Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 814
- 164
Loaded up a few .44 mags this week. These rounds are for my Ruger .44 auto carbine. The bullet was the Speer Gold dot soft point, 240 gr. Powder was to be 2400.
So I got out my Hornady manual, Fourth edition. This one has loads for both the SBH and the Ruger Carbine. Max loads for the pistol was 19.8 grs. Max loads for the rifle were 23. grs. Both for 240 gr. jacketed bullets.
I loaded a batch of 23. grs. I already had some 19.8 loaded, both with Magnum primers.
A few days later I saw in another book a max load of 19. grs 2400 which got me to looking closer. Alliants 2014 guide shows 21. grs. max. I have found data from 19 to 23 grs. max which is a lot for max loads.
So I looked at W296 and found loads from 23 to 24 grs. max. Years back 23 grs. was max and that was my carbine load for many years.
I think to be safe, that I'll just load some with W296 at either 23 or 24 grs. for hunting with the carbine.
I'll most likely pull the bullets on the 23 gr. 2400 charge. But, and here's what bothers me, as an older guy I remember when 23 grs was THE load for 2400. Wonder what's changed?
Not sure what I'll load for the Pistol this year.
Just be aware if you have some older manuals that there is possibly dangerous discrepancy between published loads.
So I got out my Hornady manual, Fourth edition. This one has loads for both the SBH and the Ruger Carbine. Max loads for the pistol was 19.8 grs. Max loads for the rifle were 23. grs. Both for 240 gr. jacketed bullets.
I loaded a batch of 23. grs. I already had some 19.8 loaded, both with Magnum primers.
A few days later I saw in another book a max load of 19. grs 2400 which got me to looking closer. Alliants 2014 guide shows 21. grs. max. I have found data from 19 to 23 grs. max which is a lot for max loads.
So I looked at W296 and found loads from 23 to 24 grs. max. Years back 23 grs. was max and that was my carbine load for many years.
I think to be safe, that I'll just load some with W296 at either 23 or 24 grs. for hunting with the carbine.
I'll most likely pull the bullets on the 23 gr. 2400 charge. But, and here's what bothers me, as an older guy I remember when 23 grs was THE load for 2400. Wonder what's changed?
Not sure what I'll load for the Pistol this year.
Just be aware if you have some older manuals that there is possibly dangerous discrepancy between published loads.