44 special 180 grain

[Crazy Horse]

Good afternoon everyone. Love the site and peruse it daily as it has always provided extremely useful information and insight. I've never come across an issue that wasn't discussed or answered in the forum until recently. It's been elusive and none of the other sights have provided any data on the issue either. I'm sure it's out there, but I have yet to find it.

Here's my question in hopes that someone could provide me with guidance or information on where to look.

I purchased a Charter Arms bulldog and took it to the range last weekend. I shot 240 grain LSWC Speer bullets. It shot well, but it was a little spicy. Accuracy wasn't the greatest either as the light firearm doesn't absorb recoil much. I ordered 180 grain RNFP hard cast bullets using the logic that a lighter weight would lessen the recoil (along with changing out the wood grips for Pachmayr grips)

The issue is that I haven't been able to find load data on any website I've searched (TheHighRoad, Alliant, Hodgon, Loaddata, The firing Line forum, Oregon Trail, Speer, Hornady) that specifically has load data for the 180 grain RNFP bullet in 44 special. Does anyone have proven load data using the load mentioned? Also, how was the recoil using 180 gr RNFP cast bullet (recoil wise).

Thanks in Advance.

 

[Bandit67]

Hodgdon does list 11 loads for 185gr. LRNFP for 44 special. I would use one of those, start at minimum and work up

 

[Crazy Horse]

Hodgdon does list 11 loads for 185gr. LRNFP for 44 special. I would use one of those, start at minimum and work up

Bandit 67,

Thx. I saw the 185 grain load on the hogdon site. Was hoping someone had on tload informationhe 180 grain lrnfp. Thanks again.

 

[Englishmn]

The data listed for a heavier bullet of same construction is a good starting point.
Lower mass and greater remaining case volume means lower pressure.

Never use lighter bullet data with a heavier bullet.

 

[Englishmn]

Happened to find this similar load.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I have a Taurus 431, a 3" barrel 44 Spl. I've settled on 200gr LRF at about 875 fps for a personal protection load.

Less "spicy" than the 240 grain, but a bit more wallop than the 180.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Englishman. Thank you very much. I'm not familiar with cowboy loads (I'm assuming they label the bullet cowboy loads due to the shape of the bullet?). Would LRNFP be a viable alternative? I've been reloading for about a year and this is my first foray into using bullet makers other than Hornady and speer. when I loaded the speer 240 gr lswc it called for 4.8 grains of bullseye for 700 fps. TIA

J

 

[Englishmn]

https://ammo.com/bullet-type/lead-round-nose-flat-point

 

[Crazy Horse]

I have a Taurus 431, a 3" barrel 44 Spl. I've settled on 200gr LRF at about 875 fps for a personal protection load.

Less "spicy" than the 240 grain, but a bit more wallop than the 180.

I just recently gota Taurus tracker 44 magnum and love it. 4 inch ported barrel and shoots straight as an arrow. Haven't fired a 44 magnum round yet. The weight difference between the tracker and the charter arms though is significant. I will be trying a 200 gr round in the near future as I have 100 bullets in that weight. Unfortunately I ordered 180 grain bullets before finding out that loads for that particular worry are more difficult to find. K

 

[Crazy Horse]

https://ammo.com/bullet-type/lead-round-nose-flat-point

Englishman, thank you very much. That answers my question and helps immensely. It'll be two weeks until I can get to the range again. I'll post my results. Thanks again. J

 

[forrest r]

I've carried/used bulldogs for decades. The 200gr to 220gr bullets tend to do better in them, bullets in that weight range tend to hit to the point of aim. The 240gr and up bullets hit high and the 180gr bullets hit low. I test new bullet designs in them every couple of years. This was my last set of tests 2 years ago.


That 200gr swc hp is a real thumper in the bulldogs. It's a h&g #142 that's similar to the lyman 429215, it's a Thompson design.


The top right is a home cast 220gr hbwc, darn thing hits pretty hard


I was really interested in the top left bullet in that last set of tests. It's a home cast hollow based swc, the lyman 429422. I used a 60* center point drill to put the hp in it.


Oddly enough that hb bullet pictured above had not only the hp expand. The base of the bullet also expands/mushrooms.


When using/shooting lighter bullets/loads in the bulldogs I tend to stay with the wc's/hbwc's. Low recoil and a lot of thump.


Enjoy your bulldog, the 44spl is one of those forgotten calibers. That snubnosed 44spl bring a lot of thump to the table that rivals full sized 45acp's.

 

[35 Whelen]

I use 4.5 grs. of Clays and a 185 gr. WC-



Most published data for the . 44 Special is good for reference only. Hodgdon used a ridiculously long 8" barrel do develop their data.

35W

 

[joneb]

For you W-231 would be a good powder choice.
For a S&W 696 I load a 180gr Hornady XTP with 10-10.2gr of Accurate #5, for 200-212gr lead and coated I'm using WSF and VV N-340.
For soft shooting target loads for the 44 spl W-231 is hard to beat.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Quick question maybe Englishmn or Forrest R can answer. LRNFP is the same as a cowboy load. Can the same be said about L-FP? Loaded up some 200 gr L-RNFP. then received the 180 gr and discovered that they are L-FP.
TIA

 

[Englishmn]

Should be pretty close. How does the shape compare to the picture on the load data.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Should be pretty close. How does the shape compare to the picture on the load data.

the L-FP looks more like the picture in the Hornady reloading book. One thing I did notice was the difference in COAL. using the 200 grain L-RNFP the COAL is 1.425, Using the 180 grain L-FP the COAL is 1.490. Attached is a photo. The bullet on the left is the 200 gr L-RNFP and the right is the 180 gr L-FP. The L-RNFP is a little taller .5575 than the L-FP .5265, which I believe accounts for the higher COAL for the L-FP (1.490).

THX

J

 

[Englishmn]

Ya, when they have a crimp groove i just seat to the groove.

 

[nambu1]

The 44th edition of Lyman's reloading handbook lists these loads for a 180 gr cast bullets:
4.0 - 6.8 grs of bullseye 1033 f.p.s, 7.0 - 11.5 grs of Unique--1351 f.p.s. , 13.0 - 20.0 grs of 2400--1265 f.p.s. , 14.0 - 21.0 grs of IMR 4227--1028 f.p.s. and states that the most accurate load was 4.0 grs of Bullseye.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

View attachment 854213
the L-FP looks more like the picture in the Hornady reloading book. One thing I did notice was the difference in COAL. using the 200 grain L-RNFP the COAL is 1.425, Using the 180 grain L-FP the COAL is 1.490. Attached is a photo. The bullet on the left is the 200 gr L-RNFP and the right is the 180 gr L-FP. The L-RNFP is a little taller .5575 than the L-FP .5265, which I believe accounts for the higher COAL for the L-FP (1.490).

THX

J

You'll notice the difference in where the crimp groove is in relation to the base of the bullet. The one on right, the base is closer to the crimp groove - meaning there is less of the bullet in the case.

This means more case capacity.

BTW, in days gone by, the bullet on the right was referred to as a TCFP - Truncated Cone Flat Point.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Unfortunately I only have the Lyman 49th and 50th edition handbooks. I get a little frustrated with Lyman compared to SPEER or HORNADY books, but it's because this is the first time I reload using cast bullets. Using the Hornady data, the 180 Cowboy load called for 4.9 grains for 700 fps. I will go and check the Lyman information as I prefer to use Bullseye (if flows better in my RCBS powder measure). However, based on my experience and other comments made in the forum 4.0-6.8 grains is within the ballpark of observed conversation.

The 44th edition of Lyman's reloading handbook lists these loads for a 180 gr cast bullets:
4.0 - 6.8 grs of bullseye 1033 f.p.s, 7.0 - 11.5 grs of Unique--1351 f.p.s. , 13.0 - 20.0 grs of 2400--1265 f.p.s. , 14.0 - 21.0 grs of IMR 4227--1028 f.p.s. and states that the most accurate load was 4.0 grs of Bullseye.[/QUOTE/]

 

[Crazy Horse]

Englishmn,

Measuring to the COAL of 1.490, I crimped slightly above the grove. I did notice that when I got closer to the groove, the measurement was less than 1.490. Closer to 1.47#. I'll recheck once I test the 30 test rounds (200gr HDY XTP, 200gr L-RNFP, 180gr L-FP and post my observations.

The main reason for using extra caution is because the Charter Arms Bulldog is significantly lighter than my other 44's.

THX

Ya, when they have a crimp groove i just seat to the groove.

 

[Englishmn]

You want to use the groove and roll crimp it good or they may pull out of the case and lock up the cylinder. Its "fun" trying to open a stuck cylinder with a live round or two in it.

 

[Riomouse911]

I loaded 200 gr Eggleston coated RNFP over 5.5 gr Bullseye for a pleasant load in my 3” GP100 .44 Spl. This load of 5.5 gr Bullseye will do very well with the 185 gr bullets you have as well.

I loaded the same Eggleston 200 grainer over 7.3 gr Unique in .44 Spl. cases for a zippier load that I shoot in my .44 Mag handguns.

Stay safe,

 

[Crazy Horse]

Finally got a chance to go to the range today to try out each type of bullet I loaded. The 200 gr L-RNFP shot well with MUCH better recoil than 240 gr L-SWC. I also shot Hornady 200 gr XTP Hollow points. The recoil felt good as well. Between the two, I think the Hornady felt better, but the price difference definitely makes the L-RNFP the better option. Lastly, the 180 gr L-FP shot well and had the least felt recoil, but it wasn't noticeable enough to say it is the round of choice. The Powder loaded was was 4.5 gr and 4.8 gr of Bullseye for the 200 grain bullets and 4.9 grains of Titegroup for the 180 grain bullet. Personally, I'm leaning towards Bullseye as the RCBS Chargemaster light has an easier time getting more accurate loads with Bullseye.

I will add that my shot placement for the Charter Arms Bulldog classic was consistently right of the target. Now that I have my preferred load for the Firearm, I'll have to research how adjust the fixed sights. I really like the Bulldog, but it has to shoot straight before I am comfortable carrying it.

I'd just like to thank everyone for all the help and recommendations. The 44 special round is by far my favorite and really enjoy shooting it on all my revolvers, which is why I'm reloading as ammunition is difficult to find and expensive, even online.

May your targets be plentiful (at the range) and your shot groups close.

J

 

[Riomouse911]

Looks like you have some winners! If you want, you can keep experimenting with small variations in charge weights and you may just find the perfect component match up for accuracy, recoil and overall versatility.

Stay safe.