Ruger GP100 .44 Sp for HOT Loads

[Barbaroja]

Y’all got to stop all these 44 special conversations. Your making my fantasies of having one even worse! Cmon fella. Your killin me lol

give in buddy, it just feels better

 

[milsurpguy]

I load 44spl to go in a 44mag, I load them hotter and hotter till I can get a nice clean burn with faster burning powders typically used in 44spl.
My unique 180gr 44spl load is super sonic and 240gr are up around 900 to 1,000fps.

 

[bigpower491]

I've owned a GP in 44 spl for a few months now.
A well made firearm it is, but I see no reason to try and throttle it to the moon. I've have much larger revolvers for those loads.
Stick to the book loads and no need to spend a fortune trying to make it handle loads you should own a 44 mag for....

That money would be better spent on something like say, a Freedom Arms M83...(oops...did I type that??)

 

[dickydalton]

Y'all just need one of these!

69now

• dickydalton
• Feb 7, 2020

 

[forrest r]

Never wanted the gp100/44spl myself. Figured for the $$$ get the S&W 69 l-frame and don't worry about it if I wanted a range toy.
For CCW It's hard to beat a CA bulldog.

Never did like the huge front sight on the gp100's don't see many of them on a carry piece. But you do on range toys/target pistols but not so much the target front sight & 2 1/2" bbl combo. Always thought that the .431"+ cylinders ruger is famous for didn't help the thin forcing cones on the gp100's. Hard hitting oversized cast bullets aren't the best for the thin forcing cones.
IMHO:
The 2 1/2" bbl'd gp100's in 44spl is just a poor design, the 4" bbl'd version would be more true to what that revolver is. A plinking/range play firearm.

A CA bulldog has a thinner forcing cone but only +/- 1/8" of it sticks out the frame. Couple that with a low profile front sight and small size/low weight. It's a far better ccw revolver. The ca bulldog I've carried for years has .430" cylinders and a 3/1000th's bbl gap & low profile front sight.


I have no issues using any of these loads in that bulldog and switch back and forth between them depending on the weather/the amount of cloths people will be wearing in summer VS winter in ne ohio.

 

[wcwhitey]

Shoot big fat lead bullets at reasonable pressure and it will last forever. Up to Skeeter level loads. Anything more than that it’s just the wrong gun. But, big difference between a lead bullet at 900+ FPS and a 125 grain JHP at 1400+ stress wise on the forcing cone.

 

[sugarmaker]

Was kind of thinking it sounded like a home made M-69 and then saw dickydaltons post. Love the little 69 and it can be loaded from mild to wild (not Dan Wesson wild…)

 

[44 Buckshot]

Agreed. The 44spl is a fantastic cartridge in it's own right.

It's much more versatile than super-hot or magnum loads even though both have their place

 

[ThomasT]

It's much more versatile than super-hot or magnum loads even though both have their place

Welcome to the forum Buckshot.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Not very much fun to shoot a 1200fps 255gr or similar 240 hard cast out of a smaller revolver.
I much prefer 900-1000. With a hard cast- it should do fine. I’ve handled the Ruger 3” Gp100. It certainly is a robust revolver. Yet I have a S&W 624 with a tapered 3” and it’s much more nimble. Hotter Charges can produce a Recoil/Flash that isn’t exactly enjoyable- a Mag w/longer barrel is best for that.
Another 3” I have is a no dash S&W 696. That gets a bit softer ammo. Forcing cone thin and I’m cautious. I’m sure it can take a 1000fps with a 250gr Bullet. Yet a bit less shoots better, and the gun will be around for a while. Heck, I even have another Barrel/Cylinder for it just in case- as it’s my absolute favorite Revolver. Or in case I want to convert a 686 into a 686/96.
If I was a Ruger fan- I’d definitely buy the Gp-100. The one I handles had a very nice action Job done and was very smooth. Heavy gun tho…. so I’ll stay with the lighter Smiths.
The Skeeter 7.5 Unique with Kieth 250gr is plenty enough for most Anything as long as a strong projectile is used. I’ve read how a 1000fps Hardcast has penetrated straight lined rite thru a Standing Cattle. That’s a lot of beef to drop….. Now I ask ya, How much more do you really need? A Flatter shooting longer distance of the same Effect? Ok a magnum is required now. 1250fps will Execute the flatter trajectory.
Point is- people have been trying to make a Special a Mag for a long time…. Yet the Special is best in my opinion around 850-1000 Fps, depending on Job requirements.
Cast Hard- Reload- Repeat

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Never wanted the gp100/44spl myself. Figured for the $$$ get the S&W 69 l-frame and don't worry about it if I wanted a range toy.
For CCW It's hard to beat a CA bulldog.

Never did like the huge front sight on the gp100's don't see many of them on a carry piece. But you do on range toys/target pistols but not so much the target front sight & 2 1/2" bbl combo. Always thought that the .431"+ cylinders ruger is famous for didn't help the thin forcing cones on the gp100's. Hard hitting oversized cast bullets aren't the best for the thin forcing cones.
IMHO:
The 2 1/2" bbl'd gp100's in 44spl is just a poor design, the 4" bbl'd version would be more true to what that revolver is. A plinking/range play firearm.

A CA bulldog has a thinner forcing cone but only +/- 1/8" of it sticks out the frame. Couple that with a low profile front sight and small size/low weight. It's a far better ccw revolver. The ca bulldog I've carried for years has .430" cylinders and a 3/1000th's bbl gap & low profile front sight.
View attachment 994917

I have no issues using any of these loads in that bulldog and switch back and forth between them depending on the weather/the amount of cloths people will be wearing in summer VS winter in ne ohio.
View attachment 994918

Forester R
Hey Neighbor-What part of the Buckey State?

 

[.38 Special]

With the advent of the S&W 96, hot rodding the .44 Spl became a moot point to me, and I love the .44 Spl.

I have long suspected S&W made special models for the moderators here. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[eastbank]

if you think you need magnum speeds, than use a magnum. the .44 spl is just fine for killing any thing that needs killed that walks on two legs and most four legged critters. 624-44 spl, 29-44 mag,s.

 

[Jackalope 1]

I shoot 240s at around 1000fps, and have seen no issues in the relatively few rounds I've shot. I haven't tried any Keith loads yet, and probably won't.
The 240s at 1k are all I really wanna shoot out of that gun.

I've got an SBH that can drive the same bullets to 1500fps or so and be comfortable doing it, so no major need.

You and I are in full agreement, having two SBH'S one for 44 special, 900 fps- 240 grn Keith bullets, 44 Magnum 1400 fps-keith Thompson 250 grn bullets has stopped everything needing stopping for me, mighty fine caliber.

 

[joneb]

I load a 205gr LTCFP for a S&W 696 with VV N340 at 1,000 fps with no issues. The 696 has a questionable forcing cone.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Jones- Do you feel that a fast lightweight boolet can do damage to that thin forcing cone? What hardness is that 205gr ?

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Ps- What dash is your 696?

 

[Seedy Character]

if you think you need magnum speeds, than use a magnum. the .44 spl is just fine for killing any thing that needs killed that walks on two legs and most four legged critters. 624-44 spl, 29-44 mag,s.

I concur

Same as hot ridding a .38Spl.

A .44Spl loaded to duplicate .45ACP or .45Colt is more than capable.
If you need /want .44M, get a Redhawk, Blackhawk or M29.

 

[CraigC]

Same as hot ridding a .38Spl.

Absolutely nothing wrong with either, as long as you do it in the right gun.

Contrary to what some seem to think, there's nothing you can do with the .44Spl to make it a .44Mag. Even the Keith load is still 250fps short of the .44Mag. Guns chambering the .44Spl are often lighter than their .44Mag counterparts and there is often utility in getting more out of lighter guns, when you don't need a full sized .44Mag. The Magnum did not make the Special obsolete.

Same for the .38. Keith's .38-44 loads are still applicable today. Still plenty of .38-44HD's floating around and I've shot Keith loads in those I owned. In fact, if you want to shoot the Keith bullet in a model 27, the only way to do it is with Special brass due to its relatively short cylinder. USFA never made a .357 SAA but they did make .38's. I've shot quite a few .38-44 loads out of my Rodeo II.