Getting into 44 Special

Quoheleth · Feb 23, 2017

I've got a trade planned to get into a very gently used GP100 in .44 Spcl. I've been reloading about 10 years for 9mm, .38, .357, .45ACP and .45 Colt, almost exclusively using MBC.

I know there are dozens of bullet and powder combinations out there for this carteidge. I'm looking for nice, 800-900fps plinking and target loads. I prefer SWC bullets for paper punching but use LRN or RNFP also.

What are some favorite bullets y'all use? Powders? Specifically, any info or tips on loading for the new GP100?

Thanks in advance,
Q

Walkalong · Feb 23, 2017

A Magnus 215 or 240 Gr Lead SWC and 700X shoots great. I imagine anyone's SWC would. W-231 is also good. I have been meaning to try some coated bullets in .44 Spl, but haven't done it yet.

zb338 · Feb 23, 2017

250 Grain Keith bullets with 7 grains of Unique. Check the load out
in a loading manual don't take anyone's (including me) word for it.

Zeke

Quoheleth · Feb 23, 2017

Right, Zeke. I have a couple manuals in the garage plus data from the powder manufacturers. I'll double check before rolling anything. Just looking for favorite recipes that I can confirm. Appreciate the reminder!

PapaG · Feb 23, 2017

Lyman 429421, 429215, 429244. Book loads. You'll work hard to improve on the Lyman manuals recommended loads.
Mine, 44 Special for CA Bulldog, 6 to 6.5 unique. For 624,, NEW Blackhawk, 7 to 7.5 unique, for recall 44 mags,whatever the manual says,but I back off 1.5 grains. You're doing special I also, ignore,I repeat, ignore magnum loads, and whatever Elmer Keith recommended.

Slamfire · Feb 23, 2017

An old target load was 5.0 grains Red Dot with a 240 L. I tried it and the load was accurate. Five grains of Bullseye also produced excellent accuracy. However you cannot push bullets much faster with these powders and that is a limitation. Unique is without a doubt the most versatile powder I have used in the 44 Special. Shoots well with 180’s, 200 L, 240 lead and jacketed.7.5 grains Unique is a very powerful load, only appropriate for N frame revolvers and the Ruger Blackhawk. Much too powerful for a Charter Arms Bulldog.

Unique gives excellent accuracy from 6 ¼ grains all the way up. When I get tired of recoil I download to 6 ¼ to 6.5 grains. Shoots well.Basically I stopped fooling around with other powders and am using Unique.

Code:

4" M624
                                                                                  

240 LSWC   5.0 grs Red Dot thrown,  Mixed Brass CCI300                      

T = 64 °F            3-Mar-07                                                                                  
           

Ave Vel =          714.8                                                                                       

Std Dev =          24.35                                                                                        

ES =                   95.28                                                                                        

Hign                    778.4                                                                                        

Low =                 683.1                                                                                        

N =                      19                                                                                              

Accurate                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                

240 LSWC   5.0 grs Bullseye Lot 6/20/05 Mixed Brass WLP                  

T = 64 °F            3-Mar-07                                                                                  

                                                                                                                              

Ave Vel =          763.9                                                                                       

Std Dev =          16.18                                                                                        

ES =                   60.94                                                                                        

High =                794.7                                                                                        

Low =                 733.7                                                                                        

N =                      28                                                                                              

very accurate, little powder residue                                                                                

                                                                                                                              

240 LSWC   6.25 grs Unique thrown,  lot UN387(6-21-1993) Mixed Brass WLP

T = 62 °F            25-Feb-07                                                                                

Ave Vel =          795.1                                                                                       

Std Dev =          23.13                                                                                        

ES =                   65.05                                                                                        

Low =                 821                                                                                            

High =                756.5                                                                                        

N =                      12                                                                    

Accurate        

                                                                                                                              

240 LSWC    6.6 grs Unique thrown,  lot UN364 3/9/92 Mixed cases, Brass WLP

T = 70 °F            4-Apr-09                                                                                  

                                                                                                                              

Ave Vel =          859.6                                                                                       

Std Dev =          21.7                                                                                          

ES =                   77.85                                                                                        

High =                878.4                                                                                        

Low=                  800                                                                                            

N =                      10                                                                                              

                                                                                                                              

240 LSWC   7.0 grains Unique,   Midway cases, WLP (brass)                 

T= 45-50 °F       15 Dec 2002                                                                                  

                                                                                                                              

Ave Vel =                                                           902.8                                      

Std Dev =                                                            21.49                                      

ES =                                                                    81.76                                      

Low =                                                                   859.8                                      

High =                                                                  941.6                                      

N  =                                                                      33                                            

                                                                                                                              

240 LSWC    7.5 grs Unique thrown,  lot UN364 3/9/92 Mixed cases, Brass WLP

T = 70 °F            4-Apr-09                                                                                  

                                                                                                                              

Ave Vel =          965.8                                                                                       

Std Dev =          23.15                                                                                        

ES =                   65.28                                                                                        

High =                986.3                                                                                        

Low=                  921                                                                                            

N =                      12                                                                                              

                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                              

240 JHP  6.5 grs Unique thrown,  Midway Brass WLP                                

T = 64 °F            25-Feb-07                                                                                

                                                                                                                              

Ave Vel =          791.4                                                                                       

Std Dev =          34.78                                                                                        

ES =                   114.5                                                                                        

Low =                 845.6                                                                                        

High =                731.1                                                                                        

N =                      9                                                                                                

Accurate

Code:

44 Spl Ruger Blackhawk 5.5" 240 LSWC 6.25 grs Unique thrown, lot 6/21/-98/92 Midway cases, Brass WLP T ≈ 60-65 ° F 19-Apr-09 Ave Vel = 835.4 Std Dev = 26.83 ES = 74.52 High = 877.5 Low= 803 N = 24 240 LSWC 6.6 grs Unique thrown, lot UN364 3/9/92 Midway cases, Brass WLP T ≈ 60-65 ° F 19-Apr-09 Ave Vel = 875.4 Std Dev = 25.94 ES = 109.6 High = 914.8 Low= 805.2 N = 25 240 LSWC 7.5 grs Unique thrown, lot UN364 3/9/92 Midway cases, Brass WLP T ≈ 60-65 ° F 19-Apr-09 Ave Vel = 1001 Std Dev = 17.32 ES = 64.32 High = 1027 Low= 963 N = 27

Dog Soldier · Feb 24, 2017

The Lyman 429421 & 429244 poured from # 2 alloy are old favorites in any .44 Caliber handgun or carbine. There are a number of good .44 Molds. :thumbup:

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=27

the Black Spot · Feb 24, 2017

Unique

wankerjake · Feb 24, 2017

http://sixguns.com/tests/tt44spec.htm

Just getting into it as well, have tried herco and 240gr SWC with some success, I imagine unique would be as good or better. I like to check out other sources than just the manuals, I think Taffin is usually a good read.

joneb · Feb 24, 2017

Accurate #5 works very well for .44 spl. if you are looking for a powder that meters well.
I also use #5 for .38 spl, 380 acp, 9x19 Luger and .45 acp.

cat_IT_guy · Feb 24, 2017

I use a 200gr LRN from MBC over about 5gr of Bullseye (exact measurement may have been 4.8, cant say for sure without checking notes & logs), good for about 800fps.

Taroman · Feb 24, 2017

Some of my favorite 44 Special loads:
LSWC 240 Power Pistol 7.5 899 921 908 22 6.60
LSWC 240 VV N320 5.8 737 766 755 29 8.00
LSWC 215 BULLSEYE 4.5 726 745 736 19 6.50

cfullgraf · Feb 24, 2017

I've only been dabbling with 44 Special for a few years in a 44 Special Blackhawk and S&W Model 24.

I've mostly been loading Missouri 240 grain SWC or RF bullets with 700-X or Unique.

I recently got a SAECO mold #944, 200 grain WC, to try.

I also like Accurate #5 and may give that a try

Quoheleth · Feb 24, 2017

cfullgraf said:
I've only been dabbling with 44 Special for a few years in a 44 Special Blackhawk and S&W Model 24.

I've mostly been loading Missouri 240 grain SWC or RF bullets with 700-X or Unique.

I recently got a SAECO mold #944, 200 grain WC, to try.

I also like Accurate #5 and may give that a try

Any leading with that MBC 240gr SWC? I've always used Brad's bullets but I thought this particular bullet was too hard for Special velocity & pressure.

cfullgraf · Feb 24, 2017

Quoheleth said:
Any leading with that MBC 240gr SWC? I've always used Brad's bullets but I thought this particular bullet was too hard for Special velocity & pressure.

I did not see any leading but that concern was why I moved to the 240 RF bullet. Also, to save the SWC bullets I have for my 44 Magnum.

zb338 · Feb 24, 2017

Good stuff Dog Soldier.

Zeke
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=27[/QUOTE]

Hondo 60 · Feb 24, 2017

Never heard of a GP100 in 44 Spl.
Sounds like a great combination!

Before I started casting my own, I bought a LOT of bullets from Missouri Bullet Co.
The owner, Brad, comes on here now & then.

But a 240 gr SWC over 4.6 gr of Titegroup will give you about 850 fps.
MBC's .44 Elmer K is a 240 gr SWC
http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=103&category=5&secondary=12&keywords=

Legionnaire · Feb 24, 2017

I'm just starting with .44 Special myself; have loads of MBC bullets to play with, including their 240 grain "Elmer K" SWC. I'm liking the feel of a coated MBC 200 grain #5 Cowboy over 5.0 grains of Titegroup. Have yet to chronograph it, though. Just got some 215 grain button-nosed wadcutters from Matt's Bullets to try. Stocked with Unique and Titegroup, so have some experimenting to do.

Once I work some of my bullet stock down, I want to play with some of these:
https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/-44-200-gr-dewc-fb-per-500-anti-personel-.html?category_id=11
Reports to be the bullet used by Buffalo Bore for their "Anti-Personnel" round.

Drail · Feb 25, 2017

Unique and 200 gr. slugs. I've been using that combo for many years in my snub .44 Spls. and haven't found anything better.

TfflHndn · Feb 25, 2017

I have had great success with Rim Rock 200 grain wadcutters and Clays/Clay Dot powder, for about 850 feet/second. Very accurate and I wouldn't have any reservations about using it as a defense load.

35 Whelen · Feb 25, 2017

Last count there were five .44 Special revolvers in various places around the house and in my vehicles. In the last 6 or 7 years I've fired, judging from the empty primer cartons, between 3000 and 4000 .44 Special loads ranging from 600 fps CAS loads with Hodgdon Clays to 1200+ fps 260 gr. SWC loads with AL2400.

For me, bullets in the 245-255 gr. range, whether RN or SWC (I cast my own) always shoot best. I tried lighter bullets but they never gave me the accuracy of the heavier bullets. If you want to be really simple, Unique will do everything you're likely to need. With the above mentioned bullets, 6.0 grs. will net 750-775 fps out of a 4" barrel. Bumping it up to 7.5 grs. will increase velocities into the 950 range. If you want to only shoot 750+/- fps loads, Bullseye or Red Dot would be the way to go. If you want to test your recoIl tolerance and throttle loads in up, 2400 is the ticket.

35W

Hanshi · Feb 25, 2017

I've used 2400 and Unique mostly in my one .44spl, an S&W M24. My most accurate bullets have been home cast 260 grain SWC with a plain base. The other is the Thompson design GC SWC of about 250 grains. The molds are a nice RCBS and an old Saeco mold. I've never been completely satisfied with any of the commercial hard-cast SWCs; they allow too much "blow-by" which solders lead onto the forcing cone. Never could get real accuracy.

Getting into 44 Special

Member

Moderator

Member

Member

Member

Member

member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Contributing Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads