310 grain bullet in a .44 Special?

[HiWayMan]

I have a Lee mould for a 310 grain gas checked WNFP at .430" for use in my .44 magnum. However, I would like to give it a try in my dedicated .44 special onlty (S&W 21-4) revolver as well.

I can not find any published data for this heavy of a bullet in .44 Special though. Is there any out there?

Can I reduce .44 mag data by some percentage as a starting point? And if so, what percentage 20, 25, 40?

 

[rcmodel]

Seems like a bad idea to me.

I don't think you can load it fast enough in a .44 spl to stabilize it.

Beside, if Elmer Keith wanted you shooting 310 grain bullets in a .44 Spl., he would have designed one for it.

BTW: No, there is no formula or percentage that can tell you anything safe.

rc

 

[HiWayMan]

RC -

Thanks for the reply. Reckon you're right about old Elmer doing it if it could be done. So much for wishful thinking.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I used to use a LEE 320 grain SWC plain base out of a Charter Arms Bulldog years ago..
Forget the charge but I used Red Dot. It worked great.

 

[56hawk]

This site lists data that they say comes from Hodgdon, you might be able to find the original manual somewhere:

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44%20Special&Weight=300&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

 

[336A]

maybe this will be of some help to you http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian Pearce on the 44 Special.pdf

 

[highlander 5]

I've loaded 300 gr home cast bullets in 44 spl cases and fired in a SBH with a 4 5/8" barrel and got very respectable groups at 7-10 yds. I used Universal Clays as I remember,but I won't list the charge here.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'm sure you could work up a safe load, but the question remains why? The Spl. performs best with bullets of 180-240 grs. My personal favorite is a 210 gr. JHP.

Putting a 310 gr. in .44 spl. would be like loading a .22 Hornet with 80 gr. match bullets.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I'm sure you could work up a safe load, but the question remains why?.

Probably about the same reason they load 500 grainers for the .458 socom. Well, not really but they both work.

 

[Nullcone]

Handloader magazine had a small discussion about 300gr bullets in .44 Special a few months back, with some loads given among the warnings iirc.

I'll take a look later to see if I can find what issue.

 

[powell&hyde]

Like RC said, I don't think this is a good idea. If you do, you better have a well built handgun to handle the recoil and pressures.

 

[Certaindeaf]

^
Pressure is pressure regardless of bullet weight and we strive for safety.
What you said sounds odd.