More Reloder 7 Stuff

Sept. 30th, 2018

My Conclusion

As you may know by now from reading my blogs, I am an avid user of Reloder 7 with the 44-40. I thought I would add a few things to my findings.

CAUTIONS

Looking for high pressure signs on a 44-40 case is a moot point because you will blow up your firearm long before you see these signs on the case. Max pressures for the 44-40 is 13,000 CUP. High Velocity loads produced 22,000 CUP, with no high pressure signs BUT could blow up weak action rifles and most any revolver.When used as a case capacity load, Reloder 7 produces the lowest 

pressures of the that powders that could be used. IMR and H-4198 seam to place second and third respectively.

Lyman's Reloading Handbook #47 has two sections for handloading this cartridge for rifles and revolvers. The Rifle section list 19 long arms chambered for this cartridge. "Group 1" lists 10 weak actions and "Group II" lists 9 strong actions. As an example, the Winchester 73' is a weak action and the Winchester 92', 94' and Marlins 89 and 94' would be strong actions. All Single Action revolvers and clones should be placed in Group I in my opinion, however 44 magnum framed revolves could be placed in Group II pending the strength 'wall thickness" of the 44-40 cylinder.

RIFLE POWDERS

(NOTE: # represents list placement from fastest #1 burning to slowest #110 of the fast burning powders in Lyman's Pistol and Revolver Handbook 3rd Edition)

#59) Reloder 7 is the slowest burning of the fast burning rifle powders that I use and there are only two powders I like use as a case capacity load, IMR-4198 being the third. Although #55) IMR and #56) H-4198 are back to back, H-4198 is the slowest of the two in most cases for my application and I only use H-4198 as a case capacity load. (#not listed) Trailboss could be a third BUT that power was not created for speed so it is a moot point. #51) H and #50) IMR-4227 are great powders but is not a case capacity load unless a fine filler is used. It is my understanding that #48) SR-4759 is also a good powder but I have yet to use that powder nor is it a case capacity load. From there the options drop down into the pistol powders starting with #41) 2400, #23) Unique.

PISTOL POWDERS

Lyman's 3rd Pistol & Revolver lists several pistol powders they use; #3) Nitro 100, #4) Bullseye, #8) 700X, #9) Tightgroup and are all four in the top 9 fastest burning powders. Any chance of an excessive over charge or just thinking about a double charge can cause a humongous BOOM, respectively in weak or strong actions!

EFFICIENCY

Unlike most everyone's opinion that this is a pistol cartridge, SAAMI still lists the 44-40 as a RIFLE CARTRIDGE. Just because most applications use pistol powders doesn't mean it is a pistol cartridge. Rifle powders are not efficient powders for this cartridge. Only about 49% of the powder is burned. The purpose of using ONLY a few selected rifle powders is to be able to seat the bullet sitting on top of the powder without compression. This is very similar to how a bullet is seated with black powder and to aid in preventing telescoping of the bullet back into the case due to a poor crimp. Unburned rifle powders certainly cost less than replacing a destroyed firearm from overcharging pistol powders or a telescoped bullet.

RESULTS (One Cartridge Two Weapons)

I get my best results and least chamber pressures when using Relodar 7 as a case capacity powder and using nearly any bullet from a 200gr to 240grs. BEST results are opinionated and I think a shooter should shoot at least 10 consecutive rounds and log the group measurement. Great grouping for a 44-40 @ 100 yards is 4" as well as 4", 6 shot group @ 25 yards for a revolver. Just my opinion based on historical documentation of the previous.

ADVANCED

All inside a 4" Group @ 100 Yards. Pressures estimated between 17,500 and 18,500 psi CIP respectively between the two different grain weight bullets. (Reloder 7)

EXAMPLES

Targets #205 and #206 using H-4198

Outpost75's Accurate Mold's 43-230G 235gr sized .429

Starline Brass

CCI-300 primers

Case - 1.292

Bullet - .647

AOL - 1.598Seat

Depth - .341

Est CIP Pressure - (MAX = 15,954 psi)

19,356 psi @ 40.00 H2O (Case Volumetric Measurements)

23,138 psi @ 41.40 H2O (Case Volumetric Measurements)

EXCEEDS MAX PRESSURES

both CIP and SAAMI

26gr H-4198