Would you shoot these hand loads?

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mrawesome22

New member
Hello all. I was at work last week and was talking guns with a fellow co-worker. I mentioned I had a 44RemMag and that I was a reloader. He tells me that he used to own a 44RemMag and has a bunch of brass I can have. So I tell him that I would greatly appreciate it and he brings them in the next day. He brings me about 150 once fired and 26 live rounds. The box with the live rounds had a Speer reloading sticker on it which read: Cartridge 44, bullet 240gr (manufacturer and model not specified), powder 24gr H110 (max Hodgdon load), primer CCI (magnum or standard not specified). So I asked him where these came from and he tells me that they were made at Custom Cartridges in Cambridge, OH. So I start inspecting them and right off the bat I notice one round that was longer than some of the others. But I thank him for them and take them home. I got out the caliper and started measuring. The bullets are .430" diameter, and look like XTP's. OAL's are all over the place from a low of 1.592" to a high of 1.618", and about half have the primers seated too high. They wobble badly when sat on a flat surface. And the brass is very corroded. I would be ashamed to sell something that looked like this stuff. Another thing, would YOU sell MAX CHARGE loads to someone you didn't even know, let alone you wouldn't even know the gun it was going to be shot out of? Here is a picture.
DSC00168.jpg
 
J

joneb

New member
I would not shoot those reloads :eek: I would take them apart and reload the bullets and brass only. The Hornady .44 cal XTP's are .430 dia. Geese I guess the reloader of those cartridges didn't have a case trimmer, or a clue :confused:
 
Z

zxcvbob

New member
I think I'd pull the bullets, reseat the primers, and reload that brass pretty light the first time. (Maybe 3/4 power loads using Unique or Bullseye.) Then polish 'em up and inspect to see how bad the corrosion really is.

The bullets are probably fine, and those are expensive bullets. It'd be a shame to waste them. I would not fire those rounds as-is.
 
G

Goldy

New member
If they were mine, I'd pull the bullets and chuck the cases. I don't trust cases with corrosion . I think it degrades the strength of the brass. There maybe a reason the primers are not flush and the bullets are pushed up. Powder might be degrading.

Not worth the chance. Just save the bullets.

goldy
 
H

Hawg

New member
From the pics it looks like the cases weren't trimmed. I don't shoot anybodys reloads but my own. I don't care who they are or how long they've been reloading. I will not do it.
 
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Mal H

Staff
Yes, I'd fire them. That is the term you use when you no longer need someone or something, isn't it?

I wouldn't hesitate to chamber them ...
in my inertial bullet puller and pull every single one of them.

Those are a disaster looking for a place to go off. Too many things might be wrong with them.
 
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bigautomatic

New member
Definately looks like XTPs, but who knows about the rest of the load. Pull the bullets, dump the powder, and fire them with only the primer. Tumble the brass until all the corosion is gone, and inspect it carefully before reloading it.
But, is all this and your safety really worth 26 cases? I would pull the bullets, dump the powder and fire the primers just to make them safe, and put my efforts towards the 150 once fired cases. 150 cases moderately loaded will last a very long time.
 
C

CPTMurdoc30

New member
Goldy said:
If they were mine, I'd pull the bullets and chuck the cases. I don't trust cases with corrosion .
Click to expand...

I am in 150% total agrement with that statement right there. I might try the two middle ones but if the guy cant seat a primer how accurate was the powder charge?
 
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bigautomatic

New member
CPT-I just noticed the two center rounds that you pointed out. They are definately different than all the others. Much more groove showing, less corrosion, etc. They look like they came from a different batch. I still wouldn't shoot them either though.
 
M

mrawesome22

New member
I figured I was going to get these kinds of responses. Thank you all and I will be pulling the bullets and dumping the powder. I'm curious to find out what the charge weights in these things will be. If the variations in OAL and primer seating are any indication, I'm probably going to be seeing anywhere from 20 to 25 grains of powder. Maybe this guy needs a friendly phone call to let him know what I think of his work?

EDIT: Yes, I put the two longest in there as an eye popper.
 
M

Mal H

Staff
Actually the OAL variations you found aren't that big of a deal. You'll find variations in most commercially produced ammo. For the rounds in question, as long as the crimp is in the cannelure (and it looks like it is), then the OAL is satisfactory. When handloading, we try to be a little more careful than that, but it won't make much difference in either pressure variations or muzzle velocity.
 
W

WSM MAGNUM

New member
Who ever loaded them did sloppy work. Makes you wonder about how consistent the powder charge is. That would be the bigger reason why I would not shoot them.
Pull the bullets, dump the powder, and fire off the primers. Then reload using the bullets that you pulled if you can identify them.
 
S

saudst

New member
Kaboom!!

Just like we are all saying here, anything but fireing them. I lost a Super Blackhawk by fireing the same primer problem when I was 19. The cartrage to the right of the chamber hit against the breach and went off as well destroying the gun. Pull the bullets or toss them is what I would do.

Be safe.
 
D

DEDON45

New member
The max charge alone normally wouldn't stop me in a Ruger, T/C, or a Freedom Arms pistol... normally I'd say fire one and see what the primer looked like afterwards (pressure signs)... BUT... given the other issues you've seen so far (high primers, etc.) I don't know that I'd trust the consistency of the powder charge at all. In this case, I'd be pulling bullets and saving them (weigh a few to make sure they're fairly consistent), fertilize the yard with the powder, and deprime the brass ... whether or not to keep the brass, well, that's a judgement call there.
 
O

Ozzieman

New member
If what the box said is true, the load of 24 GR of H110 is very close to max.
The Speer reloading manual number 10 states that 24.4 is the max load for H110 for a 240 GR bullet.
When you pull them, I would check one for powder weight just to see how "BAD" they are.
Corroded brass is not something that I will shoot through a magnum gun, it’s just not worth the price of a gun or a body part.
 
S

ShootingNut

New member
Get Out The Shovel

Dig a hole 24" minimum, and bury the suckers, it ain't worth anyones time messing around with them. In my opinion more trouble than the casings are worth, or potential problems they may cause.
 
T

The Lovemaster

New member
Pull the bullets, put all the powder in one pile, and light while keeping one's face as far away as possible.

Hey what's better than burning free powder?:D
 
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