In search of a more powerful 44spl carry load.

Check out Buffalo Bore Ammunition. Pricey, but it's potent & velocities are tested out of regular guns not long test barrels.

How about this or this http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=271

Or this http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=86

Yeah it is expensive but you can't exactly put a price on your well being.

8.0gr Unique under that Gold Dot will do the trick.

No, I've tested XTP's over that charge but never chrono'ed them.

I'm with the folks who suggested the 190 gr. Buffy load, above. The bullet is a gas-checked softer LSWCHP-nothing to dislike there-and 190 going 1000 fps from 2" is hard to dislike as well.

JMHO.

I've had a lot of positive experiences with Buffalo Bore ammo in other calibers. They have a lot of stout loads with lead bullets and they use Starline brass. Also it's available at places like Cabela's. I'm interested in their new hardcast .380 rounds and the new "manstopper" loads with those nasty wadcutters for my .45LCs.

I carry a 2" Taurus .44sp loaded with 210 g Win sthp loaded to 900 fps although they will not reach that but as a SD gun I dont care because all 5 are going to the PERP and I have speed loaders. This is a back pocket/ drivers door gun.I am replacing it in the carry mode with a 3" .45 acp as a carry gun.

Timely and interesting topic to me, as well. I shot my Rossi 720, in .44 Spcl/3"bbl./5-shot, at the range yesterday for the first time in many years.

Just to encourage myself to shoot this one again, I had picked up some GA Arms Speer 200 gr. Bonded Unicore HP's at a gun show. Listed velocity from Ga Arms is 850fps, I have not chronographed.

#1--Anyone have an opinion on this load, in this firearm? I do know to stay away from heavy loads, in this model; primarily thinking of it as a 'woods' carry piece, but also re-considering it for in-town carry.

#2--Also read the related threads--- am thinking the Cor-Bon DPX and the BB's may be too stout for this mfg.?

Thanks for insight/ advice.

I hate posting handloads but this one hit a nerve. My ole man developed and I chronographed a duty load for his Model 22 Smith. He took his time working up the load in small increments as every reloading manual recommends. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Starline Nickle plated brass virgin, CCI #350 Magnum primer, 13.5gr AA#7, 200gr Hornady XTP. 1.465 OAL

AGAIN DO NOT USE THIS LOAD IN AN OLDER SPECIAL LENGTH CYLINDER.

Out of a 7.5in Ruger Redhawk averaged 1150fps. My dad's 4in Model 22 averaged 1050-1100fps. The virgin nickle brass adds 25fps, I used regular Starline brass and lost some speed out of my Redhawk.

I'm not done tweaking this load. I plan on swapping out the magnum primer for a Winchester WLP to see if the ES numbers will come down. The ES was around 80-90fps, at 25 yards this won't make much of a difference.

Buffalo Bore is what you are looking for.

I think I have some chrono data for 200gr gold dots over 8.0 of Unique at home. I'll have to check tonight. As I recall 8.0gr was pushing most 200gr bullets at around 1000fps out of a 4" barrel.

That sounds about right.

I use Cor-Bon DPX XPB HPLF 200 grain, fresh out of the box. Out of my 624 with 3" barrel it's in the 905 to 920 fps range.

From Speer: We have a 200 grain 44 Special load whose bullet was designed expressly for 44 Special velocities. It expands at velocities as low as 780 ft/sec in our tests.
I'd like to see what your same lot of ammo would do out of a 4" tube just out of curiosity.

The Buffalo Bore looks like a great choice as long as you can deal with the recoil on follow up shots.

I think I would be calling Speer and discussing the results with them. They might be able to tell you whether your results seem reasonable for that particular load, whether they are abnormal and you have a bad lot of ammo (at which point you would hope they'd send you a replacement), and/or whether they have recommendations on what might be a better performing round for your particular launch platform.

My ammo is a slightly older lot in the old style box. I wonder if that has any bearing in this matter?

posted via tapatalk using android.[/QUOTE]

My first thought was no, but that would be dependent on how it was stored. Humidity etc..
The 190 grain Buf Bores will replace the ammo in my 624. This is a scaled up variation of my favorite .38Spl. load, the Rem 158Gr SWCHP +P

Quite a while ago I chrono'd some Remington 246 gr and some Federal 200 lhp 44 special ammo. Don't remember the numbers, but they were wimpy.
7.5 gr Unique and a 240 gr cast swc in a special case gives me 1050 fps from a 6" 44 mag. Might be a little warm in a 44 Special revolver, might be good with a 215 gr lswc.

Handload Caution:

My load for my Smith and Wesson 24-3 which is an N Frame with a 3" barrel is a 240g JHP XTP over 17g of 2400. I have chrono'd it at an average of 950 fps. It was a load in a gun mag when the new Ruger Blackhawk 44 specials first came out.

I would never shoot it in my 696 L Frame, but in the N Frame, it's a nice round.

CraigC said:

8.0gr Unique under that Gold Dot will do the trick.

Click to expand...

Yep, you need this one in that pistol. Guarantee it will make enough power for you.

DC Plumber said:

Handload Caution:

My load for my Smith and Wesson 24-3 which is an N Frame with a 3" barrel is a 240g JHP XTP over 17g of 2400. I have chrono'd it at an average of 950 fps. It was a load in a gun mag when the new Ruger Blackhawk 44 specials first came out.

I would never shoot it in my 696 L Frame, but in the N Frame, it's a nice round.

Click to expand...

Geez, that's a bit stiff. I have never gone over 16.0 gr and my favorite is 15.0 gr with a 250 gr LSWC.