Mid-level .44 mag powder?

[elrotundamundo]

I tried this out during the powder shortage because it was available. It turned out to do a great job with Berry's 240 gr. flat point. I load 11.5 grains for a little over 1200 FPS, but Hodgdon's site lists a starting load of 10.2 gr. with a 240 grain and list the velocity as 1164 FPS from an 8 3/8" barrel. This powder meters extremely well and is always in stock where I buy. The burn rate is very close to HS-6, which was my previous favorite for midrange loads, but seems to be more available where I live (North Idaho).

[MTtimberline]

For me it's 7-7.5 of 231/HP-38 with 429421. Tames the Vaquero to an enjoyable level and has been accurate for me. Using a 200gr rnfp is also nice with this.

[GrantS]

Was busy and didn't have a chance to come back, some interesting loads.

May have to grab a pound of #7 for the heck of it, maybe try some CFE as well. I grabbed a pound of HS6. Sortof think I'll be using either HS6 or Unique in some 38/44 loads.

I shot the grand total of 350 loads I had thought were leading up the barrel and pushed the lewis lead remover through, almost no lead, just the initial buildup I had thought was lead and I'm pretty sure it was possibly unburnt lube.

Thank you again for all the recomendations

[flint45]

Another vote for Herco.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

for 1250-1300 with a 250 kieth, I was thinking I would use either 2400 or h110 or w296 for hunting loads, which is preffered by you all? also, lesoup mentioned 17 gr of 4227, as an old 44spl load. were you saying you used that load in 44 mag cases or you use that in 44spl cases in your 44mag?

[rmcc]

Been loading my Dan Wesson since 82. Two powders stand out for jacketed or hard cast. For heavy loads, W296. For all else, Unique.

[Outpost75]

You guys who are using Herco, how does it meter in the Dillon Measure?

How does its particle size compare to PB, Unique, BE86 or Universal???

[fecmech]

How does its particle size compare to PB, Unique, BE86 or Universal???

Herco looks very much like Unique and meters the same.

[mtgrs737]

10.0 Grs. of Unique is a great load for the 429421 lead bullet. I have shot that for years with excellent results, just be sure to size it to .001" over groove dia.

[OilyPablo]

I would give BE-86 a try.

[Shiloh]

Unique. I don't go any heavier than mid range loads.

Shiloh

[Shuz]

About a year ago, I "discovered" Trail Boss. In 53 years of shooting cast boolits in the .44 mag, I have found it to be the best for mid range loads. 7g behind a 225g LeeRNFP(custom mould) fills the case to the bottom of the boolit. This load gives me great accuracy and around 1050 fps velocity, depending on the length of bbl. What I really like about this powder is how forgiving it is on boolit diameter and hardness. Many of my Smith 629's have .4285" throats, but I have found that .431 boolits that I use for my Rugers and lever carbines also works well in the Smiths WITH NO LEADING. Try it and I think you will like it---just don't try and compress the powder as it was not designed to be compressed.

[Char-Gar]

Okay guys, some interesting info. I was told in another threat that AA#5 was probably too-fast burning and melting my lead bullet's base (240 grain)

Unique seems a common choice, and it's burn rate is actually faster than AA#5, so I'm thinking that AA#5 shouldn't be a problem at all.


As for a couple of people who asked: Yes, I've looked at load manuals, however their starting loads for 240 grainers run faster than what I'm wanting as my top load, and their "light loads" are slower than what I wanted.

I do not believe that AA5 is causing you any problem. AA5 is a hair slower than Unique which has been the go to powder for less than full charge 44 Magnum. I shoot allot of AA5 in various handgun rounds without any such problems.

For your needs, I like the following

11.5/AA5
10/Unique
7/Bullseye

[GrantS]

Been busy being sicker than a dog and calving season

Just wanted to drop in and say thanks for the input and advice.

I decided it was me being paranoid, and it was NOT leading, as I've fired around another 400 rounds since my last post and there is ZERO buildup.

AA#5 seems like a nice powder.

Though....hehehe. I did snag a batch of Unique at $17 a pound so I may get around to using that at some point.

[Lloyd Smale]

like was said it acts similar to unique. For the most part a 10 grain load might be off .2 charge to charge but I never seen it effect accuracy unless your shooting at rocks out 3 or 4 hundred yards.

You guys who are using Herco, how does it meter in the Dillon Measure?

How does its particle size compare to PB, Unique, BE86 or Universal???

[BigMagShooter]

unique is my pick

[GONRA]

BLUE DOT is GONRA's "easy to ignite, no special crimping stuff" standard powder for these semiauto pistols:
.44 Magnum caliber (Desert Eagle),
.44 Auto Mag caliber (TDE Auto Mag North Hollywood Model 180) and
.45 Winchester Magnum caliber (AMT Automag IV pistol, also L.A.R. Grizzly).

[Blackwater]

Well, I'll put my vote in for Unique as well. It bulks up good, which contributes to better ignition, and it'll give good, decent speed. It's rather "unique" in its ability to also burn pretty consistently at differing pressure levells. Most other powders tend to have a narrower range of velocities and pressures where they'll burn well and at least pretty efficiently, which again makes Unique ..... uh ..... "unique." It's as close to an all-around powder as I've ever seen, though ultimate accuracy will often come with another powder at any given velocity level. Unique simply seems to shoot rather well across a pretty wide variety of performance levels from PSI levels of around 15K to 35K or more. That's pretty impressive in a single powder, and the accuracy it produces seems to be uniformly good, or at least it's the best I've seen at such wide variations in pressure levels and velocity variations. If it's not the best, it'll usually not be far off, and it'll do it across a wide range of performance levels from shotgun to cast rifle loads, and almost any handgun you can name. I guess that's how it got its name?