[Gusto7670]

I bought a new 357 Mag. and went to the range to shoot it and a 44 Mag. that I have. I noticed a lot of smoke from the reloads that I was shooting but not from the factory ammo. The 357 mags were loaded 17 years ago with 148g l-wc and 2.9g of bullseye. I didn't check the velocity but, it was less than the remington factory loads.
The 44 mags were also loaded 17 years ago with 240g l-sw and 18-8g of 2400 for an average of 1091 fps. They shot real well, about what you would expect, but just more smoke than I expected. Could the powded have deteriated and not have burned as it should?

 

[RBC]

Maybe it's the type of lube used on the lead bullets...?... That's my best guess.
Bob

 

[Dan Schuttig]

It's probably an older soft lube, like lyman's "ideal". I use that one a lot and sometimes it looks like black powder. well, maybe not that bad but you get the point. Take one apart and see if the lube is really soft.

 

[Motor]

Like the others said, "It's probably the lube". I have seen lead in the air though from too hot loads in my rifle but it's a kind of grey smoke and one look in the barrel will tell you. So if they didn't lead the barrel and maintained accuracy I'd say lube.

Oh. I don't know where whoever loaded those got their data but my 1985 Hornady manual has a MAX LOAD of 14.4gr 2400 with a 240 semi wadcutter at 1000 fps. This was of course with a Hornady soft lead bullet. A hard cast may hold up to the load you posted. I would be checking my barrel for leading if I were you.
Motor

 

[Dan Schuttig]

Motor,
Are you sure that isn't the 44 Special data? Elmer keith's famous 44 Spec load was 16 grs 2400 behind his 429421 SWC. Most people say that this is a little to hot, for one thing 2400's formula is apparently different and I think that he used ballon head cases, so 14 would be the highest I would go unless I was using a 44 mag. Just my thoughts...

 

[Motor]

Motor,
Are you sure that isn't the 44 Special data? Elmer keith's famous 44 Spec load was 16 gr 2400 behind his 429421 SWC. Most people say that this is a little to hot, for one thing 2400's formula is apparently different and I think that he used balloon head cases, so 14 would be the highest I would go unless I was using a 44 mag. Just my thoughts...

Dan,
Yes I'm sure it is 44 Rem. Mag data. My New Hornady manual does not list 2400 for the 240 lead bullet but it does list 9 powders all of which are 1000 fps MAX. Like I said though this is with their bullets which are swaged lead and are nearly as soft as pure lead. I know I had some. So a harder alloy could easily hold up. I know 4.4gr over max sounds like a lot but in the 44 mag using 2400 it's not. The jacketed bullet loads go much higher with the same bullet weight. I would still be checking my barrel for lead if it were me though.
Motor

 

[Dan Schuttig]

I would imagine that the max has a lot to do with the fact that the bullets are swaged. I use cast wheel weights for the 44, but cast stuff has a whole lot more room for lube than a lot of those swaged ones I've seen so maybe that's it. Just out of curiosity I checked one of my old ideal manuals from the 60's and it list 18.0 for special and 23.0 for mag as max. Holy smokes batman!!

 

[Gusto7670]

I checked my data and this is what I have:

Source Bullet Wt.(lead) Max. Powder Velocity
Alliant 225 S-WC GC 21 Gr. 1482
Alliant 250 Keith 20 Gr. 1390
Lyman 240 linotype 20.6 Gr. 1258
Lyman 245 linotype 20.6 Gr. 1245

My Hornady book didn't list 2400 powder only for the T/C Contender which was 22.8 Gr. at 1700 fps, which is excessive for a S & W or Ruger.
I will be checking the barrels as soon as I can.
I do appreciate all of the information. Although I have loaded over 18,000 rounds, I still have a lot to learn.