Reloading 44 mag

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks,

Rules are tightening up where I am on using non-lead bullets for hunting.

I'm going to try and reload .44 mag in my 20" barrel 44 lever action using 2 Peregrine bullets:

180gr Hog
205gr VRG3

Anyone got any experience of these?

Powders I have:

Hodgdon H110 (Though I get the feeling I really need to find some Magnum pistol primers for that).
Vihtavouri N110

Game will be impala sized and maybe a little bigger. Thoughts and advice appreciated.

Scrummy

 

[Longwalker]

H110 does require magnum primers for consistent ignition. It is a difficult to ignite powder. Great results in my rifles though. Sorry I can't comment on the bullets, no experience.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hi folks,

Rules are tightening up where I am on using non-lead bullets for hunting.

I'm going to try and reload .44 mag in my 20" barrel 44 lever action using 2 Peregrine bullets:

180gr Hog
205gr VRG3

Anyone got any experience of these?

Powders I have:

Hodgdon H110 (Though I get the feeling I really need to find some Magnum pistol primers for that).
Vihtavouri N110

Game will be impala sized and maybe a little bigger. Thoughts and advice appreciated.

Scrummy

@Scrumbag
No need for magnum primers in the 44 mag with H110 as it is a fast burning easy to ignite powder.
Bob

 

[Ray B]

I'll split the difference with the mag primers for H110. I've used both and both make the gun go bang with similar noise, recoil and trajectory but I haven't chronographed them to know if there is a significant difference in the velocities that would be a result of burn rate caused by the primer ignition. so I guess that I'm not much help, however Wa state does appear to be well on it's way to banning the use of lead so I'll likely need to find some non-lead bullets in the near future.

 

[Scrumbag]

@Scrumbag
No need for magnum primers in the 44 mag with H110 as it is a fast burning easy to ignite powder.
Bob

G'day @Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Maybe it's just my primers but I get a really black, mucky case with standard primers also a lot of vertical stringing. Tried some other loads with mag primers and much cleaner cases and tighter groups.

Scrummy

 

[krish]

Hi folks,

Rules are tightening up where I am on using non-lead bullets for hunting.

I'm going to try and reload .44 mag in my 20" barrel 44 lever action using 2 Peregrine bullets:

180gr Hog
205gr VRG3

Anyone got any experience of these?

Powders I have:

Hodgdon H110 (Though I get the feeling I really need to find some Magnum pistol primers for that).
Vihtavouri N110

Game will be impala sized and maybe a little bigger. Thoughts and advice appreciated.

Scrummy

Barnes buster bullets
Krish

 

[Scrumbag]

Barnes buster bullets
Krish

Can’t drive ‘em fast enough I fear

 

[Divernhunter]

I use 200gr Barnes XPB bullets with 24grs of H-110 and a MAG PRIMER. It is recommended to use mag primers with H-110 and I have found it best to do so. This load was on a slip of paper in my 1st boxes of these bullets I got from Barnes. It works well.

 

[Scrumbag]

I use 200gr Barnes XPB bullets with 24grs of H-110 and a MAG PRIMER. It is recommended to use mag primers with H-110 and I have found it best to do so. This load was on a slip of paper in my 1st boxes of these bullets I got from Barnes. It works well.

Thanks very much!

 

[Shootist43]

Scrumbag, I use Winchester Large Pistol primers in my 44 Mag(s) including my Ruger Deerslayer which is a short semi automatic rifle that was discontinued thirty odd years ago. We cannot Peregrine bullets in the States. Wish we could. I'd limit shots to less than 125 yds. for the game you mentioned.

 

[ChrisG]

Scrumbag, I use Winchester Large Pistol primers in my 44 Mag(s) including my Ruger Deerslayer which is a short semi automatic rifle that was discontinued thirty odd years ago. We cannot Peregrine bullets in the States. Wish we could. I'd limit shots to less than 125 yds. for the game you mentioned.

When I went to Anticosti island some years ago to hunt deer, my dad loaned his .243 to a guy who was going to be overlooking a ravine and took his Ruger Deerslayer with some 240 grain XTP handloads. He got a shot at a decent sized deer at over 130 yards. Aimed at the top of her back and dumped her on the spot..44 mag from an 18.5" barrel is no joke! I have had 3 leverguns in it as well... it definitely works!

 

[C.W. Richter]

I used to get some very good velocities with 180 g slugs using alliant 2400. As I recall it was fairly clean burning in comparison to some of the more traditional ball powders.

 

[TNDave]

My 44 Mag is a 629 Smith and I use Win 296 or H110 with large pistol primers, no issues.