[C-grunt]

I know I can load 44 spec in my SBH. What about the 44 russians and 44 colt?

Thanks.

[Oro]

.44 Russian yes, .44 Colt, no.

Finding load data with smokeless powder for .44 Russian will be hard, but possible. There is data with FFFg, though. I think Taffin listed some .44 Russian loads with various popular powders.

[calaverasslim]

Yes, you can generally shoot all 4 in your SBH. The 44 Russian, 44 special and 44 mag all have the same rim while the 44 Colt does not. However, you should be able to shoot the 44 Colt without any problems. The bullet diameters are the same.

Speer #13 and #14 list load date for the 44 Russian while I am not sure about the rest of the load books available

The 44 Colt data is available on line at the Hodgdon reload data center. You do need a different shell holder for the 44 Colt but the shell holder for the 44 mag and special will work for the Russian.

I strongly recommend cast bullets for the Colt and Russian but use the jacketed if you like.

Good luck

[Stainz]

I load a 240gr LSWC or 240gr LRNFP over 3.5-4.2 gr Titegroup in a .44 Russian case for fun. I keep a lot of them loaded at the lower end - 3.5gr - because it is a to-be-experienced load. Producing 692 fps from my 3" 696, while eeking out 735 fps from my 4" 629, it makes 'Major power factor', ie, over 165 PF, from the 696. It's hard to imagine that when you shoot it, of course. While showing this to some IPSC competitor friends at the range, the shock was not met with a bunch of conversions to the 3" 5-shooter so loaded.

I guess it would come as no shock to learn that at the 4.2gr level of Titegroup, my .44 Russian loads were well into Special performance. The modern Russian cases are just short Special cases in construction, fully capable of more than the SAAMI pressure specs for the old black powder round, even if they should never be used in an old .44 Russian bp designed revolver.

One caveat re using a .44 Russian case in a Special or Magnum chamber - but particularly in a Magnum chamber. The carbon and lead residue left at the case crimp opening forward in the chamber will make longer cartridge insertion difficult - and can slow the crimp opening in a longer cartridge, too. This latter result, in combination with a fast powder, like Titegroup, can cause a possibly disastrous pressure spike. Don't ask me how I know this first-hand, but it involves sending what once was my beloved 629MG back to S&W in a body bag, dissassembled into pieces in a manner never intended. Clean your chamber bores well before going back to Magnums!

Stainz

[Oro]

The bullet diameters are the same.


They are, I think, with the Black Hills loading, but historically .44 Colt rounds are .443, larger than the .429 of the other .44's (Russian, S&W Special, and Remington Magnum). If you load the smaller .44 special diameter rounds in the .44 brass, it will work. The brass will work in the chamber despite the smaller rim.

This is analogous to .45 colt's "morphing." Prior to WWII, it was a .454 diameter bullet, becoming .451 afterwards for commanality with the .45acp. Modern bullets don't shoot as well (but will soot) in pre-war guns.

From what I understand, real ".44 Colt" basically disappeared by WWII and modern guns made with that label are really just ".44 shorts" using .44 bullets and trimmed cases.

Whatever you do, don't try a .44-40 - they aren't compatible. It shouldn't fit as the case is slightly longer even than a .44 magnum.

[PRM]

I love the .44 Russian in Black Powder. One of the most accurate rounds I shoot. I had mine reloaded with 245 grain semi-wad-cutters pushed by 23 grains of GOEX FFFG. I started shooting them in an original No 3 S&W. Got offered a price I could not turn down and in a moment of "clouded thinking" sold it. I now shoot Russians in a custom built Colt Bisley (.44 Special). Great round and a lot of fun.