flyingagg
Handloader
- Dec 16, 2019
- 500
- 522
Impressive
44 mag
- Thread starter sako2
- Start date
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,433
- 3,442
Tall front to lower POI.
- Thread starter
- #43
I did'nt shoot yesterday because of the wind. But got out today shot 5 rounds of factory ammo and 5 reloads. Good news is all reloads went bang and i still have all my body parts. LOL. Bad news is none hit where i was aiming. It's only the 3rd time i shot a pistol. I need a lot of practice.
If shooting a handgun is new to you, do not be afraid to start close, say 7-10 yds. It is a process and completely different than shooting anything else. Good luck and keep us up to date on the progress.
wildman
Beginner
- Jun 13, 2009
- 216
- 77
I think you found the happy medium Doc ..
Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 829
- 202
It just seems to me like 23.5 grains of H110 is too much for Berry's plated bullets. I may be wrong on this so bear with me. When I first started shooting plated bullets like Berry's I did a lot of searching for recommended powder charges and somewhere I found that those bullets should be shot with loads suitable for cast bullets. I mainly shoot them in a .40 S&W and my load is 7.0 grains of Unique.
Nosler load data shows 23.8 grains of H110 is max. for the 240 grain Jacketed bullet. I think the problem might come in as Berry's plated bullets are not as strong as a jacketed bullet and may perhaps melt and lead the barrel.
I'm not sure about any of this. Please keep us informed as you go along.
Nosler load data shows 23.8 grains of H110 is max. for the 240 grain Jacketed bullet. I think the problem might come in as Berry's plated bullets are not as strong as a jacketed bullet and may perhaps melt and lead the barrel.
I'm not sure about any of this. Please keep us informed as you go along.
- Thread starter
- #47
I'll keep everyone informed. Here's what it says on berry's site about powder charge. https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/bp-44-429-240gr-fp/. If anything i may of had them over crimped. How much variation in case length can you have and still maintain a uniform crimp? Click on reloading tips.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,576
- 9,695
Kind of my thoughts as well. I seem to recall reading something somewhere that plated bullets can't be driven as hard as jacketed bullets.
For me, 23.5 grs H110 with the Nosler 240 gr JHP is my go to load. For 240 gr soft or hard cast lead bullets, Unique has worked well at speeds under 1200 fps.
JD338
I can't speak for plated bullets or how hot or not you can reload then but I shoot strictly my own cast bullet loads in several .44 magnums. Powder of choice is A2400 but I have used W296 which is exactly the same as H110, just a different lot. The W296 load I run is 24.0 gr. with either the 240 gr. Elmer Keith bullet or a 240 gr. gas check bullet similar in shape to the Keith bullet. I really don't care all that much for W296 due to the apparently louder report and that great ball of fire when I shoot. First time I tried it was way back when I lived in Nevada and a buddy and I would night hunt jackrabbits with our .44 mags. Wth W296, your were night blind for a few minutes after the shot. A2400 wasn't so bad in that respect but there still was some flash.
I used to run H335 in a 20" barreled .308 Win. with a max load and 150 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter for deer. I shoot it at a jackrabbit on summer day IIRC, at just about high noon and the ball of fire was brighter than the sun. Hell of a thing to see. I switched to H4895 for the .308 after that and finally W760.
Paul B.
I used to run H335 in a 20" barreled .308 Win. with a max load and 150 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter for deer. I shoot it at a jackrabbit on summer day IIRC, at just about high noon and the ball of fire was brighter than the sun. Hell of a thing to see. I switched to H4895 for the .308 after that and finally W760.
Paul B.
If you are new to shooting pistols do not expect too much early on. You will get better with practice, a lot of practice. A 44magis a tough way to start with their recoil. I would get some 44 special brass and reload light loads. Your shooting will improve much faster if you are not fighting a lot of recoil. At least that helped me.
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,442
- 918
In the Berry link ^^^^^^ it says that the plated 240gr is good up to 1,850fps. They certainly should know. I shoot plenty of the 165gr in a 40 S&W and have never had an issue. They also make a fine bullet for the 45-70. Great for plinking all day long.
RL338
Handloader
- Mar 23, 2017
- 3,524
- 5,836
My 44 has a short barrel of 4” and it took some time getting use to it. I like the HS-6 under cast for everyday blasting.
- Thread starter
- #53
Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 829
- 202
Seeing as they now list the maximum velocity as 1850 fps I guess you are good to go. I might up my load on the 40 a few grains to increase recoil closer to my SD loads. I have recovered a couple of bullets that look like they could be loaded and shot again so they must be tough enough.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,858
- 6,417
Ya, I use a lot of Berry's plated bullets for practice, mostly from my handguns and lever action rifles. They have a good process and some of their bullets are "thick plate" letting them be shoved out at higher velocity than one might imagine. I've used them from the 44 mag, 500 S&W, 30-30 and 45-70 with no problems re fouling. The 44's and 500's were at max level loads. Those Berry's are rated at 1850 fps mv, which my 44 mag cannot achieve with a 240 gr bullet.
The big thing is to not crimp excessively and thus break the plating exposing the soft lead bullet core. Then a mess can result... So, crimp 'em a bit more gently and use them for your practice loads. I spoke with Berry's about hunting with them, and they were quite clear that their handgun bullets are for target practice, not intended for hunting. I don't think they'd bounce off a deer either though. But Nosler makes superb jacketed handgun hunting bullets... Intended for hunting.
Guy
The big thing is to not crimp excessively and thus break the plating exposing the soft lead bullet core. Then a mess can result... So, crimp 'em a bit more gently and use them for your practice loads. I spoke with Berry's about hunting with them, and they were quite clear that their handgun bullets are for target practice, not intended for hunting. I don't think they'd bounce off a deer either though. But Nosler makes superb jacketed handgun hunting bullets... Intended for hunting.
Guy
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,576
- 9,695
The 1850 fps speed rating is good. My Marlin 1894 is shooting my H110 240 JHP go to load at 1750 fps so the Berry plated bullet would even work there. Good point on the crimping Guy.
JD338
JD338
GregoryB.
Beginner
- Feb 5, 2022
- 118
- 227
All this 44 mag talk made me go out and get a new can of H110 so I can feed my 44 Mag Contender over the summer. Will be easier on the old hands than the 35 Remington.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,858
- 6,417
H110 will absolutely light the 44's fire... 
Guy
Guy
- Thread starter
- #59
Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 829
- 202
I wouldn't consider using them for hunting. The ones I've recovered showed little to no expansion.
