Gary Reeder
I would stay with the 296/H-110, AA#9
Saturday, March 21, 2020, 11:23

or 1680 as WB mentioned and with those ball powders you will need a magnum primer. Here is where I disagree with WB. On ball powder loads, never use less than the starting loads in the loading manual, as that load with air in it as a vapor will blow up a gun quicker than a lightly compressed load will.Back a hundred years ago Lee Jurras sorta led me along by the nose in my reloading of magnum calibers. Lee was sorta the father of magnum loads in handguns and knew more than anyone else I knew at the time. Lee had his Super Vel ammo out and he gave me several of his loads. He said always use the powder that will mostly fill that case up and use a magnum primer. The loads he used were compressed loads and I never had one to fail me. He also impressed on me to never use a light load with powders like 296. H-110 and so on. A light load, with less than the starting load in the manual using 296 or H-110 will blow a gun up a lot quicker than a hot load.

For years I used Lee's 180 grain JHP in his Super Vel 44 Magnum ammo. I was also shooting a lot of 44 Auto Mag ammo back then and the powder charge pretty well filled the case up so it was highly compressed, and like the 44 Magnum I never had one fail me. Other high intensity calibers also do the same such as 454, 10mm, 50 AE, etc.

These are just my personal methods of loading hot hunting ammo so go by your loading manual and try those listings first. Just don't go lighter than the starting load and keep the air space in the case to a minimum.