WidenersLoad DataMidSouth Shooters SupplyInline Fabrication
RotoMetals2Titan ReloadingReloading EverythingLee Precision
Repackbox
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 27

Thread: Venturino 44 Special/Magnum data?

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bar Car on the Trump Train
    Posts
    15

    Venturino 44 Special/Magnum data?

    One of my pet loads is 7.0gr of 700x under a 240-250gr Keith SWC, in either a Special or Magnum case.

    From what I've found on the internet, this is supposedly a recommended load from Mike Venturino, who apparently doesn't care for the 44 Special anymore...

    Regardless, I have cross checked this load with my 1980 Hornady manual and various Hodgdon annuals that list max for this 700x recipe at around 9.5gr.

    I like the load for light Magnum work in my SBH and Marlin 1894.

    Long story short, does anyone have a source or could list some of Venturino's other 44 Special loads? I have read much of what Brian Pearce has done with the 44's, but am curious about Venturino's treatment of the cartridges also. Especially considering the somewhat unconventional powders used.

    Any feedback appreciated.

  2. #2
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Western NY
    Posts
    84
    A friend of mine and myself have been playing around with Alliant 20/28 (a shotgun powder) and 200 grain in both jacketed and plated with some very promising results. 20/28 is right next to Unique on the burn chart. We are using an S&W 29, a SBH, a '57 Blackhawk flat top magnum, and three Ruger 44 spl, a Vaquero, a Bisley, and my GP 100. With 8.0 seemingly to be the sweet spot (~ 950-1010 fps) in OUR guns. Yours may be different. Next step is to come up with a mold for a 200 grainer. Any suggestions?

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Visalia, Ca
    Posts
    657
    Get a 200 gr rnfp for the 44-40 & size it for the 44 mag/spl, that's what I use, mine is an Accurate mold 43-200f, but he has a bunch of choices in his catalog.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    East Central Illinois
    Posts
    4,489
    Mike did 2 articles I remember. One was on 700X specifically and the other was in an old G&A annual called "Learning Loads for Bog Bore Revolvers" that had data with Bullseye and 231. I scanned the 700x article and may still have that annual around somewhere.
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

    Moonie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Thomasville North Carolina
    Posts
    4,695
    Quote Originally Posted by SquidBilly View Post
    One of my pet loads is 7.0gr of 700x under a 240-250gr Keith SWC, in either a Special or Magnum case.

    From what I've found on the internet, this is supposedly a recommended load from Mike Venturino, who apparently doesn't care for the 44 Special anymore...

    Regardless, I have cross checked this load with my 1980 Hornady manual and various Hodgdon annuals that list max for this 700x recipe at around 9.5gr.

    I like the load for light Magnum work in my SBH and Marlin 1894.

    Long story short, does anyone have a source or could list some of Venturino's other 44 Special loads? I have read much of what Brian Pearce has done with the 44's, but am curious about Venturino's treatment of the cartridges also. Especially considering the somewhat unconventional powders used.

    Any feedback appreciated.
    Mike Venturino is a member here, he is usually very busy, perhaps he will comment on it for you himself. It's been a few months since I saw him post but he is around.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    N edge of D/FW Metromess
    Posts
    10,502
    He touches on the 44 Mag (and 44 Spl) in his "Shooting Leverguns of the Old West" and his reasons why he didn't feel it had any connection to the old west. I always got the impression he is a fan of the 44 Spl but since I chose the 45 over the 43 years ago I haven't paid much attention to his writings on the subject.
    Endowment Life Member NRA, Life Member TSRA, Member WACA, NRA Whittington Center, BBHC
    Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe
    I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call, Lonesome Dove
    Some of my favorite recipes start out with a handful of depleted counterbalance devices.

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bar Car on the Trump Train
    Posts
    15
    Thanks all. For now I'll stick to the data I have on the 700x loads until I can track down that G&A issue.

  8. #8
    Perma-Banned



    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,712
    If ya' want some of the standard loads for the Special...there are tons of them around using Unique, 231, 2400, Power Pistol, HS-6, etc...

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master Char-Gar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Deep South Texas
    Posts
    12,820
    As I recall, Mike's favorite 44 Spl. load was a standard weight Lyman RN cast bullet and some HP38. I think I remember the charge weight, but will not post it here from decades old memory.

    I do agree with Mike, that the need to load a 44 Spl hot stopped the first day the 44 Magnum appeared. Over the decades I have owned a half dozen or so 44 Spls and that number or more 44 Mags. IMHO the 44 Magnum is a far superior round, giving sterling accuracy all the way up and down the velocity scale. It seems hard to find a really bad 44 Mag load.

    Skeeter and a few others bragged on the 44 Spl to high heavens, but I have found nothing in them special at all.
    Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. It is just my opinion based on my experience and knowledge. Your mileage may vary.

  10. #10
    Perma-Banned



    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,712
    Quote Originally Posted by Char-Gar View Post
    Skeeter and a few others bragged on the 44 Spl to high heavens, but I have found nothing in them special at all.
    Just depends on what you want...I wouldn't swap any 44 special that I have for another 44mag.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    East Central Illinois
    Posts
    4,489
    With the Flat top .44 specials that have come to live at our house I see no reason to download the .44 magnum. Magnum loads in magnum guns specials in special guns.
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  12. #12
    Vendor Sponsor

    DougGuy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    just above Raleigh North Carolina
    Posts
    7,394
    Quote Originally Posted by Char-Gar View Post
    I do agree with Mike, that the need to load a 44 Spl hot stopped the first day the 44 Magnum appeared.
    I disagree with this on one account. On account of the Ruger New Model Blackhawk Flattop, and New Model Vaquero revolvers.

    Ruger has given us some of it's FINEST production with these lighter, thinner, smaller, medium framed revolvers, their fit and finish rivals the best revolvers of any production era Ruger has had from the beginning. Both the 44 Special and the 45 Colt in the medium frame are prime candidates for refining the "tier 2" level of power, which peaks at 25,000psi in the 44 Special, and 23,000psi in the 45 Colt and it's companion convertible cylinder chambered for the 45 ACP.

    Let's re-introduce the 45 Schofield into the medium frame game, via a simple conversion of a 45 ACP cylinder.

    These medium capacity big bore cartridges really are the best of both worlds, they can be loaded down to the most mundane target velocities, and yet take the 250gr boolit right up to and slightly into the lower end of the magnum levels of performance, either one being a quite capable big game getter.

    The need for warm loaded midrange 44 Special and 45 Schofield calibers did not end with the advent of the 44 magnum, it was brought back to life perfectly in 2005 when Ruger tooled up for and began production of the medium framed guns..
    Last edited by DougGuy; 03-08-2017 at 03:31 PM.
    Got a .22 .30 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throats honed? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6° 30min chamfer? Click here to send me a PM You can also find me on Facebook Click Here.

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master Char-Gar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Deep South Texas
    Posts
    12,820
    One thing I have learned about gun boards, if you question either the divinity of Jesus or the 44 Special, you will get push back.

    Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. It is just my opinion based on my experience and knowledge. Your mileage may vary.

  14. #14
    Perma-Banned



    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,712
    Quote Originally Posted by Char-Gar View Post
    One thing I have learned about gun boards, if you question either the divinity of Jesus or the 44 Special, you will get push back.

    Yeah, I know...as I have no use for the 45colt...I have gotten a lot of push back on that. I am just under impressed with it, much like you are the 44 special.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    East Central Illinois
    Posts
    4,489
    Me and the .45 Colt just can't get along. The .44 special and I like each other.
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    perryton texas
    Posts
    324
    Variety is the spice of life !

  17. #17
    Boolit Master veeman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    503
    I have and enjoy both the 44 Spl and 45 Colt, have both in the Flattop. But push comes to shove, I'll take my 44-40's every time. Wish Ruger would make a Flattop in 44-40.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy


    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Walla Walla, WA
    Posts
    212
    Venturino on the 44 Special is in this month's Handloader

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master
    rintinglen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Orange, VA NOW
    Posts
    6,490
    Until I got my Flattop, I was underwhelmed with the 44 special. I have had a Colt SAA, a 1926 S&W, a charter arms, a Model 24 and a 624. None of them were especially accurate, in fact, I could find nothing "special" about it. IME, You have a much better chance of landing an accurate .357, 38 Special, or 44 magnum than you will of getting a good 44 special. UNLESS, you get one of the Ruger Flattops--those are the best! The one I have is everything that adherents have claimed for it.
    _________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.

  20. #20
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bar Car on the Trump Train
    Posts
    15
    Quote Originally Posted by Walla2 View Post
    Venturino on the 44 Special is in this month's Handloader

    I read his article this month, he only touches on data for factory reproduction loads.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check