the Black Spot
Member
Another gold dot vote
.44 special factory defense loads
- Thread starter Barry the Bear
- Start date
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RealGun
Member
Again, how about something that is available? No Hornady FTX, at least 200 gr, not cowboy, defensive design bullet, preferably not much more than $1 per shot.
I can't tell if you've just missed the post after yours in Post #21 or if you have refused to followed the link another member has been kind enough to provide.
The first listing meets all your posted requirements...including a price of $0.80 per round.
Is there some reason, you've ignored this suggestion...or have you had experience with this loading and found it somehow lacking?
If so, I'd be interested in how it's performance fell short
RealGun
Member
I checked the link previously and found nothing I would buy. Most listings were out of stock. I didn't want cowboy, or 165 gr FTX, or SWC. -Defensive- is what I would buy, and the rest I can load myself. I didn't post that I appreciated the effort, but I wonder if the post #21 poster and now you checked the link and stock levels yourselves.
Very odd as the first listing seems to meet all you requirements...that's why I asked about your objections to that offering
No Hornady FTX - Check
...at least 200 gr - Check
...not cowboy - Check
...defensive design bullet - Doesn't get much more defensive oriented than Gold Dot
... preferably not much more than $1 per shot - $0.80 per round is not only not much more, but 20% less
Currently showing 44 boxes available...just over 2 cases
RealGun
Member
I don't use steel or aluminum cases, only reloadable brass. That's why FTX Hornady is not preferred too, because the cases are shortened and would have to be segregated by head stamp.
[email protected]
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- Aug 21, 2008
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- 2,153
They probably don't have your brand of primer in them anyway.h
RealGun
Member
I don't believe I deserve your sarcasm. Get off me.
Perhaps you don't, but then again:
..reloadable brass wasn't one of your previous requirements...certainly not in #27 or #29
Don't you detect a sarcastic tone there?
Stainz
Member
I cannot blame another shooter for not using Al-cased Blazers. I shot over a thousand of the 200gr Gold Dots from my 296 alone. That one split case in my 696 was enough to end my use of them! And... ~$40/50 seems high for Al Blazers... maybe they are 'Blazer Brass'? No - I looked - their picture shows Al. Maybe GA Arms will take orders again... one day... their Starline brass cased 200gr GD JHPs were great!
Stainz
Stainz
RealGun
Member
That will be fine. Getting bullied by a moderator...terrific.
Please don't feel bullied.
My intent was to clear up some confusion, thinking you had missed prior on-point information. It had not occurred to me that your listed preferences were not complete.
It was my intent to provide clarity for other readers of the thread who might also be looking for defensive loadings in .44 Special but who don't share your bias
My intent was to clear up some confusion, thinking you had missed prior on-point information. It had not occurred to me that your listed preferences were not complete.
It was my intent to provide clarity for other readers of the thread who might also be looking for defensive loadings in .44 Special but who don't share your bias
HankB
Member
One .44 Special load that looks very interesting to me is this one from Buffalo Bore:
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=271
It's really pricey, though . . .
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=271
It's really pricey, though . . .
OP
OP
Barry the Bear
Member
That looks cool,but your right its really pricey, what really irks me is that winchester and remington both make premium ammo in the pdx1 and golden saber lines for the .45 colt but not the .44 special, its not that hard to run a batch or two of it, if hornady which is a great company but lets be honest not as big as rem. or win. can make a design for personal protection in .44 spl then why can the big boys?
At the risk of stirring the pot, I don't know of a well-manufactured .44 Special round that I would NOT trust for defense. Even the fairly unspectacular LRN 246 grain Remington factory loads, with an advertised velocity of 755 f/s (but which, for some reason, translated to nearer 700 f/s in actual practice) were pretty effective.
With a better-shaped projectile, efficacy is only enhanced. It might not have the thunderous kinetics of a .41 Mag, nor the magazine capacity of a 9mm Glock, but I'd rather have a well set-up .44 Special revolver than the .41 or the Glock, anyway. It hits about like a .45 ACP, and is probably almost as controllable.
With a better-shaped projectile, efficacy is only enhanced. It might not have the thunderous kinetics of a .41 Mag, nor the magazine capacity of a 9mm Glock, but I'd rather have a well set-up .44 Special revolver than the .41 or the Glock, anyway. It hits about like a .45 ACP, and is probably almost as controllable.
ljnowell
Member
I'm guessing what he is saying is that most 44 special JHP loads are loaded with bullets designed for 44 mag and do not perform well at special velocities.
Stainz
Member
The Speer #4427 bullet is the .429" 200gr Gold Dot optimized for .44 S&W Special velocities that opens fully at 800fps. Graf and Sons has them in stock for $29/100. I used a middle value of powder and Fed LP primers from Speer's suggestion to place my reloads, the GA Arms ammo, and the Blazers, all 200gr GDJHP, between 805 and 810 fps from my 2.5" barrel S&W 296. If you can reload .44 S&W Special, ie, have some decent brass, powder, & LP primers, you can make you own PD .44 Special ammo!
Stainz
PS Checked GA Arms - their 200gr GD (new brass) - is up to $32/50 & "OOS". You can enter your e-mail address and they'll notify you when it is available (I did.).
Stainz
PS Checked GA Arms - their 200gr GD (new brass) - is up to $32/50 & "OOS". You can enter your e-mail address and they'll notify you when it is available (I did.).
RealGun
Member
I have a backup supply of XTP bullets I could reload if I wanted to. I like the idea of getting on notification with Georgia Arms. I have dealt with them quite happily before. Actually, I expect they will be at the gun show here in two weeks. I might just go, wishing I had more gun money at the moment.
mongoslow
Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2013
- Messages
- 546
Midway has Copper Only Projectiles ( C.O.P.) 200 grain hp in stock $20.49 for a 25 round box. im going to give these a try. right now I have Hornady 165gr.FTX, Hornady 180 gr. XTP, and some Winchester 200 gr. STHP I trust any of them as long as I do my part.
I enjoy my CA .44S Bulldog- a little difficult to carry in a pocket, even though it fits, because of the hammer snag on drawing. CA offers a DA hammer (no spur) for it that I'd buy if I was going to carry that way.
Home defense? Naaahh not for me, where size isn't a concern I want a whole lot more than 5 rounds for home defense....my current favorite for that is a FNX-45, 16 round .45 .
SGAmmo has .44spl Gold Dots in stock, as of right now 40 boxes....
Home defense? Naaahh not for me, where size isn't a concern I want a whole lot more than 5 rounds for home defense....my current favorite for that is a FNX-45, 16 round .45 .
SGAmmo has .44spl Gold Dots in stock, as of right now 40 boxes....
RealGun
Member
They have them, because reloaders don't usually buy ammo with cases they cannot reload (aluminum Blazers like these). 44 Special is known as a reloader's caliber, but some like me prefer to buy their defensive ammo.
Also note that Blazer is not the value one would think, if there is no inherent value in a reusable case. Brass cases have significant value, even if one does not reload.
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