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Joined: Jan 2011
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OP
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Hey all,
I have a 7 1/2" super blackhawk in .44 mag that shoots 180 grain semi-jacketed hollow points with 23.5 grains of 2400 like a champ. However, people are telling me that this is a bad carry round for the critters we might encounter here in Montana because hollow points may not penetrate well in an emergency. So...I ordered a box of 175 grain LBT hardcast bullets and have been racking my brain trying to get them to NOT shoot 7"-8" high at 25 yards from the bench. I tried H-110, I tried 2400, and I tried Herco at various loadings for each powder and got almost identical results from each. So, I am wondering where I can get 180 grain jacketed soft points (internet search has come up empty) or even full metal jackets somewhere. Either that, or does anyone know of another bullet or another load with the LBT's that won't throw bullets so high? Maybe another powder with the LBT's or even another 180-200 grain bullet that would penetrate well? I look forward to and appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Montana2008
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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I would prefer something heavier like a 240 grain jacketed.
I load a 250 grain lead bullet and we don't even have grizzlies around here.
I like to do my hunting BEFORE I pull the trigger!
There is only one kind of dead, but there are many different kinds of wounded.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Do you think I will suffer that huge bullet jump with the 240? any thoughts on powder and loadings?
Thanks for your input
Last edited by Montana2008; 04/02/11.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,920
Campfire Outfitter
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Ruger .44 handguns and rifles seem to like the 180 grain bullets. Since the likelihood of ever having to shoot anything the size of grisly bear is remote I would just stick to what makes your gun happy... Garry Reeder of Reeder Custom Guns shoots elk with Sierra 170s from a .41 Magnum using the .41 GNR. IF you can find them there was actually a 180 HP that was made NOT to expand...SuperVel. I read an article on the bullets one time and Lee Juris' theory of high velocity no expansion... The article was called something like "The case of the non-expanding HP" and had pics of the bullet sectioned with the very thick jacket that was made not to expand. Berry's Bullets www.berrysmfg.com used to have 180 and 200 grain FMJs but I think they dropped them... Bob
If you can not deal with reality, reality will deal with you....
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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I don't know what you intend to use your pistol for but since bullet placement is the most important thing, I guess if you are happy with your 180 gr load stick with it and practice.
You will be way ahead of the people who just buy one and put it away.
I guess I have read to many Elmer Keith books and he tended towards heavy bullets because back then bullets were not made as well as they are today.
If you want a low velocity load try 8 grs. of Unique.
whelennut
I like to do my hunting BEFORE I pull the trigger!
There is only one kind of dead, but there are many different kinds of wounded.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,377
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Hornady 240gr XTP pushed by 24gr of H110 or W296, ignited by a CCI350 primer.
Or a Leadhead 270gr WFN pushed by 21gr of H110/W296, ignited by a CCI350 primer.
These are my current two favorite bullets.
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Oregon Trail 310gr WFNGC + 21.0grs H110 + WLP = 1200+fps from my 4 5/8" SBH, should be good for almost anything you would meet.
When I die I hope I don't start voting democrat.
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Hornady 240gr XTP pushed by 24gr of H110 or W296, ignited by a CCI350 primer.
Or a Leadhead 270gr WFN pushed by 21gr of H110/W296, ignited by a CCI350 primer.
These are my current two favorite bullets. That is pretty much a duplicate of the load I use the most in my SBH, except I'm using a different bullet.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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+2 on 240 gr Hornady's pushed by W296 or 2400
Out of my SBH, they are great.
"wanna hear God laugh? Tell Him you have complete control now!"
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Montana
If you insist on shooting 180 or even 175 grain bullets, you should stick to the .41 or .357 magnums. What is this light bullet requirement you have? You are shooting a .44...or rather a .429, so why don't you load rounds that work best in that caliber? 240 to 300 grain bullets really shine in the .44.
If you are loading light due to recoil sensitivity or a desire for extreme velocity, then you are on the right track.
If you are defending yourself against people, then 180s are great. If you want penetration for larger predators, then 240s to 300s are perfect.
Dan
Last edited by Dan_Chamberlain; 04/03/11.
"It's a source of great pride, that when I google my name, I find book titles and not mug shots." Daniel C. Chamberlain
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You could always adjust your rear sight when carrying the new loads. That's what those two screws on the rear sight are for, one for windage and the other for elevation...just sayin'
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,676
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
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Hey all,
I have a 7 1/2" super blackhawk in .44 mag that shoots 180 grain semi-jacketed hollow points with 23.5 grains of 2400 like a champ. However, people are telling me that this is a bad carry round for the critters we might encounter here in Montana because hollow points may not penetrate well in an emergency. So...I ordered a box of 175 grain LBT hardcast bullets and have been racking my brain trying to get them to NOT shoot 7"-8" high at 25 yards from the bench. I tried H-110, I tried 2400, and I tried Herco at various loadings for each powder and got almost identical results from each. So, I am wondering where I can get 180 grain jacketed soft points (internet search has come up empty) or even full metal jackets somewhere. Either that, or does anyone know of another bullet or another load with the LBT's that won't throw bullets so high? Maybe another powder with the LBT's or even another 180-200 grain bullet that would penetrate well? I look forward to and appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Montana2008 Those bullets are far too light, have explosive results and no penetration. The .44 does not even come around until 240 gr and the XTP will open too fast. I would not use less then the 300 gr XTP although there are some 240 bullets that work. The 300 gr XTP is super accurate with 20.5 gr of 296 and a Fed 150 primer. I use the Lee 310 gr, the LBT 320 gr with 21.5 gr of 296 and the Fed 150 primer. My best is from a mold I made that drops a 330 gr boolit with 21 gr of 296, same primer. I have killed a huge pile of deer with it. It did this at 200 yards during a drop test. Nothing will stop this boolit. It will do 1/2" at 50 yards too. ![[Linked Image]](http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/bfrshooter/44at200ydswith330grjpg.jpg)
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Campfire Regular
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Find the right boolit, find accuracy and results on game, then change the front sight to do what you need. Ruger has all kinds of sight heights cheap.
Another great boolit is the 265 gr Ranch Dog, cast from water dropped WW metal. It will hold 3/4" at 50 and 1-1/4" at 100. It will kill anything.
I shot this 50 yard group and the can was shot at 100. I hit the rail so I aimed higher for the last shot.
Get away from the light bullets. The SBH thrives on a heavier boolit and will go end to end through a bear with great internal damage.
Your ranges might be close and that kind of accuracy is not needed but you need bullet, boolit performance RIGHT NOW. You need the confidence to go all the way through a bear and bust up everything inside.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Campfire Regular
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I lost the picture of the 265 RD because I hit the wrong button. Here it is. ![[Linked Image]](http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/bfrshooter/RD50and100.jpg)
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
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The 250 gr Keith SW Hard Cast with 9.5 gr of Unique is my favorite all around carry load in my 44 mag's. This load will shoot through just about any thing you will encounter in the lower 48 and the recoil is very comfortable. Another plus is, most 44 pistol will shoot little bitty groups with it if you do your part.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Montana Gold 240 JSP get pretty good penetration. I usually carry Nosler 250 Partition or Hornady 225 FTX in my 4" 44 Tracker when in the woods. I would also suggest you find a good factory hardcast in the 300 range if it's for bear/ cat defense solely.
In an emergency you want penetration, not expansion. And in a true emergency you'll be at powder burned fur range, so all bullet weights will shoot point blank.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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The 250 gr Keith SW Hard Cast with 9.5 gr of Unique is my favorite all around carry load in my 44 mag's. This load will shoot through just about any thing you will encounter in the lower 48 and the recoil is very comfortable. Another plus is, most 44 pistol will shoot little bitty groups with it if you do your part. A good boolit but I would want around 1350 fps for the most internal damage. It is not just "shoot through" that counts. You need energy applied in the right way too. NOT energy dump or muzzle energy either, just what the boolit does inside an animal. I would not hunt deer with that load and would run from a big bear. You need to bust things up bad, not poke a hole. Too slow or too fast presents problems with bullet, boolit construction. This is what you want from hard cast. ![[Linked Image]](http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/bfrshooter/475doeheartjpg.jpg)
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The rear sight is almost all the way down.
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On the advise of some of the other members I filed off the front sight - for when the bear shoves it up my... 
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I don't really care what you load for the 44 mag you aren't going to get the energy you would get with a rifle load and the 44 kills by cutting a good size hole all the way through and letting the air and blood out and that is what kill big game with the 44 mag and that is why the standard 45 Colt works just as well as the magnum pistol rounds in my opinion.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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