What can you tell me about Win 244 ball?

[308Loader]

Powders have been hard to find as you all well know. LGS had some 244 ball – win clean *handgun powder on the shelf. On an impulse I picked up a can. As usual with an impulse buy, I did some basic home work later. Want to know the general consciences on this powder. Loading for 9mm-45ACP. Might be too slow for 32ACP? With things the way they are right now, didn’t want to pass on an opportunity.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I don't know much about it, but Hodgdon's site lists loads for .25 ACP and .32 S&W Long, which makes me think that it would also be suitable for .32 ACP; maybe there's just no load development for it yet.

Given the range of cartridges for which there's data on the Hodgdon site, it seems that it's going to be fairly versatile, but looking at the data for .357 and .44 mags, it's definitely not a powder for loading to the top of magnum performance.

That makes me think, burn wise, it's closer to WW 231.

 

[MarkCO]

I have a bunch of .45ACP loaded with it for testing, just been too cold the last 2 weeks.

Looks and meters like N320, so hopeful.

Should have some data next week.

 

[Unclenick]

Looking at their .380 and 45 Auto data, 244 max loads produce a little more velocity. In most instances, its charge weight is higher, but for a couple of the heavier 45 Auto loads it is equal or lighter charge weight, but still produced more velocity. So, apparently, its burning characteristics are somewhat different than 231, even if their relative burn rate chart only has them separated by one powder.

 

[Mike Irwin]

" So, apparently, its burning characteristics are somewhat different than 231..."

welll.....

Yeah.

If its burning characteristics were the same as 231... it would be 231.

 

[ballardw]

I suspect that given the position that 244 occupies on Hodgdon's burn rate chart, two positions slower than 231, and the comparisons of loads that show both 244 and 231 that they are pretty comparable. The 32 ACP loads in the 2021 Hodgdon manual with exactly 1 bullet are exactly the same as in the 2011 manual. The 2018 manual where 244 was introduced only shows some loads, no actual write up of what it is supposed to do other than "mid-range" loads in a number of pistol cartridges.

I suspect there just isn't a lot of 32ACP load developing going on at Hodgdon. Maybe letter of interest would get some response.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"I suspect there just isn't a lot of 32ACP load developing going on at Hodgdon."

Which is sort of surprising given that they do show loads for .32 Long -- 3 bullet weights, IIRC.

 

[308Loader]

Update…
Finally got around to shooting this powder. Picked a middle of the road charge weight (min 5.1-max5.6) of 5.3 with berry’s 230gr RN, COL of 1.255. It shot and cycled well in my RI-1911 GI. As far as clean… Meh… cases weren’t sooty, had burn marks on one side. Not disappointed in the performance. Will need to do a more through testing from min to max with chronograph to see where I am really at.