44 Special Pet Loads???

[Float Pilot]

The little target in the middle is 200 grain Hornady XTPs with 7.1 grains of HP-38. they were going 830 fps from m 2 inch bbl.

[Float Pilot]

I have some 180 grain XTPs to try this weekend as I wait for the new cast hollow base slugs.

I tried a CCI-300 primers with one load compared to the orignal test load using Winchester Large Pistol primers.

207 grain semi-wadcutter GC
6.3 grains TiteGroup
WW Brass, Roll crimp

Average of ten shots

Winchester Large Pistol = 885 fps

CCI-300 primer = 825 fps

[the Black Spot]

I have a few to test this weekend as well..going to try some Bullseye and 240 and 210 gr cast bullets, then further testing with same bullets and 2400.

Anyone used lilgun powder in the special?

Did u mean to skip your group size in last post?

[jibjab]

Anyone used lilgun powder in the special?

No.
Black Spot, what gun are you shooting ?
In 44spl the slowest powder I have found favor with for 240gr jacketed is AA#7 I have had my eye out for True blue but no one carries it in my area

[the Black Spot]

I have a bridgeport model charter bulldog 44 special, and a uberti cattleman 44 special.

I tried 9 gr of bluedot with a 240 tl cast bullet in my bulldog. Group was under 3" at 15 yds. The last four bullets in the grouping went through the paper sideways. When I load these bullets backwards they shoot strait.
The 5 gr of Bullseye with the 240 gr did not shoot very tight groups, about 4" at 15 yds.

[jibjab]

For 240gr cast bullets its hard to beat Unique.

[Float Pilot]

Did u mean to skip your group size in last post?

My notes are not so great but neither where the groups. It was the end of the day, the sun was not at a good angle and to make matters worse,, my neighbor from down the road managed to cut his hand wide open..... But he did not notice because his hands were freezing up...

The target was at 25 yards and I blasted 10 shots of each load and only wrote down the velocity average. I did managed to keep all 20 shots in the upper chest area of a IPSC target. But that was about as good as I could do at the time.

I just bought a can of POWER PISTOL..(on election night, along with a bunch of other stuff.).. That might not be too bad.... I was also thinking about Lil-Gun but there is not much data and I worry about the pressures in this alloy framed gun...

[Float Pilot]

Took a couple hours away from chores today... ( Attic re-insulation and new vapor barrier...yuck)

Decided to try a can of POWER PISTOL from the 2.1 inch barreld Taurus M-445

180gr Hornady XTP-HP, WW Brass, WLP, Roll crimp into cannelure.
9.2 grains POWER PISTOL = 920 fps and a 3 inch group (which was 6 inches low at 15 yards. ) Dirty,,,, Not impressed.

207gr Lead SWC-HP with gas check, WW Brass, WLP, Roll crimp into top groove.
8.6 grains POWER PISTOL = 915 fps and a 1.0 inch group near point of aim at 15 yards. clean,,, GOOD LOAD

240gr Keith Semi wadcutter. WW Brass, WLP, Roll crimp into top groove.
8.0 grains POWER PISTOL = 875 fps and a 3/4 inch group 1 inch to the left.
Stout recoil. Probably a little hot for an alloy gun. At elast for extended use. The primers look fine. Clean. Best velocity from a 2.1 inch barrel, for this bullet weight.
SUPER LOAD

In an effort to get the 180 grain XTPs going faster I tried Tite Group

180gr Hornady XTP-HP, WW Brass, WLP, Roll crimp into cannelure.
6.6 grains Tite Group... = 807 fps and a 3 inch group.
Only a 5 fps spread. no smoke, very clean..... I think that this gun just hates these jacketed bullets... not the powder.

[the Black Spot]

Brian pearce has high praise for that 8 gr power pistol load. He listed it in the under 15,500 psi category in a handloader mag article on 44 specials.

I hope to try some more loads with 200 gr cast bullets and 2400 and Bullseye.

I may try to trade my lilgun powder for some unique.

[Float Pilot]

It looks like POWER PISTOL (sounds like a 1970s porn movie) burns about like Unique...
It meters real well.

This 8.0 grain load pushing a 240 grains Keith at 875 fps gives it 408 foot pounds of muzzle energy.

[3006mv]

5.5 red dot w/ lee 240 tl out of new charter arms gets me under 810 fps; good groups offhand.

the non tl 214 gr swc w/ 4.5 trail boss or 5.5 unique or 7.5 hs6 also good.

Have not tired Hornady 225 FTX w/ 9.0 gr of hs6 but will when i get around to buying those bullets. may just shoot them out of my lever action rifle though.

[Float Pilot]

240 grain Keith Lead Semi-Wad-cutter, WW Brass, WLP,


Heavy Roll crimp 1.490 COL

5.3 grains GREEN DOT = 720 fps and a 0.60 inch group 1.5 inch low
5.3 grains RED DOT….= 790 fps and a 2.0 inch group POINT OF AIM
8.0 grains IMR-SR-4756= 715 fps and a 2.5 inch group

Maybe if I added a touch more Red Dot to that load, the group would tighten up...

[the Black Spot]

Float pilot, we are eagerly waiting results from those wadcutters from matts bullets.

[Float Pilot]

They are not here yet.... I am awash in antisipation,,,,,

[James2]

For 240gr cast bullets its hard to beat Unique.

I think its hard to beat Unique for the 44 Spl.

[the Black Spot]

Tried a few more loads today in the bulldog.
200 gr cast bullet of wheel weight alloy backed by 10 gr of 2400 and 4.7 gr of Bullseye. Neither load shot well at 15 yds.
260 gr bullet of wheel weight alloy backed by 10 gr of 2400 shot well at 15 yds. Under 2" at 15 yds.

I am trading some lilgun for some unique. Can't wait to try it out.

[Float Pilot]

I finally obtained a can of AA#5 , (via several un-natural acts)

It should work in the short barrel... ( I should dig out my old 6 1/2 inch S&W 44 special..)

Anyway, does anyone have any A# 5 loads???

I might get a couple hours of range time in the morning... It is 3 below zero right now...

[the Black Spot]

Well, I traded for some unique powder. Hope to get some more loads ready to test. With trapping going full tilt my time has dwindled down. I hope this powder does tons better with cast bullets.

[Float Pilot]

I was too sick on Sunday to head out to the range... Maybe on Wednesday...
getting old sucks

[chriske]

One of my favorite .44 Spl loads :
4.3 gr of VihtaVuori N-320 powder behind a 220 Gr. Hollowbase copperplated wadcutter.

[Float Pilot]

About how fast do you think that load is going, and what are you shooting it with....???

[Float Pilot]

OK, I made it out to the range today...

44 Special, 2.1 inch barreled Taurus M-445.
Temp 09 degrees F, fading light on snow.
Chronograph at 12 feet from muzzle. Target at 15 yards.

180 grain Hornady XTP HP
10.5gr AA#5
WW Brass, WLP, Roll Crimp
Vel=900 fps and a 2 inch group 3.5 inches low

200 grain Hornady XTP HP
9.7gr AA#5
WW brass, WLP, Roll Crimp
Vel= 830 fps and a 2.5 inch group 3 inches low

240 grain Keith style SWC
9.0gr AA#5
WW brass, WLP, Roll Crimp
Vel= 803 fps and a 1.0 inch group 1 inch low

240 grain Keith SWC
7.5gr POWER PISTOL
ww-WLP, roll crimp
Vel= 828 fps and a 3/4 inch group 0.5 inch to the left
Good Load

240 grain Keith SWC
7.7gr POWER PISTOL
WW-WLP, roll crimp
Vel= 840 fps and a 1.5 inch group

240 grain Keith SWC
8.0gr POWER PISTOL
WW-WLP, Roll Crimp
Vel= 870 fps and a 3/4 inch group. 1 inch left
Still a little warm for an alloy gun.

255 Grain KEITH SWC
7.0 grains Power Pistol
WW- WLP, Roll Crimp
Vel= 770 fps and a 1.0 inch group , 1 inch low.

[Float Pilot]

THEY ARE HERE !!!!!

[the Black Spot]

Sweet! Can't wait to hear the test results.

I got out the other day with the bulldog. Fed it 240 grain hard cast bullets with 6 grain of unique. @ a 6" group at 12 yds. Longer bullets seem to work better in this revolver.

[Boxhead]

This load, first time out with it, showed promise at 25 yards. If I could hold better I am sure it would be a sub 1 1/2" load. The bullet is the classic Keith via Lyman sized to just a finger push to get the through the throats. Starline brass was used.