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Leadlum
04-16-2005, 09:42 PM
Just wondering whats everyones favorite powder for the .44 spl with cast bullet [250-SWC-K] ?. I`ll be shooting them out of a S&W 629.

drinks
04-16-2005, 09:56 PM
Universal, PB and Herco all do well for me, Universal uses less.
Don

Clark
04-17-2005, 11:36 AM
When my wimpy brother wanted to shoot my 44 mag, the recoil was too much.

So I did a work up between 44 special and 44 mag loads for him to choose the recoil he could endure.

AA#9 worked well over a wide range of 44 special loads, and I was able to dial in the wimp load.

MT Gianni
04-17-2005, 08:27 PM
I lilke Unique and Herco, Green dot does not fair near as nice as in a reduced 44 Mag. Wc 820 [#9 equivelant] locked up the cylinder hard in my 624 and I got lower velocities with more powder in my 3" Charter Arms with lots of unburned grains. This was with a 429421. Make sure that you have a heavy crimp if you use this powder and I would load only enough to get test results. Gianni.

Scrounger
04-17-2005, 09:26 PM
I lilke Unique and Herco, Green dot does not fair near as nice as in a reduced 44 Mag. Wc 820 [#9 equivelant] locked up the cylinder hard in my 624 and I got lower velocities with more powder in my 3" Charter Arms with lots of unburned grains. This was with a 429421. Make sure that you have a heavy crimp if you use this powder and I would load only enough to get test results. Gianni.

Ditto that , twice (I'm a slow learner) AA #9 is not allowed on my property! In powder as in women, cheap is not always a virtue...

Clark
04-18-2005, 12:00 AM
The whole truth:
Ramshot Enforcer = AA#9 =H108 = WC820

It is all tiny black ball powder, some is shinyer, but it all works the same.

West Creek
04-18-2005, 10:08 AM
Hey Leadlum

I don't really load any 44 special but I do load 45 colt and I'd recon a 44 - 25 and a 45 250 will perfom very similiar with differernt powders.

I use 231, Red Dot, Universal and Unique for loads under 1000 fps. My favorite load uses Red Dot for about 800 fps, Very accurate.

9.3X62AL
04-18-2005, 10:44 AM
I tend to agree with Clark's assessment of the WC-820 situation. How are ya, Clark?

The WC-820 gets used only in higher pressure applications, and in these roles it has done pretty well for me. It won't see use in the 44 Special. It just did a little work in the 25-20 WCF with cast, and did some of the best work to date with Lyman #257420 and dacron filler--nice round 7/8" to 1" groups at 50 yards, and no powder debris to speak of.

Plain old Unique has been my favorite powder with the 240-250 grain SWC's in the 44 Special. I don't do Keith-intensity loads in my M-624, just the 7.5 grain amount touted by the late Skeeter Skelton underneath either #429244 or #429421. This yields about 975-1000 FPS from the 6.5" barrel, and that's a very useful general purpose load. It pretty much parallels the 41 Magnum lead boolit factory load performance-wise. I don't think I'd use it in Charter Arms revolvers or similar light-frame examples, though.

BruceB
04-18-2005, 12:02 PM
The .44 Special has never been loaded on my bench. However, I've found quite a range of powders useful for reduced loads in .44 Magnum brass. I fell into the "no .44 Specials routine" while still in Canada, where the brass is rare and expensive. I color-code ALL my loads in .44 Magnum brass to avoid uncomfortable surprises, unless the bullet type clearly identifies the load (such as the Lee RN mentioned below).

My ".44-1000" loads use a 250-grain plain-base SWC, and I've had great accuracy and consistency with 17.0 grains of 2400 for about the 1000 fps that give the load its name. However, even #231 has performed well at this speed, and of course uses considerably less powder per load. As mentioned, Herco and Unique are also prime candidates. (See why I could be perfectly content with guns, powders, and boolit designs no younger than fifty years????)

The real odd-ball in my .44 loads is called ".44 Lite" in my Loading Diary, but maybe should be called ".44 El-Cheapo". This is because Deputy Al gave me the Lee 200 RNFP mould, and ben1025 bestowed about four pounds of Herters' #160 on me! Data for the powder was a bit tough to find, but eventually it was determined to be a quick-burner like Bullseye and a few others. Can't recall the charge offhand, and I'm at work, but somewhere about 6.0 grains sounds about right and the speed is in the 800fps zone. GREAT fun! This is .44 Special territory for certain, and the load is extremely easy on gun, brass, and shooter, even in the lighter .44 629 Mountain Revolver.

felix
04-18-2005, 01:03 PM
Folks, some time ago someone mentioned at Bull Shop (BS junior?) that they knew where 30-90 pounds of 4756 was stashed away. At 3 bucks a pound or so for an extremely clean single base powder being equal in speed to Herco, that's a steal to behold. I would like to see a group buy on this stuff. Sooner or later Sundog and I will be going to the Nevada shootout and we could bring back a good portion with us for delivery around here. This means delivery would be to Bruce's place from the store where that powder is located. If necessary, I will front the entire cash amount. Yes, the powder is that good for these lower powered 357, 44, 41, 45, and auto pissola rounds. Herco demands pressure for clean burning, whereas 4756 does not! ... felix

http://www.hunt101.com/img/276181.jpg (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=276181&c=556&z=1)

carpetman
04-18-2005, 01:17 PM
BruceB---That 44 lite or even 44 el-cheapo will never work. The problem lies in that you are using Herters powder. Herters products will not work with short names. You would atleast need to tack on 10 or more adjectives to the Lite or El Cheapo. Ol Jacques would kick the dirt off if he knew someone was using that short a name on his product.

BruceB
04-18-2005, 02:55 PM
Okay, c-man, I can understand that

"Herters' Model Perfect Mark Nine Hudson Bay World's Finest PERFECTION .44 El-Cheapo ammo, Loaded with #160 Powder created with Nitrates Produced Only With the Rare High-Altitude Guano from Virgin Albino Peruvian Bats and Cellulose Harvested By Maori Maidens From New Zealand Eucalyptus Trees in the Dark of the Moon" ....is that any better???

I sure enjoyed their catalogs, and the stuff I bought from Herters' was really pretty danged good. I miss them, too.

carpetman
04-18-2005, 03:15 PM
BruceB--Yes that name would be a good start--add on custom,magnum,supreme,deluxe and it will shrink the groups even more. Even all that and with the model perfect you added,you wont get Starmetal groups,but for most mortals it would work.

45 2.1
04-18-2005, 03:45 PM
Felix-
I would like to be in, i'd go for 10 to 15 lbs.

onceabull
04-18-2005, 04:14 PM
Felix & others interested: iffen #4756 is available for anywhere near 3 greenspans/lb I hope my share can be substantial.. If less transport costs to Boise than Wiinemucca, I can receive and get it onward south by private conveyance..my PU not much more than a pimple on Waksupi's but can handle that load,+ the missus. I'm guessing can't get done for this Mother's Day celebration, but I expect to pass thru Winne& Reno late fall on the way to visit Sis,Mom,and CobbMtnMac..Or can bring to the 06 Party ~!!~ Onceabull

9.3X62AL
04-18-2005, 05:36 PM
SR-4756 is THE powder for the 32-20 revolver loads I favor, and if it were easier to find around here it would get a lot more use in wheelgun calibers. I would be interested in 5#-10# if the stuff can be located, and a drive to north-central NV wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit. It's nice to see the United States from time to time.

slughammer
04-18-2005, 05:45 PM
Just wondering whats everyones favorite powder for the .44 spl with cast bullet [250-SWC-K] ?. I`ll be shooting them out of a S&W 629.

Clean Clean Clean in the 44spl. A little spikey, so if you don't have good safety practices stick with something slower.

My load right now is a 240 with 4.0 Clays and a Federal large pistol primer. No unburnt powder to deal with and it makes a whopping 600 fps out of my 3" S & W 696.

nevada duke
04-19-2005, 02:02 AM
Hello Felix, Sundog and Bruce B. I'm glad to be able to post again and talk to you guys. That 4756 deal sounds real good, let me know when it's going to happen and I will be in.

Powders in the .44 Special, I have tried a bunch of them and they pretty much all work in this very well balanced and forgiving cartridge. I load mostly 240-250 grain boolits, and I like Green Dot for loads 700-900 fps, and Win. 296 for top end loads. 19 grains of W 296 gives around 1150 fps in my 4" S&W 624, no pressure signs and easy extraction. 7 grains of Green Dot gives around 850-900 fps in the same gun.

We have so many powders available today, that you could wear-out more than a couple of guns trying them all. I have to say that I am almost through with experimenting with powders and will stick to what I have experience with.

Regards from Nevada duke..

9.3X62AL
04-19-2005, 08:57 AM
I share Duke's ideas about powders I'm familiar with, and I'm a little hesitant to venture forth with new fuels of unknown capabilities--especially when the price of a pound of the stuff runs at 20 bucks or more. I think a look at "the literature" covering a caliber is the best place to start--see what works best in the experience of people involved in the sport (but not beholden to gunrags) have to say. The folks here are likely the single best resource available for such information, and selected writers also come to mind in that regard--Ken Waters at the head of the line, his "Pet Loads" magazine reprints and compendium books being a rich source of common sense and real world experience.

Willbird
04-19-2005, 09:06 AM
I'd take 10lbs and pay the hazmat and shipping even to NW ohio

Bill

MT Gianni
04-19-2005, 11:04 PM
I'm in for 8-16 lbs if this is a go. Gianni.

C1PNR
04-20-2005, 12:13 AM
I'll take 10 pounds and pick it up in Winnemucca, or from Bill in Boise, as y'all see fit. Just let me know amount and address!

Heck, I just checked the "adult beverage" cabinet and it looks like a trip to Ben's is in order sometime REAL soon.;-) Might have to check out the "Hardware" store, too.