44 Mag.-200gr. Boolit ?

[Bushrod]

I want to load 44 Magnum cases, using 7.0 grains of W-231,WLP primers, 200 grain RNFP cast boolit from Penn Bullets( sized .430) . Just was wondering what kind of velocity (FPS) I'd be getting out of a 7.5" Ruger SBH. My books don't show this exact load.Thought you guys might know a ballpark figure, or can direct me to a good source for the information.THANKS BUSHROD

[versifier]

That load is about 2gr below a Starting load for that powder/bullet weight. While 296 is not a ball powder, I don't like the idea of using any Winchester powder in a reduced load. At the recommended Starting load of 9.0gr, the book says you should be seeing velocities just over 900fps. That said, I have yet to meet any gun that can read, so the only way to really know is to use a chrono as actual velocities from individual firearms can and do vary considerably from test guns.

[kg42]

Have a look at HP38 in Hodgdon's data, they are the same powder (different lots I assume).
This will tell you more about loads than actual speed as they use test barrels most of the time.... I will check at home if the original Cowboy manual gave bbl length.

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

kg

[runfiverun]

if you are looking for cowboy loads i'd look to a faster powder like clays or titegroup.
i know 231 is in their speed range but it reacts a bit differently in lower amounts.
5 grs of clays should be right about 800 fps.

[kg42]

Hodgdon's Cowboy data with Titegroup was shot in a 8.275 barrel, lets assume the other powders used it too....

The old Hornady manual from the 80's listed 231 with their swaged 240 SWC, tested in a 7.5 Super Blackhawk:
6.5/7.0/7.4/7.8/8.2grs gave 800/850/900/950/1000fps