Decided to try and develop a .44 Special load using 200-gr Hornady XTP bullets. You know, for zombies and the like...
***CHRONY DATA***
58 F, 30.04" Hg, 45%RH
.44 Special 200-gr Hornady XTP 1.476-1.483" COAL CCI-300LPP
Taurus Tracker with 4" ported barrel
HS-6 Powder:
8.0-gr - AVERAGE = 662 fps - ES = 6.8
8.5-gr - AVERAGE = 713 fps - ES = 49.2
9.0-gr - AVERAGE = 750 fps - ES = 83.6
IMR 4227 Powder:
14.5-gr - AVERAGE = 651 fps - ES = 16.2
15.0-gr - AVERAGE = 738 fps - ES = 117.4
15.4-gr - AVERAGE = 713 fps - ES = 89.3
15.8-gr - AVERAGE = 775 fps - ES = 53.4
That 15.8-gr IMR 4227 load looks like the best of the lot. The box of the Hornady bullets suggests 700fps minimum velocity. Might have to chrono this out of a 2" snubby to make sure it still develops 700 fps. I have no doubt that it will have plenty of velocity from a lever-action rifle platform but I am curious just what it will be.
Interesting aside - the bottom rung of each ladder showed remarkable velocity consistency (these are all 5-shot strings). Too slow to be useful, of course. I might have to try and develop some 200-gr cheapo/practice bullet loads with these two powders and see what sort of consistency I get. And before anybody asks, I am not going to expend a bunch more of these expensive bullets to get statistically significant data. You're just going to have to live with ES rather than SD.
.44 Special Hornady XTP 200-grain
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.44 Special Hornady XTP 200-grain
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Footsoldier in the Conservative Insurrection of the GOP.
Remember, only you can prevent big government!