power and heavier bullets, I use H110.

great suggestion

I second (or third, or whatever we're on) the Unique/2400 combo. It works great for .357 magnum loads too. My deer load is a 240 gr Speer SP over 19 grains of 2400, which runs at about 1300 fps out of my 7.5" Super Blackhawk. My practice load is 8 grains of Unique under a 240 gr cast SWC. I don't remember exactly what it chronographs at.

With regard to changing primers, etc: you can use the same data, but I would start at the starting loads and work up again while watching for pressure signs whenever you change anything. I wouldn't substitute magnum primers when the load calls for standard large pistol primers, but if you switch brands, it probably won't cause any problems.

If you switch anything, I'd recommend shooting the load on paper. Switching from CCI to Remington primers caused a 2.5' change in POI on my .300 Whisper. Yes, change can happen; and yes, it can be substantial.

quote:

Originally posted by NewbieLdr:.......
Maybe it's a better idea to load these as full power hunting loads and get some lead bullets for plinking?

I mostly bow and black powder hunt - loading is brand new...

Good idea. I suggest you load the Magtech bullets over 17 gr of Blue Dot for an excellent magnum load that will perform well in your Mountain Gun.

Then get some 240 gr commercial cast (Laser Cast from Oregon Trail shoot really well) and load those over 8.5 or 9 gr of Unique for a medium level load. If you want a good plinking 44 SPL load get some softer 240 gr bullets from Desperado Cowboy Bullets and load them over 5 gr of Bullseye in 44 Special cases or 6.5 gr in magnum cases.

Larry Gibson

For practice I shoot a 265 SWC-GC over 9.1 gr of HP-38 and WLP in WW cases for about 1025 in my 6" 629 Classic.

Hot load is 270 Speer Deep Curl over 19.5 gr Accurate 4100 using same cases and primers. This gives 1300+ in my S&W and close to 1400 fps in my 10" Encore.