Henry Rifle Forums

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.)

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?

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.

RP

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

Nothing in the Lyman cast book, but from Lee's.

RP

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.

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

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.

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.

My go to plinking .44 mag load is 200 gr Xtreme plated RNFP with 9 gr. Unique for my Uberti 1873 carbine.

Thanks Forty. I have some Unique coming and I'll give it a try. OAL you used?

The manuals I have: Sierra, Hornady, Lyman and online- Hodgdon and Nosler, either have OALs for lead too long (over SAAMI max) for a rifle or no lead loads at all. Beside Lee, any manual for lead loads you use you can recommend?

With the Xtreme 200 gr RNFP I set the length to 1.565 I use the Lyman 49th,Speer 13 and follow load data I have collected from Hand Loader magazine
articles such as Brian Pearce. Some rifles and handguns like certain bullets and I found the Xtreme plated bullet gave a much tighter group than the 200 gr RNFP coated lead Missouri Bullet I was using in my 1873 Uberti carbine.

Lyman cast bullet handbook has data for cast with nearly every calibre. The ADI manual for our Aussie made powders has a dedicated cowboy section that is only lead and covers most popular rifle and pistol caps.
It is available on line, most powder manufacturers cover cast in their data very few of the bullet manufacturers do given they are trying to sell jacketed bullets.
If searching online for data try searching for cowboy loads it may turn up more results.

Thanks 220. The regular Lyman 50th Reloading handbook in the Rifle section has 210 and 240 gr lead with an OAL of 1.645. That length doesn't feed well in my carbine. I need to stick with a load at 1.610 max. to get a smooth feed. The Handgun section for .44, for 210 and 240 lead (not surprisingly,) is the same. Jacketed is a different story; shorter OALs and my XTPs are good to go in it. For plinking I didn't want to use XTPs. I'm not cheap, er...ah, just trying to be "frugal"! Yeah, that's it, frugal