44 magnum and IMR-4227

I like IMR-4227. I have had very good luck with it in a few big bore calibers. I have not found it to be better than H-110 in the 44 mag but it is still useful. I want to get a max load of 4227 with a 240 jacketed hollow point and I am running into problems. With only 22.5 grains the 240 XTP is tight (compressed load) but will seat to the top of the cannelure. However, the Nosler JHP will not seat to this depth as the soft lead nose just deforms more as I adjust the die. The kicker is that the Hodgdon manual says I can go to 24 grains with the Nosler JHP -- I don't see how that's possible. Anyone else run into this issue? What's your best 44 mag load with 4227?

I haven't loaded 4227 in the .44 Mag in a couple of decades. Let me see if I can dig up any of my old load data. I am not a big fan of this powder. We tried it recently in the .500 Maximum and it left a lot of debris behind (granules of burned powder). Really mucked the revolver up. I really prefer H110 and 296 for top-end loads in the .44.

Try a drop tube and a vibrator to settle the powder into a smaller space

I won't deny that this powder is finicky but when you get it right it is very accurate with more pleasant blast and recoil than some magnum powders. My most accurate load in the 454 is a mildly compressed load of 4227 under a Cast Performance 335 WLNGC. What I have found is that lighter bullets, lighter loads and lighter crimps will cause the partly burned granules to appear. When the load is right the granules go away and accuracy appears

AA1680 is "THE" powder in the 500 Max

Exactly. This is the absolute best for the caliber. I have 35,000 psi loads that not only burn clean, but provide unparalleled accuracy and it pushes a 525 grain bullet right at 1,350 fps. It hammers game as well. I won't use 4227 in the .500 Max any more. These were top-end loads and they still left a lot of residue.

What is your case length and cartridge OAL at this point?

I've also been told that 4227 is not as stable through the temperature spectrum as is 296 and H110.

Well I think you guessed the problem! I've never bought brass for the 44 as I've shot plenty of factory stuff in the past. The brand I am loading now measures only 1.266 while the manual lists 1.280. I checked two other factory brands that I have and got 1.270 and 1.274. Is new Starline brass 1.280? Also, the OAL is 1.592 with the XTP and 1.595 with the Nosler JHP.

Thanks!

While there may be some truth to 4227 burning faster in a really hot gun this has been a non issue for the type of shooting and hunting that I do. I'm really not questioning the powder -- I love the stuff! I've taken my last 3 deer with 4227 loads. I've just not found a load for the 240 grain JHP 44 mag that has met my expectations. It's great with a 280 WFNGC. The 240 may be too light for best performance with this powder.

Oscar I agree with what you say about 4227. I use H110 primarily but I find the 4227 extremely clean burning and it does have a slight reduction in recoil. Wish I could help but it sound like you discovered the problem with the case.

4227 should have less recoil than 296/H-110 because the velocity is slower

I have used 4227 in my 454 Casull, and actually the powder has more recoil then Acc.#9. I never tried H110 or 296, but was happy with the other two's performance. I still use Acc.#9 in my 454 Casull, and my 475 Linebaugh and love the powder.

I am a big fan of 4227 in my 454's and now in my 475L. No I don't get the velocity of H110 but I get lower extreme spreads, great accuracy, and ENOUGH velocity. I have found that velocities vary less than H110 in cold weather. I was shooting my 454's with H110 to 1600 fps with 300 gr. bullets and with 4227 only to 1400 fps. Haven't had an animal comment on the difference yet.

Also it is easier on forcing cones than H110 or any other ball powder.

Dan

Oscar,

Is the brass you are working with Hornady by chance, from factory ammo? They supply brass with all of their FTX loads that are shorter than saami spec. Seems like they do this across the boards, with all calibers of this ammo.

Craig

The 1.266 stuff is once fired MagTech brass. This used to be my go to practice ammo before I started loading. Actually, the longest cases I have are from Hornady Custom XTP ammo. These are the 1.274 cases. I looked on the Starline website and was surprised to see the 44 mag brass has an OAL range of 1.270 to 1.280. The Hodgdon manual is based on 1.280 brass and my Speer manual says trim to 1.275. I generally just use cases from the same ammo lot and adjust dies to seat the bullet near the top of the cannelure or crimp groove -- I've never worried about the lot's case length before.

It isn't always a big deal unless you are closing in on max. If you have a case that is shorter than the "trim to" dictated in the data, and seat the bullet into the case to the same depth as though it were full length, you will be affecting the internal case volume.