Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Need powder suggestion for 44 mag

Thanks for all the tips, I currently have 2400 for my 357 mag and power pistol for 357 sig and 9mm. I may just see what 2400 will do. Anybody use aa9?

In the late 80's or early 90's I used No.9 in .44 mag some, before returning to H110, it works fine for that. Probably too slow for 9mm.

Like someone else said, there's a boatload of good powders out there these days.

H110 is a good powder, but useful only at maximum velocity with magnum primers. With 2400, you can back down a little and still get good accuracy and velocity. The new stuff works alot better than the old version. That and it works well with standartd primers so I don't need to stock both magnum and standard large pistol primers.
I've tried the old version of Unique in two different .44 Mags and never had good accuracy. But others have.
For a very mild, solid hitting load, 5 grs. of Bullseye is nothing to laugh at power wise and very accurate in my 4 inch gun with cast SWC bullets. E

I have used and shot a lot of 44 mag loads with H110 and std primers. If worried about that aspect, use Winchesters LP that re are marked as sutiable for std and mag primers.

The elk that I have killed with H110 and std CCI LP primers so far have not crawled out of the freezer.

Although I do load a few cast 240 gr bullest with 8 grs of Universal Clays, I choose lighter recoiling cartridges for recreational shooting.

Think I might just run with 2400 since I already have it and its usability is more in line with the bulk of the relaoding im going to do, thanks for all the insight.

2400 is good but I use only 296 in my .44's.
I use NOTHING but a Fed 150 primer because a mag primer will triple groups. Yes, it is best with 296 and H110. Neither needs a mag primer in the .44, and no other powder does either.
A CCI 300 also works but the WLP will open groups a little. The WLP works better in the .45 Colt and mag primers are needed in the .475 and larger.
Don't believe the hype that you need a mag primer. They have not graced my .44's for about 54 years.

PowerPistol will do the job in all the cartridges you need mentioned.

It may not be the absolute best but it's very good & it's clean.

In the 44 mag, it is very good with bullets up to around 220...........2400 is better with the heavies but it's so dirty I just hate using it.

MM

According to Hodgdon, 296 and H110 are one and the same. The only reason for listing both in their manual (loading info is identical) is their obligation to Winchester under agreement to distribute. I have used both in full-house .44 mag loads interchangeably for years, and with magnum primers. You don't want to reduce loads with these powders. They are clean burning and need a heavy crimp. WLPs will also work if you have them.

2400 is usually very accurate in the .44 mag and is flexible in that you can reduce loads substantially with no problem and SHOULD only use standard primers. One draw-back is that it does't burn as cleanly as H110 (296).

If you want light loads, you're going to have to use other powders as have been mentioned above. Just my thoughts....

as mentioned earlier, i use win. 296.

you won't go wrong with 2400, it was the old standard--but, a couple of points worthy of mention here:

about 30 years ago i tried 2400, but i noticed at top end loads that it is not as "forgiving" as win. 296 or h-110, and in my estimation, the recoil i experience in comparing "equal power loads" with both powders always seemed to me to feel "a little more sharp" with 2400. in addition, when at full power loads, sometimes the cases are just on the edge of being tight or wanting to stick--something i've never had with win. 296, even at full duty loads with heavy, 300 grain pills.

just an observation that might possibly benefit you...

I prefer 2400 in all of my 44 magnum loads. I shoot 300gr Hornady XTP's mostly now. I tried some Nosler sporting handgun 300gr jhp's and had some issues getting the bullet to seat due to the case being too full at maximum or near maximum loads. The lead nose of the bullet would form to the seater and sometimes crush the edge of the jacket. I tried other powders with that bullet but accuracy wasnt there. I went back to the Hornadys and the bullet construction helped me compress the heavy powder charge without hurting the bullet. With 240gr bullets a charge of 21gr 2400 will do quite well and always yielded good groups from my redhawk if you should decide to go with a lighter bullet. I like the big ones better myself. I dont mind recoil, i guess thats why i shoot a S&W 500 so much.

H110 with 300gr. WFLHC Beartooth Bullets gives both great velocity and accuracy out of my 4in. 629.

I have experienced the same with the 2400 VS H-110/296. I my experience H-110/296 is the better powder for full power loads, if I want a reduced load I will choose a better suited powder for the reduced load

+ 1

I'll toss out one other powder to consider - Ramshot Enforcer. It is slower than 2400 & AA#9 but faster than H110/W296. It is a true ball powder and flows like water - meters very nicely from my Dillon. In 44mag, Enforcer works best with magnum primers. I like it mainly because I get very close to H110/W296 velocities yet Enforcer is less abrasive on forcing cones and top-straps.

I've used H110 in magnums before,
but now my go to is 2400.

Three main loads:

Light load: 8.5 grains Unique/ 240 or 250 LSWC = Target practice,small game, working on fundamentals when I have not been shooting big bores in a while.

Medium load: 10 grains Unique/ 240 or 250 LSWC = All around general purpose load. Great for medium game, deer, hogs, etc. daily carry load for woods when out hiking. Excellent load.

Heavy load: 22 grains H110/ 240 or 300-340 LSWC or LBT wide meplat style. I use this one a bit more sparingly as I have no need to beat my wrists up. I practice with the guns/load before big game season, but generally reserve it for hunting large animals.

These have served me well for years, all are Smith friendly.In large frame Rugers you can safely bump up the heavy load 2 grains with no concern.

For full-power loads I'd probably vote for Hodgdon Lil'Gun. It has given me my best accuracy in the .44.

My favorite powder, hands down, for full throttle .44 mag and .357 mag is Winchester 296. Its been my go-to powder for both for 25 years now.

For slightly reduced loads, I switch to 2400, lighter yet, to HS6, and for really light loads, Win 231. I don't trust 2400 with max loads, I've had it get a little squirrelly on me.

I don't know diddly-squat about what the .357 Sig likes. I'm a magnum revolver guy, haven't owned a centerfire semi-auto in 30 years or more.

Tom