300 grain load for the 44 special

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murf

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i decided to work up a light kicking heavy bullet load for the 44 special. i have never seen or heard of such a thing, so here we go.

i shot this out of my 44 special blackhawk, but i am already getting leading just past the forcing cone. i will be using the super blackhawk from here on out. the 44 special blackhawk has a 5.5 inch barrel, the super blackhawk has a 7.5 inch barrel.

IMG_20211115_0001.jpg

i fired nine shots through the chrony and one shot through the water jugs. the first five shots had a heavy crimp, the last five had a light crimp. the heavy crimp appears more accurate and appears to not affect velocity, so i will go with the heavy crimp from now on.

i guessed at the 4.0 grains of w231 load and consider it maximum for this application (620 fps). i also loaded four more rounds using 3.0 grains of w231 and consider it minimum for this application. my next loading will be @ 3.5 grains of w231 (472 fps). i'm looking for 550 fps.

cartridge col is 1.445" (max col is 1.615") so this should fit in all 44 special guns. the 550 fps chrony velocity should keep the pressure of this load below the 15.5k psi pressure limit. this will be a really nice load for my 44 special blackhawk when i go camping, hiking, etc.

the 620 fps load kicks like a 45 colt factory load, the 470 fps load kicks like a 38 special factory load. maybe the 550 fps load will kick like a 9mm. we'll see. at least the final load will have a bunch of penetration.

questions and comments are always welcome,

murf

caution: these loads are not produced anywhere else and, therefore, have not been pressure tested and may not be safe in your gun. use this information at your own risk.
 
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1 thru 4 is a very nice cluster for offhand shooting at 24 yards. It's a shame you don't know where the 5th one went. Probably not too far away though. ;)
 
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I had some 300 grain bullet loads for my 44 special if I could find my notes, I think they shot decent but I liked the swc or the devastator hp better.
 
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1 thru 4 is a very nice cluster for offhand shooting at 24 yards. It's a shame you don't know where the 5th one went. Probably not to far away though. ;)
hopefully i can repeat the feat with the super blackhawk. the 44 special blackhawk has a problem with leading.

murf
 
here is the result of the penetration test: 1115211230.jpg

the eleventh and twelfth jugs were pulled to show the full penetration of ten jugs. the bullet hit jug eleven and bounced back into jug ten. the 620 fps load is used here. i will do another test when i find another ten gallon jugs.

and the gun/bullet: 1115211332.jpg



murf
 
I have always wanted to duplicate the .38 Special 200 gr hemispherical lead round nose loading with a .44 Special 300 gr hemispherical lead round nose.
i think i'm doing this because my wrists are not getting any younger. i have a 325 grain 45 colt load going 1250 fps that is truely a wrist breaker. i can't do that anymore and need some bullet penetration without the pain.

murf
 
Based on the Brian Pearce and Ross Seyfried loads.
i duplicated the pearce load for a 305 grain bullet back in 2009 when i bought the 44 special blackhawk. that load runs @ 1,000 fps (his tier 3 loading). i want a bit more sedate load so here i am.

the seyfried load might be helpful. i don't know that one.

murf
 
I appreciate you sharing.

I've not experimented any with 300 grain bullets in 44 special yet. I did load a few in 44 magnum cases, but at special levels some years back, but the poi was very high, 6" or so at 25 yards. Accuracy was okay that I recall but I didn't experiment much. I found out that dwell time of the bullet in barrel was causing the high printing. First I'd heard of such.

I do however have a decent load I worked up with a slightly lighter bullet. The gun is a Ruger flattop blackhawk 4 5/8" bbl, 44 spl.

The bullets are ranchdog Lee 432-265-RF. Gas checked, 270 grains from ww alloy. 4.6 bullseye with CCI 300. Crimped in crimp groove. I don't recall the OAL. No chronograph. Recoil is about that of a standard 44 special, so not real light, about like a 45 automatic. It prints just an inch or two high with my standard spl sight setting at 25 yards. It also cloverleafs at 15 yards where I can see to shoot it.
 
i tested the 3.5 grain load today: IMG_20211116_0001.jpg

slow bullet - lots of muzzle rise! but the accuracy is still there. i'm liking this load. the only downside is the massive change in impact point. as soon as i get more water jugs i will load up at least ten @ 3.5 grains of w231 and get a good chrony test and a good penetration test.

thanks for the info, @Bazoo.

murf
 
I have a 624 with a 3” taper barrel for woods carry. I need Some of these to try…. Hey Murf, Can ya send me some? :) I’ll powder coat em and see if that resolves leading issue.
Ps- Where did you get the load data?
Brian Pierce data a bit to hot for my little S&W N frame.

i decided to work up a light kicking heavy bullet load for the 44 special. i have never seen or heard of such a thing, so here we go.

i shot this out of my 44 special blackhawk, but i am already getting leading just past the forcing cone. i will be using the super blackhawk from here on out. the 44 special blackhawk has a 5.5 inch barrel, the super blackhawk has a 7.5 inch barrel.

View attachment 1038256

i fired nine shots through the chrony and one shot through the water jugs. the first five shots had a heavy crimp, the last five had a light crimp. the heavy crimp appears more accurate and appears to not affect velocity, so i will go with the heavy crimp from now on.

i guessed at the 4.0 grains of w231 load and consider it maximum for this application (620 fps). i also loaded four more rounds using 3.0 grains of w231 and consider it minimum for this application. my next loading will be @ 3.5 grains of w231 (472 fps). i'm looking for 550 fps.

cartridge col is 1.445" (max col is 1.615") so this should fit in all 44 special guns. the 550 fps chrony velocity should keep the pressure of this load below the 15.5k psi pressure limit. this will be a really nice load for my 44 special blackhawk when i go camping, hiking, etc.

the 620 fps load kicks like a 45 colt factory load, the 470 fps load kicks like a 38 special factory load. maybe the 550 fps load will kick like a 9mm. we'll see. at least the final load will have a bunch of penetration.

questions and comments are always welcome,

murf

Wow! And that's with a gas-checked.
 
I cannot find any data of what I used exactly. I think I had decent accuracy and they were tier 3 loads. Shortly after that the MP 640 mold for the 44 came back in stock and I went that route from then own. You can track down a few warm 44 special loads with the devastator bullet.
 
leading issue.
it's the gun.
Ps- Where did you get the load data?
out of my backside. i had good luck with w231 when working up a 325 grain 45 colt load.
I think I had decent accuracy and they were tier 3 loads.
yes, i ginned up a load for this 300 grain bullet going 1,000 fps. this is a tier 3 load. i'm trying to make a soft load that still penetrates. i'm happy with this load, so far.

murf
 
i have some 300 grain bullets coming from montana bullet works. these will be substituted for the cast performance bullets as soon as they get here. those cast performance bullets are from the original company out of riverton, wyoming and are reserved for big game.

murf
 
it's the gun.

out of my backside. i had good luck with w231 when working up a 325 grain 45 colt load.

yes, i ginned up a load for this 300 grain bullet going 1,000 fps. this is a tier 3 load. i'm trying to make a soft load that still penetrates. i'm happy with this load, so far.

murf
The .44Spl is a descendent off the .44S&W I think. There might be some data for Unique or Bullseye in one of the older Ideal manuals that will work. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was 3-to-3-1/2gr Bullseye or close to it. I think you hit your sweet spot and I’m kinda curious how it goes with the Montana’s.
 
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