Shooting the .44 Special: Heavier Bullets More Accurate in DA Than Lighter Ones?

[Magnum Opus]

I use a 629 5". I've used 200, 240, and 250 grain bullets for .44 specials. Right now I use AA #5 as the powder and I load velocities of 800-900.

Consistently though I always tend to be a lot more accurate with the heavier bullets in DA than the 200's...even at 21 ft. the 200's tend to be scattered around while the heavier bullets group much tighter.

In SA I've been accurate with all three weights.

Has anyone else experienced this, or is there a reason for this that I'm not aware of?
Or is it just me?

I've even shot 200 grain Gold Dot hollowpoints in DA and I still had the same scattered accuracy with them that I've had with other 200's.

Thanks for any input.

 

[rcmodel]

If they are accurate in single-action testing, there would be no reason they wouldn't be equally as accurate in DA.

Except hardly anyone is as accurate DA as they are SA.

Even if the primers were not lighting the same in DA due to lighter firing pin strike, it is doubtful most folks could notice it at close range.

Are you loading your heavy bullet loads as hot as the lighter ones?

Perhaps a difference in muzzle blast or recoil is causing you to flinch more and pull off the shots with the light bullet loads as opposed to the heavy ones?

rcmodel

 

[Magnum Opus]

Yeah, I've loaded the lighter bullets to the same velocity I use for the heavier ones...so it's all the same there.

When I'm shooting the 200's I feel like I'm doing everything I do with the heavier bullets...and even when I rather carefully shoot a 200 grain bullet it still tends to end up scattered on the target while with the heavier bullets I can acheive a centralized group.
In the past I'd actually been shooting 200's for a bit of a while but then went back to just using the heavier bullets because I grew weary of the innaccuracy I was having.

I would agree that if a bullet is accurate in SA, it should be accurate in DA as well...but for some reason I can't get the same results I do with heavier bullets.

It's been quite a mystery to me.

In terms of bullet types...for the 200's I've shot flat points and hollow points, while with the 240's I've shot semi-wadcutters and Keith bullets.

 

[Majic]

Standard weight for a .44 is 240 grains. The 240s have an ideal bullet sectional density to stabilze the bullet in flight leading to greater accuracy. The shorter 200shave less of a shank for the bore to impart the spin. Most calibers shoot more accurately with standard and heavier than standard weight bullets.

 

[rcmodel]

But if you can get the same accuracy with 200's shooting SA, it has to be something else.

Sectional Density doesn't play much of a role at 7 yards!

rcmodel

 

[MrBorland]

Any chance the timing's not spot on? - I'm thinking perhaps the cylinder isn't locking into place the moment before the DA trigger breaks, whereas it does via momentum when the hammer is cocked in SA fire. A heavier bullet may recover from this initial perturbation better.

When shooting DA, is it that the heavier bullets are more than those shot in SA, or are the lighter bullets less accurate? Or are all bullets less accurate in DA, but the heavier ones not as much?

 

[Magnum Opus]

In SA with heavy bullets the accuracy is great. I've at times been able to replicate that kind of accuracy with the same heavy bullets in DA.
So my accuracy with heavier bullets in DA is overall good.

With the lighter bullets...I can't match the accuracy I can get with them in SA while using DA.
And this is at even 21 ft....same powder, same velocity, etc.

So I dunno...in lieu of things I suppose it has to be something about how I am shooting the 200 grainers in DA...though I have no idea what.
Only thing I can figure is a really subconscious movement on my part when it fires that throws it off course that I've never noticed....even when being slow and careful with the shot. That though doesn't really explain though how I have no such problem with a 240 or 250 grain bullet.

In terms of the cylinder timing...has anything I've said in this reply raised any red flags?

 

[rcmodel]

Well the gun is 300 grains heavier when you start out with a cylinder full of 250's!

That dampens gun movement more then a cylinder full of 200's!

Yea!
That's gotta be the real reason!

rcmodel

 

[MrBorland]

The timing issue was a bit of a WAG, but it might explain why light bullets in DA are less accurate from your gun.

As far as timing, I've read differing opinions of the validity of the test, but with the gun unloaded, pull the DA trigger slowly and watch the cylinder closely. Does it "click" into place immediately before the trigger breaks? How 'bout when you manually cock the hammer as though you were going to shoot SA? Just curious.

Only thing I can figure is a really subconscious movement on my part when it fires that throws it off course that I've never noticed....even when being slow and careful with the shot.

This can be tested by trying someone else's gun, and/or have someone else try your gun. Between the 4 shooter/gun combinations, you should be able to see if it's the shooter, the gun or the bullets.

 

[gripper]

Elmer Keith is grinning....he'd say ' why so slow?""
Still , I like the load specs and often wonder why the ammo makers have not stepped up ...this would be a pretty useful all-around round( depending on bullet type and shape).

 

[Majic]

Sectional Density doesn't play much of a role at 7 yards!

Sectional density is directly related to the length of the bullet. Longer bullets for the caliber are generally more accurate. This accuracy begins the moment the bullet leaves the barrel. Accurate bullets will group well no matter the range.

 

[Kerf]

Magnum Opus: as you mentioned...

the heavier bullets group better shooting double action, but various weight bullets seem to group the same shooting single action.

I have observed over many years of shooting that my first shot on target is generally outside the rest of the group. Talking with other target shooters, this is called "setting the gun." The recoil from the first shot, "sets" the gun in your grip, and the remaining shots fly to a different, truer point of aim.

So, in your instance,

1.) the longer, heavier bullets (as stated previously) are inherently more accurate from your barrel twist;

and, secondly, the heavier bullet's recoil is setting the gun in your hand more better.

Just a guess,

Kerf

 

[rcmodel]

Accurate bullets will group well no matter the range.

I'm just saying that what would be a lousy 36" group at 100 yards would be a pretty darn good 2 3/4" DA group at 21 feet/7 yards.

Of course, sectional density is very important!
But the difference between 200 & 240 grain .44 bullets is not going to be a deal-breaker at 7 yards.

50 yards, or a 100? Sure!
But not at 7 yards.

rcmodel

 

[Walkalong]

Yep. At 7 yards almost any decent load looks pretty good.

Barrel twist rate. Is it the same in both guns? Again though, I don't know if it would show up at 7 yards.

 

[44and45]

I was really surprised that the mould drop 265 grain GC & lube bullet #429244 could shoot as good as it did.

It is Taurus model 441 in .44 special, but the over sized cylinder throats dictate that the bullet be swaged to .432 diameter to shoot this well.

On target attached, I started shooting at about 1 - 2 O'clock position on the black center. Realized they were grouping pretty good, so with my last 5 shots in this bullet weight dropped my POA down to the 6 O'clock position.

Next time I go to the range will try some more at 6 O'clock.

Jim