Clint Smith loads... .41 mag, .44 Special, .44 Mag

[phoglund]

I recently read a magazine article in which Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch fame wrote of using the same powder to load .41 Mag, .44 Special, and .44 Mag. all in the range of 900fps. I was intrigued with the idea but have lost track of the magazine. Does anybody have the load information Clint gave in this article? I believe it was published within the last couple of months.

Thanks!

 

[Bula]

I'd bet unique would do fine. I didn't read the article but I load 44 special and magnum, not .41 (yet) with unique for heavier bullets, 255 keiths with great results. Given case size and diameter, i bet it'd be easy to find Unique data for the .41 mag. 7.5g for the .44 spec and 9.5g for the magnum are loads I like. Both shot from Magnum revos.

 

[rcmodel]

Unique would easily load any Magnum revolver caliber to 900 FPS & more if you wanted it.

In fact, the same 7.5 - 8.0 grain charge with various bullet weights will give various levels of power in .357 Mag, .41 Mag. & .44 Special, .44 Mag, and .45 Colt.

Also, it will load just about any other handgun caliber you can name, from the .25 ACP on up.

Also shotgun shells, and reduced power rifle loads.

That's what makes it so, ehhhh, Unique!

rcmodel

 

[phoglund]

Thanks for the replies. I am just starting reloading so any/all information is appreciated. As it turns out the only powder I've purchased so far is 2 pounds of Unique. Some idea of the charge of Unique for 900 - 1,000 fps for 210gr. .41 mag and 240gr 44 Special and .44 Mag loads would be a great help. Thanks!

-P

 

[rcmodel]

SO, you don't have a reloading manual yet?
Getsum!

Talking jacketed bullets here.
210 in .41 Mag = 8.5 grains = 1,000.
240 in .44 Mag = 10.0 = 900.

The following are over current industry standard pressure:
240 in .44 Mag = 12.1 MAX = 1127.
In .44 Spl., 7.5 grains MAX with a 240 cast lead SWC bullet is the famous old Skeeter Skelton load.
It will do 900 - 1,000 in a modern .44 Spl. S&W or Colt SAA depending on barrel length.
Not for Charter Arms Bulldogs though!

Probably about 6.5 for a jacketed 240 in .44 Spl. would be in the 800 FPS range.

Keep in mind that heavy jacketed bullets at low velocity increases the risk of a stuck bullet in the barrel.

rcmodel

 

[phoglund]

I do have a reloading manual but it doesn't seem to have the loading for Unique I'm looking for. I'm finding out that multiple reloading manuals seems the way to go...at least until I get a bit more experience.

How important do you think a chronograph is to load development? I am thinking a chrony might need to be on my "to purchase" list.

 

[.38 Special]

The "Skeeter" load of 7.5 Unique/250 grain LSWC in the .44 Special is unlikely to appear in any loading manual as it exceeds SAAMI specs for the round. This does not make it unsafe, unless perhaps fired in the Bulldog or other "budget" handgun, because the .44 Special was -- way back when -- essentially a ballistic copy of the anemic .44 Russian. There is no real reason why modern .44 Specials should be limited to 15,500 PSI when even the .38 -- fired in all manner of sorry firearms -- is allowed 17,000. In point of fact, a lot of folks still use the old Keith load that uses enough 2400 to get the 250 LSWC going 1200 FPS -- approaching Magnum country in both velocity and pressure. This, IMO, is too much of a good thing for most guns, but it certainly has been used safely by a lot of folks for a lot of years.

Anyway, I'm wandering. The point is that 7.5 grains of Unique with a properly sized bullet of appropriate hardness is the "standard" .44 Special load, and is proven and safe. It is essentially a +P load for the .44 Special, and if approached with the same caution as +P .38 Specials will cause no trouble whatsoever.

HTH!