44 Mag - Reloading with Accurate #9 (7.5" Barrel vs 20" Barrel)

[lshel]

I am trying to use Accurate #9 and 180g Hornady XTP in RP cases (fired 1-2 times) and WWL primer, 1.60 OAL. Used Remington UMC 180g SP (1610 fps) as comparison. Shot 3 rounds thru Competition Pro Pal at 10-15 feet. Shot rounds thru a Ruger Redhawk (7.5" barrel) and a Marlin 1894 (20" barrel). Velocity in fps.

                                                              Redhawk                                Marlin

Rem. UMC 180g SP   avg                      1656                                      2142

                                    range                       26                                          52

21.6g A#9                    avg                      1424

                                     range                      67

22.6g A#9                    avg                      1582                                    1966

                                     range                       80                                        32

23.1g A#9                    avg                      1516                                    1964

                                    range                      103                                        35 

23.1g Heavier Crimp     avg                    1537                                   1956

                                    range                      146                                        23

23.1 HG/Starline brass avg                    1578                                   2000

                                     range                        61                                        9

 Rem. UMC 180g SP  

    Recheck at end of session                                                            2123

 

Since velocity did not increase after 22.6g of Accurate #9, does this mean I'm not getting a complete powder burn in 7.5" barrel, plus range of velocity is high in this barrel length and much better in 20" barrel. I used Winchester WWL primer which says standard/magnum. Accurate data sheet shows powder charge max at 24.0 g with velocity at  1675 fps. Do I need to use another primer that is magnum specific?

 

Has anyone else experience this problem and what was the fix?

thanks

Edited November 15, 2013 by lshel

[leroy]

The "old timers" will tell ya that powders have a characteristic curve with a hump in some cases that will actually show ya a decrease or even "flat line" after an "optimum" (....read that maximum for that particular powder and bullet weight...) is reached...My guess (...and it is a "guess"; that means that i dont know for sure...) is that you have hit it for the 180 grain bullet at 22.6...

 

I would be willing to bet that it would keep goin up a bit if the bullet weight wuz increased (...say to 200,  225, 240, even 300...)... AA#9 is a pretty slow burnin powder and the slow burners evidently need a lot of resistance to do their best... My guess is that it's all burnin; but the bullet resistance needs to go up...  That means in english that ya are at the maximum velocity for this particular bullet / powder combination  (...i think...)....

 

Havin said all that; 1424 fps aint too shabby out of a 7.5 barrel... My guess is that to get the factory (...UMC....) velocities; ya need a bit faster powder... I would try AA#7 or 2400... Maybe some of the guys who do the "QuickLoad" program thing can chime in here... Take a look at the Alliant reloader guide on line... For a 200 grain bullet; the "recipe" is 24.0 grains of 2400 and a cci 300 primer for 1589 fps (...pistol load....)...

 

leroy

[gregintenn]

I think I'd try a slower powder. Winchester Large Pistol Primers are labeled for regular or magnum loads.

[lshel]

Accurate #9 and 2400 are very close as to burn rate. H110 is a slower burn powder than A#9 and 2400.  Why is the velocity range lower for a 20" barrel using Accurate #9? A lower range means more consistant velocity. I can see reaching a peak velocity in the shorter 7.5" barrel at 22.6g of Accurate #9, but why such a large range in velocity for this charge in a 7.5" barrel?

[leroy]

 

I can see reaching a peak velocity in the shorter 7.5" barrel at 22.6g of Accurate #9, but why such a large range in velocity for this charge in a 7.5" barrel?

 

I would take a look at throwing out the highest velocity and the lowest velocity and then look at the "range"; if the "range" is, indeed the difference between the high and low; then i would look at the data... I would average the remaining velocities and see what i got; then look at the "range"... I think all the powder is burnin in the 7.5 inch barrel...

 

RE:  The 20 inch barrel question... If the powder is gettin a complete burn in the 7.5 inch barrel; it stands to reason to me that ya get the same thing in the longer barrel... Complete burn = consistent velocities = low "range"... I would always believe that ya would get more consistent velocities out of a rifle; no cylinder-bore misalignment, no bullet jump across a gap, etc....

 

I would resize the brass all the way and put a heavy roll crimp on the bullets in the crimping groove and see what that does...  My thinkin on the AA #7 and 2400 is that it is just a tad faster than the AA#9 ... quicker pressure peak, quicker acceleration of the lighter bullet... ... I still think the 180 grain bullet is a tad light for the powder...  If ya intend to use a lighter bullet, my guess is that ya need a tad faster powder...

 

Maybe someone will do a Quickload run and see if my "guess" is on target....

 

leroy

[Jonnin]

I think the answer is try other powders.  Maybe #7, or even #5, or branch out to another brand if none of those do it for you? 

[gregintenn]

Keep us posted as to how this turns out. I'm interested in learning whether a slower or faster powder will get you higher velocities with the light bullets. I may have to ask Santa for my very own chronograph. You have me curious now.

[lshel]

I reloaded some more 23.1g of Accurate #9 using Federal 155 magnum large pistol primers in Starline new brass with 180g Hornadty XTP bullets with OAL at 1.60".

Chronograph results:

                                                    Redhawk (7.5" barrel)                                       Marlin (20" barrel)

Fed 155 primers       AVERAGE       1596 FPS                                                      1967 FPS

                                  RANGE              45                                                                  26

 

REM UMC 180 JSP                                                                                                2126

 

Velocity up some in 7.5" barrel but still close to 22.6g of Accurate #9.

I shoot 22.6g load and 23.1g load using Accurate #9 at 100 yds with Marlin 1894 and both loads would stay on paper plate w/o sight adjustment, both grouped good at 25 yds using Ruger Redhawk.  I checked the REM UMC 180 JSP and they OAL is 1.59" so close to my 1.60". I guess I'll just settle for the 22.6g load of Accurate #9 at 1582 fps in Redhawk and 1966 fps in Marlin.       

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Sounds like you reached your peak with 22.6 AA#9 and more powder isn't doing anything. Try a faster powder like AA#7

or 231. That 180 grain bullet is the lightest one in the Lyman book, and it lists using other than AA#9 for that weight. Maybe it

just doesn't build up fast enough for it, like what Leroy said, resistance.

 

Your load for a 180 grain bullet with that powder is close, but past the maximum for a 240 grain bullet. Try a faster powder,

or stop at 22.6.

 

"I guess I'll just settle for the 22.6g load of Accurate #9 at 1582 fps in Redhawk and 1966 fps in Marlin."

 

Nothing wrong with that!