44 Special +P load suggestions

[Bazoo]

I want to make some 44 special+P loadings for my SBH. I want more thump than specials offer, but less recoil than magnums.

Im using magnum brass 240 grain cast bullets and hornady 240 grain xtp's occasionally.

I have unique, and I know I can use any amount of it from "special" max loads to the "magnum" starting loads in magnum brass with data respective to each projectile type/weight.

However... I'd like to know what has worked for others in this power range, with this and other powders, and in both magnum and special brass.

I also have HP38, WSF, and IMR 4227 on hand. But I can pick up bout anything I might want should a recipe spark my imagination.

Thanks

~Bazoo

[rintinglen]

The classic +P 44 Special load is a 429-421 over 7.5 grains of Unique. In your Super Black hawk that should get you 950 fps at about 18,000 PSI. I use that load extensively. It is good.

[DougGuy]

You might want to invest in a copy of QuickLoad Bazoo, you won't find a lot of +P for the 44 Special because most guns can't take the pressure. Medium frame Ruger, like the recent production Flattop Blackhawk are good to 25,000psi but you won't find ANY published load data anywhere that will get you into that ballpark.

How do I know this? I reamed a 45 ACP cylinder into 45 Schofield for my medium frame Vaquero, and I developed loads to 23,000psi for it. Can't use tier 2 45 Colt loads, the case is shorter. Can't use 44 Special loads, none will get into the pressure ceiling. There is no published data for +P in 45 Schofield caliber, and there won't be much in 44 Special, and the data that is, won't go to 25,000psi which is where the pressure ceiling is in the medium framed Rugers.

HS-6 works, 2400 works, Unique works, H110 even works for max loads and they thump hard, 250gr boolit @1200fps but they don't come anywhere near the recoil of a heavy boolit in 44 magnum loading.

[tbceja]

Are you trimming the mag brass ?

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[Sasquatch-1]

Try taking the light loads you are using and put a little "POLY FILL" from a sewing store over the powder. If you don't want to spend the money for the poly fill try some drier lint. (Only problem with lint is you may have some hair sticking out of your cases.) I do this with 7 grns. of Unique and a 260 grn. bullet and can tell the difference. It's like adding an extra grain of powder.

[Forrest r]

2400 is your friend

A link to Brian Pearce's article with load data for 25,000psi 44spl loads.
http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian%20Pearce%20on%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

Another link to 44spl loads. This is from the 1950's/american rifleman. It's good cross reference material, what they found with their testing for the nra/new modern cases (old cases ='s balloon headed) mirrors what Pearce found decades later.
http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/NRA%20-%20Loads%20for%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

[Thumbcocker]

Elmer boolit with 6.5 of red dot has been good for me in that role.

[smkummer]

Lyman's 45 edition gets into 1100 FPS range with a 5 1/2 Colt SAA as a test gun. Should be excactly what your looking for. They go as high as 8 grains unique with the kieth bullet. 2400 gets to 1100 FPS. I am using about 7.5 unique and the kieth bullet for shooting out to 200 yards on steel in 2 Colt single actions.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

Blue Dot provides the most peasant surprises for performance in the .44 Special. I've got a .44 Special that outperforms with Blue Dot over 2400.

[Thumbcocker]

To clarify the 6.5 of red dot is in magnum brass.

[Rainier]

Since you have HP-38 on hand I'd start there. The published .44 special max load is 5.2gr of HP-38 - the published max of W231 (same powder I understand) in .44 magnum is 11 grains. It would seem you could safely start at 5.2gr of HP-38 and work up to a load that gives you what you want.
Just my 2 cents - that and a five dollar bill will get you a cup of Starbucks coffee.

[ranchman]

I found a great load that closely mimicks Elmers old 2400 load using VvN110 in place of 2400. I load a 260gr Kieth swc variant with 17.5gr VvN110 & WLP primers for 1200fps in a 5.5" Colt. Shot hundreds of them without a problem. N110 is one tick slower on the burn charts than 2400 is, and should actually be making that velocity with slightly less pressure than Elmers 2400 does.

Skeeter load of 7.5 unique behind the same bullets is excellent as well, more a general purpose load though than a real stomper if that's what you're after. Proceed with caution, but in a Ruger I can't see any reason to worry when Colts have handled those type'a loads since the beginning.

[dannyd]

Try to find the June 2017 No. 308 Handloader magazine has a article on loading for the 44 special

[44deerslayer]

In 44 mag brass 6.5 unique 421429 boolit great bowling pin load they fly right off the table

[376Steyr]

Magnum brass: 250 SWC and 10.0 grs Unique
Special brass: 250 SWC and 7.5 grs Unique

[Larry Gibson]

bazoo

"I'm using magnum brass 240 grain cast bullets and hornady 240 grain xtp's occasionally.

I have unique, and I know I can use any amount of it from "special" max loads to the "magnum" starting loads in magnum brass with data respective to each projectile type/weight.

However... I'd like to know what has worked for others in this power range, with this and other powders, and in both magnum and special brass."

I've been shooting cast bullets in the 44 Magnum since '68. Once I got over magnumitous I discovered Skeeter's classic 44 SPL load in 44 SPL cases and pretty close to an equivalent "medium" load in magnum cases was a lot more fun.......took about 10,000+ rounds......I was a slow learner.......

Skeeter's classic 44 SPL load in SPL cases is a 240 - 250 SWC over 7.5 gr Unique. The SAAMI MAP for the 44 SPL is 15,500 psi and I've pressure tested Skeeter's load with a 240 gr cast at 22,500 psi so it's definitely a +P load. It runs right at 850 fps out of my 6 1/2" FTBH.

In magnum cases I use 8.5 gr Unique under the Lee TL430-240-SWC, Lyman's 429360 and the RCBS 44-250-KT. The measured psi is again definitely +P for 44 SPL at 25,400. Velocity runs right at 1000 fps with excellent accuracy. I also use the same load in my old model Ruger Vaquero 44-40 under the 429360 for excellent accuracy. The 7 1/2" barrel gives up right at 1050 fps with excellent accuracy also.

Unless I want a truly gentile but very accurate 44 SPL load (any of the above bullets over 5 gr Bullseye) my search for "fun" 44 magnum loads ended as all I use are those mentioned now.

Larry Gibson

[Wayne Dobbs]

And Larry's loads will kill anything in the lower 48 dead as a hammer and you'll recover VERY few boolits from the dispatched critters, because they knocked a nice hole all the way through!

[Petrol & Powder]

The classic +P 44 Special load is a 429-421 over 7.5 grains of Unique. In your Super Black hawk that should get you 950 fps at about 18,000 PSI. I use that load extensively. It is good.

NO REASON TO REINVENT THE WHEEL ! /\ This works !!

[CHeatermk3]

Kinda off-topic but would the +p loads discussed here be too much for a S&W M624 with a 6-1/2" barrel?

I don't want to over-stress this fine piece of machinery!

[Bazoo]

I trim for consistency... but I dont trim it down to special length if thats what you're asking.

I want data for both magnum and special brass, because I will eventually get some special brass should I ever get to cabelas with the extra money.

Are you trimming the mag brass ?

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[Bazoo]

Thanks for the replies thus far. Nice to know what works for others.

[salvadore]

I just recently started loading 14gr of 2400 under RCBS Keith that weighs 265grs. Haven't chronoed or shot off a bench, but it is definitely +p. It is also clean, even tho the experts told me I'd not get an incomplete burn. Never pay attention to experts.

[Lloyd Smale]

20 grains of 4227 will get you the same thing that 18 of 2400 does give or take a couple fps.

[Petrol & Powder]

Kinda off-topic but would the +p loads discussed here be too much for a S&W M624 with a 6-1/2" barrel?

I don't want to over-stress this fine piece of machinery!

Not really off-topic. The SAAMI limits for 44 Special are low, probably lower than they need to be for modern firearms. I don't think you would harm a S&W 624 with a load that pushed a 250 grain lead bullet in the 900-1000 fps range BUT that load would likely produce a little more than the 15,500 psi limit for 44 Special. To give a little perspective, the SAAMI limit for 44 magnum is 36,000psi.
What we need is a sanctioned +P load for the 44 Special but no such thing exists. Part of the problem is that not all guns chambered in 44 Special are created equal.

The 44 Special is a fantastic cartridge but when crippled by the artificially low SAAMI specifications, it can be a bit limited. When taken a little above the SAAMI limits, the 44 Special does a lot of things really well. Unfortunately, we don't have a sanctioned +P load to address that problem so we are left to ourselves to find acceptable loads that don't push the envelope of safety.

The S&W 624 (along with the blued 24 and fixed sighted, blued 21) are fine guns and in my opinion, strong enough to safely handle a "Skeeter" load. Those types of guns have certainly been used to fire large numbers of those exact loads for years.

[Thumbcocker]

9.0 of power pistol in magnum brass under a 250-265 grain boolit has done well for me as well.

[CHeatermk3]

With respect to my question, I'm not interested in pushing the envelope safety-wise; if I want magnum performance I have my Redhawk for that. I just want to know if the loads being discussed here, "+p" 44spl, will loosen up my M624; I would guess that it would handle just about anything I would be comfortable shooting, since this is the same frame S&W builds their 44 magnum on. But that's a guess, I don't know.

[9.3X62AL]

In 44 Magnum brass, I concoct "Skeeter's Load" (Rin Tin Glen plagiarism about to occur {HERE}) with the #429421 and 8.5 grains of Unique (or 9.0 grains of Herco). I think the O/P wanted to put loads up in Magnum cases.

The original Skeeter's Load mentioned by RTG was run at least 1500 times through my now-departed S&W Model 624 x 6.5". Easy extraction, stellar accuracy, and all-day recoil. 90% of my 44 Magnum shooting these days gets done with these loads. A 240 grain 43 caliber SWC at 950 FPS is a very useful ballistic tool.

[Bazoo]

I was asking for load suggestions in both magnum and special cases, but for use in a magnum chambered super blackhawk. I appreciate the replies thus far.

[Sasquatch-1]

Maybe this will help. My go to 44 load is a 260 grn wad cutter bullet, that I swage after casting from a round nose Lee mold, in a magnum case. I load it over 7 grns. of Unique. I also use the same powder charge under a 240 grn. SWC. The round is powerful enough to blow huge chunks of wood out of a 2x4 and knock 10 pin bowing pins completely off a 4x8 foot table from the front edge at 15 yards. It is also much more accurate then I am at 40 yards being able to consistently hit an 8 inch gong at that distance. I can also shoot a hundred these through the gun in a trip without any hand fatigue.

[CHeatermk3]

I shot some Lazercast 240's over 12.1gns of H2400--no chrono but they were definately snappy--felt the same as the HSM "cowboy" 240LSWC which are advertised to be going 845 fps

My home loads seemed to do better than the HSM stuff but not by much...one little 4-lobed hole at 7yds for 6 rds--opened up quite a bit to about 3" at 15--

[Rainier]

FWIW - here's my very limited experience compared to the learned elders who've already replied to this thread. I'm using .44 magnum brass in a 4.2" RedHawk.
2400 - the 429421 with 22gr of 2400 is a very accurate load and all I ever want to shoot in my RedHawk - make no mistake there is a crazy, blinding, fireball at low light conditions.
4227 - the 429421 with 21gr of 4227 has less of a bite and more of a push than 22gr of 2400 with a reduced external flash and almost equal accuracy but slightly lower velocity.
W231 - again the 429421 with 11gr of 231 achieves a few fps greater velocity then 4227 but with a wicked crack - ears required!
Accuracy from my RedHawk is very good with any of the above mentioned loads - keeping in mind those are "crazy" magnum loads from which you should be able to load down from to find a ".44 Special +P" load.
Based on reading this thread and others, its glaring to me, there is a powder that I haven't even tried yet, Unique, it appears to be the cats pajamas for low, mid and high velocity .44 - maybe just give Unique a wave and forget the rest of the powders - you better believe if I find a jug I'll give it a wave.

[Sasquatch-1]

I use Unique almost exclusively because I can load it in everything I shoot. I don't shoot center fire rifles and I just buy cheap store bought for the shot guns.

Just keep in mind that Unique is dirty. When you readily see the residue on blued revolvers you know it's dirty. It is also fairly low pressure and will not function well in my Desert Eagle. For that and other full power loads I use Titegroup and W296/H110. I use to use 2400 but it became hard to find in my area so I switched to the others.



Based on reading this thread and others, its glaring to me, there is a powder that I haven't even tried yet, Unique, it appears to be the cats pajamas for low, mid and high velocity .44 - maybe just give Unique a wave and forget the rest of the powders - you better believe if I find a jug I'll give it a wave.

[doc1876]

I also am using IMR4227, and I really like it. I have tried the 20 g loads, but have found that 13g behind a 254g Keith style is very comfortable, and accurate at the 50 yd range that I use with my Ruger Bisley.

[kidmma]

Skeeter always recommended 8 gr of Unique and the 240 gr bullet using magnum brass. Then go up from there if you need to. you wont need to worry about getting a hot one in a 44 special gun that way. the other suggestions above look good too.

[Bazoo]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Im going to find a happy spot for an every day load that has some authority over the 44 specials. One reason I like the 44 magnum is that is so versatile.

[Lefty Red]

20 grains of 4227 will get you the same thing that 18 of 2400 does give or take a couple fps.

I like 4227 in this weight! Compressed and a bit dirty, but usually the most accurate powder for my 44s.

Lefty


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[dirkdiggler]

The classic +P 44 Special load is a 429-421 over 7.5 grains of Unique. In your Super Black hawk that should get you 950 fps at about 18,000 PSI. I use that load extensively. It is good.
Love that load

[Thin Man]

Too many years ago I hoped to find a Model 24 but none were available. I could "do without" or get moving. Luck came my way when I found and bought two (2) new in the wrapper Model 24 barrels (both blue and 6") at a local gun show. The seller asked $35 for one, or both for $60. I almost ripped the patch off my jeans getting the wallet out and brought both barrels home. Already had an unfired S&W Model 28, got the cylinder re-chambered and barrel installed on the frame and had a hybrid Model 28. Next I installed the rear sight assembly from a Model 27 on the frame and polished the grooves from the face of the trigger. Loaded with the Skeeter load this revolver groups better than I could have ever asked for. I happened to have an early Lee mold for a 160 grain wadcutter. I used this revolver and boolit to win a pistol match at a local club where I was a member. Wow, did that ever hack off the Gold Cup owners! As the original Model 28 is heat treated for the pressures of the 357 Magnum I could safely go to higher pressure levels. Could, but won't. I have a few 44 Magnums, so if I need to drive a bigger nail I'll pick up a bigger hammer.

[Larry Gibson]

" Originally Posted by rintinglen View Post

The classic +P 44 Special load is a 429-421 over 7.5 grains of Unique. In your Super Black hawk that should get you 950 fps at about 18,000 PSI. I use that load extensively. It is good."

Yes that is a "good" load if not excellent for the 44 SPL. However, the "18,000 psi" quoted is actually the old CUP figure. CUP measurement is not referred to as "psi" anymore but as "CUP". That load, as I previously mentioned runs 22,000 +/- psi as measured via modern peizo-transducer/strain gauges. Essentially the same pressure but somewhat confusing if comparing apples to orange........

Again, my "go to" loads for all but serious hunting in my 44s is;

any good, well lubed cast 240 - 255 gr bullet over 7.5 gr in 44 SPL cases or 8.5 gr in 44 Magnum cases.

Larry Gibson

[2AALLTHEWAY]

A load I've used is 7.4gr Power Pistol, standard primer, mixed cases and 240gr LSWC hardcast crimped in the groove. It gave 799FPS from a Taurus 445Ti with it's ported 2" barrel and about 2"-3" groups at 10yds offhand. I like the gun, it's light and has good punch. It should hold up to full power loads as it shares the same frame as the 415Ti 41Mag. Brian Pierce listed 8.0gr at 998 FPS as a max load in the standard pressure category and 9.0gr at 1093 FPS in a 5.5" barrel (the category was not specified, assume it to be category 3) under a 250gr 429421 Keith LSWC in 44Spl cases in the September 2005 "Handloader" magazine. There he lists loads in three categories;15,500 PSI, 22,000 PSI and 25,000 PSI along with the guns suited to them.

[Bazoo]

Well, I ended up making a box with 9.2 grains of unique from my lee dipper. Magnum brass, 240 grain bullet. Nice stout load, Dont hurt the hand, but has some authority.

[9.3X62AL]

Yessir! You are likely in the 975-1000 FPS ballpark, depending upon barrel length and the usual revolver working quirks. 90% of my Magnum revolver shooting these days gets done with loads of this sort--standard weight SWC running 100 FPS either side of 1000 FPS. Useful and powerful without beating you silly, and they can be fired all day.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have adopted 6.0 gr of W231 with a Keith Boolit as my standard .44 Special Load for my BH Bisley and S&W696, and 8.0 gr of W231 with the same boolit for my Midrange Magnum load for my SBH Bisley.

Last month I hit 3 chickens, 3 pigs, and 3 Rams at our Short Range Silhouette match. That's 50 100 and 200 Meters, and hitting 3 Rams at 200 meters with a handgun was pretty satisfying.

The accuracy was definitely there, and the power was too. I was aiming at the foot of the chickens at 50M, The belly of the pigs at 100M, the middle of the Turkeys at 150M and the top of the back of the Rams at 200M.

Point being,,, The actual drop at 200M was less than 12" when dead on at 100M,,, From a 5" revolver.

8.0 gr of W231 should yield @ 900-950 FPS from a 5" barrel. More than adequate for my uses.

All the boolits I shot were 429421's with powder coating and sized to .431. Cleaning was one clean patch thru to clean out powder fouling from the last shot fired. YMMV.

Randy

[waco]

I shoot a 429421 over 8.0gr Unique from a 5" S&W29 in mag brass right at 910fps with good accuracy.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

I load 10 gr. of Unique in my 3 screw SBH, it's hotter that my Colt's SAA .45 7 1/2" bbl. with 8.5 gr. of Unique over 454190 but still very pleasant. Have DougGuy ream the cylinder throats of your SBH before the results of your range tests frustrate you.

[Bazoo]

I slugged my throats, and they were .433 for 4, .434 for 2. I only shoot field positions, and If I can get the gun to shoot 6" at 50 yards, then im happy. I have a 6" plate hanging at 50 which I hit a couple times the other day. I havent sighted it on paper, or rested though at any distance other than about 15 yards, so I aint got no idea where its hitting at any other distance yet. If I do my part, I can hit that plate with most handguns, most of the time .

[shoot-n-lead]

I load 10 gr. of Unique in my 3 screw SBH, it's hotter that my Colt's SAA .45 7 1/2" bbl. with 8.5 gr. of Unique over 454190 but still very pleasant. Have DougGuy ream the cylinder throats of your SBH before the results of your range tests frustrate you.

That is my hunting load in the 14" Contender...it will get the job done, is not abusive and will shoot near "one hole" groups.

[9.3X62AL]

I slugged my throats, and they were .433 for 4, .434 for 2. I only shoot field positions, and If I can get the gun to shoot 6" at 50 yards, then im happy. I have a 6" plate hanging at 50 which I hit a couple times the other day. I havent sighted it on paper, or rested though at any distance other than about 15 yards, so I aint got no idea where its hitting at any other distance yet. If I do my part, I can hit that plate with most handguns, most of the time .

Not at all unusual. Some years ago, another member here and I went to examine five S&W Model 29s from the early 1980s to mid-1990s birthing. Have Pin Gauges/Will Travel. Throats in all 5 examples ran .433"-.434", a couple were .432" IIRC. Not the end of the world, SAAMI shows .433" as the upper limit of "within spec". If grooves run .429"-.430", an 11* forcing cone recut might make things run very well. I just wasn't in the mood for gymnastics or adventure travel at the time, so I "passed" on all five. I should have snagged the 5" one, though.

[Thin Man]

The OP wants to build his reduced magnum loads with magnum brass. This longer brass changes the dynamics of the load significantly from loading with Special brass. From my own experience in this topic 376Steyr offered the exact same recommendation I will make: 10.0 Unique with a 240-250 boolit in Magnum cases, standard primers. This load should give you exactly what you are asking to achieve. Enjoy.

[Bazoo]

I really liked the 9.2 grains of unique in magnum brass. When I get a powder measure, i'll see about going higher some and finding a sweet spot.

[ddixie884]

This is an old thread but I'll bet the OP hasn't found a better load for his purpose than the 9.2gr Unique he was dipping............

[Bazoo]

I ended up shelving the gun because it leads up bad due to a tight spot in the barrel. It is gone back to Ruger currently. We'll see if they fix it or if it's on the chopping block.

[salvadore]

Cheatermk, I had a 624 some years ago and fired a lot of 17.5 2400 loads out of it with no apparent problems. That's not a recommendation, just io.

[smithnframe]

I still use 17.5 grains of 70's vintage 2400 with Elmer's bullet in my 44 magnum revolvers! Elmer's original load was 18.5 grains of 2400 in balloon head cases!

[smkummer]

Shooting my Colt NF 7 1/2” at 100 yard steel, my session was so much more enjoyable with unique and 9-950 FPS and 429421. I truely believe the 2400 load would only be reserved for possible long hunting shots of which would be rare in So. Indiana. Of course a plow handle single action doesn’t mitigate the recoil as well as a N frame smith. The older I get, I want just enough power (recoil) to do the job and little more.

[curioushooter]

I chronoed the skeeter and skeeter plus loads. 7.5 + 429421 = 950, 8.0 and 1000, 8.5 and just clipping under 1100 from my 6.5" 624. And not nearly as dirty as anything involving 2400. I am using unique made in 2019.

I would think that 12 grains of Blue Dot may surpass 1100 with good results.

[smithnframe]

I shoot 17.5 grains of 2400 with Elmer's bullet!

[murf205]

Bazoo, my all time favorite, non bazooka, loads IN 44MAG BRASS, is 16.6 grs of 2400 and a 429421 Lyman and a std primer. In my 4" 629, it goes 1061fps average of 5 shots and is pretty accurate. In my model 24 6 1/2" 44 spl, I load Skeeters 7.5 grs of Unique for 980 fps and it is as accurate as I can shoot it from the bags. 13.2 grs goes 980 as well in the spl brass and is a tick more accurate that Unique. In a 44 mag chamber these 44 spl loads will be slower but are a point of reference for you. Both powders are great for the 44, spl or mag, and the only reason I like 2400 is because it runs through the powder measure with more ease and repeatability than Unique.

[Groo]

Groo here
Deep seating bullets is gaining some followers of late.
Use a "keith"[orginal longnose style] Skitter load in magnum cases BUT seat and crimp OVER the front driving band..
This will give about the same volume in the case as a 44 special seated to the crimp groove.

[Jtarm]

My non-max magnum load back in the day (also a Skeeter load) was 18.5 2400 under the Keith.

What is "Quickload Bazoo"?

I subscribe to LoadData.com. $35 a year and all the loads I want right on my phone, no paper to keep up with.

[kerplode]

What is "Quickload Bazoo"?

It's the difference between "Let's eat, Grandma!" and "Let's eat Grandma!"... :-)

Bazoo is the OP.

Quickload is an internal ballistics solver program that can take load specifics (cartridge, bullet, powder, etc) and predict chamber pressure and velocity among other things. Runs on Windows. kinda spendy. Not a substitute for data generated with proper pressure testing equipment, but informative none the less...
Quickload, Bazoo! (https://www.neconos.com/category/Software-2)

[35 Whelen]

I'll second www.loaddata.com. I've had a subscription for years and will never be without it again. There's hardly a day, and certainly not a week that goes by that I don't go there are look up some kind of data. TONS of good .44 Special and .44 Magnum data there.

35W

[W.R.Buchanan]

Bazoo: Get a copy of Handloader Magazine Issue #236 (July 2005) Call Wolfe Publishing 1-928-445-7810 and they are $10 each.

This issue has the "Definitive Work By Brian Pearce on loading the .44 Special Cartridge from Mild to Wild." Loads range from 15,000 psi to 25,000 psi for certain guns. You will find everything that means anything about loading this cartridge in that one article including about 150 + loads.

Brian Pearce has forgotten more about this subject than all of us put together will ever know.

There is also another issue Handloader#237 (Oct 2005) where he talks about Mid Range Loads for the .44 Magnum.

Handloader #265 (Apr 2010) has loads for +P .44 Magnum for use in Ruger Redhawks and the like, and these are not for the faint of heart.

The current issue of Handloader #326, (June 2020) has an article by him on loading the .44 Magnum using some of the newer powders as well as old standards. Like 3 pages worth of load data.

With these 4 magazines you can load any possible load for the .44 Special /Magnum or you may omit the +P article as few have use for loads like that which are capable of taking anything on Earth. Still it's nice to know what the top end is.

My standard load for my .44 Specials is 6.0 gr of W231/HP38 with a Keith Boolit 429421 and my standard Midrange .44 Magnum load is 8.0 gr of the same powder with the same boolit.

I have a Ruger SBH Bisley, a BH Bisley, an S&W 696, and a Marlin 1894 CB with a 24" barrel.

My hot load for the SBH and Marlin is the Thompson 429244GC with 23.0 gr of H110. The SBH Bisley Grip makes shooting hot loads in that gun possible with no pain. The Marlin is a 200 yard gun with that load.

All these loads came from those articles,,, er actually the hot load I have been shooting since 1978 so I knew about it along time ago.

There is probably more info contained in those articles than in any other place known to man.

You need to read them multiple times like for "Toilet Reading."

I have one article from him on loading the .45-70 for Marlin Rifles which I have easily read 50 times !

The guy actually knows what he's talking about!

Hope this helps you out on this subject,,, and you can load all of these on one of my Hand Presses. :holysheep

Randy

[ddixie884]

Not really off-topic. The SAAMI limits for 44 Special are low, probably lower than they need to be for modern firearms. I don't think you would harm a S&W 624 with a load that pushed a 250 grain lead bullet in the 900-1000 fps range BUT that load would likely produce a little more than the 15,500 psi limit for 44 Special. To give a little perspective, the SAAMI limit for 44 magnum is 36,000psi.
What we need is a sanctioned +P load for the 44 Special but no such thing exists. Part of the problem is that not all guns chambered in 44 Special are created equal.

The 44 Special is a fantastic cartridge but when crippled by the artificially low SAAMI specifications, it can be a bit limited. When taken a little above the SAAMI limits, the 44 Special does a lot of things really well. Unfortunately, we don't have a sanctioned +P load to address that problem so we are left to ourselves to find acceptable loads that don't push the envelope of safety.

The S&W 624 (along with the blued 24 and fixed sighted, blued 21) are fine guns and in my opinion, strong enough to safely handle a "Skeeter" load. Those types of guns have certainly been used to fire large numbers of those exact loads for years.

That sanctioned heavy .44spl load is what Elmer was requesting and look what it got him.......

[LAH]

In Special brass using the MMC converted M28 I use the Lyman 429421 & 15 grains of 2400. My 6 1/2" barrel makes 1050 fps.

[smkummer]

Just shot 4.8 grains 700X and Kieth bullet for about 750 FPS in my charter arms target (4”) bulldog. Pleasant load that duplicates factory published velocity but plenty of power for CC use. Tried the skeeter load and it averaged 950 plus FPS. My hand certainly felt it and no doubt 50 of those would be more than enough for a range outing. Shot someone else’s Ruger stainless Blackhawk 44 special 4 3/4”. Comfortable with the skeeter load. About 975 average FPS. Plenty of power.

[rkrcpa]

So, in terms of a "Skeeter" load in the 950fps range, is there a consensus as to how best to get there? Unique, Power Pistol and 2400 all seem to get you there with ease but is one "better" than the other for the intended purpose. Is it simply a matter of what shoots best in a particular revolver?

[Larry Gibson]

"how best to get there?"

A cast 429421 loaded over 7.5 gr Unique in 44 SPL cases using standard LP primers. Simple and easy....ain't broke....no sense trying to 'fix" it.......

[DougGuy]

I ended up shelving the gun because it leads up bad due to a tight spot in the barrel. It is gone back to Ruger currently. We'll see if they fix it or if it's on the chopping block.

Well? Whatever happened to the gun?

[Drm50]

I use Unique in 41mg, 44sp & mg, 45Colt for cast loads in 700 -900 FPS. I killed a deer with 242gr 45 cal WC at 750fps with Unique. Plenty of power for practical range. I shoot iron sights and self imposed range for deer is 50yds. I hit one once at 100+ with 44mg. Spent hours tracking it. If deer looks like it can walk across from sight, it’s to far for me.

[Bazoo]

When I got it back, they had replaced the cylinder and barrel. I slugged the throats and they are all hovering around .432/.4325 the bore has less of a constriction at the thread than it did. It leads less than it did. I plan to fire lap it but I haven't done anything yet.


I appreciate the suggestion for the magazines, I'll order them.

[LAH]

"how best to get there?"

A cast 429421 loaded over 7.5 gr Unique in 44 SPL cases using standard LP primers. Simple and easy....ain't broke....no sense trying to 'fix" it.......

^^^^^^^^
I'm with the great one on this.

[smkummer]

Unique gets you to the 950 FPS range with a lot less powder than 2400, so it’s economical. Power pistol shows good promise but I have yet to buy and load for it. Waiting until I run out of Win. 540 for my 38 plus P loads before I switch.

[ddixie884]

^^^^^^^^
I'm with the great one on this.

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

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Was enjoying a new to me 6.5" 24-3 on Sunday. Shooting an as cast 240 grain boolit of 50/50 plus tin over 7 gr. of Unique. Great accuracy and no leading. My SBH likes 9.0 gr. of Unique with the same boolit sized to 431". Makes things pretty simple for these two six guns.