44 mag bullet test

[Brad]

I have a nice load for a 300 gr bullet for my 44 mag SRH but wouldn't mind something a little lighter on the bullet side. Here are the bullets I will be testing. All will be loaded with H110 and Fed std primers until I see which has the most promise. I will then see if a different primer does better. Cases will be new Starline. Testing will be at 100 yards using a Weaver 2.5-8 variable.
Bullets are 240 ACE, 265 RD, NOE HG 503, Lee BG 434640, and MP 44 305 HP

 

[gman]

Looking forward to reading about your results. I'm thinking of a lighter bullet myself for the 10.5" Silver Hornpipe. I've got some Nosler 240 JHP I can try but I really want to go with cast.

 

[Brad]

Rick is giving me some pointers on a different design. I need to make some measurements of my cylinder and get a drawing together.

 

[Will]

I can send some accurate 43-255R your way if you would like. It's my second favorite 44 bullet for the super Blackhawk Bisley.

 

[Brad]

I may ask for some later Will but right now I have more to try that I have time.
It will take a range trip each just to get an idea of powder charge.

 

[Ian]

Fun project, I enjoyed playing with the .44 at longer ranges, too, and look forward to your results.

 

[Brad]

That is a 265 RD seated way long. Believe it or not the nose of the bullet is .070 SHORT of reaching the end of the cylinder. Yes, I can load them and shoot them seated like that.

The Ruger Super Redhawk has a hellishly long cylinder.

The key will be getting a bullet that reaches into the cylinder throats enough to ensure a straight start yet have enough in the case to give some level of neck tension.

I'm thinking that a Super Blackhawk may be the answer....

 

[freebullet]

I'm especially interested in what can be done with those non-gc designs. The effect of the check seems to get glossed over a lot in handguns. Plain based at distance is a worthwhile endeavor imo.

 

[Winelover]

Why not Magnum primers? IICC, most reloading data, calls for them with H-110 and 296 powder. I've been trying to use up some of the last H-110 in my 357 Rossi. With NOE's 180 RNFP, it is showing a little better results than with 2400, that I always prefer. Seems to reduce the occasional flyer.

 

[Brad]

Mag primers will get a shot, so to speak. I just need to decide where to start.
In conversations with Rick it became apparent that the SRH cylinder is not your average 44 mag cylinder.

I did some measuring using pin gauges to help determine the end of the actually chamber and the beginning of the actual throat.

Based on those measurements I know my cases end .052 short of the end of the chamber. The taper from chamber to throats is .101 and the throats is .381 long.

Based on my 44 mag cases I need full diameter .154 ahead of the end of the case to have bearing surface in contact with the actual throat.

I can reduce the length by using Rick's suggestion and trimming 445 cases to just get to the end of the chamber. That makes it so .101 will just get me there which is just about the .100 front band length on the HG 503 clone.

The RD is gonna be well short unless I seat it long. The ACE won't make it. The MP 300 will be I prefer a lighter bullet.

Yep, I have a full blown conundrum.

 

[Brad]

 

[Will]

The Lee 310 fills the super Blackhawk hunters cylinder up pretty good when crimped in the bottom crimp groove.
Mine when unsized fit right in the cylinder throat snugly. Takes a little push when you chamber them.

 

[Brad]

Will, a couple questions. Is the rear of the cylinder recessed for the case head? How long is the cylinder overall?
I have a 310 Lee but haven't tried it yet. The nose fills the cylinder but how much full diameter nose is in contact with the cylinder throat? That contact is what gives support and that support gives better accuracy potential as the nose can't get crooked when fired.

 

[Brad]

I colored a bit of the bullets, except the Lee GB 640, and sized with my .4305 Star die. That is the die I use for this revolver.
Notice how little ahead of the crimp groove on the RD is sized? Not much support. The HG 503 is pretty obvious.
The shocking bullet is the little 245 ACE. What looks like a drive band ahead of the crimp groove is actually a few thou smaller but look at how far forward the nose hits the sizer!
The MP 300 gives support .170 ahead of crimp groove and the ACE gives support at .150 ahead.

Don't makes assumptions based on first glance. Sometimes things will amaze you.

 

[Will]

Cylinders are not recessed. OAL of cylinder is 1.704"

The Lee 310 looks to be in contact with the throat about .050" right above the crimp groove. That's not a perfect measurement I just took a sharpie and colored the bullet then chambered it.

Here's a pic of a new piece of starline brass in the chamber if you zoom in you can see the gap between the brass and the throat. Sorry I couldn't find a soft lead 44 bullet or I would make a slug and measure it.

 

[Brad]

Got pin gauges? I used a .460 gauge as it was the largest that would fully chamber. I then measured from cylinder face to end of fully inserted pin. I then used the smallest pin that would not enter the throats inserted from the chamber end. This let me measure the length of the actual throat. The difference gives the gap between end of chamber and throat. I then subtracted the end of chamber to face of cylinder from cylinder length and got the length of room for case above the head.
I hope that makes sense?

 

[gman]

I'm going to have to do some checks on my SRH when I get back in from work. I'll check my SBH's for comparison. Keep up the work Brad. Interesting stuff.

 

[gman]

My NOE 432-640 when run through either my .431 or .432 sizing die sizing more above the crimp groove than any of the samples shown. Wish I was home to post a picture.

 

[Will]

I don't have any pin gauges here. It's hard to see in the pic but right in front of the crimp groove you can see where it is supported. It's light contact but seems to work.

 

[Brad]

Ok, after some discussion with a Rick he suggested a totally different design. Rick certainly has the LR handgun credentials so I'm listening.
Longer and heavier than I was looking for. I asked Tom to shorten it be a groov and drive band. I would like around 260 gr.