OK, here we go... I used the Speer #14 manual for these loads. Speer lists a start charge of 8.4 gr #5 under a hardcast 250 gr Keith bullet for 868 fps. The max charge listed is 9.3 gr for 936 fps with the same bullet. I loaded 8.4 gr, 8.6 gr, 8.9 gr, 9.1 gr and 9.3 gr. under a Missouri Bullet Company 240 gr SWC with a BHN of 12. None of the loads showed even the tiniest sign of high pressure. All cases extracted (just fell out) easily and there were no flattened or pierced primers. Recoil was about that of a .45 ACP with factory hardball.
I should note that I did not fire these loads for accuracy and I'm really kicking myself for that but it was cold and windy (blowing left to right). I will get a couple of these loads on paper ASAP but with my upcoming knee replacement surgery, it may be down the road a bit.
Pertinent Info: Location- Carlsbad, NM Elevation- 3,110 ft above sea level, Temp- 47 degrees.
Weapon: Ruger Bisley Blackhawk (Flattop on the .357 frame) with a 4 5/8" barrel
Brass: Starline .44 Special, once fired
Primer: CCI #300 Large Pistol
Chrono: Shooting Chrony Master F-1
RUGER BISLEY BLACKHAWK:
8.4 gr #5: Avg. Vel.- 838.6 fps, Ext. Spread- 9.2, Avg. Deviation- 3.4, Stand. Deviation- 3.8 WOW!!!!
8.6 gr #5 848.5 105.0 17.2 30.8
8.9 gr #5 865.3 45.1 15.9 18.2
9.1 gr #5 886.3 33.9 8.1 11.7
9.3 gr #5 883.6 37.0 12.0 14.4
I had very similar results when I ran these same loads through my S&W 24-3, just with velocity reduced some because of the 4" barrel. I have never had a handload with the standard deviation being in the single digits!