.44 Special SASS load with Unique

[Izzoquazzo]

Hi guys. Tried searching, but could not find a good answer to this. I'm using a 200 grain RNFP .429 cast bullet and need to find a good load using Unique powder. It's for SASS shooting using a Marlin 1894 lever rifle and a pair of Ruger Vaquero 4 5/8" .44 special revolvers. Will 5 grains of Unique be enough to push the 200 grain bullet out of both types of guns and knock down a target?

Don

[para45lda]

My buddy was a big Unique fan (come to think of it he was unique too!).

Anyways he shot that bullet over 5 grains. As always your results may vary. As I recall it was kinda dirty though.

Wes

[EDK]

Hi guys. Tried searching, but could not find a good answer to this. I'm using a 200 grain RNFP .429 cast bullet and need to find a good load using Unique powder. It's for SASS shooting using a Marlin 1894 lever rifle and a pair of Ruger Vaquero 4 5/8" .44 special revolvers. Will 5 grains of Unique be enough to push the 200 grain bullet out of both types of guns and knock down a target?

Don


I shoot Original Size VAQUEROS and MARLIN Cowboy Rifles in 44 magnum. 200 grain RNFP shoots waaay low in my VAQUEROS. You'll get better accuracy with your boolits sized to .432 in the revolvers, as well as the1894. You might want to go up to 6.0 or 6.5 of UNIQUE....approximate level of factory 44 Special. Cowboy Action Shooting doesn't require excessive power.

[sh00ter787]

I have a win 94 and a Taurus revolver - so I know we are not comparing like for like, but the minimum I load for "both" is 7.0gn. The winchester just doesn't seal correctly under 7.0gn's for me.

[Hammerhead]

I'm shooting that bullet over 3.8 grains Clays. Very clean shooting, meters well. I tried Universal, but like Unique, Universal needs a little more pressure/heat to burn clean.
Max load for Clays would be 4.5 grains @ 891 fps according to the Hodgdon data center (IIRC their data for the special is from an 8" revolver)

[Izzoquazzo]

I may use the new bottle of Unique for something else and try a different powder. Anyone try Titegroup?

[malpaismike]

Hello the camp! Unique is a good powder in full-power loads. I started cas 25 yr ago as you did: 200 gr bullet and 5 gr Unique for the .44spl. After a match, I'd have enuf powder in my vest pocket to load 2 shells. I changed to HP38 and haven't looked back. Many powders are good for cas; Clays seems to be a favorite of my pards; Am Select is getting increased play--after my 8# of Clays is used up, I may try it. Buen suerte an' see ya round the campfire. mm

[Mal Paso]

5.5 of Titegroup was My most accurate load with a .230 200g RNFP Spear says 5.5 to 6.2 Hodgdon says 4.5 to 5.4 for Special. YMMV

[blackpowder man]

lLast cowboy shoot I shot I used 6.0 grain of unique with a 240 grain Lee swc in my rugers it is accurate. My Rossi 92 doesn't feed specials when levered fast so I used w231 and a rnfp in a mag case. Trail boss did good accuracy wise in the special as did w231 and hs6.

[Hank Dodge]

I'm shooting a set of 5 1/2" Colt's and a 24" barreled Winchester '73 clone in .44 special as my SASS guns. I've been using a 240 grain round nose flat point over 6.0 grains of Unique and a CCI 300 primer. I can't complain with the way it works. It is a bit dirty, but it's reliable and consistent.