44 Special Pet Loads???

[Float Pilot]

I just spent a few hours on the road to buy more powder.
Bought some:

Green Dot
IMR 700X
Tite Group
SR-4756

As for bullets ,, no good luck today.
I did find a box of 210 grain Sierra HPs... But no lighter weight wad-cutters...

So I will have to wait for my Midway order to show up...

Maybe I can toss a few more loads down-range tommorrow...

 

[Float Pilot]

I only had an hour today for shooting and an hour for loading...

I think the faster load using the 240 grain lead SWC and Red DOT may have been more accurate, but I was in a hurry and my hand really felt that load in this lightweight snubby.

200 grain Hornady XTP-HP, Winchester Brass, WLP, heavy roll crimp 1.500 COL
15 yards, high wind, fading sunlight

5.0 grains RED DOT = 547 fps and a 1.0 inch group
5.5 grains RED DOT = 685 fps and a 1.5 inch group
5.5 grains GREEN DOT = 675 fps and a 2.0 inch group
8.6 grains IMR SR4756 = 680 fps and a 1.5 inch group

240 grain Keith Lead Semi-Wad-cutter, WW Brass, WLP,
Heavy Roll crimp 1.490 COL

5.3 grains GREEN DOT = 720 fps and a 0.60 inch group 1.5 inch low
5.3 grains RED DOT….= 790 fps and a 2.0 inch group POINT OF AIM
8.0 grains IMR-SR-4756= 715 fps and a 2.5 inch group

 

[joneb]

I was in a hurry and my hand really felt that load in this lightweight snubby.

I have found that loading in a hurry is unwise.
When my Wife is watching the X Factor I can relax in the garage and load some rounds in peace, Amen.

 

[the Black Spot]

float, pretty good groups! were u using a rest or just freehand?

 

[Float Pilot]

Leaning over my tool box.... I am getting old and shakey... remember this was only at 15 yards.

 

[jfh]

I was thinking the same--pretty good groups; better than I can do now....either way.

Jim H.

 

[James2]

I loaded some Berry's 240 gr HP bullets with 6 gr of Unique. This is what I am using as my self defense load in the Taurus 44 Spl. snubby. I don't know the velocity of the load, but it has quite a wallop.

My go to load for years in the Colt SAA 44 Spl was 7.7 gr unique with a cast SWC that came out about 250 gr. (429421 mold). I would not load this heavy for a Taurus snubby though.

 

[the Black Spot]

I tried 5 gr of bullseye with a 240 gr xtp in my bulldog by charter. I got 1.25" group at 10 yards shooting freehand. would this make a good self/home defense bullet?

 

[Float Pilot]

It's got to be like hitting them with a big Ball-Peen Hammer.
I removed the factory French Tickler grips and installed the Hogue grip. It is a little smaller and fits my hand better.

 

[the Black Spot]

I debated and debated tween the Taurus 445 & charter arms. I was about to drop $450 on the Taurus when a Bridgeport charter 44 special bulldog showed up used for $310. Went with the charter arms cuz money was tight and from reports I read they are about the same in quality, but seeing your groups makes me wonder if should have went for the Taurus. I hate to have to buy jacket bullets, was hoping to find a good cast bullet load (I have molds and alloy to cast my own) to work in this bulldog for a defense load. I will keep trying ...

Definitely like the hogue grips better. I have some pachmyr presentations coming for mine.

You are using large rifle primers?

 

[Float Pilot]

I was limited by what I could find here in Alaska.

There was a local 44 Special C.A. Bulldog for $375 (new) but the cylinder looked like it was not properly aligned. The guys at the store sent it back to C.A. , ,,, who then sent it back,,, saying it was fine....

So I looked around hoping to find a S&W lightweight,,, but no luck..

Then one day I was up in Kenai (about 75 miles north of me) and one shop had the Taurus M-445UL on the shelf. ($475) I played with it and compared it to the Bulldog... And bought the Taurus when I figured that it was slightly better than the C.A.
Plus the Taurus M445 fits into my old holsters for a snub nose K-frame (M-19) and my old Snub nose Python Holsters.

If Ruger would make a 5 shot 44 Special or if I could ever find a 5 shot S&W in 44 Special I will be all over it and retire to Taurus to the sock drawer.

But as it stands now, there are only pancakes on the menu, regardless if I want hash-browns.

 

[jfh]

Float Pilot: ask your FFL to check his distributors for a S&W 396--that's the 'Night Guard,' the scandium L-framed 5-shot with a 2&1/2" barrel. My LGS did that for me--albeit some eighteen months ago, and there were still new ones floating around the various distributors. S&W only made one run of these I guess--but it was not a big seller back then, and AFAIK it never got bought heavily by the retail end, either.

It's a really fine gun, IMO--I have a 386 as well. Personally, I wish either / both of them had 3" barrels instead of the 2.5", but I can live with what they are.

Jim H.

 

[the Black Spot]

+1 on ruger making a five shot 44 special!

Would love to find a rossi 720 also

 

[MachIVshooter]

FYI, IMO the recipe provided by MachIVshooter is at least a "Level III" category load--i.e., >=25,000 PSI...might be hard on guns.

Nope. Max load in Sierra 5th edition under a 210 gr. is 8.8 grs. Unique.

 

[jfh]

I am corrected; see edit correction in my earlier post here.

Jim H.

 

[Float Pilot]

I just received some 210 grain (really 206.9 grains) lead semi-wadcutters (hollow point no less) that are gas checked.

Hopefully I can go out on Sunday to see how they do. The short jacketed 200 grain slugs do not seem to do very very from the short barrel. At least velocity wise. The lead slugs seem to do better so far...

I still need to try some 700X

 

[Archie]

I have a Second Model Hand Ejector in .44 Special

... and do not wish to strain it with over enthusiastic loads. At the same time, I want a load that will defend me should I need.

I found Power Pistol will throw a 250 grain flat meplat bullet at about 830 f/s and not be a 'maximum' load (with a 4.5 inch barrel.) It's about halfway up the load chart. (I'm purposely not showing what I use.) Since Power Pistol is slower than 231 or Unique, the pressure curve is a bit less abrupt. So the strain on the frame isn't as sudden (it runs about the same total pressure) and the recoil pulse is not as sharp.

I don't know if that will help with the Bulldog, but I don't think it can hurt.

 

[MachIVshooter]

However, even at 210 gr., I am having a hard time seeing a 210-gr. jacketed bullet running at nearly 1000 fps from a 2.5" barrel is not exceeding SAAMI--i.e., 15,500 PSI.

I have no way to test pressure, so I don't know where it's at. And yes, I was a bit surprised also. I was expecting 850-900 FPS. But there it was on the chrono, with very little SD or ES. I checked the chrono with .22 LR and 9x19mm loads, and it was spot-on. I was also very shocked by the extremely low velocity of the Magtech 200 gr. cowboy loads at barely 600 FPS, tested same day, same chronograph.

One possibility is that I only use CCI 350 primers in all LPP applications, but they've never showed any dramatic change in other cartridges versus CCI 300 or Winchester LPP (which are both standard and magnum).

I will also add that recoil with this load is quite brisk in the 20 ounce Bulldog Pug. Not unmanageable, but just as sharp as full house .44 mag loads in my 3" 629.

 

[Float Pilot]

Danged crappy gateway computer

 

[Float Pilot]

Oct 14th SUNDAY, Range test: Taurus M445 Alloy frame 2.1 inch bbl
15 yards, light rain, wind, 35 degrees.

207 grain cast Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point with Gas Check.
Winchester Brass, Winchester Large Pistol Primer, 1.500 col w/roll crimp


7.0 Grains of Unique = Hi-827, Lo-762 and a 2.0 inch group 1 inch low, dirty
6.0 Grains Green Dot = Hi-814, Lo-805 and a 1.5 inch group, 1.5 inch low, clean
7.0 Grains of HP-38 = Hi 865, Lo 842, and a 0.75 inch group, ¾ inch low, clean
7.2 Grains of HP-38 = Hi 906, Lo 869, and a 2.0 inch group, 1 inch left, clean

240 grain cast lead Keith style, semi-wadcutter.
Winchester Brass, Winchester Large Pistol, 1.490 col w/roll crimp

5.5 Grains Green Dot = Hi-750, Lo-713, and a 1.25 inch group ¾ inch low, clean
6.2 Grains HP-38 = ….Hi-812, Lo-790, and a 1.35 inch group ¾ inch left, clean

 

[the Black Spot]

Waiting on use of a lee 240 gr tl mold. All I have is 200 gr and 310 gr molds. Wanna try something inhave between.
Anyone used this mold for a 44 special snub nose?

 

[Float Pilot]

Sunday Oct 21, 2012. Clear, 20 degrees light breeze. Target at 15 yards.
Taurus M-455 UL alloy frame with 2.1 inch bbl

207 Grain cast lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point with Gas Check .
Winchester Brass, Winchester Large Pistol Primers, 1.500 Col, roll crimp

6.2 grains IMR 700X = 880 fps and a 2.0 inch group
6.2 grains TiteGroup = 870 fps and a 0.75 inch group, very clean
10.4 grains Blue Dot = 810 fps and a 1.0 inch group, Unburnt Powder, dirty.

210 Grain Sierra Jacketed Hollow Point.
1.498 COL, roll crimp into cannelure. WW Brass, WW. Primer.

9.5 grains Blue Dot = 720 fps and a 1.5 inch group. Dirty Load

240 grain cast lead Keith style, semi-wadcutter.
Winchester Brass, Winchester Large Pistol, 1.490 col w/roll crimp

9.0 grains Blue Dot = 705 fps and a 3.0 inch group, dirty, unburnt powder.

 

[joneb]

Great work Float Pilot,
I hope you get a chance to try some AA#5, if it weren't for the haz mat crap I'd send you some.
I think 180-215gr is ideal for the short barreled 44spl

 

[the Black Spot]

Float thanks for posting again, I may try some of those blue dot loads. Finally got some 240 gr bullets cast today. Hope to load and test soon.

 

[joneb]

I may try some of those blue dot loads

10.4 grains Blue Dot = 810 fps and a 1.0 inch group, Unburnt Powder, dirty.

Buy the time you get Blue Dot to burn clean in a gun chambered in 44spl you will be well over the max loading.
You would be better served with Unique.