429421 and 2400 powder

[Scott Tschirhart]

As I recall, Elmer Keith thought that the Remington factory.44 Magnum load was too hot.

He settled on 22 gr of 2400 which is still pretty hot.

Skeeter Skelton reduced the load to 21 gr of 2400 and found it to be somewhat more comfortable.

Lyman comes close to the Skeeter load in their 50th anniversary manual.

Is anyone still working with 22 gr?

[Walt]

I use 20.5 grains of 2400 and standard primers which has served me well for decades. I don't shoot that load in my 4" m29 but I do shoot it in my 5" m629 and several Rugers and a Freedom Arms 44 mag.

[samsi]

No. Since max loads of 2400 and hot weather are a not-so-happy thing, I've gradually backed it down to 20 grains over the years. I've clocked it at an honest 1200 fps from a 4" 29 in shirt sleeve weather.

[6pt-sika]

I’ve used 2400 with cast in the 44 MAG but I’ve always been more of the W296/H110 school with jacketed or cast

[Steve in MO]

I haven't run 22grs of 2400 for a long time. I've been using 8.5grs of Unique under my cast 429421 bullets for years and it does everything I need it to here in Missouri. If I still lived out west it might be a different story.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Yes, I think 21 gr is a bit much. It averages 1468 fps in my
Old SBH. Sticky extraction too.

The .44 Special Skeeter load shoots better.

What’s funny is that I experimented with some machine cast 240 gr SWC bullets with a bevel base. Those bullets seem to shoot better than anything else. They clock right at 1,000 fps regardless of barrel length.

[Walt]

I have an Old Model SBH as well as several New Models. With 20.5 grains of 2400 the 7 1/2" guns shoot at about 1335 fps and I've found that when I have sticky extraction with loads that should be within normal pressure ranges, my chambers are generally rough. I use 000 or 0000 steel wool on a mandrel to smooth out the microscopic ridges and it eliminates the sticky extraction issue.

I have used fine emery cloth or worn-out emery cloth on a mandrel with equal success.

[JFE]

Is anyone still working with 22 gr?

Elmer’s original load was using 2400 made by Hercules. When Alliant bought them out the powder formulations were not quite the same as the older ones made by Hercules. 2400 was a touch faster, that’s why top loads were trimmed back.

[Sixgun]

Depends on the use…for everyday playing which 99.9% of shooting is I seldom go over 10 gr. of Unique and find 9 gr. of 231 even better…….both good for 200 meter gong shooting…….easier on the gun and you……after doing it for years with 21 gr of 2400 and a 260 Saeco I’d come home all beat after 200 rounds…..live and learn….

Even had a load for competition silhouette…..7.5 grains of 231 and a 200 grain bullet for the first 3 animals and used the heavy duty load for the 200 meter rams…..

[Scott Tschirhart]

18.5 gr 2400 still clocks an average of 1332 fps so you really don’t get much for those extra grains of 2400

[Scott Tschirhart]

Dave Scovill wrote that his favorite.44 Special load was 13.5 gr of 2400 under a Keith bullet for 1100 FPS.

That got me to thinking……

[samsi]

I tried the Scovill load, but decided it was a waste of 2400 since 8 grains of Unique or Universal gets darn near that velocity with good accuracy.

[Walt]

Scott, I'll admit that I didn't want to believe that 18.5 gr of 2400 would clock at 1300 fps with a 429421 bullet but I looked back at my own records and indeed, with a 5" Smith m629 I got almost exactly what you did, 1335 fps.

It's funny though how loading manuals vary. A couple of Lyman's books from the 1980s show that with the 429421, 19.4 gr of 2400 only chronographed at 975 fps. I know there have been changes in powder formulation but those results seem improbable.

So many variables....

[Scott Tschirhart]

Scott, I'll admit that I didn't want to believe that 18.5 gr of 2400 would clock at 1300 fps with a 429421 bullet but I looked back at my own records and indeed, with a 5" Smith m629 I got almost exactly what you did, 1335 fps.

Mine was clocked out of a 7 1/2 inch barrel. But I double checked and another string gave very similar numbers.

[GunnyMack]

I don't remember if I used 2400 or not when I had my SBH. I can't remember what I used in my 44 carbine either.
Big question is, what powder to take the place of 2400 now that it's pretty much unobtainium...

[Walt]

I still have about 10 pounds of 2400 left which will last me for a while but a couple of very good alternatives are AA9 and Enforcer.

[marlinman93]

My ancient Ideal manuals show what they called "The Keith Load" as 18.5 grs. of 2400 with a 250 gr. cast lead bullet at 1200 fps. And a note that it should only be used in the heaviest framed handguns.
Not being a recoil fan I used this load in my Model 29 S&W and felt it was still pretty stout.