Looking to get back to handloads after a 25 year absence. I'm wanting to shoot some mild plinking loads with cast bullets. What's a good versitle powder for mild loads but can pick up the velocity some. Not looking for any hot loads. Thanks

I have also noticed on just about every SBH 44 I've owned it will shoot high to the point my rear sight is bottomed out. Hopefully mild will help with this. I normally use 180 jhp but want to shoot some Keith style heavier.

It's hard to beat 8 grains of Unique under a 255 grain Keith. Makes a very shootable load.

9.6 grains of 231 with jacketed bullets, probably work good with cast also

Muddydog, to get your POI down there?s really only two options: 1) more velocity/lighter bullet; 2) taller front sight....I guess a third option would be a shorter rear sight, just not as feasible.

Unique can get you from mild to semi-wild.

That's been my experience, I always have to shoot factory 180 grain loads because the 240 shoot too high. I was hoping a mild 250 gr Keith would bring it down some.

That load will prolly shoot even higher.

Think I'll start with unique and go from there. See what happens. Thanks for the suggestions.

7 grains of tite group; 240 with a 240 grain cast bullet; pet load of mine

Im amazed at the cost savings over the factory loads....big difference especially shooting cast.

You can tailor your loads from mild to wild depending on what you need, or like. I like unique and 2400 powder in 44 mag as I can go up or down with either powder. Not so with H110 as it seems to do better with top end loads. You don't save money reloading ,that is a false hope. Its cheaper per round yes, but you will shoot a hell of a lot more, so its about the same money. Shoot reload, shoot reload,shoot reload, its a vicious cycle.

But I wouldn't change it for the world.

LoL.... more shooting is good for the soul, just not the bank account,

The plus side is the more you practice,if it is good practice, the better you have the potential to become. And whats money in the bank compared to a contented soul?

junebug is right of course us old KY boys are never wrong! I actually enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting. Notice I said almost.

How are Unique and 2400 in terms of being dirty?

Seems I remember using one of them years ago for either .44 mag or .41 mag and there was quite a bit of smoke in the air.

I too would like to shoot with some milder loads than what I'm getting with 296.

They are both dirty in that you will want to wipe the gun down after use. However their versatility makes them a favorite powder for me. Mild to wild can be done with then unlike 296 or H 110 that preform better with top end loads. So I put up with the mess for the versatility,there are no free roads.

Generally I find that if you are running any powder from low to mid end charges they tend to be dirty. Unique is for sure and will leave tons of black soot on the gun. As you approach the top end loadings, most powders clean up significantly as you get more complete combustion.

Anymore I try to pick a powder that will give me the velocity I am looking for and keep me in the top 25% of charge weight. This seems to keep things relatively clean and less smoky at the range.

You can get new taller front sights from Bowen, Garza and Brownells. Most have to be soldiered on.
Magna Port put one on my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter. Not sure what brand they use.

Mike

I've been doing alot of research on various loads. I now have learned that some of the mild loads generate pressure on par with some hot loads. I was just looking out for my gun, not necessarily recoil reduction. I think I'ma starting my loads with Hornady 200 XTP with VAHTI N110. There's pretty good variance in loads with 180 up to 300 grain bullets. I've never heard of this powder, hopefully it'll be good

Muddydog, N110 is not always the easiest to get ahold of. For high end loads H110, 296,and 2400 are great powders. For low to midrange loads might I suggest HS-6, it is a little dirty but I've gotten great results with it in all different calibers, especially when it comes to accuracy.

After further research, I agree it may not be the best choice. Decisions!!! My brains about to explode. Lol

I DO NOT LOAD FOR THE .429 MAG BUT DO USE THE HECK OUT OF N-110 IN RUGER ONLY 45 COLT LOADS. IT IS NOT THE POWDER FOR LIGHTER BULLETS. SHUD BE OK WITH 240's IN THE .429 BUT FOR LIGHTER BULLETS THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT BETTER CHOICES.

Longshot
CFE Pistol
HP-38 / Win 231

All three will give mid level (1200-1300 fps) loads with a 240gr projectile.

I am a 2400 Guy with 240gr pills. Load Down for the S&W (18.5 GR) and up for the Ruger and T/C (20.0 GR) Mag primers only.

Finally got all my reloading equipment set up and starting to work up some loads. Went with Hodgen universal, cci 300 primers. 180 and 200 grain xtp bullets. I really like the 200 grain bullets behind 10.0 of universal. Very consistent and clean in a sbh and srh. Amazing that really every load we tried with both bullets shot pretty close to same impact at 25 yds. Ordered more 200 grains and will play with the charge a little but 10 grains looked pretty good.

Lol. Reloading is another sport all together. Almost as much fun as shooting and sure is nice not having to constantly be looking or concerned with not finding it!

My 41 mag SRH loves A2400 under cast bullets with just about any bullet weight I?ve tried, but likes H110 with jacketed pills. The GP100 357 on the other hand likes A2400 and A300 MP with either cast or jacketed.