Matt_G
04-29-2013, 09:20 PM
Spent some time this weekend with this cartridge.
I had read an article by John Taffin a while back on this “wildcat” and it intrigued me.
I’ve always been drawn to the special side of the equation rather than the magnum side.
For instance, in my 44’s I rarely shoot magnum loads anymore. 98% of what I shoot are 44 special loads in 44 special brass.
When I first got my S&W Model 57-1, the first thing I did was load up some H&G 258 copies cast from one of Miha Prevac’s outstanding moulds.
I very quickly ran into several issues.
First, using 41 magnum brass, I found that if the boolit was seated so the crimp groove could be used, the cylinder in that revolver was only about .015 inches longer than the cartridge OAL. That’s cutting it a bit close.
Second, the loads I had loaded were a bit on the hot side.
Third, after just a few rounds, I found that my crimp wasn’t up to the task and a boolit jumped the crimp, tying the gun up. (Mainly due to the hot loads…)
While the gun was at the gunsmith’s I pulled all the ammo I had loaded. Powder charges were verified on a scale and triple checked against Lyman’s third edition cast handbook. Hmmm, sure enough, I had loaded what that book called starting loads. (Close enough)
220 grain cast bullet
15.7 grains of 2400 was the starting load.
20.1 grains of 2400 is max per the third edition.
I had loaded 16.0 grains.
Then I realized, I hadn’t checked a later manual.
So I checked the fourth edition of the Lyman cast manual and surprise, surprise, 16.2 grains was the MAX load for 2400 under a 220 grain cast boolit.
That’s embrassin’ is what that is…
Lesson learned.
Anyways, those things combined, especially that “short” cylinder is what got me heading down the 41 special road.
I had some brand new 41 mag brass from Starline. I took 50 of ‘em and trimmed them down to 1.150 inches. Same trim to length as the 44 special.
Using John Taffin’s article as a guide for loads, I loaded up the following:
Mihec’s H&G 258 clone. (225 grains lubed and ready to load)
Federal 150 primers
10 rounds with 6.5 grains of Unique.
10 rounds with 7.0 grains of Unique.
10 rounds with 9.0 grains of Blue Dot.
10 rounds with 9.5 grains of Blue Dot.
10 rounds with 10.0 grains of Blue Dot.
The most accurate seemed to be the 10.0 grain Blue Dot load. However, I am going to test that 9.0 grain load some more as that was really pleasant to shoot.
I could shoot that load all day long me thinks.
I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time with this cartridge. I’m thinking it is going give the 44 special a good run for its money.
I had read an article by John Taffin a while back on this “wildcat” and it intrigued me.
I’ve always been drawn to the special side of the equation rather than the magnum side.
For instance, in my 44’s I rarely shoot magnum loads anymore. 98% of what I shoot are 44 special loads in 44 special brass.
When I first got my S&W Model 57-1, the first thing I did was load up some H&G 258 copies cast from one of Miha Prevac’s outstanding moulds.
I very quickly ran into several issues.
First, using 41 magnum brass, I found that if the boolit was seated so the crimp groove could be used, the cylinder in that revolver was only about .015 inches longer than the cartridge OAL. That’s cutting it a bit close.
Second, the loads I had loaded were a bit on the hot side.
Third, after just a few rounds, I found that my crimp wasn’t up to the task and a boolit jumped the crimp, tying the gun up. (Mainly due to the hot loads…)
While the gun was at the gunsmith’s I pulled all the ammo I had loaded. Powder charges were verified on a scale and triple checked against Lyman’s third edition cast handbook. Hmmm, sure enough, I had loaded what that book called starting loads. (Close enough)
220 grain cast bullet
15.7 grains of 2400 was the starting load.
20.1 grains of 2400 is max per the third edition.
I had loaded 16.0 grains.
Then I realized, I hadn’t checked a later manual.
So I checked the fourth edition of the Lyman cast manual and surprise, surprise, 16.2 grains was the MAX load for 2400 under a 220 grain cast boolit.
That’s embrassin’ is what that is…
Lesson learned.
Anyways, those things combined, especially that “short” cylinder is what got me heading down the 41 special road.
I had some brand new 41 mag brass from Starline. I took 50 of ‘em and trimmed them down to 1.150 inches. Same trim to length as the 44 special.
Using John Taffin’s article as a guide for loads, I loaded up the following:
Mihec’s H&G 258 clone. (225 grains lubed and ready to load)
Federal 150 primers
10 rounds with 6.5 grains of Unique.
10 rounds with 7.0 grains of Unique.
10 rounds with 9.0 grains of Blue Dot.
10 rounds with 9.5 grains of Blue Dot.
10 rounds with 10.0 grains of Blue Dot.
The most accurate seemed to be the 10.0 grain Blue Dot load. However, I am going to test that 9.0 grain load some more as that was really pleasant to shoot.
I could shoot that load all day long me thinks.
I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time with this cartridge. I’m thinking it is going give the 44 special a good run for its money.