2400

[happyscrounger]

Hey, new guy here.
I thought 2400 was one of the choice powders for the 44 magnum. I am sure there is a logical explanation (pehaps something I did or did'nt do) for the problem I am having.
I loaded a 300 gr TCL cast bullet over 12.5 gr of 2400. I used a 300 large pistol primer. not sure if I am aloud to mention brand names. But anyway when I went to the range I noticed that there was alot of unburned powder. Has anyone ever had this problem?
I have read a few other threads, some of these guys seem to know what they're talkin bout.

[skeet]

While I haven't ever shot that exact load the powder you are referring to is a useful and old powder iin the 44 mag. It has a tendency to leave a lot of what appears to be unburned powder. There are quite a few powders that are better performers in the 44 now days. Rocky can tell ya..L'il Gun is one..296...H110(same as 296) and I still use Unique for the mid range loads I usually shoot for fun!

[Rocky Raab]

You didn't do anything wrong. Alliant 2400 almost always leaves a few (or a lot) of unburnt flakes behind. Unless they gum up the action of your revolver, just ignore them. Really.

Two things can help, though. You can increase the charge, which adds to the pressure and thus also to more burning. Or you can switch to a more suitable powder for mild loads, as skeet suggested.

Unique is an old standby, and 8.0 to 9.0 will be not only cleaner burning but possibly more accurate than a reduced charge of 2400.

If you ever need to load that .44 to its max, then come back to 2400 for maxi-oomph. Even at high levels, you'll still see some unburnt flakes, though.

Oh, some guys recommend magnum primers with 2400, but all the old-timers as well as Alliant recommend just standard strength primers for 2400. I've tried both, and standard ones work better for me.

[happyscrounger]

Hey, thanks for the warm welcome.
I will up the powder charge, and the Lil Gun sounds like fun!
Rocky, I found Hunt Chat on your site. Your stuff is great!

[Rocky Raab]

Thank you, sir. I'm always deeply honored and humbled when readers are able to make sense of my key pecking.

Back to the original topic...

I really think you'll shoot many times more mild or medium loads through your .44 Maggie than you will top-end wrist-busters. At least, if you're anything like the vast majority of magnum owners. If you brace them into a corner and promise them witness immunity, most magnum shooters will look warily about and then whisper the truth: full magnums really aren't much fun to shoot.

Cast 240-grain bullets over 8.0 of Unique, on the other hand, ARE.

[happyscrounger]

You know, I really havent had much time to work up any full house loads, and I "could" take your word, about them not being that much fun, but there is just some things a mans gotta do.

[happyscrounger]

Rocky,
With the formula you perscribed using unique powder, I would assume I do not need gas checks?

[Rocky Raab]

That's correct, a plain base cast bullet will be fine. If they're commercially-cast bullets with a bevel-base, don't expect great accuracy. Best accuracy comes with a good square base.