Load for a Desert Eagle 44 magnum

[tmjohnson]

I am the proud new owner of a Desert Eagle in 44 magnum and need a load. The only powder I have is 296 and the bullets are lead 215 gr.
Does anybody have a minimum to medium load using Win 296 and lead bullets. I want the load to be strong enough to work the action but not a full power load.
Thanks for the help

[Hoser]

25-26 gns should get you close. Large Pistol Magnum primers and Remington brass.

Desert Eagles like loads on the warm side if you want it to function.

Slow powders like 296/110 should not be reduced too much because you can get hangfires and other funky (bad) stuff.

[spqrzilla]

As Hoser says, most of the time you find H110 / WW296 (the same exact powder) data with a narrow range between starting and full power loads. In fact, when the powder first came out, Winchester just published a single load at max and said don't deviate from that. H110 / WW296 likes to burn at high pressure and gets hinky in reduced loads. I'd try around 25 grains as Hoser said.

[Zombie Steve]

As the fellas have said, H110, 296, N110 are what I like to call dragster powders. The throttle is open or closed. 2400 might sacrifice 50+ fps on the top end, but you'll have much more wiggle room.

Anyway, Lyman 49 has a 210 cast bullet (#429215) with 25.5 - 27 grains of 296, CCI 350 (magnum) primer and Remington brass. What kind of profile is your lead bullet?

[tmjohnson]

Bullet is SWC. Cast from Wheel weights and water dropped. I think the bullets should be plenty hard enough. If I get leading I can put a Gas check on.
I'll load 25 grains of Win296 with heavy roll crimp in Winchester brass and see how that runs.

[tmjohnson]

I did a little research and apparently IMI says shooting lead bullets in a Desert Eagle is big NO NO!!! Leading will plug up gas system

[Zombie Steve]

Forgot about the gas system.... Never had a Desert Eagle. Only ever shot .44 mag from revolvers.