I haven't had time to take pics! But I will when I get back from FL next week.

I ended up with the 7.5" barrel. Balance is pretty darned good, but I can see myself with a 5.5" barrel at some point, probably after I return to reloading. I messed with a 5.5" at the gun shop in .45 Colt, but it was a Blackhawk grip frame, so I passed. The nice thing in 5.5" is the availability of Bisley in stainless!

Stay tuned, I'll get some pics here soon.

Excellent! Looking forward to seeing it!

got home today from the road trip....some nice BVAC 240 gr SWC's were waiting for me....now it's just to find the time to try her out!

Looking forward to hearing about how they shoot. Keep us posted!

Finally some pics!

Nice Gun
I love the way mine shoots

Very nice!!!!

I can see already that you have to watch the web of your hand near that hammer! That may take some getting used to. I am so used to getting as high as possible on the grips (with a pistol).

Well, I got the young lady out to shoot today (bein' my birthday an' all). We started with the "cowboy" loads (850 fps w/240 SWC) and that was pleasant to shoot. Got a little confidence there. Did about a 1.5" 6-shot group at 15 or so yards standing. Not bad for a newbie and I have the proof!

Then came the WinUSA 1180 fps 240 JSP loads. Now those stung a bit. Started to move back as far as 20 yards and was keeping them on the paper pretty well standing and using a tree.

Lastly, I shot 4 rounds of the 1550 fps Hornday 180 XTP loads. LOTS of muzzle blast and chamber blast as well. Very hot and slightly painful. After the other 100 rounds, I was pretty well done for the day.

We hit BassPro for lunch, then our local sporting goods store which has better prices and I got some 240 gr HP/XTPs, CCI LP primers (only brand they had) and a couple of pounds of H110. Now I hear that H110/W296 doesn't "down-load" well, so I guess I have a few hundred stinger rounds coming my way! HA! Ah well, live and learn.

So anyway, I can start my reloading now. Anyone have any minimal 44 mag loads with 240 gr JHP bullets and H110 they'd care to share? I keep hearing not to come off the max more than 3% which according to Hodgdon is around 23 gr and 1422 fps. I sure hope they are accurate! That's 607 stinger rounds!

I solved the support hand knuckle rap by moving the support hand down a finger-width. Speaking of which, does anyone remember any threads about proper grip techniques with revolvers, particularly the Bisley? Just want to ensure that I am starting out properly and not forming any bad habits. I had no trouble containing the recoil, but it did sting a fair bit. I'm sure I'll get used to it. My hand doesn't hurt 4 hours later so how awful could it be? (and hopefully, my hunting trips won't involve 104 rounds, right?)

If you want a light load switch over to Unique or something along those lines - don't use light loads with H110 or W296. 10 grains of Unique ought to be about right.

Well, if any of you are near Central Virginia, I can make you a good deal on some unopened H110. I have 2 lbs. Darn! I just had H110 on the brain for some reason.

From the recipe I saw on Alliant's web page for Unique, sounds about right for my needs. Does Unique throw well from a powder meaure? I have a Lee disk measure.

My first post here I believe. Anyway, it's great when a wife or daughter enjoys a shooting sport! That's for certain.
Do not use H110 for reduced loads! Keep the powder as it's very popular for the 44 mag and used for alot of different bullet weights. Full power loads typically.
Bullseye is a decent powder for reduced loads. I've used 4.5 grns with a 200 grn bullet that chrono's around 800 fps in my S&W 29-2 with 8 3/8" bbl. Fun and inexpensive practice load but with Bullseye, eyeball your powder level before seating the cartridge!! 7.0 grns is about maximum and that case will hold alot more than that. It meters well, too, and is fairly inexpensive as powders go. Still, even for loading a 38, I throw 50 loads at a time and peek inside each one just to be sure that: 1. I didn't get a double charge or 2. I actually have powder in the case.

Welcome to the boards! Glad you decided to pitch in with your first post.

Thankfully, I found a local buyer for the H-110. Probably going to start with Unique. My Lee loader has a disk powder dispenser. Do you have any experience with metering Unique?

Been using Unique since the mid 60's. It's a little 'dirty', but not as bad as Bullseye. I've used it in an old Star progressive during my PPC days and currantly use it in an RCBS and a Lee. Never had a problem with it metering.

As long as I tapped the Lee disk powder measure on on my press I had no problems loading Unique....

Anyone have any other powders that are safe to load for moderate speed (1100-1200 fps) loads?

BlueDot, Bullseye, Universal, others? I am wide open to suggestions. I would really like a flexible type powder, which by all indications Unique is, that I can load down to a "cowboy load" for fun, and that I can get to that moderate load for hunting. Am I just pretty well describing Unique/Universal?

Gonna go back and have a look at that Marshall Stanton article for some ideas....

Once again try 2400 you will like it

Sorry, that one must have gotten lost in the shuffle of this long topic. I'll look into that one as well.

Thanks

I use the 2400 in almost everything I load -- I love it for my 44 and 45 but it works great on the 357 and 38spl too. I have used it on the 454 and 480 in the past. I find it is much less volitile than the ball powders and can be loaded down very easily ---I only use 16.0 of 2400 on a 250 Berry HC bullet for my 625 great med load. I use 18.5 of 2400 on a 240 xtp for my S&W's and 20 gr of 2400 on a 240 for my Rugers 44 mags.

The best load is 20.5 of 2400 on a 250 XTP in the 45 colt

Note all but the 38spl use mag primers

OK, Looking at the 2400 info from Alliant's site. Can it be safely loaded back to 1100 fps? Their only load listed for a 240 gr jacketed bullet is 1400+ fps.

YES! It doesn’t have the problems that H110 and Win296 has with case capacity and nasty unpleasant hang fires. I have a couple of books with 2400 loading data, I will see what I can’t dig up when I get home.

Thanks a bunch TCMan. It would be interesting to get some input about the powder and see which manuals have more information on it (other than Alliant's data of course). I'm starting with 240 gr XTP's if it helps you dig.

As long as your dealing with Ruger Blackhawks in either caliber, I wouldn't be too concerned. Both will handle way over published load data(pressure).
People seem to forget he was talking mainly about S&W N frame guns(29vs.25-5) in that article?
Steve

guitarpic-

I do not have a manual in front of me, so check the following info before you use it. However, I use 2400 a lot. If my memory serves me correctly, the Hornady manual starts with about 17.5 gr of 2400 with a 240 jacketed @ about 1100 FPS.

That sounds like right where I'd like to start. I had planned on getting a Hornady manual, so I will definitely check that out. Thank you!

Shoot me a PM if you have any questions I have loaded everyting from spit wads to small nuclear devices with 2400--:)

Yes, that's why I bought the Blackhawk to begin with, but I am not interested in max loads. My hunting conditions seldom allow me over a 75 yd. shot. Why abuse myself and my revolver with full house loads? That's my reasoning behind finding a more flexible powder to use.

Hornady and Lee manuals on the way, with auto-primer, case length trimmer stud, and a set of calipers. Once I get some powder, I'm good to go!

I am looking to cast my own bullets for my 44 mag. and I see Lee makes a 310 gr. rounded flat nose. Would this be a good choice for a slower large meplate bullet? How do you figure the meplate of a bullet? Is it just the amount of flat surface on the end?

I am so sorry! I have been swamped at work. The Band has been in Corpus Christy this week and I have been swamped in the office!

My Hornady book lists 17.4 of 2400 at 1100 FPS as the starting data for a 240gr XTP. That is REALLY close to the 17.5 already mentioned. That is for a SBH with a 7.5 barrel. My Lyman book lists 18.5gr of 2400 at 1101 FPS as the starting data for a 240 SWC That data is for a 4in barrel.

Hope this helps, if you haven’t gotten pm’s from Bug already. LOL

Thanks TCMan.

My Hornady and Lee manuals showed up on Thursday, so I am seeing what you showed above.

I think my choices (may go with all three actually) are BlueDot, 2400 and W231 (HP-38) at this point, and my first choice may be determined for me by what's available.

Sounds good.

I never argue with what shoots well on paper... LOL

HA! Well, us noobs have to start somewhere!