New to reloading the 44 spl, do I need to work up to the "Skeeter" load?

[Three44s]

As I recall, Elmer wrote that once the .44 Mag came out he saw no need to hot rod the .44 Spl.

The ballon head case afforded more boiler room and thus he upped the charge in his specials as I recall.

I would estimate that his reference to “hot rodding” involved the magnum type loads utilizing then Hercules 2400 rather than the Skelton loads of mid weight charges of Unique (7.5 gr.)

Three44s

[ddixie884]

Larry, I too am looking forward to the .44spl 2400 test and comparison. Thanx for your time and for sharing your real info from your research.

[Rodfac]

G50-70, the grips on that SS Ruger are from a piece of "black & white" ebony by my cousin up in NYS. He's a recurve bow maker in Buffalo and used some of it for the grip. The finish is tung oil...multiple coats. Best Regards, Rod

[G50-70]

Rodfac. Thanks for the info. Again, very nice looking grips.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Well, don't be afraid to try other loads too. I like 4.8 gr. titegroup under that Keith boolit. I did try that hunter load. Only one shot though. Took the rest of them apart.

[JoeJames]

I have very carefully worked up the most accurate 240 gr. swc loads for my 4 1/2 Lipsey Ruger NM Blackhawk. But since I do not try to emulate 44 Magnum loads in it, but run about 900 fps, I cannot really contribute much to this thread. Let me know if you want to try the most accurate loads I have found with Unique.

[Iwsbull]

Not to hijack but I would love to know some of the more accurate loads. I am just looking for accurate loads that I can maybe hunt with up to 50 yards or so and I have magnums for hi velocity loads and longer ranges.

[sharps4590]

I bought S&W 696 within a couple months of when they came out. I think that was in the mid-90's. Off and on I've looked for an accurate load for that revolver ever since and NEVER found one!!. Two weeks ago I came across a can of W-231 in my powder magazine. It came in a bulk purchase I made several years ago and I forgot I had it. I had never loaded the first cartridge with 231. I figured what the heck, it can't shoot any worse than everything else I tried. I was pleasantly surprised when 5.8 grs. under the 429421 shot into less than 2 inches at 25 yards, benched. I've since shot about 100 rounds of that load now and it's always hovered around 2 inches. It also worked as well in my Freedom Arms Mod 97 under the RCBS 45-255.

[Larry Gibson]

Not to hijack but I would love to know some of the more accurate loads. I am just looking for accurate loads that I can maybe hunt with up to 50 yards or so and I have magnums for hi velocity loads and longer ranges.

Skeeter's load will serve you well.

[curioushooter]

There are four loads I like in 44 special. These are loads for heavy 6-shot revolvers (N-Frame Smiths and Ruger Blackhawks) only or anything in 44 Magnum. I cast all solid bullets with 96-2-2 and all HPs with 16:1 and use carnuba blue and CCI 300 and Starline.

I very much like the so-called Skeeter load which was actually discovered by Keith: 7.5 grains of Unique and a ~255 grains SWC. I prefer the H&G 503 and the 429244 to the 429421. The H&G 503 seats forward of the 429244 and the 429421 if crimped in the groove and all being the same weight I pretty much take a load for the 244 or the 421 and apply it. I've never had a problem. In all cases this load does just under 1000 FPS in my 6.5" S&W 624. At short ranges this I would think would be plenty for all but the largest of deer. It is a very accurate load for me and pleasant to shoot. I like it best with the 503. Pearce's data takes it up to 8.5 grains with the 421 under 22kPSI. I have found that 8 grains with the 421 is the most accurate load to date in my 624 (shot a pair of 1.5" 3 shot groups under field conditions at 50 yards). I have not tried it with the H&G 503 yet.

I also like the modern Skeeter load which is 8 grains of PowerPistol using a 255 grain SWC. This is actually within SAMMI spec according to Alliant and Brian Pearce. It basically equals with external ballistics of the original Skeeter load. I've worked this load up to 9 grains of PowerPistol where it just reaches 1100 FPS in my 624. This load is still under 25,000 PSI according to Pearce and would be fine in a Blackhawk or N-frame. My only gripe is that this fills approximately half the available space in the case and a double charge could be theoretically possible. I have not observed any detrimental performance, however. It is no cleaner than modern unique, but meters a little nicer. For some reason it has never matched the outstanding accuracy I saw with unique however.

I like the full-throttle Keith load alright. That is 17 grains of 2400 with the same bullet. It certainly does what it is supposed to and it clocks well over 1200 FPS in my 624 (usually around 1250). It is a bit reminiscent of 44 magnum recoil (which I dislike) though and 2400 I find disagreeably sooty. It is by no means a pleasant load. I always shoot them last for this reason because my accuracy will be trashed after a cylinder full. I find myself shooting it less and less. I have reduced it to 16 and 16.5 grains, too, and these work well, too. My bullets always cast up a little heavier than what Pearce's data states so I feel good backing off a little. Accuracy was better with the 16.5 grains.

A load that I find is a good compromise is ~12 grains of Blue Dot to an absolute max of 12.5 with, you guessed it, with a ~255 grain SWC. This load clocks just under 1200 in my 624 and is not quite as brutal and is much cleaner. I reduce the charge from 12.5 to my comfort. I've since settled on 12 grains for around 1150. This was from Brian Pearce's data from the 429244 where he maxed it at 12.5.

I've found any data used with the 250 grain weight class SWC can be applied to the 429215 and it will basically send it ~100 FPS faster. The Blue Dot load clocks ~1300 in my 624 with the 429215. I have a friend who has shoot numerous deer with a 44 mag load using the 429215 and some charge of fast powder that put it right at 1100 FPS. He claims it has never failed to pass through. This is easily achievable with 44 special. Power Pistol and Unique will both do it. I do not like 2400 with the 215. Too slow. Unique and Blue Dot are better powders.

I highly recommend searching for Pearce's articles. One is online right now for free and not a copyright infringement. I paid some ridiculous 20 bucks for that data a year ago!

A powder that I think has potential but I have found very little data for (and that data is not the best) is Herco. It is bulkier and slower than Unique but similar being a flake type powder, old, and basically a shotshell powder. Taffin has data going up to 10 grains of Herco with a 429421 but he states not pressure data. So I have never tested it myself. I would be curious what Quickload with throw up as a max charge of Herco for a 429421 at 25 kPSI max.

[ddixie884]

Me too...........

[curioushooter]

Just get a pound of power pistol. 8.0 grains gets Skeeter load performance with standard pressure and great accuracy.

I've found this to be true. It is even listed on alliant's website. For some reason it is not quite as accurate as the 7.5 of Unique even with the same bullets in the same gun the same day and time. Not wildly different. I did a test where I worked 7.5-8.5 of Unique vs 8.0-9.0 grains of PP. 8.0 grains of Unique produced outstanding groups that no other charge/bullet combo I've ever tried has yet matched. I'm pretty close to settling on 8.0 grains being my go-to load but I've never tried Herco which seems like it would work well.

[onelight]

I have very carefully worked up the most accurate 240 gr. swc loads for my 4 1/2 Lipsey Ruger NM Blackhawk. But since I do not try to emulate 44 Magnum loads in it, but run about 900 fps, I cannot really contribute much to this thread. Let me know if you want to try the most accurate loads I have found with Unique.

I would like to hear what load works for you.
Thanks.