Are H110 loads ok in a 29?

[76gt80]

H110 and 240 grain XTP. 23 to 23.5 loads are fine in a SBH and RH, are they OK for occasional use in a Mountain Gun and or a scoped full length 29?

[bradshaw]

Oct 12, 2016 1:31:40 GMT -5 76gt80 said:

H110 and 240 grain XTP. 23 to 23.5 loads are fine in a SBH and RH, are they OK for occasional use in a Mountain Gun and or a scoped full length 29?

***

H110----Hodgdon packaging of Winchester 296----defines top accuracy in the .44 Magnum. IMR and Hodgdon 4227, and Hercules and Alliant 2400, produce accuracy basically the equal of 296/H110.

Drop one or two grains below the standard full house charge of 24 grains of 296/H110 over a 240 grain jacketed----keeps a smile on that Smith & Wesson Model 29. To reduce the top charge one or two grains doesn't hurt accuracy, nor introduce freak pressure. In fact, the old Hornady 200 JHP (pre-XTP), seated over 22/H110 yields top accuracy from a proper Smith @ 100 yards. And does so at a pressure level conducive to long service life in a fine S&W. In my experience on game, Nosler's .44 200 and 240 grain Jacketed Hollow Points with pure lead core mimic the original Hornady JHP's.

(This shooter happens to like those old bullets. And, in 1977, wandered into my first IHMSA match, no idea what I was getting into, drew my 6-1/2 M-29 and commented to level steel with that pistol's deer----Hornady 240 JHP seated over 22/H110, with CCI 350 mag pistol primer. Brass was Winchester or Remington, probably Winchester; certainly not Norma, which was more brittle and corroded faster in belt loops.)

Shot in quantity, the .44 Mag loaded full house with 296/H110, IMR or H4227, or Hercules or Alliant 2400 will shorten the service life of an M-29. Full house loads don't bother a Ruger Super Blackhawk.

I have great affection for a Model 29 in four inch, 6-1/2", and 8-3/8-inch. Do not care for the skinny-barrel Mountain Gun. Packed the 4-inch 29 yesterday for several hours of steep hiking. (A Model 27 .357 wears the tapped barrel perfectly, a oomplete aesthetic statement on the old N-frame, as are fixed sight chambering in .38 and .44 Special with the front sight looking like a nickel sawed in half.
David Bradshaw

[76gt80]

Thank you Mr Bradshaw, just finished loading up 50 240 Grain XTPs and an equal amount of older Speer JHPs with 23 very carefully measured (powder trickler) grains of H110. I'll report back soon.