How much pressure can a 265 gr. .44 special cart. handle?

[44and45]

I've been shooting some great Lyman #429244 SWC at 265 grains, .44 special loads of 4.5 grain of Trail Boss = approx. 700 fps velocity.

This is a fairly mild load but extremely accurate one. (see picture)

As there are no current reloading manuals that show .44 spl. loads at 265 grains, except an old #22 Hodgdon's book that has a listing of 7.0 grains of HS6 = 833 fps velocity at 14,700 CUP.

I'm thinking about loading up some .44 spl. with 12.5 or 13.0 of #2400 powder, but have no idea if that's going to invoke too much pressure in my 3 inch barrel Taurus model 441.

Anyone have experience with 265 grain .44 special loads.


Thanks, Jim

Below shot at 20 yards...

 

[Snapping Twig]

Are you shooting it in a magnum or a special?

I use that bullet and for a long time I've shot it in a magnum case over 7g W231. I figure @ 800 ~ 850 fps.

In a special, I suppose a call to Alliant for a Unique load or Hogdon for an HS6 load would be a good idea.

 

[44and45]

All my references have been noted as .44 special, there is no .44 magnum in question here.

The 265 grain bullet is being used in .44 special, with .44 special brass.

Jim

 

[NCsmitty]

Ammoguide lists a MAX load of 2400 at 13.0gr with a 250gr cast @ 965fps. You'll find that 2400 will be a "dirty" load in that length barrel. Lots of unburned powder. I doubt that you'll get the velocity out of that load. Power Pistol might be a better choice and of course good old Unique is good too.
I'm guessing that you do not want to shoot +p loads in that Taurus. Maybe someone else can help you out with a load.

NCsmitty

 

[highlander 5]

I've fired a 300gr home cast bullet from 44 spl brass 7 gr universal clays decently accurate at 15-30 ft and pleasant to shoot as well.

 

[44and45]

Thanks guys, keep the loads coming if you have some.

Here is a load (see picture) that used 11.3 grains of 2400 powder, it didn't give me any problems with my gun. But only ran about 10 rounds of this load through the Taurus, quite docile in recoil.



I still hoping to find the right powder to push the 265 grain slugs to at least 850 to 900 fps velocity without damage to gun, or me.

Also, in the past I've had trouble with Universal Clays not burning completely leaving lot of unburned powder in barrel. But maybe I didn't have enough of it stuffed into the brass.

Jim

 

[ants]

Lee's Modern Reloading has loads for 267 grain bullets using VV N330, N340 and N350 powders. Since Lee gets their loads from the powder manufacturers, go look up the VV web site or get their book.

According to IMR, Trail Boss is specifically made for low velocity loads.

 

[44and45]

For some reason, cannot connect to the VV website...got a link?

Jim

 

[NCsmitty]

Try this, they show nothing newer than a 2006 PDF file. But it's got what you need.

http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/pdfs/Handgun-Reloading-Data-2006.pdf

NCsmitty

 

[Walkalong]

.44 Spl brass

Anywhere from 4.3 to 4.8 Grs 700X

Most any lead 240 Gr bullet

Very accurate

4.8 Grs is probably over max for .44 Spl pressures, but I have shot a great many of them in .44 Specials, and they would be perfectly fine shot in a .44 mag.

I have not tried anything heavier, but 700X should work just as well for a 265 Gr lead bullet as well. It was the most accurate powder I tried in .44 Spl. There are some newer powders out since then.

 

[44and45]

Thanks all, will experiment with your suggestions.

Jim

 

[rcmodel]

You should at least try the classic .44 Special Skeeter Skelton Load.

240 Keith over 7.5 grains Unique.

If your gun won't put all of them in the same hole, it's a gun problem.

This is a Over MAX load with todays anemic SAAMI pressure limits on the .44 Special.

BTW: I personally think downloading or light loading with 2400 powder is the wrong way to go.
If you want that power level, use a near max charge of medium burn rate powder like Unique.

Cleaner, and more consistant then reduced 2400 loads.

rcmodel

 

[44and45]

One hole? I'm happy with a 2 inch group at my age.

The reason I'm working up loads in the #429244 GC bullet drop from that mould, I'm not the greatist bullet castor, and my lead mix drops them at 265 grains.

Waste not, want not. Got two or three hundred of the 265 grain, and so far they are working with moderate loaded powders.

My 4.5 gr. of Trail Boss = approx. 700 fps velocity, I used that powder with these big slugs because it is case filling...and it was calculated guess on my part.

The reason I was thinking about 2400 powder, it too is rather near case filling and I hoped to find something in the 800 to 850 fps range...(not down loading it)

I may have to go back to the Hodgdon #22 manual at 7.0 gr. of HS6 powder = 833 fps 14,100 CUP. That powder seems to have a lower pressure range according the loading tables.

But I have some information from you gents that will get looked into.

Thanks, Jim

 

[zxcvbob]

BTW: I personally think downloading or light loading with 2400 powder is the wrong way to go.
If you want that power level, use a near max charge of medium burn rate powder like Unique.

Cleaner, and more consistant then reduced 2400 loads.

+1 I tend to use maximum or near-max loads for everything. I choose the powder that gets the power level I want. It's cheaper that way, and all powders burn cleaner when loaded hot.

 

[44and45]

[Cleaner, and more consistent then reduced 2400 loads]


Who's reducing 2400 loads, I'm looking to increase the 2400 powder for my 265 grain bullet...but haven't exactly got that figured out yet.

My old Lyman manual sez I can use up to 17.5 gr. 2400 powder = 1,150 fps with a 250 grain #429244 bullet. Seeing how I'm going to be using a 265 grain bullet, I don't think I'll go that hot with my 3" barrel five shot revolver.

The hottest I've shot in it are the picture below, these are test rounds and didn't have a lot to practice with. Fired two rounds to determine POA, then reloaded full cylinder and walked my shot upward into the center. Very hefty recoil, but no chrono available so don't know the exact fps velocity.





Bullets used...

 

[Walkalong]

Your choice, but you do not need gas checks at 1000 to 1100 FPS.

 

[44and45]

It is also my choice to use some of these gas checked bullets, they work well in my gun as target results show. And there is no lead build up when using softer casting mix.

Thanks for the advice though...but only have a pinch left of some very old 700X, but will see what it can do.

After checking the website on the VV powder, the N350 looks good for my 265 grain bullets. That will be the one to buy next.

Jim