Hello
Going through some archives and came across this I wrote up back in ?13. Not sure where I posted it, it I did at all. It was centered around what 300-MP could do in .44 Mag. Thought it might be of interest.

Well thought it was time to do a quick test to see what 300-MP can do in the .44 Mag.
It did spectacularly in the .357?s so I was assuming I would see the same kind of thing with the .44 Magnum.

http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/267122-357-mag-158gr-study.html

The only bullet I have any quantity of right now are some Remington 240gr Jacked Hollow Points.  Six rounds each were assembled at max pressure with 300-MP and each of the following powders;

2400
296
H-110
Lil?gun
N-110
AA 5744
AA #9

AA 5744 was thrown in there just as a curiosity.  The data on the can says 24.0grs = 1470fps.  I wonder if this is for a rifle..

I'm saving what Blue Dot I have left for 10mm ammo.

So, these were shot at 25 yards off of a Caldwell pistol rest. The gun is sighted in for a lighter load.
Velocities were taken with an Oehler Model 33 chronograph.  Skyscreens centered 10? from the muzzle.
Data is velocity, velocity spread, standard deviation and temperature. Targets are 5?"



I regret that I don?t have any factory loads to compare against, but actually I haven?t shot any .44 Mag factory stuff in a long time.

Well, the first thing I noticed is that 2400, 296, H-110 and AA#9 are all virtually identical in performance and accuracy, with #9 being the accuracy winner, at least in this gun.  Also of interest,  H-110 and 296 came in with virtually identical spreads and SD.

300-MP did outperform the others, but not by very much, save Lil?gun. It is fast, but I couldn?t keep the Lil?gun group on the target. I shot six rounds but I?m not sure where #6 went. Looks like #6 might have skinned the very bottom of the target. There might be a primer/powder combination that shoots better.
Until now, I haven?t worked with Lil?gun in .44 Mag. Human error being what it is, one never knows...

I believe that N-110 can be bumped up a notch which would bring it up with the others.

I recall shooting this bullet into water filled one gallon milk jugs with a full power load and discovering the expansion was massive. Half the bullet was gone. Couldn?t imagine what the bullet would look like if shot out of a rifle.  Thinking at the time this bullet would be ideal for a warm .44 Special SD load.

Anyway, that?s how today went.

Nice data...

I always liked the 2400.

Thanks, some great info, I used to have a Ruger 44 Carbine brush gun, sure regret getting rid of that years ago

Yep, I had one of those carbines also.. I too regret letting it go. It was very popular among the wild hog hunters in central California back in the '70's 80's..

Have thought about buying another one, but the prices are crazy high, as with my old Nylon 66, sure regret selling that one too : (

Missing One

HP-38 @ 9.5
With 240

H110 and 296 same powder

H110 and 296 same powder

Yep, that's why they were identical in performance..

While Blue Dot may not produce the highest velocity with those 240 grain 44 Mag's 16.2 grains is my accuracy load...

Not sure what it is about BD, but sure like it, that and BE-86

Hey Kenk.. Since you brought up BE-86..
I was looking at making some cast bullet mid-range loads with the .44 Mag using some molds I have.. BE-86 proved to be quite useful

With the 240gr LEE mold;



With the 255gr Lyman 429421 mold;



And back when BE-86 first started showing up I was playing around with the Lyman 42798 mold with BE-86. It's a bit undersized but it shoots OK. Been using it as a plinker since the early 70's.





Don't recall every trying any max pressure loads with BE-86..

Awesome Range report Randy!  Thanks!

Suggest try HP-38 at 9.5 to 10 with 240 XTP and CCI 300 in 44 mag.
A good load for a SW 629 4” .

Ok, I'm game.. I think I can find some extra brass and load up a few samples. The weather has turned rather soupy around here, so when a break happens I'll shoot some.

I always appreciate your testing, and more importantly, that you share your results. 

For me in my modern M629, I find that H110/W296 gives the the best performance and highest velocities using a 240gr hardcast EK projectiles, and 2400 is my standard powder for mid to hot loads, with #9 following closely.  I use HP38/W231 for warmup Cat Sneezes, and plan to test Longshot soon, but I've found very little LS data.  TBD.

Quote from: RDub01 on October 21 2022 11:43:25 AM MDT
Hello
Going through some archives and came across this I wrote up back in ?13. Not sure where I posted it, it I did at all. It was centered around what 300-MP could do in .44 Mag. Thought it might be of interest.

Well thought it was time to do a quick test to see what 300-MP can do in the .44 Mag.
It did spectacularly in the .357?s so I was assuming I would see the same kind of thing with the .44 Magnum.

http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/267122-357-mag-158gr-study.html

The only bullet I have any quantity of right now are some Remington 240gr Jacked Hollow Points.  Six rounds each were assembled at max pressure with 300-MP and each of the following powders;

2400
296
H-110
Lil?gun
N-110
AA 5744
AA #9

AA 5744 was thrown in there just as a curiosity.  The data on the can says 24.0grs = 1470fps.  I wonder if this is for a rifle..

I'm saving what Blue Dot I have left for 10mm ammo.

So, these were shot at 25 yards off of a Caldwell pistol rest. The gun is sighted in for a lighter load.
Velocities were taken with an Oehler Model 33 chronograph.  Skyscreens centered 10? from the muzzle.
Data is velocity, velocity spread, standard deviation and temperature. Targets are 5?"



I regret that I don?t have any factory loads to compare against, but actually I haven?t shot any .44 Mag factory stuff in a long time.

Well, the first thing I noticed is that 2400, 296, H-110 and AA#9 are all virtually identical in performance and accuracy, with #9 being the accuracy winner, at least in this gun.  Also of interest,  H-110 and 296 came in with virtually identical spreads and SD.

300-MP did outperform the others, but not by very much, save Lil?gun. It is fast, but I couldn?t keep the Lil?gun group on the target. I shot six rounds but I?m not sure where #6 went. Looks like #6 might have skinned the very bottom of the target. There might be a primer/powder combination that shoots better.
Until now, I haven?t worked with Lil?gun in .44 Mag. Human error being what it is, one never knows...

I believe that N-110 can be bumped up a notch which would bring it up with the others.

I recall shooting this bullet into water filled one gallon milk jugs with a full power load and discovering the expansion was massive. Half the bullet was gone. Couldn?t imagine what the bullet would look like if shot out of a rifle.  Thinking at the time this bullet would be ideal for a warm .44 Special SD load.

Anyway, that?s how today went.

Well Alaska, you were right!

I didn't have any new style Hornady bullets, but I did find some these..



There were in a generic box labeled 240gr JHP.. They look like old style Hornady bullets, but can't be sure what they are. Anyway I loaded up six rounds with 9.7grs. HP-38; compromise between 9.5 and 10.0grs. But, before I shot these, I ordered a new Hogue grip. When younger the recoil with the factory grips didn't bother me a bit, but now at 70, I just decided it's no fun anymore..  They arrived yesterday.



New grips on, a break in the weather, so shot the six rounds at 25 yards. So much better with the new grips.



Not sure where that flyer came from, but five out of six,.. I'll take it.

Now I'm curious how HP-38 might work with some heavier hard cast...