44 Magnum loads-Considering Gas Checks

[garandman57]

Just got a Superblackhawk. Been shooting 16grs of 2400 w/a FMJ 240gr.
Been considering a gas check. Can I shoot w/the 16gr 2400 speed. I'm going to use it for deer hunting. It has a 10-1/2" barrel. Shoots GREAT! Lots of NASTY PUNCH to her!
Any thoughts? I'd consider going to the cast bullet forum but see there only 10 or so posts.
Thanks for your help!
TerryR

Information

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[fuzybum]

I shoot cast bullets in my .44's without gas checks with cowboy action loads and practice loads without any problems (low speed) but if I start pushing it up for hunting I use gas checks. You could get by with a few hotter loads without gas checks. Even when I shoot (low speed) loads I always finish the day with a couple rounds of jacketed bullets. Don't know if it does any good but I've never had any Problems

[slamfire1]

I don’t know how many thousands of rounds loaded with a 250 L or 240 L and 17.5 grains 2400 have been though my Ruger Super Blackhawk. I purchased my S.Blackhawk the first year Ruger brought these out in stainless. That was around 1983.

I have shot probably a couple thousand of these lead bullets at 22.0 grains, but I don’t enjoy the blast or the recoil. Elmer Keith’s classic load was 22.0 grs 2400 with his 250 grain lead bullet . (Lyman 429421)

I have never used a gas check on my cast lead bullets. I use commercial cast .

My chrono data is with Hercules 2400. Articles in the literature claim that newer 2400 is hotter. Heck if I know. The charges were tossed with a little dandy powder measure. Now days I dump powder on a Dillion 550B.

If you want more power, don't hesitate to add powder. If the cases get hard to extract, you have hit your max.

The S. Blackhawk is a very strong pistol and will take the magnum loads.


Ruger Super Blackhawk 7.5" Barrel

250 LSWC 17.9 grs 2400 Little dandy Rotor 22 CCI primers
25-Nov-90 T = 70°F

Ave Vel = 1192
Std Dev = 33
ES = 90
Low = 1131
High = 1221
N = 6

250 LSWC 21.9 grs 2400 Little dandy Rotor 26 Fed primers
14-Jan-91 T = 50°F

Ave Vel = 1192
Std Dev = 33
ES = 90
Low = 1131
High = 1221
N = 6

[Kirk]

When I first tried a .44 mag, I ordered the Lyman 429244 GC mold; later I got the 429421 plain base mold. At that time, my standard load was 21 gr 2400 for about 1279 fps. I never had any serious leading problem as long as I lubed the bullet well (alox and later Lee Liquid AAlox); the bore remained clean. I don't think you'll gain much with gas checks.

[garandman57]

When I first tried a .44 mag, I ordered the Lyman 429244 GC mold; later I got the 429421 plain base mold. At that time, my standard load was 21 gr 2400 for about 1279 fps. I never had any serious leading problem as long as I lubed the bullet well (alox and later Lee Liquid AAlox); the bore remained clean. I don't think you'll gain much with gas checks.

Thanks guys! And THANKYOU Kirk! That was the info that I needed. I can go w/out gas checks and be ok!
Take care, and thanks again!
TerryR

[Larry Gibson]

TerryR

With the load you are using you do not need GCs as long as the bullet is designed as a FB bullet. However, with that 10 1/2" barrel you have the potential for some real magnum velocities of 1450-1550 fps with 250 gr bullets. At those velocities a good GC'd bullet like 249244 will give superior accuracy. It also is a boon to softer alloys at those velocities to prevent leading, provide good accuracy and give excellent terminal ballistics in deer/elk/bears. For years I've had both pb'd bullets like 429421 nad a 429244. The 429421s do yeoman service up to 1350 fps but over that the 429244 GC' bullet is the one I use. I use them in 4, 6 and 6 1/2" barreled revolvers and a 8.4" barreled TC Contender. If I had a 10 1/2" Ruger the 429244 is the only bullet I would consider for truely magnum loads.

Larry Gibson