So I finally made time to work up my 44mag loads for my 20in barrel Henry. Did 2 testing session, had a chronograph error on the first outing and lost one of my data sets. Finished testing today.
Goal was a full power hunting load using the Hornady XTP's. Wanted to get them up to 1500fps, as the label recommended not exceeding that velocity.
Brass - Starline 44 mag
Powder - H110 (listed max from Hornady in rifle data was 24.8g)
Primers, Winchester large pistol (for standard or mag loads)
Bullet, 240g Hornady XTP
all charges weighed, not thrown.
Session 1, 3/5/2022 temp about 65F
H110
20.3g, 5rnds, average 1411fps, SD 6.02, ES 15fps
20.8g, 5rnds, average 1423fps, SD 32.87, ES 91 (per the hornady manual this was supposed to be 1500fps out of a 18in barrel so I started here and went 0.5 high and low)
21.1g, app did not save data, if I remember right it was around 1440fps
Session 2, 3/10/2022 temp about 52F
H110
21.5g, 9rnds, average 1462fps, SD 26.71, ES 73
22.0g 10rnds, average 1480fps, SD 12.71, ES 37
22.5g 10rnds, average 1498fps, SD 15.60, ES 49
23.0g 10rnds, average 1553fps, SD 21.99, ES 69
I will be re-testing a 10rnds string at 20.3g to see if I can duplicate the ES and SD since it was so consistent.
For my hunting load I settled on 22.0g. The ES is acceptable, and the velocity is right in the window I was looking for.
Goal was a full power hunting load using the Hornady XTP's. Wanted to get them up to 1500fps, as the label recommended not exceeding that velocity.
Brass - Starline 44 mag
Powder - H110 (listed max from Hornady in rifle data was 24.8g)
Primers, Winchester large pistol (for standard or mag loads)
Bullet, 240g Hornady XTP
all charges weighed, not thrown.
Session 1, 3/5/2022 temp about 65F
H110
20.3g, 5rnds, average 1411fps, SD 6.02, ES 15fps
20.8g, 5rnds, average 1423fps, SD 32.87, ES 91 (per the hornady manual this was supposed to be 1500fps out of a 18in barrel so I started here and went 0.5 high and low)
21.1g, app did not save data, if I remember right it was around 1440fps
Session 2, 3/10/2022 temp about 52F
H110
21.5g, 9rnds, average 1462fps, SD 26.71, ES 73
22.0g 10rnds, average 1480fps, SD 12.71, ES 37
22.5g 10rnds, average 1498fps, SD 15.60, ES 49
23.0g 10rnds, average 1553fps, SD 21.99, ES 69
I will be re-testing a 10rnds string at 20.3g to see if I can duplicate the ES and SD since it was so consistent.
For my hunting load I settled on 22.0g. The ES is acceptable, and the velocity is right in the window I was looking for.
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