Well, after yesterday at the range, I can chime in on this thread as well. I ran two different sets of loads through my S&W 624 - 4", and through the chrono. As rcmodel notes above, this revolver is also a "modern" .44 Spl gun, and one need not be restricted to the 15,500 SAAMI Maximum.
The first bullet was the (Rem) 240JSP, run over 231, as sold as a no-name by my LGS. I loaded this combination up about a month ago, and I forget why I chose that combination--probably because I had the components on hand, and I had a recipe for them. Since loading those, I have fussed around trying to figure out a second powder to run, and to run with cast bullets. After disregarding some good advice to go buy some Unique--it wasn't readily available locally--I settled on Power Pistol, which had a few recipes on line to compare with others in my load manuals--and to run it under a 240-gr LRNFP and / or 200 gr. LRNFPs. Both of these cast bullets are available at the LGS with a 'local' trade name--Red River--which I have used before satisfactorily. The Alliant site had one load I was intrigued with--7.6 gr. (max) of Power Pistol under a 250-gr. Keith ran at 954 from a 5.5" barrel, and still meet SAAMI spec. So, after chewing on a number of factors, I ran up 10 rounds each from 6.8 gr. to 8.2 gr. Rounds were crimped firmly in the middle of the crimp groove; LOA was about 1.455. They were built with a Lee-4-die setup, using the FCD as the 4th / crimp die--but no post-sizing occurred.
At 5.0 gr. of 231, the 240 JSP ran about 575 fps; 5.8 gr. ran about 665 fps. I shot these as the second set of tests, so they felt like a real creampuff round--which they are, of course.
The PP-240-gr LRNFP shot well--very well. The two sweet spots were at 7.2 gr and 7.6, with possibly a third at 8.2 gr. At 7.2 gr., the velocity from this 4" barrel was 830 FPS (SD 11.9); 7.6 gr. equalled 870 / 11.8. The 8.2 gr. load ran about 945 / 8.9.
I had loaded some extra rounds at 8.0 gr. to shoot at our club Tuesday night "fun shoot" later--and those did operate Poppers smartly, and swung the hung-bowling pins mightily--split one wide open.
The .44 S&W Spl. is the first new round I've loaded in three years. I like it.
Jim H.
