Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry

200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

All things reloading here
User avatar
NHshtr
Cowhand
Posts: 184
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:50 am
Location: Southern NH
United States of America

200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by NHshtr » Sun Sep 11, 2022 11:26 am

Well, trying to work up a .44 plinking load for 200 grain lead RNFP for my Henry carbine. I've been using Enforcer in a load from the Ramshot website (22.6 to 24.7 grains with OAL of 1.565) and none grouped well at all. Best was the 23.6 gr group out around 4" at 50 yards. I'm working toward, at most, 2" at 50 yd. Realistic from the carbine? Also trying to find a load around 1600 fps to keep the leading down. Does anyone have a suggestion on powder type, or load for starters?
Thanks for any help. :)
(I'm using the 240 gr. SWCs from my previous post in my revolver. No problem with the OAL there.)
0 x

User avatar
Rifletom
Deputy Marshal
Posts: 3904
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:26 pm
Location: California Territory
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by Rifletom » Sun Sep 11, 2022 12:12 pm

Do you have any 2400? Bet that would work. 20.5-21.0 gr. I'm sure more will chime in.
Also, do you have any Unique?
2 x

User avatar
Vaquero
Ranch Boss
Posts: 10318
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:56 am
Location: Somewhere between Memphis & Nashville
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by Vaquero » Sun Sep 11, 2022 12:43 pm

Never tried anything lighter than 240's in the 44's. I've been heavier though... ;)
Would agree with Tom though on the Unique and 2400.
Check a manual. 8-)

RP
Last edited by Vaquero on Sun Sep 11, 2022 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1 x
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care". :lol:

Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament :shock:
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012

User avatar
JEBar
Town Marshal / Deputy Admin
Posts: 19339
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:58 pm
Location: central NC
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by JEBar » Sun Sep 11, 2022 1:25 pm

historically I buy 240's in bulk and vary the powder charge for hunting and range level ammo .... no reason I know of that 200's wouldn't work but I've never tried loading any
1 x

User avatar
Vaquero
Ranch Boss
Posts: 10318
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:56 am
Location: Somewhere between Memphis & Nashville
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by Vaquero » Sun Sep 11, 2022 3:57 pm

Nothing in the Lyman cast book, but from Lee's.
20220911_145425.jpg
20220911_145425.jpg (105.69 KiB) Viewed 560 times

RP
1 x
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care". :lol:

Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament :shock:
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012

User avatar
NHshtr
Cowhand
Posts: 184
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:50 am
Location: Southern NH
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by NHshtr » Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:08 pm

Thanks guys. I'll look around for 2400 and Unique. But I do have some Universal that I can try (tip of the hat to Vaquero). The velocity will be lower, but the accuracy may be there, and for plinking should be fine.
On a side note, I asked Lyman why they show 240 gr. SWC lead loads with a OAL well over the SAAMI max of 1.610 and they simply said, "stick with the OAL in the book". OK. No argument from me. So as I said, I made some up for my revolver.
1 x

User avatar
Rifletom
Deputy Marshal
Posts: 3904
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:26 pm
Location: California Territory
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by Rifletom » Mon Sep 12, 2022 1:46 pm

NHshtr, if you get your hands on 2400 or Unique, I believe you will be a happy handloader.
0 x

220
Cattle Driver
Posts: 756
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 11:11 pm
Australia

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by 220 » Mon Sep 12, 2022 5:18 pm

I would look at a faster powder, a bit less velocity than you are chasing but with my home cast 210 lee RNFP I got great accuracy at a little over 1000fps with trailboss and AP-50N, Hodgdon used to repackage the AP-50N as international. Initial testing was only 25y but both loads will put 5 shots under 1" at 50y.
I suspect the velocity in the data Vaquero posted might be from a handgun you can probably expect a little more from a rifle. I would certainly try the universal. I would have liked a little more velocity than I got but went with the accuracy seeing I was after a plinking load and the velocity I got the accuracy at is very close to 22lr standard velocity speeds. Most are more than happy with standard velocity 22lr for plinking out to 100y and my 44 loads seem to work just as well.

Image
2 x

User avatar
NHshtr
Cowhand
Posts: 184
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:50 am
Location: Southern NH
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by NHshtr » Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:24 pm

Thanks CD. I have Trail Boss on hand. Use it for 45 Colt. It makes a great bowling pin load with 255 gr LRNFP in my Vaquero. I'll give it a try also.
1 x

User avatar
fortyshooter
Ranch Foreman
Posts: 6297
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
Location: Va.
United States of America

Re: 200 grain LRNFP starting load you'd suggest?

Post by fortyshooter » Mon Sep 12, 2022 9:21 pm

My go to plinking .44 mag load is 200 gr Xtreme plated RNFP with 9 gr. Unique for my Uberti 1873 carbine.
Attachments
44 magnum 200 gr xtreme with 9 gr. unique    upper left 10 yd ruger sbh and center uberti 1873 carbine 20 yds.jpg
44 magnum 200 gr xtreme with 9 gr. unique upper left 10 yd ruger sbh and center uberti 1873 carbine 20 yds.jpg (105.49 KiB) Viewed 506 times
2 x

Post Reply