44 Mag loads
Hey Rick.
Do you know the twist rate for your rifle? The 44 Mag rifles out today have a wide variation in twist, but all will stabilize the 240 gr bullets. You may need a rate below 1:24 to go to the 300 gr offerings.
I have had great luck moving from the W296 and H110 world for all mag rimmed pistol ctgs by using the new Hodgdon Lil'gun. At about 7 inches bbl length this powder duplicates H110 and W296 velocities, sometimes at a strikingly lower pressure. In your long bbl, it should leave them in the dust.
With the 240s, start at 22.0 grs of Lil'g and work up to a max of 24.5 (Hodgdon 2002). If you have a chronograph, just quit when you get to 1700 fps, and enjoy the lower pressures. Faster won't help one bit at woods ranges in a hunting application.
Also, you can experiment with seating depth, since this is a single shot. It would be good to know the COL where you contact the lands for various bullet weights and types. Lil'gun has none of the ignition problems that are associated with H110 and W296, so don't fuss over the crimp. Keep an eye on the chrono and work up from 22 grs when you increase length. Stop at 1700 fps and enjoy the increased accuracy. A good lead 240 gr might really surprise you!
Good hunting!
Hey Rick.
Do you know the twist rate for your rifle? The 44 Mag rifles out today have a wide variation in twist, but all will stabilize the 240 gr bullets. You may need a rate below 1:24 to go to the 300 gr offerings.
I have had great luck moving from the W296 and H110 world for all mag rimmed pistol ctgs by using the new Hodgdon Lil'gun. At about 7 inches bbl length this powder duplicates H110 and W296 velocities, sometimes at a strikingly lower pressure. In your long bbl, it should leave them in the dust.
With the 240s, start at 22.0 grs of Lil'g and work up to a max of 24.5 (Hodgdon 2002). If you have a chronograph, just quit when you get to 1700 fps, and enjoy the lower pressures. Faster won't help one bit at woods ranges in a hunting application.
Also, you can experiment with seating depth, since this is a single shot. It would be good to know the COL where you contact the lands for various bullet weights and types. Lil'gun has none of the ignition problems that are associated with H110 and W296, so don't fuss over the crimp. Keep an eye on the chrono and work up from 22 grs when you increase length. Stop at 1700 fps and enjoy the increased accuracy. A good lead 240 gr might really surprise you!
Good hunting!
