Heavy bullets for the 44 Special

[PacMan]

At what weight do you guys think the 44Special limits out for use as a deer and medium size game round? Hogs included.
Have been working with the Noe 432-265 as a solid and 247gr as a hollwpoint.Getting good accuracy with both just need a little tweeking. Also have a 280gr WFN that i have not tried yet and a 260 gr LBT Keith on the way.
Been working with Lil Gun , H-110 and 2400.

Thanks
Dwight

[454PB]

Are you following SAAMI pressure guidelines? If so, H-110 and Lil'Gun burn too slow for a clean burn, and can be unstable at the reduced pressures.

[PacMan]

454pb the answer would be no. Worked up to loads with the 110 & Lil'Gun until the case sealed off and cleaned up the barrel for the most part without any notable presure signs.
Thanks

[redneckdan]

There is some data in the recent handloader issue about 300-310gr keiths in the 44 ruger flat top at about 1100fps.

[Dale53]

It seems to me that every cartridge is a balancing act.

My choice for the .44 Special (a favorite of mine for over forty years) is the Mihec H&G #503 (a 250 gr Keith) in either solid or hollow point. I essentially use it at three different power levels in my 624's and Ruger .44 Lipsey and Talo Specials:

1 - Target use: 4-5.0 grs of Bullseye (or equivalent)

2 - General field use: The old Skeeter load of 7.5 grs of Unique

3 - Heavy hunting load: Elmers load of 17.0 grs of 2400

For me, those three loads do it all...

Dale53

[MtGun44]

Keith 250.

Bill

[c.r.]

here's an article that touches on some of the bullet weights and powders the OP asked about

http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/ross-seyfried-lipseys-ruger-flattop-44-special-bisley-revolvers/

hope that helps

c.r.

[454PB]

I asked about pressure levels because there are .44 specials available that won't handle heavy loads.

My only .44 special is a Taurus 441, and those very thin chamber walls keep me very cautious.

[c.r.]

I just thought of another source of reloading info,

Brian Pearce did an article in the August 2005 issue #236 of Handloader magazine. there is some load data for a ~300 gr SWC style bullet using h-110. this sounds like the same load that Redneckdan is referring to.

FYI, it components i used came in with an OAL of 1.61, and while i don't know how that works in the Rugers, it was the absolute max in my FA. any bullet pull at all will tie the gun up. i won't carry that load in my FA out in the field. I need to try it in the ruger NM flattop platform

[Bret4207]

At what weight do you guys think the 44Special limits out for use as a deer and medium size game round? Hogs included.
Have been working with the Noe 432-265 as a solid and 247gr as a hollwpoint.Getting good accuracy with both just need a little tweeking. Also have a 280gr WFN that i have not tried yet and a 260 gr LBT Keith on the way.
Been working with Lil Gun , H-110 and 2400.

Thanks
Dwight

That's another "Ginger or Mary Ann" question. Some guys want velocity others are okay with boolit weight, other want both. Myself, as long as I get penetration to at least the far side skin, preferably through and through, with a FN boolit I'm good. Whether that requires 800fos or 1200 fps is secondary to the discussion.

[2 dogs]

Dwight, you need to at least tell us WHAT sixgun you are working with......

[redneckdan]

It seems to me that every cartridge is a balancing act.

My choice for the .44 Special (a favorite of mine for over forty years) is the Mihec H&G #503 (a 250 gr Keith) in either solid or hollow point. I essentially use it at three different power levels in my 624's and Ruger .44 Lipsey and Talo Specials:

1 - Target use: 4-5.0 grs of Bullseye (or equivalent)

2 - General field use: The old Skeeter load of 7.5 grs of Unique

3 - Heavy hunting load: Elmers load of 17.0 grs of 2400

For me, those three loads do it all...

Dale53


Pretty much the same thing I do. My light load is 4.5gr of red dot. My bullet of choice is the MiHec 429640

[PacMan]

C.R.-The gun is Ruger NM Blackhawk. Thanks for the link but i aleady had it and did work up to that H-110 load with my 280 LBT WFN but the accuracy i got was nothing to brag about.Still intend to work with it some more later.
454pb-I understand completly why you asked the question and thanks for helping to keep us inline.
Best accuracy so far has been with the NOE 432-265 solid and a stiff does of 2400.
Thanks for all the replys guys.
Dwight

[redneckdan]

I have had problems with ignition of H110 in the 44 special. I could not get enough crimp with the 429640. I changed over to the 429421 and crimped to the max. The burn cleaned up and the accuracy was much improved.

[Dale53]

redneckdan;
Many years ago, when I first tried H110 in the .44 Special, the first cylinder full resulted in two stuck bullets. I traced the problem to a set of steel dies for .44 Special. They did NOT provide enough bullet pull. Regardless of the degree of crimp, H110 in the .44 Special requires good bullet bullet to burn correctly.

In my case, a new set of RCBS Carbide dies solved that problem for ever more. I have never had that problem again.

The case needs to be sized sufficiently to have .002"-.004" bullet pull. Sometimes this requires reducing the size of your expander die. Again, it is a balancing act between bullet hardness and bullet pull.

Dale53

[PacMan]

Yea i have one expander that i sanded down to the point that it does not expand the case at all.Best i can measure the bullet expans the sized case approx. .005 or just a little over and that is with a bullet sized to .432.I do crimp of course but just enough to keep the bullet in place.

Have not had any problems with H-110 at this point. I have used it some with the Noe bullet hollowpointed and am getting good for me accuracy but needs a little tweeking.

Dwight

[MT Gianni]

redneckdan;
Many years ago, when I first tried H110 in the .44 Special, the first cylinder full resulted in two stuck bullets. I traced the problem to a set of steel dies for .44 Special. They did NOT provide enough bullet pull. Regardless of the degree of crimp, H110 in the .44 Special requires good bullet bullet to burn correctly.

In my case, a new set of RCBS Carbide dies solved that problem for ever more. I have never had that problem again.

The case needs to be sized sufficiently to have .002"-.004" bullet pull.
Dale53

As do WC820 and AA9 in the Special, IME.

[cbrick]

H110 in the .44 Special requires good bullet bullet to burn correctly. Dale53

To expand on that, H-110 requires good bullet pull in most any cartridge not just the Special. I have never had much luck with H-110 with either reduced loads or anything less than good, solid bullet pull and crimp. It needs a good start building pressure to burn well.

I tried reduced loads of H-110 in an FA 454 several years and while I didn't experience any of pressure problems I've heard of with H-110 those loads wouldn't hit a barn if you were standing inside it. Step up the load and while nearly as tough on the shooter as the shootee it was very accurate.

Rick