Testing 44 mag factory ammo speeds

[mickb]

Not sure if I ever posted this here, have put it up in a few sites.

Test gun was 20" barrel Rossi 1892 lever action in 44 mag.

Chrony was a prochrono- 5 yards from the barrel and then a Garmin C-1

Ranked in order of Kinetic Energy, weakest to strongest.

Blazer 240 grain JHP
Box velocity 1200fps.
Rossi 20" Carbine: 1259, 1298, 1309fps. Average: 1288fps
Winchester 24" Rifle:
Gain :88fps
Kinetic Energy 884ftlbs
Notes: Very underpowered, essentially like 44 special in a carbine. This was by far the lightest load tested. I knew when it went off it was low power as kick felt more like a 357 mag. Not sure what the real velocity from a pistol would be, probably subsonic.

Sellier and Bellot 240gnSP
Box velocity 1181fps
Rossi Carbine: 1546, 1574, 1564. Average: 1561fps
Gain: 380fps
Kinetic Energy: 1298ftlbs
Notes: Light load for 44 mag. I knew when this went off it was not full 44 power. it paralells load tests I did with 357 sellier bellot 158 grain bullets last year( which chronied slow, about 1500fps too).

Federal Premium 240grain Hydrashok Personal Defence
Box velocity: 1210fps
Rossi Carbine: 1648, 1640, 1656. Average: 1648fps
Gain: 438fps
Kinetic Energy: 1447ftlbs
Notes: This felt more like 44 mag should be. The velocity was not overly high, perhaps being a personal defence ammo choice its loaded with faster burning powder to make a handgun less blasty?

Geco 240gn Softppint
Box Velocity:1460fps
Rossi Carbine: 1709, 1687, 1683. Average 1693fps
Gain: 233fps
Kinetic Energy: 1527ftlbs
Notes: Such loads around 1700fps with 240 grain are what I consider 44 mag full power.

Federal American Eagle 240gn JHP
Box velocity: 1230fps
Rossi Carbine: 1687, 1696, 1698fps. Average: 1693fps
Gain : 463fps
Kinetic Energy : 1529ftlbs

PPU 240gn JHP
Box Velocity: 1541fps
Rossi Carbine: 1720, 1724, 1713. Average: 1719fps
Gain : 178fps
Kinetic Energy: 1575ftlbs
Notes: Noticed more recoil at this level. Like with the Geco not sure what they tested the box velocity in, as 1541 fps is over max for a pistol, yet well under normal carbine power. I think the box claims need to be taken with a grain of salt or they are using some wierd barrel length like 12" for their tests

Winchester Bigbore 240 grain HP
Box Velocity: 1485fps
Rossi Carbine: 1728, 1720, 1756. Average: 1736fps
Gain : 251fps
Kinetic energy : 1606ftlbs
Notes: Consistent velocities, low extreme spreads.

PMC bronze 240 TCSP
Box Velocity: 1497fps
Rossi Carbine: 1700, 1763, 1756. Average 1739fps
Gain : 242fps
Kinetic Energy: 1612ftlbs
Notes: Another ammo where the box claim doesnt really match pistol speeds nor cabine speeds, sort of sits in the middle. Manufacturers likely using their own length special pressure barrels for testing

Magtech 240 SJSP
Box Velocity: 1180fps
Rossi Carbine: 1766, 1782, 1756. Average 1768fps
Gain: 588fps
Kinetic Energy: 1666ftlbs.
Note, not that I have tried it but I know two blokes who dont like this ammo due to poor expansion at range. Test it yourselves.

Hornady 225 FTX
Box Velocity: 1410fps
Rossi Carbine: 1875, 1846, 1834. Average: 1851fps
Gain: 441fps
Kinetic Energy: 1712ftlbs
Notes: Noticeably more powerful. Recoil was greater than most of the 240 grain loads. Hornadies box velocity from a pistol marries up with the added gain from a carbine, 441fps.


Hornady 200 XTP factory custom
Box velocity: 1500fps
Rossi Carbine: 1996, 2002, 2014. Average 2004 fps
Gain : 504fps
Kinetic Energy : 1783ftlbs
Notes: When this went off I knew it was stout as despite being a lighter bullet recoil was similar to heavy 240 grain loads. Hornadys box velocity marries up with the carbine speed, 500fps increase for the longer barrel. Consistent ammo, tight spreads, my Rossi likes this ammo the most, shot about 2.5" group at 100 yards.

Remington UMC 180 Grain JSP
Box velocity: 1610fps.
Rossi Carbine: 2133, 2154, 2168. Average :2152fps
Gain : 542fps
Kinetic Energy : 1851ftlbs!
Notes: A lot of power in this little offering, equalling top handloads.

Hornady Custom 240gn XTP
Box Velocity: 1350fps
Rossi Carbine: 1914, 1926, 1914fps, 1785fps Average 1884fps
Gain : 534fps
Kinetic Energy : 1892ftlbs
Notes: Very High power but I found it can throw as many as 1 shot in 5 or 6 as 1780fps, which is an extreme spread of 120fps or so. I told Hornady about it as other users on youtube were showing the same result, and wont use this ammo anymore myself. Not that it wont work, but its a bit sloppy for the premium price. For the record the 200 grain XTP Hornady custom load before it in the list has much tighter spreads.

The heavyweight champ to date:
Fiocchi 240 grain SJSP
Box Velocity
Rossi Carbine: 1891, 1912, 1908, 1917, 1910. Average 1908 fps
Kinetic Energy: 1940ftlbs!
Notes: Most powerful found, suprising power from a cheaper ammo and very tight extreme spread of only 25fps! This equals or exceeds top handloads possible. Note I havent tried this SJSP in the field but it has a generous wide flat point -Im betting it sets up some slap damage when it hits. Not sure how well it expands but might be worth a look.


Findings.
A lot of power variance between different ammo types. Some are twice the power of others. This is where people can get disgruntled. A bloke hunting with Blazer or S&B for example will be dissappointed the 44 isnt living up to its name.

The velocity on the packet is meant to equate pistol velocities but it sometimes sits in between what you would expect for pistol and carbine speeds. Obviously manufacturers use their own length pressure barrels, take whats on the box with a grain of salt in other words.

44 bullet types have different expansion characteristics. The yanks who shoot big game with handguns, dont mind drilling holes through an elk and following it up. Aussies often prefer more positive expansion and faster kills on mobs. Do your homework on the bullets you choose.

[bigrich]

thanks for posting that , very informative . you REALLY like 44mag i suspect . further posts on bullet performance in the field would be appreciated . have you used the 30-30 much on game to form a performance comparison between it and the 44mag ? cheers

[Wapiti]

We use that Fiocci ammo in the Blackhawk pistol around the paddocks, and man it hits hard.
Hits in the hand too, just quietly.
Have no idea what the velocity is in a 5-1/2" barrel, but to us who cares, we aren't using velocity in a ballistics calculator for long range drop.
On pigs out of a handgun, the results are identical to the excellent 240gn SP PPU.
We can and used to handload for .44mag, but don't bother now.

I suggest people give it a go, I'd be keen to see how it goes from a 16"-20" barrel lever gun, better than from a pistol I'd imagine.