M-24-3 44special

[Beamer]

Just picked up an as-new Smith m24-3. I have ordered a mould from rcbs in the 250 Keith type. I think I would like to reach 950 to 1000 fps. Not interested in magnamizing the pistol but would like something to do a bit of plinking but also the possibility of deer hunting. Any suggestions?

[Loudenboomer]

If 7.5 gr unique or AA# 5 wont do it I go to 2400. About 15 grains will do ya.

[arlon]

What barrel length? Nice revolvers.

[Divil]

For the heavy 240-250gr. Bullets - Unique. I never went above 6.5gr Myself but I prefer 200-210 boolits in my 24-3 & Ruger Bisley Blackhawk. Gunwriter Brian Pierce recommended 5.5 gr. Of Red Dot for the 200gr. Boolit.
I have about 1000 200gr. Boolits sitting on top of 5.5gr. Of Red Dot and another 500 210gr. Boolits sitting on top of 5.7 gr. Of Red Dot. To say I like Red Dot in .44 Special is an understatement.

[RED BEAR]

I use 7.8 grains of unique with 210gr lee rnfp. A top of line load but very accurate.

[Divil]

Forgot to mention that 6.8gr. Of VV-N340 was powerful and accurate with a 240gr. Bullet.

[Dale53]

Skeeter Skelton popularized a 250 gr. Keith ahead of 7.5 grs. Of Unique. This gives about 950 fps in a 624 Smith with 4” barrel. Elmer Keith’s max load was 16.0 grs. Of 2400 behind a 250 gr. Keith giving 1200 fps. In my 6” 624. NRA pressure tested this load at 25,000 psi. I can testify that a 250 gr. Keith at 1200 fps will shoot lengthwise through a large whitetail deer at 75-80 yards.

FWIW
Dale53

[Petrol & Powder]

Congratulations on that S&W Model 24-3 - Excellent gun !

I have that same RCBS 250K mold and it produces great bullets. You'll never need anything else.

Using that bullet, a 44 Special case and 7.5 grains of Unique will get you into the range you want. And that "Skeeter" load is an outstanding load. Use a fairly soft alloy, seat to the crimp groove and you'll have a big grin on your face. It's just a great load - accurate, plenty of power, good all-around bullet, not hard on the gun or shooter.

I don't like the way Unique meters in a powder measure so I set the measure to drop about a 7.4gr charge into a scale pan. I then use a powder trickler to bring it up to 7.5 grains.

I think you're on the right path.

Enjoy that gun, they're Special.

AND WELCOME to the forum !!!

[georgerkahn]

I have a S&W 696-1 .44 S&W Special, and do precisely the same loading: 7.5 gns of Unique behind the 250K Keith bullet (mould bought on this forum). Note to Petrol & Powder -- I load on a Dillon 550b, using their powder measure, and also experienced quite a bit of variability in charges using Unique. Somewhere (???) I was suggested replacing the small powder bar with the large -- and it seems to (for me!) have done the trick. I zero the D-Terminator scale with primed empty case after removing it from press before adding powder; add the powder and weigh; and then either dump case/set aside; or -- most of the time -- when powder is dead on, continue. I recently loaded 362 rounds, and had no more than six, total, which had .1 grain too much or too little -- MY criteria. An added benefit, again in my set-up, is that after loading session is complete, the entire press area appears a zillion times "cleaner" -- with no errant powder flakes about, as had been the case when I had the small powder bar in it. Just a thought.... BEST!
geo

[Petrol & Powder]

I've never tried the large powder bar. Might be worth trying. I don't load 44 that often and just use a single stage press when I need to make small batches.

[9.3X62AL]

I got out of the 44 Special Cult several years ago. I DO enjoy the Skeeter's Load performance envelope, though--so I put up Lyman #429421 atop 8.2 grains of Unique or 9.0 grains of Herco and have an accurate, all-day load for my 44 Magnums.

[Petrol & Powder]

I played around with big bore guns years ago and got out of the game. When I decided to get back into the game the 44 Special had become a cult gun and the 44 Special DA revolvers had become a really expensive sub-set of that cult.

I couldn't find a DA 44 Special that didn't require a second mortgage. That was before Ruger finally came out with the GP-100 in 44 Special.

So I did the next best thing and found a 4" S&W model 629 Mountain gun. That gave me the tapered barrel and half lug, which was as close to the model 624 as I could get in my price range.

When using 44 Special brass I use the classic Skeeter load with 7.5 grains of Unique. When I use magnum casing I bump up the powder charge to about 8.1-8.2 grains to duplicate the Skeeter load in that larger casing.

With the RCBS 250K bullet that load works beautifully.

[Patrick L]

I have a 4 incher that I love. Superb gun. I agree, 2400 will do it. I need to look up my records, but as I recall I use around 16 gr with a Keith boolit. I can't remember the velocity (actual chronographs, not guessed) but I was confident it would shoot through any of the deer we have here in NYS. Heck, I only load my .44 magnum to barely 1200-1250. I don't need more.

[Reverend Al]

I have a pair of S&W 624's, one in 4" and one in 6 1/2" and I absolutely LOVE them! They seem to shoot anything that I put in them from Red Dot to 700X to Winchester 231 to Unique, etc., etc., etc. ... All with standard 240 to 250 grain SWC's, whatever I had on hand to shoot. It was hard to tell the difference in groups between any of the powders. I'd just try whatever pistol / shotgun powders you have on hand to test and you'll very likely be quite pleased with the results.

[MT Gianni]

Power Pistol will do what you want with accuracy.

[sharps4590]

I have 2, 44 Spl., one a 696 S&W and the other a Colt, 3rd Gen......horse manure...is it the New Frontier(?), the one with adjustable sights. Anyway, my 696 does not like Unique under any bullet....which totally baffles me. The Colt loves it. My 696 also did not like 2400...which baffled me again. It didn't like Blue Dot either. Any other 44 Spl. I've had liked Unique and 2400 powders. Under the Lyman 429421 the 696 does like 5.3 grs. of Bullseye. A couple weeks ago I revisited the 696 with Unique and 2400 and it hasn't changed its mind. Sorta breaks my heart because Unique is one of my favorite powders.

[AnthonyB]

Another vote for the 44-250K and 7.5 grains Unique. If that load won't do it you need a 30-06.
Tony

[Loudenboomer]

Another vote for the 44-250K and 7.5 grains Unique. If that load won't do it you need a 30-06.
Tony

I like the way you think Tony

[Dan Cash]

7.5 gr Unique and a 240 gr bullet in a .44 SP will get the job done and in the S&W will stretch your gun; it is too hot. 6.5 Unique is ample and will get the job done leaving you to enjoy your six shooter for years to come.

[samari46]

Go on the S&W forums and yes the 44 special has a huge following over there. I got my first one at a gun show as I was leaving and found a 624 with the 6.5" barrel. Had been checked out with the large red C on the box. They had a recall and probably still do. Reason was the cylinders were either the wrong stainless steel or that the chambers were reamed too long so would take the 44 magnum cartridge. Only thing is if your revolver was found to take the 44 magnum they wouldn't send the gun back. Too many liability concerns. And yes I fell into the 44 special cult. The 524 got followed by a 24-3 with the 3" barrel and finally the 24-3 with the 4" barrel. Think the 4" barrel was the perfect barrel length on the N frame for that cartridge. Even with the Winchester 200 gr silvertip at supposedly 900fps is a ***** cat. Especially in the 624 6.5" barrel. SDM makes a gold bead front sight insert that will be going on all three 44 specials. Old eyes and ramp sights don't work for me. I need something bright and distinctive for me to focus on. Think Dale53 has one of the long barreled 624's and if he chimes in can post a pic. The bead is real gold so should not tarnish like a brass bead would. Frank