44 Special Loads for 200 Gr. Plated FP

[wcwhitey]

I have some plated 200 Grain Flat Points that I would like to load in some .44 special brass. I am having a hard time finding load data using Unique. Anyone have any pet loads using this weight bullet. Any powder is fine. I have seen some listings for Universal, never used it, any opinions. As always, thanks in advance. Bill

 

[Walkalong]

4.5 Grs. 700X. Use a Taper Crimp. Redding makes a taper crimp die for the .44.

700X was the most accurate powder I tried in the .44 Spl. Much cleaner than Unique, very clean actually.

Tightgroup was not made yet back then. It has possibilties in this application due to it's burning characteristics in big cases, but 700X does extremely well in big cases as well. Tightgroup will probably stain brass worse if this matters to you.

ADDITION... I assumed for some strange reason that your 200 Gr FP's were plated. Silly me. If they are then taper crimp, if they are not roll crimp as usual.

 

[wcwhitey]

Thanks for the info. Yes they are plated but they do have a small crimping groove, not as large as lead but the grove is there. It took me a while to get the right adjustment for the crimp but I think I have a strong hold. Bill

P.S. I just noticed myself that I put plated in the title, thats where you got it from.

 

[Sunray]

My Lyman Pistol & Revolver book gives 7.0(736fps) to 8.2(869fps) of Unique for a 205 grain cast bullet with 1.537" OAL. Five grains weight difference won't matter.

 

[joneb]

I have had good results with 6.3gr of W-231 behind a 200gr Nosler JHP, this works pretty dang good in a 3" S&W and a 2.5" Taurus 431. I have not tried plated yet but I would guess my charge weigth might be a little less ?
I had some AA#7 collecting dust, I got it with high hopes that it would do well in my Marlin camp .45 I was loading Nosler 185 JHP's but I could not find a load that would work the action reliably. So I tried AA#7 with the 200gr JHP for the .44spl and found that 10.7gr was very accurate, I have some AA#5 that I have not tried for the .44spl

ps It would be cool to do some powder swappin when I get down to 3-400 grains left in a jug I'd be glad to trade, I'd like to try some 700X

 

[sm]

Great Thread!
Thanks for some recipes!
Someone was needing some .44spl load data, and I have sent them the link to this thread.

Steve

 

[Walkalong]

700X beat out W231, Solo 1000, Unique, and AA# 2 in my tests in the .44 Spl. with lead bullets.
It did extremely well in the .38 Spl with lead also. I have recently shot plated bullets with 700X in the .38 Spl. with very good results so I would expect the same in the .44 Spl. although I have not shot up my supply of loaded lead .44 Spl's so have not tried it yet.

WST would be one to try as well as Zip and tightgroup, although I am not a tightgroup fan

 

[Starter52]

7.5 gr. Unique.

 

[joneb]

So I tried AA#7 with the 200gr JHP for the .44spl and found that 10.7gr was very accurate,

Tests of this load worked well last summer with Fed GM100 primers, but today at 50 deg. there was a lot of powder residue I have not had this problem with this load w/ WSP in cool weather, yet.

ps These loads are being fired from the 3" barrel

 

[wcwhitey]

I worked up some loads with the Unique 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0 in the .44 Special and 9.5,10,10.5 in the Magnum. NorEaster kept me from shooting this weekend but will update next week.

 

[wcwhitey]

Did some shooting today. In .44 Special it seems the 8.00 grains of Unique performed the best. In .44 Mag 10.00 grains was to the winner. The funny thing was that with my shooting all groups were under 3" at 25 yards but the point of impact was exactly the same with the 8 gr Special load and the 10 grains Mag load. I would have no problem shooting the same bullet with any combination from 7 to 8 grains in .44 Special, they were all accurate. You just simply cannot beat having two loads group the same and at the same point of impact in two power catagories. None of the loads showed even the slightest signs of pressure. With the plated bullets a brush was not even needed for clean up. All in all I am very happy.

 

[joneb]

Ah Geese, I screwed up,

Tests of this load worked well last summer with Fed GM150 primers, but today at 50 deg. there was a lot of powder residue, I have not had this problem with this load using/WLP in cool weather, yet.