10 days wait for the new Ruger Flattop .44 Special

[Dutchman]

I have not bought a new gun of any kind in like forever. Let alone a new handgun.

But this wasn't my first choice. 1st was the Ruger Flattop stainless .45 Colt-.45 acp but my local dealer couldn't find any. So this .44 was going to be my 2nd new Ruger this year but things got turned around and it became my 1st. Pardon the poor cellphone pix.

First thing I thought was 'dang this thing is heavy!'.

I've owned a S&W Model 29-2 for 30 years and shot mostly .44 Special so I have lots of brass and I think even 500 purchased 240 gr SWC cast bullets. I don't know what mold I may get yet. In the distant past I cast 429215 an 429244 which I thought was about the finest .44 cast bullet ever to drop from a mold. I also use to cast the Lee 240 gr round nose. Don't have any .44 molds at present but I may have some 429244 stashed somewhere.

Since the 1970s I've owned:
.30 Carbine OM Blackhawk
.44 Mag OM Super Blawkhawk
.45 Colt NM Blackhawk blue
.357 NM Blackhawk stainless
Haven't owned any single action since the early 1980s.

I'll have to dig out my tired old copy of Sixguns and read up on single action .44 Specials again from ol' Elmer. I'm looking forward to shooting this.

http://images108.fotki.com/v1623/photos/4/28344/9895637/0502041415cb-vi.jpg

[mrk_86]

nice buy! i love my 44 mag blackhawk.

[fecmech]

I bought the Lipsey's 4 5/8" Flattop convertible a couple years ago when they came out to shoot ACP's. Works great, very accurate. I haven't even unwrapped the .45 Colt cylinder!

[shoot-n-lead]

I will be surprised if you do not love it.

Not much to "not love" about it...mine have displaced the 45 revolvers as my favorites. I have a stainless 4 5/8, a blue 4 5/8 and a blue Vaquero Sheriff.

429421 for mine ...it does about everything I want the guns to do.
103888

[GaryN]

I don't own a 44 Special. But my 44 mags. like the 429421 also. I had to have the bands opened up a little because it was undersized. Now they drop at .4325.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Dutch: Lyman 429421 is a winner for your gun. I have a bunch cast up if you would like to try them. 429244 is also a good bullet and if the gun has tendency to lead they would be a good solution. There is little you can do with your new gun that you can't do with 429421, or H&G 503 or RCBS .44-250 which are all basically the same Keith design.

Now that you have that gun you need a Marling 1894 in .44 Spec/Mag as a companion gun. Get one with Ballard rifling as opposed to a Microgroover.

For .44 Specials used in either rifles or revolvers you could do everything you ever wanted with 429421 and 429244.

PM me if you'd like some samples to shoot.

Randy

[mannyCA]

Not to sound like a kill joy, but you do know that part of the DROS fees paid funds those no-knock raids from the states new prohibited persons stasi group? Just some food for thought.

[Larry Gibson]

I'm hard pressed to find a .44 cal cast bullet my Ruger 50th Anniversary FT doesn't like. So far the Lee 429-200-RF, the Lee TL430-240-SWC Lyman 429215, 429421, 429244, 429640HP, the RCBS 44-250-KT and numerous commercial cast bullets of various design and weights all shoot excellently.

I'm assuming the .44 SPL model will be the same. Excellent choice Dutch.

Larry Gibson

[Dutchman]

I went through my inventory of "stuff" to see what I have in the way of .44 caliber handgun bullets. Do have 500 commercial cast that look like 429421 (thanks Randy for the offer). Also a handful of 429244 cast 25 yrs ago. Plus some dark gray swaged 240 gr tumble lubed, might be...some commercial type. Also some 200gr JHP Hornady and some 240 gr JHP.

I see no good reason for shooting j-types through a .44 Special (or .45 acp for that matter). And I would prefer not to use a gas check for .44 Special as it shouldn't need one. So that leaves me looking at 429421 and possibly the Lee 200gr rf.

Also inventoried my GI ammo cans and found just about 500 rds of loaded .44 Special with commercial cast 240 gr and Unique (dated 1993) and two boxes loaded with 429244. Also have some dated 1988. Also dug out a 2 pound coffee can full of tumbled fired .44 Special brass so I have abundant supplies to begin. I'll start by shooting up the 240 gr stuff already loaded and will see where this Ruger hits at point-of-aim 25 yds and 7 yards.

In anticipation of finding the .45 Colt/.45acp Ruger Flattop I had ordered 100pcs of .45 Colt brass from Grafs. It got here yesterday :? Brass is the ~new~ gold so it won't go to waste no matter what. I think maybe I have only 100 pcs of .45 Colt brass that I shot in the Colt New Service. I was never in love with that boat anchor anyway.

Been perusing holsters. We're surrounded by BLM land and Klamath Nat'l Forest. Any trekking up the canyon (gulch) is done armed. Mountain Lions, bear and feral dogs with the occasional two legged interloper.

Kinda partial to this in black: http://www.mernickleholsters.com/ps/ps6sar1.html Anybody have one of these?

Dutch

[c1skout]

I've been trying to decide between that holster and the Simply Rugged pancake myself. Nice looking sixgun you got there.

[rintinglen]

For pure hiking, I prefer a gun have a snap strap of some kind. My then new k-22 got scratched up when it parted company with my open-top holster during a tumble on a steep fire break. That mernickle rig is too fast to suit me, at least for hiking.
My tastes run to these sorts of holsters.

104010104011

I have a 4 5/8 Ruger Flat Top that is the bees knees. It is scary accurate, it shoots to the absolute limit of my ability, and if I could shoot better, so could it. That is it in the Pancake.

[Dutchman]

That mernickle rig is too fast to suit me, at least for hiking.
My tastes run to these sorts of holsters.

My days of going UP hiking trails is over since a heart attack & bypass surgery 10 yrs ago. But you make a good point about retention. I am re-looking at holsters as there was one or two that fit that pattern with good coverage and retention. So, I'll keep looking. I think maybe you're right about the Mernickle holster.

Here's some interesting ones...
http://shop.simplyrugged.com/ecommerce/Sourdough-Pancake%E2%84%A2-.cfm?item_id=151&parent=669

I don't favor holsters that expose barrel out the bottom. From my long ago trekking days it invites granite resting stops to leave granite scratches on gun barrels. Full barrel protection is at the top of the list.

I like this cross-chest type. Maybe not for all kinds of carry but for some it would be best. Especially with a heavy gun.
http://www.shop.diamonddcustomleather.com/Guides-Choice-Chest-Holster-GC.htm

I'm also partial to cross-draw holsters..

[rintinglen]

104020
More of my hiking is behind me than before me,that spill afore mentioned took place in 1975. I like the chest rig a lot for hunting, but I think I'd prefer the Simply Rugged for general purposes. Above is a better picture of my homemade pancake holster, quite similar to the simply rugged.

[Petrol & Powder]

After a long break from the big bore revolvers I've rekindled a little bit of my association with the 44. Back when I was routinely playing with 45 Colt, 44 Special and others, I always found the 44 Special to be my favorite. I wasn't casting in those days and missed out on the better handloads . Even with commercial cast and J-word bullets, the 44 Special shines. I think you'll find that 44 Special to be an excellent cartridge & gun combination. Enjoy !

[Vulcan Bob]

You are going to like that new flattop in .44 Special! I have three of em, two Lipseys, one in 5 1/2" blue and one in 4 5/8" blue and one regular production run in 4 5/8" blue. Ruger really should market these as target guns! All three of mine are really great shooters. Check the back issues of Handloader for Brian Pearce's articles on these along with some really good load data. Enjoy that new six-shooter!

[Love Life]

I didn't have THAT specific mernickle holster, but I had the same model line for my 1911. Open top medium ride. I hiked it all over the Sierra Nevada and Pine Nut mountains and it kept the gun very secure and in remarkable condition.

You will pleased with the Mernickle, and it just gets better with time.

[Dale53]

Dutchman;
Send me a PM with your email address and the request that I send you a copy of Brian Pearce's article on the .44 Lipsey Special and I'll send it to you by return mail.

It is an EXCELLENT article on these FINE revolvers. I have the 5½ blued one and a 4 5/8" SS one. They are both extremely accurate. I shoot mostly the old Skeeter load (7.5 grs of Unique behind a Mihec copy of the H&G #503 (a 250 gr Keith bullet).

FWIW
Dale53

[Old School Big Bore]

All the photos of short Blackhawks make me want to saw off my long ones. You .44 guys who are really interested in accuracy - the recent MP rerun of the HBWC is the most accurate boolit I've put through my 4" M29, 7.5" SBH and several different carbines in four decades of trying to wring the utmost accuracy out of .44s. Our local match circuit is adding a big-bore revolver class this year and the M29 is using this boolit over a smidgen of bools-eye, and the Blade-Tech race holster. My rootin tootin shootin partner and one other guy are using the MP .41 HBWC in their M57s as well. I think Miha has a couple DC and 4C left of that mold.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Dutch: Back to the holster topic. I have a Mernickle holster but it is an FC-3,,,( Field Carry) I believe. It has a little more coverage than the one you showed which is more of an everyday concealed carry type of holster. It fits either my Bobbed SBH Bisley 5" bbl. or my BH Bisley 4 5/8" bbl. and can be worn either strong side or crossdraw.

The belt is a Mernickle also and is super heavy and stays put very well. Unfortunately it was as much as the Holster. $79.95 for either one.

Here's a pic or two.

Randy

[Dutchman]

Dutch: Back to the holster topic. I have a Mernickle holster but it is an FC-3,,,( Field Carry) I believe. It has a little more coverage than the one you showed which is more of an everyday concealed carry type of holster. It fits either my Bobbed SBH Bisley 5" bbl. or my BH Bisley 4 5/8" bbl. and can be worn either strong side or crossdraw.

The belt is a Mernickle also and is super heavy and stays put very well. Unfortunately it was as much as the Holster. $79.95 for either one.

Here's a pic or two.

Randy

I was back at that website last night and noticed the one like yours with more coverage. I do like it. Having a new Carhart black belt I'd go that color for the holster. Ain't gonna dish out $80 for a dang belt!

Dutch

[W.R.Buchanan]

But it's a really nice belt,,, really.

Randy

[Larry in MT]

You'll enjoy it, I'm sure. I use Power Pistol with 200 grain XTPs and 2400 with 240 grain Hardcasts and 240 grain Nosler JHPs. Very accurate-- even @ 100 yards.
http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab176/larrykay47/a668c219.jpg

I modified this old Buchheimer-Clark to carry my Flattop. The rear sight frame will tear up your forearm if not protected. I carry mine a lot, though.
http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab176/larrykay47/d2464258.jpg

[Tom Herman]

Dutchman, You're going to love the gun! I bought two: I jumped on the blued steel flat top when it came out, and did the same when I found out the stainless version was available! Both shoot GREAT, the blued gun has minimal leading with my loads, the stainless a tad more. I've got a four banger 429421, and it's a veritable bullet machine casting perfect bullets all day long! I use a 50/50 wheel weight to soft lead alloy with 2% Tin thrown in for good mould fillout. I load about 6.5 grains Unique, and that's a nice, comfortable load.
BTW: My wife gave me a nice Danish rolling block for Christmas. I'm looking forward to shooting it at some time. Does it matter pressure wise if I load it at 56 mm length, or cut it back to 51mm?
Happy Shootin'! -Tom

[Dutchman]

BTW: My wife gave me a nice Danish rolling block for Christmas. I'm looking forward to shooting it at some time. Does it matter pressure wise if I load it at 56 mm length, or cut it back to 51mm? Happy Shootin'! -Tom

Danish RB not my area [smilie=s:

But always best to try and duplicate the original case dimensions.

Dutch

[MtGun44]

Hey, Dutchman - cleaned out my PM box. Any info on Fiocchi in a
Webley MkII?

Bill

[oscarflytyer]

Have one (and a matching 45 Conv), love it and you will too.

429421/clone. All I use in mine. We both love it!

[Dutchman]

Hey, Dutchman - cleaned out my PM box. Any info on Fiocchi in a
Webley MkII?

Bill

Been waiting!

I'm not sure but I think ok. But I don't like saying ~not sure~ in front of ~ok~. There's gotta be somebody in this forum whose shot Fiocchi in the Mk2... I don't currently own a Webley though I've always had a keen interest in them since the Mk1 was my first handgun age 15. I just can't say for sure..

Dutch

[Dutchman]

Sunday and monday afternoon!!

Sure appreciate all the good tips from you guys. I'm going to use pin gauge to check cylinder throats before I decide on the cast bullet issue. I have a bit over 500 rds .44 Special loaded from the distant past to get me started. Been thinking about grips and holster. I think I have the fever :razz:

Maybe elk bone grips. Kinda like how they look. A little pricey @ $175....

Dutch

[shoot-n-lead]

Pin gauges will tell you which cast boolit to shoot?

I have always used to them check diameter...just shows how much I know....

Maybe they do both...kinda like a magic wand.

[Dutchman]

Pin gauges will tell you which cast boolit to shoot?

A newer Lyman mold that drops @ .429" would be a poor choice if the cylinder throats gauge much larger. In addition you need to know what diameter you need in case you have to purchase a sizing die. So yes, the pin gauges come 1st to gather intell on what to do next with mold & sizing die.

Dutch