My personal reloading journal featuring the 44 Magnum for the Henry BigBoy lever rifle.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Upcoming .44 Magnum bullet tests

I was notified by Hornady today that they will be sending me the following bullets to run tests on. Check back in October to see the loads I come up with and how well they group.

44280 44 CAL .430 300 GR HP/XTP®





Here's the load data I'll be using:
.44 Magnum / Powder: 2400
14.8g---15.6g---16.3g---17.1g

.44 Magnum / Powder: Accurate #9
15.0g---15.7g---16.5g

11118 44 CAL .430 240 GR SWC/HP





Here's the load data I'll be using:
.44 Magnum / Powder: American Select
5.39g---5.9g---6.5g---7.0g---7.6g

.44 Special / Powder: Unique
5.7g---6.2g---6.6g---7.1g---7.6g
*Orange indicates the loads I'll be working up
Posted by brshooting at 3:49 PM

10 comments:

  1. Congrats on getting the bullet I love the XTP in my full house 357 loads they group really well in the Ruger BH. I didn't have as much luck with the swaged lead bullets,it was my gun and not a bullet problem,my Ruger has a .359 groove bore and likes lead or cast bullets that are .360 min. in dia. I think it just a Ruger thing everyone else with other brands of firearms have no problems with them. Look forward to seeing your results. I'm sure you will notice the 300gr. 44 cal. XTP when you touch them off in your lever gun.

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  2. I think 265g was the heaviest bullet I've shot, so I'm looking forward to trying the 300. 265 shoot great in the Henry.

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  3. I've never shot 300gr bullets from either my Henry or revolvers Bob. It'll be interesting to see your rifle results. I've been shooting a lot of 200gr hard cast bullets with 10 gr of Unique that group really well in my Henry. The 240gr JSP group good with 2400 but always seem to be slightly low to the right. Would be interesting to see how hard cast 300 grainers would do. Be a bit cheaper too. Considering some bear hunting there Bob lol? TTFN
    Joe D

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  4. I've found that the heavier bullets (I think they were 265g)shoot better in the Henry than the lighter bullets in the 200-210g range. That's why I wanted to give these a try. I love the 44 Mag because it shoots like a cannon without major recoil. These bullets should be fun to try. I'll let you know soon after they arrive.

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  5. Found some cast 300gr bullets on a couple of websites I've been looking at Bob. Thought I'd pass along the infro in case you were interested. The Missouri Bullet Company seems to offer a better bang for the buck at 400 per box for just $46.00. Shipping is $13.00 per 65 lbs.

    Joe D

    http://www.rimrockbullets.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=56

    http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=2&category=5&secondary=12

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  6. That's great Joe. Thanks. The Hornady bullets I've posted are very inexpensive as well. The 44 CAL .430 240 GR SWC/HP are going for under $22 for 200 from Tactical outpost, and the .38 cal Hornady Cowdoy are going for under $25 for 350. That's amazingly cheap considering what jacketed bullets go for. If you buy some of those bullets, please feel free to share your results and load data. Thanks!

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  7. Hey Bob I think you will enjoy the hornady 300 gr xtp's I loaded up a 200 of them for my henry and redhawk the recoil was no differnet in red hawk and the henry just made a little more boom. I load for the 300 with imr 4227 at fify yards did not have to adjust sights at a 100 raise the rear just a little didnt get great groups but with 58 year old eye shooting open sights at a
    deer target I killed him. I use a lot of lead bullets in henry from 200 to 240 grain and for enjoyable shooting I use trail boss very accurate and easy on gun and shooter

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  8. Looking forward to trying them out smoker. Tomorrow morning I'm heading out early to shoot at my buddy's club, where I'll be testing out the 38 Special and 357 magnum loads I worked up. I have the 300gr 44 mag bullets but the others are back-ordered. Pheasant season starts in a couple of weeks and the state ranges close, so it may be a couple months before I get to test those loads. Would you like to share your 300g xtp's load data with us? Thanks.

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  9. bob for the 300 I have used 19 grains of IMR 4227. and 9 and 9.2 grains of titegroup both with good results
    For the speer 270 gold dot i have used 20.4 and 21.1 grains of 4227 which also shot real well in both henry and redhawk

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  10. Thanks for that info smoker. I haven't used those powders yet, so I'm glad you posted the data.

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