.44 mag and rifle powder
- Thread starter Nathan c
- Start date
Your question is a little confusing since there are several powders that can be used in pistol and rifle cartridges both, depending on the caliber and bullet.
Are you talking about using,something like, IMR4350 in 44 mag?
You need to tell us what powder and what bullet. Most rifle powders will exceed the pressure that a 44 mag will withstand. I have no doubt there is some combination of a "rifle powder of some kind that would work for 44 mag in some certain circumstance but I wouldn't know what it would be.
Are you out of pistol powder or something or just bored?
Are you talking about using,something like, IMR4350 in 44 mag?
You need to tell us what powder and what bullet. Most rifle powders will exceed the pressure that a 44 mag will withstand. I have no doubt there is some combination of a "rifle powder of some kind that would work for 44 mag in some certain circumstance but I wouldn't know what it would be.
Are you out of pistol powder or something or just bored?
ligonierbill
New member
H110 is a rifle powder when I load it in my .44 Mag Handi Rifle, .22 K-Hornet Savage 23D, and 32-20 Savage 23C. That's your go to for your .44 Mag rifle. If you load slower rifle powders, you may well find that you can't fit enough in the case to match H110, 300-MP or other recommended powders.
As has been stated earlier, no true "rifle powder" is going to provide any level of performance in a 44 Magnum rifle, even though, you are shooting a rifle. I am taking this on faith, as I have never seen IMR 3031/4895/4350 etc data for a 44 Magnum case. I am of the opinion that the typical rifle powder won't perform in this case, no matter how long the barrel, and it was not worth experimenting to find out.
Of the magnum pistol powders on the market, I tried the old tried and true 2400 and H110/W296. H110 is the same as W296, just sold under different brand names. I think this is the best powder for someone wanting full power in a 44 Magnum lever action. From what I remember, H110 was used as the 30 caliber carbine powder before it came out on the civilian market. H110 and 2400 are excellent powders, shot well in my rifle. I did not test AA#9, but I am certain it would also do well.
If you want less than magnum performance, then try something like Unique.
I included pistol data, as a comparison.
Of the magnum pistol powders on the market, I tried the old tried and true 2400 and H110/W296. H110 is the same as W296, just sold under different brand names. I think this is the best powder for someone wanting full power in a 44 Magnum lever action. From what I remember, H110 was used as the 30 caliber carbine powder before it came out on the civilian market. H110 and 2400 are excellent powders, shot well in my rifle. I did not test AA#9, but I am certain it would also do well.
If you want less than magnum performance, then try something like Unique.
I included pistol data, as a comparison.
Code:
[SIZE="3"][B]M1894 Marlin Ballard Barrel[/B]
240 Speer JHP 22.0 grs 2400 CCI 500
21-Dec-01 T = 54 °F
Ave Vel =1747
Std Dev =21
ES =68
Low =1717
High =1785
N =7
240 Nosler JHP 24.0 grs W296 WLP Fed cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1725
Std Dev =7
ES =21
Low =1715
High =1736
N =5
240 Nosler JHP 24.5 grs W296 WLP Fed cases
23-Mar-05T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1752
Std Dev =12
ES =28
Low =1735
High =1763
N =5
240 Nosler JHP 24.0 grs H110 WLP Midway cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1710
Std Dev =3
ES =9
Low =1705
High =1714
N =5
240 Nosler JHP 24.5 grs H110 WLP Midway cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1745
Std Dev =12
ES =45
Low =1723
High =1768
N =10
240 Rem JHP 24.0 grs H110 WLP Midway cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1719
Std Dev =10
ES =29
Low =1705
High =1734
N =10
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/SlamFire/Rifles%20various/M1894FullLength.jpg[/IMG]
[B]S&W M629-4 5" Barrel[/B]
250 LSWC 22.0 grs 2400 Midway cases, Fed primers
1-Oct-95 T = 75 °F
Ave Vel = 1336
Std Dev = 39
ES = 108
Low = 1286
High = 1394
N = 6
240JHP R-P 24.0 grs H110 Midway cases WLP
9-Oct-05 T = 66 °F
Ave Vel =1228
Std Dev =21.47
ES =70.16
Low =1268
High =1197
N=22
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/SlamFire/Smith%20and%20Wesson%20Pistols/HogueXgriponM629-4sideviewDSCN6334.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE]madmo44mag
New member
In a rifle I find IMR 4227 and Accurate 2400 perform the best.
I load 22gn of 2400 under a 240gn JHP and it performs great.
As for 4227 same bullet loaded over 24 gn
These are published max loads and in a rifle can be pushed a little harder but you must work that type of load up slowly and pay close attention to pressure signs.
I have used 2400 & 4227 exclusively in 44 mag for years with bullets ranging from 180 gn out too 300gn and all with good results.
2400 and 4227 I refer to them as fast rifle powders.
They do not perform well in 44mag with barrels under 6 inches.
The longer the barrel the better they do perform.
I shoot them for a Ruger SBH with a 10 inch bull barrel and the is a marked difference in performance when shot from a shorter barreled pistol.
2400 has a long history with the 44 mag. Mr. Keith seemed to really like it.
It fills the case very well, meters well and does not require a mag primer unless pushed pass published load data and there again you must work that load up carefully.
44 mag brass is very resilient and last a long time before you will notice any more that it become work hardened over time. After many years of reloading 44 mag you may need to slightly trim the cause mouth to square it up and remove any small cracks that may have started from it becoming work hardened.
Have fun, be safe and always work a load up from the bottom to the top.
I load 22gn of 2400 under a 240gn JHP and it performs great.
As for 4227 same bullet loaded over 24 gn
These are published max loads and in a rifle can be pushed a little harder but you must work that type of load up slowly and pay close attention to pressure signs.
I have used 2400 & 4227 exclusively in 44 mag for years with bullets ranging from 180 gn out too 300gn and all with good results.
2400 and 4227 I refer to them as fast rifle powders.
They do not perform well in 44mag with barrels under 6 inches.
The longer the barrel the better they do perform.
I shoot them for a Ruger SBH with a 10 inch bull barrel and the is a marked difference in performance when shot from a shorter barreled pistol.
2400 has a long history with the 44 mag. Mr. Keith seemed to really like it.
It fills the case very well, meters well and does not require a mag primer unless pushed pass published load data and there again you must work that load up carefully.
44 mag brass is very resilient and last a long time before you will notice any more that it become work hardened over time. After many years of reloading 44 mag you may need to slightly trim the cause mouth to square it up and remove any small cracks that may have started from it becoming work hardened.
Have fun, be safe and always work a load up from the bottom to the top.
Normally I don't have much use for "Burn Rate" charts, but in this case...
http://www.imrpowder.com/data/general/burnchart.php
...anything from #45 on down can be used (to varying success) in large-case pistols,
and anything #50 on up is rifle country. (In-between is a little fuzzy)
http://www.imrpowder.com/data/general/burnchart.php
...anything from #45 on down can be used (to varying success) in large-case pistols,
and anything #50 on up is rifle country. (In-between is a little fuzzy)
NoSecondBest
New member
I'd suggest you buy a good reloading manual like the Lyman 49th edition and read it. It sounds like you're loading but don't know what you're doing. Save your fingers, eyes, and gun and follow the published loads for the 44mag regardless of what firearm you're shooting in that caliber. Asking questions like that on here will get you two types of answers......right and wrong. If you already don't know the answer you still won't know from what you hear on line. I wouldn't trust the safety of any internet advice without comparing it to a published load in a reputable reloading manual.
Last edited:
madmo44mag
New member
The 44 mag is a pistol cartridge that performs well as a rifle caliber.
I know of no published loads for rifles.
Those kinda loads you have to work up yourself.
Read the history of the 44 mag cartridge. This will give you great insight as how to develop your own rifle ammo.
Mr. Keith pushed the 44 way past the safe limits for the guns of the day so the 44 cartridge will handle some pretty stout loads if the gun can handle them
One thing to remember is the bullets are heavy pistol bullets and they are limited in the ability to fly far and fast.
Hi. The .44 Mag rifle data on Hodgdon's site uses handgun powders. Difference is the handgun page has more powders. Use the rifle data.
"...a deer in my yard..." Doesn't allow you to shoot it in season or not unless it's legal to shoot in your back yard to start with. Bambi will most likely be hiding deep in the bush come der season anyway.
"...a deer in my yard..." Doesn't allow you to shoot it in season or not unless it's legal to shoot in your back yard to start with. Bambi will most likely be hiding deep in the bush come der season anyway.
no deer walk through my yard all the time year round. No shooting out of season nop nop nop nop. I leave them be all year long I injoy just sitting back and watching them but if it's a doe day and a doe is around it's pew pew pew if it's a buck day and a buck walks by its pew pew pew 
happie2shoot
Inactive
44mag rifle powder
In the old IMR handloader's guide they did list rifle powder up to IMR 4831
27 gr 720 fps at 12,500 cup, it's in the rifle data not the pistol data.
All of the rifle loads are compressed.
In the old IMR handloader's guide they did list rifle powder up to IMR 4831
27 gr 720 fps at 12,500 cup, it's in the rifle data not the pistol data.
All of the rifle loads are compressed.