44 factory ammo chronographing

[mickbr]

So I tested 13 types of 44 factory ammo over a couple years and had it posted in different places on the net. Thought I would put it here too.
Gun is a 20" Rossi 92, Prochrono chrony at 5 yards from the muzzle. I only shot 3 shot strings and didnt calculate ES etc,

Some things I noted. Firstly a big difference between different 44 ammo off the shelf, no wonder fellas get mixed results in the field. Some ammo types are twice the power of others. Also the velocities printed on boxes need to be taken with a grain of salt. A lot dont match revolver nor carbine speeds, they sort of sit between them.

Anyhow, ranked in order of power( or Kinetic energy anyhow) weakest to strongest.

Blazer 240 grain JHP
Box velocity 1200fps.
Rossi Carbine: 1259, 1298, 1309fps. Average: 1288fps
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: Good power, be interesting to figure what barrel length the box claims relates to as thats hot velocity in most revolvers.

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 barrel they tested the box velocity in, as 1541 fps is a very heavy load for a pistol. Only 178fps gain in the 20" carbine suggests they had some mid length barrel setup at the factory.

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


PMC bronze 240 TCSP
Box Velocity: 1497fps
Rossi Carbine: 1700, 1763, 1756. Average 1739fps
Gain : 242fps
Kinetic Energy: 1612ftlbs
Notes: Comments for Geco and PPU apply regards the box claims of 1497fps. Is this pistol or carbine, it doesnt really fit for either. Maybe a TC with 12" barrel, who knows.

Magtech 240 SJSP
Box Velocity: 1180fps
Rossi Carbine: 1766, 1782, 1756. Average 1768fps
Gain: 588fps
Kinetic Energy: 1666ftlbs

Hornady 225 FTX
Box Velocity: 1410fps
Rossi Carbine: 1875, 1846, 1834. Average: 1851fps
Gain: 441fps
Kinetic Energy: 1712ftlbs
Notes: Recoil was greater than most of the 240 grain loads.


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.

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. Average 1918fps
Gain : 568fps
Kinetic Energy : 1961ftlbs
Notes: The current champ for power. Exceeds any handload data I have ever seen as well. Ive seen this chronied on youtube in revolvers and its more like 1450-1500fps, than 1350fps which explains the power with the carbine barrel.

The Hornady custom ammo is a serious load. Anyone saying the 30-30 is an equal to the 44 mag needs to try that one. The 240 XTP has a BC of .205 as well so its roughly equal to a lot of 30-30 bullets. the 30-30 aint catching up to it.

[Ray]

Most Interesting !

Good information !

[JimT]

If you have not read it, Dave Andrews (who was the head ballistician at Speer) wrote a good article years ago about the reasons for differences in velocity between guns.

https://www.leverguns.com/articles/ballisticians.htm

[Scott Tschirhart]

Thank you for posting this data. Very helpful.

[GunnyMack]

I have always taken published velocity data with a grain of salt. I have a chronograph but hardly use it as I'm more concerned about accuracy. If I don't like a powder/charges/ accuracy I'm go to the next powder. It took me almost 30 years of off and on combo's before I found a load my 257 Ackly Improved liked. I do remember trying Hornady 60gr flat points and getting over 4000 fps, nope not shooting those as they shot patterns but man those would have been a varmints worst nightmare!
When I got my Henry 41 mag I actually ran a bunch of loads over the chronograph and settled on a load that makes 1825+/- fps with 210's.

[Sarge]

Good stuff Mick and thanks for posting it.

[JBowen]

Thank you Mickbr. Good information.

JBowen

[Paladin]

Thank you for posting this data. Very helpful.

I agree, thank you.