I have two loads that seem to work great in every 44 magnum I've ever tested them in ... whether it be a Dan Wesson, S&W or Ruger revolver or a TC barrel.

1) Sierra 240gr JHC over 23.0gr H110

2) Hornady 300gr XTP over 18.0gr No.9

I have tried other bullet brands in the loads above, they all seem to work great, I have just settled on these bullets, I have used other brands interchangably with little or no effect on point of impact.

skid,

I've got a Marlin 20" barrel and like those loads you mention. My favorite load now is the 245grn hard cast Keith type bullet (Lyman #429421) with 23.5-24.5grns LilGun (regular primer) for around 1800fps and great 100yd accuracy. BM

Bill

I have not tried any of the recently developed powders (lilgun, etc) ... I will have to give it a try.

Since I don't shoot jacketed bullets in my 44mag anymore, here are the two best bullets I have found.

NEI 280gr. Keith Style - casts WW at 294grains, very accurate, one hole groups at 50yds using 22gr. of 296.

LBT 300gr LFN - cast out at 315 gr. with gas check. same accuracy as above using 22.5gr. 296 with velocity chronographed at 1875 fps.

No leading at all with either load. Needless to say, I have no need to pay a lot of money for factory bullets anymore.

Good shooting!

quote:

Originally posted by HL:
with velocity chronographed at 1875 fps.

I assumed you meant a hundgun until I saw that velocity figure ... what firearm is this from?

Sorry, that velocity is out of a 15" custom contender barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by HL:
Sorry, that velocity is out of a 15" custom contender barrel.

Ahh ... well thats sounds about right ... sounds like a good hog load!

In HOuston, a gentleman tested the bullet against a 1-1/2" thick piece of bullet proof glass. The bullet passed through it and proceeded through 3 - 10" diameter penta treated posts.

The only marks you could see on the bullet when he recovered it was the rifling marks.

That bullet was heat treated to 35BHN.

Rabbits hide behind logs, NO Problem!

HL,

That load sounds like a handful. Just wondering where you bought your molds and did you know what hardness your bullet was before you heat treated it? I recently bought a hardness tester and will try to heat treat some bullets myself.

I've always used the H110 and W296 but recently bought a 4lb jug of Solo #4100 (on sale), sold by AA powder co., that is supposed to be slower than AA#9 and like W296. You don't have any experiance with that do you? No wonder you don't worry about the rabbits hiding behind logs, with a load like that.

Skid, I've always liked the JHC Sierra bullets and think I've got a box of the 240's tucked back somewhere. I also have a box of Sierra 300grn sp's to try out.
Bill

The mould I use I bought from Veral Smith in 1987. After getting this, I have used no other bullet in my 44mag.

When casting, I always drop the bullets straight out of the mould in to a 5 gal. bucket of water with a thick mat of towels at the bottom, so bullets won't hit hard.

The bullets are somewhere around 16-18bhn when I run them through the sizer and put the check on. and then I heat treat.