44 rem mag rifle

[mitchparker6]

I am going to reload some 44 rem mag round for my dad's Henry lever action rifle with a 20in barrel. I plan on using 225 gr hornady ftx bullets. Just wondering if people have had good luck with them. We live in iowa and can finally use rifles with straight walled cartridges for deer, but no bottle necks. Looking to see what loads people have made with these, like the types of powder, amount, primers, etc etc. Going to look in some manuals too, but want some different ideas, and want to see if you can push the round a little more than what the books say? Also im guessing some manuals are listed for pistol rounds, and not rifle so im sure that makes quite a considerable difference. Thanks for any help.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I've a 16" Henry lever, my std load is 30 grs of H-110, lite with a CCI 250 pushing a 180gr HP, flat shooting to 200 for a 44mag, an nothing has survived it yet. You should do well with a 20" but I went with a 16 just for compactness. I've shot up to 300 gr projos but the heavys drop much quicker, not a issue depending scope ret, but with irons only a miss between 130-200yds is easy depending target overall size an where you what to hit it.

 

[MTRecon]

I've used Win 296/H110 but swiched to AA #9. The 44 Mag really makes use of a longer barrel. My neighbor takes Elk with his at distances less than 100 yards in timber. We prefer the 240 XTP for hunting.

 

[spaniel]

I use either H110 or AA2400 and the 240gr XTP for deer hunting with the 44 out of a rifle. It's an outstanding close range round. I have not shot the 225gr FTX, but I would be a bit concerned that it would get too frangible at rifle velocities. I can say you see a significant difference with the XTP but it still performs.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Not sure if you can see this but I posted this a few years back.
http://highcountryshooters.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=1276&Number=9875#Post9875
The below is a reduced load I made for my daughter to use in a 20" tc contender for Michigan deer. Velocity was right around 1410. Which was more than enough to take her first deer, 5 point at about 40 yards.

 

[MK20]

I personally like IMR 4227 because it is one of the slower powders for the 44 and will let you use more of that extra barrel that you have. Blue dot is ok too and pretty cheap.