the Black Spot
Member
Is it possible to achieve 950 fps with 310 cast bullets in a 5.5" barreled blackhawk? (44 specia)
Would be using unique, blue dot or 2400.
Thanks
Would be using unique, blue dot or 2400.
Thanks
Thx murf. I have the B. Pearce article. He used h110 which i dont have.tbs,
i'm getting 1,000 fps out of my blackhawk with 300 gn lead bullets. pm me if you want the recipe. got it from a brian pearce handloader article, but is too much for normal 44 special handguns.
murf
I don't think a .44spl is enough gun for a bull elk. It may fail to penetrate if it hits the shoulder.
I have a friend that hunts elk with a scoped Redhawk in .44mag. The loads we worked up are 300gr but they are moving much faster than 950fps.
Here's the link to the index of .44 Special articles
Interesting. Standard .44 Magnum loads from the Big 3 ammunition manufacturers consist of bullets in the 240-250 gr. range running from an advertised velocity of 1180-1250 fps. The original /44 Special Keith load, published in in Handloader #236, among other places, consists of a cast SWC weighing in the 240 -260 gr. range over 17.0 grs. of AL2400. Velocity runs 1200 fps +/-...curiously similar to the Big 3 .44 Magnum loads I mentioned.
I've tested this load in my stock Flat Top .44 Special and was very impressed both with velocity and accuracy:
Just for grins I fired this group at my 200 yd. gong (21") with the Blackhawk and the same load. I didn't adjust the sights for that range, rather sighted using a line I'd scribed into the rear of the front sight. The first 5 shots would easily fit into the vitals of a bull elk, but I'd never fire any handgun at elk at that range.
The bullet pictured below, a home-cast 258 gr. SWC, was taken from a whitetail buck. It's impact velocity was about 1080 fps and it struck in the left flank and travel the length of the bucks body coming to rest under the skin ahead of the right shoulder. As evidenced by the first picture, it struck a bone along the way. PLENTY of penetration I'd have to say.
I'm no expert but I really don't think a 300+ gr. bullet is necessary. Also in Handloader #236 Pearce relates:
A number of years ago, I planted two 250- grain cast bullets (from Lyman
mould 429421) through the lungs of a bull elk at over 100 yards. They were driven 1,200 fps from a Colt New Frontier with a 7-1/2" inch barrel. Both bullets exited the offside, and the bull ran 20 or 30 feet before going down.
He goes on to state: Several mule deer have fallen to the same bullets
that were traveling 900 to 980 fps. In spite of this modest velocity, bullets completely penetrate on broadside lung shots, and deer usually drop within 20 to 50 yards.
I've only killed two deer with a .44 Special revolver, both with with loads running a 255-ish gr. SWC at a little under 950 fps. Both ran about 25 yds. and gave it up.
35W