Sanity check - new to reloading. 44 Magnum.

B

black_hog_down

New member
H110. 29 grains. 180 grain XTP.
Ruger 44 carbine.
This is supposed to be the starting load but the case seems pretty full. Max load of 31.5 seems like it wouldn't fit.
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OK,
First off are we sure we measured and weighed the charge properly?
Hodgdon data shows 1700 fps -though out of an 8 1/2" barrel I find it hard to see how you get nearly 400 more fps out of a short carbine barrel-it is possible but I don't have enough experience with velocity gain in a rifle barrel to say definitively.

Second, if the weight is correct, try tapping the case when filling the powder to get it to settle or use a drop tube - plenty of data to show you can get better fill volume doing so.

Third, any signs of primer changes due to overpressure ?

That's the extent of my thoughts.

Gary
 
Those numbers are from the Hodgdon website. I have not shot these yet. I was careful loading them. I only did 10 and I took my time.

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I should mention that all powder measure was done by hand using those little plastic scoops and a powder dropper.

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Stand corrected on velocity gains in rifle barrels-further "googling" reveals upwards of 4 to 500 fps gains out of carbine length barrels versus pistols of normal barrel length

Try to get the powder to settle a bit in the case.

I also saw the Hodgdon data and will assume it is safe and usable in any well made firearm.

Gary
 
When you say that "all powder measure was done by hand using those little plastic scoops and a powder dropper", do you mean that you dipped then weighed on a real scale or are you saying that you dipped and are assuming that the weight stated on the dipper is correct?
 
I'm not going to verify your charge weight numbers. I tend to check more than one source.
What does the Hornady book say?
While dippers can give good results, IMO they need to be verified with a scale.
Best practice is to verify your scale with a test weight,too.

OOPS! You verified using a scale while I was typing.
 
I no longer shoot the .44 but I did shoot quite a bit in handguns. 25.0 of 296/H110 with a 240 gr bullet and 24.0 with a 245 cast bullet. Looks to me like you could load 30.0 grs with the shorter bullet. Shoot them over a chronograph to see what actual velocity is, it's the only way to tell. Some loads shown in the manuals are off quite a bit in real life with real guns.
 
Old Hornady #4 manual lists 180gr XTP with H110 at 27.8gr starting for 1,300fps, and 31.5gr MAX at 1,700fps...

This from a Ruger Super Blackhawk with 7.5" barrel...
 
Checked QuickLoad, and that's about right. I recall running my brother's commercial loads over the chrono (Handi Rifle), and I was amazed when it ran well over 2,000 (don't have the numbers now). I was thinking 240s, but he was shooting 180 or 185 commercial. He put a big hole through a Pennsylvania whitetail with it. That rifle runs 1,850 with 240 XTP over a max load of H110.
 
Black hog down In reference of your powder in the 44 case. Usually the load book will tell you weather the load is for a pistol or rifle. Rifles generally will take hotter loads.

After you weigh your powder charge on the scale. You might need to slowly pour your powder into the case wile gently shaking the powder to help settle it down in the case. Also a long drop tube will help. All though your starting loads usually don't need to be compressed by the powder.

I suggest that you double check your loading information. You could have the wrong pullet or powder weight...
 
I just came from my loading room. I opened my bottle of H110 and could see that fine ball powder isn't going to compress much. All though I had found it to be a excellent accuracy powder for my 225 Gr. slug at 24.0 gr.

I also found a reference for H-110 for 180 Gr. slug at 29.0 gr.

I then poured 29.0 gr. of H-110 into a 44 Mag. case. There was close to 1/4" of space remaining in the case to seat the 180 Gr. bullet. It's of for the bullet to sit on the powder but avoid compressing the powder unless the manual makes a note of it being ok. Of course the bullet should be crimped well on the crimping groove.

At this point since I don't have your rifle or your bullet I suggest that you load the bullet and see if the round will cycle through your Ruger magazine and load into the chamber. Note the COAL in your data to be safe.
 
Thanks you guys. Very kind of you to take time out of your day to help a noob.
Because I was concerned - I had already checked the scale, the powder, the load data, other internet sites, weighed the bullets, AND checked the OAL.
OAL was 1.6" just like it should be.

I think I'm good. Just wanted to double check. I'll shoot them tonight and report back. Thanks again!

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IMO there is a reason Hornady doesn't list h110 for the 180 XTP.

Ignoring this, I loaded some up recently ( still have some left ) with 30 grains h110 and they flattened some of my primers but not all. ( Win WLP )

I think there are better choices of powder for this particular bullet weight and will use them in the future over the h110.

Have fun.

FWIW, QL says my 30 grains load is over pressure by 2400 psi. While Hodgdon seems to think it's fine listing a max load of: 31.5 grains.

Start low, work up.....
 
Hornady book does not list H110 for a 180 gr bullet.
Click to expand...

No they don't but the Hornady 9th does list H-110 for their 200 grain XTP and for that bullet, loading H-110 they reflect 22.6 grains as a Start and a Maximum Load of 29.3. With the lighter 180 grain XTP I can see similar loads being safe and effective. Their test rifle was a Ruger 44 Carbine same as you are using.

Slightly off topic I have a Ruger 44 Carbine and it was my favorite W. Virginia go to hunting rifle. Over all the years I tried a variety of bullets and always ended up going back to the standard 240 grain Hornady and Speer flavors. Maybe you will do better with the 180 grain lighter bullets than I did. I always liked using Magnum Primers with the ball type or spherical type powders too.

Ron

Ron
 
"...out of an 8 1/2" barrel..." That'd be handgun data. The rifle data used a 20", 1 in 38, barrel that gives 2170 FPS with the start loadfor a 180 jacketed that just happened to be an XTP.
Your sanity is fine. The Max rifle load will fit with no fuss. It's not a compressed load(nothing to worry about anyway.). So it just looks too full. With the OAL at 1.6".
"...Dipped onto a scale..." Best use for the silly scoops.
 
Second, if the weight is correct, try tapping the case when filling the powder to get it to settle or use a drop tube - plenty of data to show you can get better fill volume doing so.
Click to expand...

H110 is so fine that it does not pack much by drop tube or tapping.

Quite a few of published loads are compressed.

Use magnum primers.
 
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