I think i sent er a little too hard.

[BigBoss6474]

Hey yall! I loaded up some .44 mag to try out of a 6 inch Super Blackhawk. After inspecting my brass I think I've got head seperation and some flattened primers. The casings also flared against the chamber and gave me some trouble ejecting. I followed Noslers reloading guide 8 and the load data is as follows
300gr projectile
20.0 IMR 4227
Hornaday large pistol magnum primers
OAL within normal limits (don't remember exact)
Crimp set to quarter turn after contact with mouth
My question is what went wrong? Is there something wrong with my gun? Too much crimp? Load data isn't safe? Any help would be appreciated guys

 

[pirate ammo]

The 44Mag. data I use is 19.5GR H110 with the Nosler 300Gr with a fair crimp.Your at max I'm below and we have never had any problems and may be a bit faster than yours.And
we're using Large pistol primers Winchester.

 

[Bill K]

Did you just go with the near max or max load ? If so, that is your problem, that load is too hot for your revolver and it's chamber. Start with some, at least 1 1/2 grain loads and work up in your revolver..

 

[Cap'n]

Were you using the Nosler 300 gr bullet? The Nosler data says you're at a compressed charge with 4227 at 19.0 grains with their bullet. Did you work up to the max load or just pluck it from the manual? Sierra suggests the minimum COAL with their 300 grain bullet be 1.735", a full .125" longer than the SAAMI max 1.610". Maybe because of reduced case capacity with these larger bullets?

 

[danny]

Did you just go with the near max or max load ? If so, that is your problem, that load is too hot for your revolver and it's chamber. Start with some, at least 1 1/2 grain loads and work up in your revolver..

Isn't it more efficient to do it that way rather than playing around with all of those low powered loads???



Danny

 

[pirate ammo]

Isn't it more efficient to do it that way rather than playing around with all of those low powered loads???



Danny

Max load,wrong firearm = severe pain.Start below and work up.

 

[pirate ammo]

Hornaday large pistol magnum primers

Didn't know Hornady made primers.

 

[stacy]

WOW THATS A STIFF LOAD

 

[SSL]

Looks like the primers are pierced too as well as being well and truly flattened, from the looks of the photos. The Nosler data is for their jacketed HP and is meant to be used starting with the lowest charge and carefully working up. If you used a different bullet the problem is increased, particularly if you used a cast bullet, which commonly places more surface area against the bore. This can create much higher pressures than with jacketed bullets. That is the reason that most cast bullet loads list maximum loads that are less than those for jacketed bullets of the same weight.

 

[pirate ammo]

My question is what went wrong? Is there something wrong with my gun? Too much crimp? Load data isn't safe? Any help would be appreciated guys

All of the above.

 

[edwardware]

Those primers are flat, but not disastrously so. Head separations are not a thing that happens in straight-wall cartridges. Trouble ejecting is a hint that you should take. . . and Hornady doesn't make primers.

All in all, reduce charge.

No level of crimp makes a whit of difference to peak pressure, only starting pressure. Crimp isn't your problem, charge weight is. Maybe record-keeping too.

On the primers: I've worked up loads that flattened primers like that. . . but I worked them up, on purpose. I didn't stumble on it in the dark.

 

[Mad_Charlie]

Was there a film of oil in your chambers? The cases have that "oily" chamber look to them.

 

[oley55]

Was there a film of oil in your chambers? The cases have that "oily" chamber look to them.

^^^^what he said^^^^

 

[BigBoss6474]

Was there a film of oil in your chambers? The cases have that "oily" chamber look to them.

I just cleaned it, I didn't notice a film, but this gun has been pickled for years so there's a better than likley chance there was something. Grandpa always swore by tranny fluid.

 

[BigBoss6474]

thanks yall, luckily no firearms or people were hurt in the making of this video. Lessons learned: don't just fucking send it at max because "its a sturdy revolver"

 

[Zero333]

The big problem is you used Hodgdon's data for a 300 gr bullet that's 0.830" long but you loaded a 300 gr bullet that's 0.976" long.
Which reduced the usable case capacity. And if you loaded it shorter than 1.600" then you reduced the case capacity even more so.

You're 300 gr Nosler load probably doubled the PSI of Hodgdon's data with the 300 XTP.

But that goes to show how amazingly strong these revolvers are.

 

[danny]

thanks yall, luckily no firearms or people were hurt in the making of this video. Lessons learned: don't just fucking send it at max because "its a sturdy revolver"

So, you just loaded up for the maximum load right from the get go, then proceeded to let them fly?

Danny

 

[linebaugh]

Do you own a chrony? That load in a 6" bbl should be 1250-1275 depending on how tight the cylinder gap and bore are as well as other factors. A chrony will tell you whats going on and if you don't see bigger numbers You are prolly just fine.
I would personally not be so quick to judge that you are over pressure and many factory chambered rugers have casings come out that look just like your side profile pic. I've shot gobs and gobs of them. Even the primers look normalish for full power factory revolver loads. There are many assumptions being made that apply more to rifle bottleneck cartridges that don't apply apples to apples for straight wall and revolver chambers.

4227 is an awesome powder and I use it more than H110/WW296. It seems to have a very stable pressure curve according to my chrony results and you wont see "spikes" within reason. That said a grain over is not going to take you from 40k to 60kpsi and I am not sure you are even over to begin with.

Rugers are hella stout guns but that does not mean you should overload. Full tilt 300 gr 44 mag loads in a blackhawk will kick the living shit out of you. That's a harsh combo and not for the faint of wrist and it certainly gives the impression that you are overloaded.
Primer setback due to cylinder play gives the impression/reality of a flatter primer that is not necessarily pressure related.
That side profile case signature is common due to the solid brass base and thicker tapering brass walls near the base of the casing.
Crimping has more to do with getting magnum pistol powder lit and a more uniform ignition and keeping heavy magnum bullets from jumping crimp than it does with overall pressure. It does aid in building initial uniform pressure which then adds to overall pressure but it helps to keep in mind that there is "typically" a significant bullet jump from seated depth to the chamber throat. Even at your chamber throat the bullet is undersize or the same diameter at best and it really does not meet any resistance to speak of until it hits the forcing cone of the barrel.
Sticky extraction probably means your brass or cylinders are dirty or poorly machined and may also come from powder residue. Brass contracts after expansion and you would really need to be doing some bad stuff to get enough pressure to see stuck cases.
I'm not sure case head seperation is a thing on straight wall cases but someone else would need to answer that question.
In conclusion you really need to run some rounds over a chrony to get an idea of whats going on. If you want more performance and less pressure go to h110/ww296. If you want even more performance go to high quality cast gas check bullets that fill the cylinder and offer more case capacity.