.44 Magnum load

[pop-gunner]

I'm looking for a little guidance here so any help is appreciated.
I'm trying to find a load that will push a 240gr Hornady XTP around 1200fps out of a 4 inch Smith with medium recoil.
10gr of Unique will go 1029fps and I feel safe going to 11gr but don't think I'll get over 1100fps even at 11gr.
20gr of 2400 goes 1152 but the recoil is starting to feel like a magnum and I'm not there yet.
Does anyone have any experience with getting a 240 jacketed bullet to go 1200 in a short barrel with a fast/medium burn rate powder?

 

[JSW]

try some of these: http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun

I have not tried them but they look interesting.

 

[pop-gunner]

try some of these: http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun

I have not tried them but they look interesting.

I've looked there but thank you.
The problem I ran to at handloads.com is if the loader lists the barrel length it's not 4inch.
Lots of folks seem to have ideas what a bullet should be doing but it seems few of them really know how fast it's going.

 

[Rockzilla]

pushing it that fast from a 4" it's gonna kick or whip...20.9grs 2400 does 1310 avg from my blackhawk but that's 7.5" , 24.3grs H110 puts it at 1330 avg all 10 shot avg. now there is some signs as the primers are starting to get flat, but still rounded on the edges, also on both I have Pachmayr oversize rubber grips these are my loads in my guns, so use this wisely, still work up to it, according to Hornady these are close to max.

2400, H110,WW296 probably gonna be your best bet.

-Rock

 

[pop-gunner]

Rock-
Thanks for the input.
The 20gr of 2400 load I mentioned goes 1238fps in my 6 inch Smith 29.
The 1152fps it does in the 4 inch would almost be acceptable if it it wasn't for the recoil.
If it's gonna recoil like a magnum I want the thing to preform like one.
I can always run a cast bullet over 10gr Unique which is going just over 1100fps in the 4 inch but I'm thinking I like the idea of the XTP.(plus I have a bunch of XTPs now)
I know all about 2400,296, and 110 and how they work.
I think the idea I'm chasing is will a faster burning powder get that bullet up and running faster in a short barrel and have a softer recoil impulse than a slower burning powder that builds pressure gradually, pushes harder and hangs onto the recoil longer.
I think it should but I have always loaded the .44 either pretty stout with 110 or 2400 or I've used Unique for a plinking round.
I need something in between the two.

 

[Rockzilla]

Like you said you would want something the would burn faster, weather providing I plan on making up some reloads to test. I think we are on the same page with this. I know someone who has a 4", just need to track him down.

-Rock

 

[hvymax]

I'm looking for a little guidance here so any help is appreciated.
I'm trying to find a load that will push a 240gr Hornady XTP around 1200fps out of a 4 inch Smith with medium recoil.
10gr of Unique will go 1029fps and I feel safe going to 11gr but don't think I'll get over 1100fps even at 11gr.
20gr of 2400 goes 1152 but the recoil is starting to feel like a magnum and I'm not there yet.
Does anyone have any experience with getting a 240 jacketed bullet to go 1200 in a short barrel with a fast/medium burn rate powder?

Have you forgotten that E=Mc2? If you want to get 240gr going 1200fps in 4" there is going to be an equal and opposite reaction called recoil. If you want less recoil get a 10" barreled 44 with a scope and recoil will be negligable.

 

[pop-gunner]

Like you said you would want something the would burn faster, weather providing I plan on making up some reloads to test. I think we are on the same page with this. I know someone who has a 4", just need to track him down.

-Rock

Please keep me posted with your findings.
I'd be happy to share my data with you in a PM or email.
I just bought a 3 inch yesterday so once I pick it up I'll start gathering data from that one as well.

 

[Topher]

I posted a similar question a while back...

See if info here can help.
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=45540

 

[pop-gunner]

I posted a similar question a while back...

See if info here can help.
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=45540

It did help...It reminded me of my experimenting with 231 and Universal.
I had gone up as high as 10gr of 231 under a Hornady XTP and was still only getting 1051fps out of the 4 inch but had to tap the extractor rod on the bench to get the cases out of the cylinder. Primers were flattening. Just bad all the way around. I think the 231 is just a little too fast to get where I'm trying to go.
I've also about maxed out with the Universal as 10gr only gets me 1022fps and Hodgdon lists the max load at 10.2gr.

I think one day soon I'll try some WSF since it's a slower burning powder than Unique but considerably faster than 2400.

 

[pop-gunner]

Have you forgotten that E=Mc2? If you want to get 240gr going 1200fps in 4" there is going to be an equal and opposite reaction called recoil. If you want less recoil get a 10" barreled 44 with a scope and recoil will be negligable.

I'm tracking what you're saying.
I've got a 10.5 inch .44 but that's not the one I'm gonna be carrying.
I can get a cast lead bullet to do it all day long with minimal recoil. It's a JHP that is giving me some fits in a 4 inch gun.
It's not the recoil that bothers me as much as the huge jump in it between 1100 and 1200fps with the 2 different bullets.
My Unique load is giving me 1100fps with 240gr cast bullets and doesn't feel like much more than a .45acp.
My 2400 load is just a silly amount of recoil to get just 100fps more with a JHP.
There has got to be a load out there that can get a JHP running 1200fps w/o feeling like a hand cannon.

Anyone ever do any loading with Alliant Blue Dot?

 

[pop-gunner]

I found what I was looking for...
240gr Hornady XTP
1171 from a 4 inch gun.
1226 from a 6 inch gun.
27fps per inch I can dial it in from there.
Recoil like a .45acp 8)

 

[Rockzilla]

I found what I was looking for...
240gr Hornady XTP
1171 from a 4 inch gun.
1226 from a 6 inch gun.
22fps per inch I can dial it in from there.
Recoil like a .45acp 8)

Was going to say check out Blue Dot, have some of that. Also to try
some N105 Vihtavuori which seems to burn cleaner, either way finally managed to get my friend to let me "borrow" his 4" .44mag for some load development. We can compare data, will have chrono in hand...

-Rock