M-24-3 44special

[Beamer]

Just picked up an as-new Smith m24-3. I have ordered a mould from rcbs in the 250 Keith type. I think I would like to reach 950 to 1000 fps. Not interested in magnamizing the pistol but would like something to do a bit of plinking but also the possibility of deer hunting. Any suggestions?

[Loudenboomer]

If 7.5 gr unique or AA# 5 wont do it I go to 2400. About 15 grains will do ya.

[arlon]

What barrel length? Nice revolvers.

[Divil]

For the heavy 240-250gr. Bullets - Unique. I never went above 6.5gr Myself but I prefer 200-210 boolits in my 24-3 & Ruger Bisley Blackhawk. Gunwriter Brian Pierce recommended 5.5 gr. Of Red Dot for the 200gr. Boolit.
I have about 1000 200gr. Boolits sitting on top of 5.5gr. Of Red Dot and another 500 210gr. Boolits sitting on top of 5.7 gr. Of Red Dot. To say I like Red Dot in .44 Special is an understatement.

[RED BEAR]

I use 7.8 grains of unique with 210gr lee rnfp. A top of line load but very accurate.

[Divil]

Forgot to mention that 6.8gr. Of VV-N340 was powerful and accurate with a 240gr. Bullet.

[Dale53]

Skeeter Skelton popularized a 250 gr. Keith ahead of 7.5 grs. Of Unique. This gives about 950 fps in a 624 Smith with 4” barrel. Elmer Keith’s max load was 16.0 grs. Of 2400 behind a 250 gr. Keith giving 1200 fps. In my 6” 624. NRA pressure tested this load at 25,000 psi. I can testify that a 250 gr. Keith at 1200 fps will shoot lengthwise through a large whitetail deer at 75-80 yards.

FWIW
Dale53

[Petrol & Powder]

Congratulations on that S&W Model 24-3 - Excellent gun !

I have that same RCBS 250K mold and it produces great bullets. You'll never need anything else.

Using that bullet, a 44 Special case and 7.5 grains of Unique will get you into the range you want. And that "Skeeter" load is an outstanding load. Use a fairly soft alloy, seat to the crimp groove and you'll have a big grin on your face. It's just a great load - accurate, plenty of power, good all-around bullet, not hard on the gun or shooter.

I don't like the way Unique meters in a powder measure so I set the measure to drop about a 7.4gr charge into a scale pan. I then use a powder trickler to bring it up to 7.5 grains.

I think you're on the right path.

Enjoy that gun, they're Special.

AND WELCOME to the forum !!!

[georgerkahn]

I have a S&W 696-1 .44 S&W Special, and do precisely the same loading: 7.5 gns of Unique behind the 250K Keith bullet (mould bought on this forum). Note to Petrol & Powder -- I load on a Dillon 550b, using their powder measure, and also experienced quite a bit of variability in charges using Unique. Somewhere (???) I was suggested replacing the small powder bar with the large -- and it seems to (for me!) have done the trick. I zero the D-Terminator scale with primed empty case after removing it from press before adding powder; add the powder and weigh; and then either dump case/set aside; or -- most of the time -- when powder is dead on, continue. I recently loaded 362 rounds, and had no more than six, total, which had .1 grain too much or too little -- MY criteria. An added benefit, again in my set-up, is that after loading session is complete, the entire press area appears a zillion times "cleaner" -- with no errant powder flakes about, as had been the case when I had the small powder bar in it. Just a thought.... BEST!
geo

[Petrol & Powder]

I've never tried the large powder bar. Might be worth trying. I don't load 44 that often and just use a single stage press when I need to make small batches.

[9.3X62AL]

I got out of the 44 Special Cult several years ago. I DO enjoy the Skeeter's Load performance envelope, though--so I put up Lyman #429421 atop 8.2 grains of Unique or 9.0 grains of Herco and have an accurate, all-day load for my 44 Magnums.

[Petrol & Powder]

I played around with big bore guns years ago and got out of the game. When I decided to get back into the game the 44 Special had become a cult gun and the 44 Special DA revolvers had become a really expensive sub-set of that cult.

I couldn't find a DA 44 Special that didn't require a second mortgage. That was before Ruger finally came out with the GP-100 in 44 Special.

So I did the next best thing and found a 4" S&W model 629 Mountain gun. That gave me the tapered barrel and half lug, which was as close to the model 624 as I could get in my price range.

When using 44 Special brass I use the classic Skeeter load with 7.5 grains of Unique. When I use magnum casing I bump up the powder charge to about 8.1-8.2 grains to duplicate the Skeeter load in that larger casing.

With the RCBS 250K bullet that load works beautifully.

[Patrick L]

I have a 4 incher that I love. Superb gun. I agree, 2400 will do it. I need to look up my records, but as I recall I use around 16 gr with a Keith boolit. I can't remember the velocity (actual chronographs, not guessed) but I was confident it would shoot through any of the deer we have here in NYS. Heck, I only load my .44 magnum to barely 1200-1250. I don't need more.

[Reverend Al]

I have a pair of S&W 624's, one in 4" and one in 6 1/2" and I absolutely LOVE them! They seem to shoot anything that I put in them from Red Dot to 700X to Winchester 231 to Unique, etc., etc., etc. ... All with standard 240 to 250 grain SWC's, whatever I had on hand to shoot. It was hard to tell the difference in groups between any of the powders. I'd just try whatever pistol / shotgun powders you have on hand to test and you'll very likely be quite pleased with the results.

[MT Gianni]

Power Pistol will do what you want with accuracy.

[sharps4590]

I have 2, 44 Spl., one a 696 S&W and the other a Colt, 3rd Gen......horse manure...is it the New Frontier(?), the one with adjustable sights. Anyway, my 696 does not like Unique under any bullet....which totally baffles me. The Colt loves it. My 696 also did not like 2400...which baffled me again. It didn't like Blue Dot either. Any other 44 Spl. I've had liked Unique and 2400 powders. Under the Lyman 429421 the 696 does like 5.3 grs. of Bullseye. A couple weeks ago I revisited the 696 with Unique and 2400 and it hasn't changed its mind. Sorta breaks my heart because Unique is one of my favorite powders.

[AnthonyB]

Another vote for the 44-250K and 7.5 grains Unique. If that load won't do it you need a 30-06.
Tony

[Loudenboomer]

Another vote for the 44-250K and 7.5 grains Unique. If that load won't do it you need a 30-06.
Tony

I like the way you think Tony:bigsmyl2:

[Dan Cash]

7.5 gr Unique and a 240 gr bullet in a .44 SP will get the job done and in the S&W will stretch your gun; it is too hot. 6.5 Unique is ample and will get the job done leaving you to enjoy your six shooter for years to come.

[samari46]

Go on the S&W forums and yes the 44 special has a huge following over there. I got my first one at a gun show as I was leaving and found a 624 with the 6.5" barrel. Had been checked out with the large red C on the box. They had a recall and probably still do. Reason was the cylinders were either the wrong stainless steel or that the chambers were reamed too long so would take the 44 magnum cartridge. Only thing is if your revolver was found to take the 44 magnum they wouldn't send the gun back. Too many liability concerns. And yes I fell into the 44 special cult. The 524 got followed by a 24-3 with the 3" barrel and finally the 24-3 with the 4" barrel. Think the 4" barrel was the perfect barrel length on the N frame for that cartridge. Even with the Winchester 200 gr silvertip at supposedly 900fps is a ***** cat. Especially in the 624 6.5" barrel. SDM makes a gold bead front sight insert that will be going on all three 44 specials. Old eyes and ramp sights don't work for me. I need something bright and distinctive for me to focus on. Think Dale53 has one of the long barreled 624's and if he chimes in can post a pic. The bead is real gold so should not tarnish like a brass bead would. Frank

[Forrest r]

Great revolver, used a 6 1/2" bbl'd 624 for nra bullseye for several years. The 624's are capable of excellent accuracy, keep your alloy soft (8bhn/9bhn). Check your cylinders typically you need a .432" bullet for the 624's. I mostly shot wc's in my 624 but I did burn a lot of different 44casl bullets laying around from casting over the years along with when I switched over to pc'ing pistol/revolver bullets. Did a lot of plinking loads most were surprisingly accurate.

Clays 4.0gr
WST/AA#2 4.5gr
Bullseye/reddot/titegroup/American select/trailboss 5.0gr
WW-231/universal clays 5.5gr

One thing I always like to do with the 44spl is piggyback the loads. Typically the same load for the 44spl will work in the 45acp & plinking loads in the 357's.

[winelover]

7.5 gr Unique and a 240 gr bullet in a .44 SP will get the job done and in the S&W will stretch your gun; it is too hot. 6.5 Unique is ample and will get the job done leaving you to enjoy your six shooter for years to come.

Brian Pierce lists 8.5 grains of Unique and Lyman 429421 (250 grain Keith) at 1058 fps as 22,000 psi or less loading. It is safe for a Bulldog. So it shouldn't be an issue with any S&W...............maybe you need a Ruger. I load 7.0 grains in my light weight Bulldog.

Winelover

[JoeJames]

I am getting an average of 962 fps out of my 4" Ruger SA 44 Special with 6.8 grains Unique, Oregon Trail .431 240 grain SWC's.

[lotech]

The #429421 bullet and 7.5 grains Unique is an accurate load in most .44 Special revolvers but has pretty hefty recoil for continuous use, though everyone experiences recoil differently. Such a load is certainly worth trying. One I prefer uses a 200 grain SAECO flat nose bullet and 5.5 grs.-6 grs. Bullseye or 7.5 grs. Herco. These loads are in the 900 fps range from a 6" S&W revolver. They are at least as accurate as the #429421 / 7.5 Unique load and more pleasant to shoot.

[JoeJames]

My regular load with the 240 grain Oregon Trail bullet is actually 6.5 grains of Unique averaging 900 fps. I prefer accuracy over speed. I am old enough that I figure if I cannot handle anything that comes along in the woods of Arkansas with a 240 grain .431" lead slug moving at 900 fps, I'd better just go to the house. It is also quite pleasant to shoot.

[Thumbcocker]

8.0 of power pistol. Standard pressure Skeeter velocity. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190208/6b3bbcd3cf6cf6c60b78975f1eaadf39.jpg

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[AnthonyB]

I have one of the four inch M624 44 Magnums that samari46 mentioned in his post. There is a very large warning in my inventory book that the pistol is NEVER to be sent back to S&W for anything!
Tony

[Dale53]

The old NRA Reloading Manual has pressure tested loads for the .44 Special. A 240-250 gr Keith (Lyman 429421) shows less than 12,000 psi (less than SAAMI for a .44 Special) with 7.5 grs. of Unique. The newer Unique is reputed to be a bit faster (about a 1/2 gr.) so for the same results, about 7.0 grs. of today's Unique should give you the same.

However, the modern "N" frame Smith's will handle 7.5 grs. "Until the cows come home". That "Skeeter" load is a great field load.

Just a few years ago, we had a Group Buy 200 gr. dbl. ended W/C (fulfilled by Lee). Crimped in the crimp grove ahead of 5.0 grs. of Red Dot powder, chronographs at 878 FPS which makes an excellent field or defense load. 4.0 grs. of Red Dot makes for an excellent target load. Nearly 900 fps with that full wadcutter load should make an excellent defense load for a carry gun if you are comfortable to carry reloads in your carry gun.

Just a thought or two...
Dale53

[Drm50]

I got two 24-3s. I NIB and another 95%. I also have 3 m29-2s. I also have 25s, 27s and 57s. I shoot nothing but cast. Also all WCs except for 57s & one 25-5 that I do shoot Keith type boolits. My question is why get all excited over 44sp and first thing done is try to make a mini 44mag out of them. The experimenting I done other
than WCs I found 200gr bullets at 800fps did best. My only WC mold 185 doesn't do bad but a 200 will do better.
I bought a few to find out. I haven't shot a deer with 44sp yet but did with m25-5 & WC at same velocity.

[murf205]

My 24 loves Skeeters load at 990 fps and 13.2 grs of 2400 for 980 fps. My old Hand Ejector doesn't get fed the 7.5 gr load but it will shoot 6.5 grs on Unique better than the new mod 24. The 429421 is the boolit of choice in both guns.

[Dale53]

Using my 624 (6.5” barrel), standing at 25 yards with witnesses with the Skeeter load,

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/img030.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/img030.jpg.html)

FWIW,
Dale53

P.S. In the spirit of full confession, this was done a few years ago. At my advanced age, that will not happen again. However, keep in mind, that 624 CAN do it again, in the right hands!:oops: rdm

[Walks]

I've used the "Skeeter Load" for 40+yrs. I have 3 Colt SAA's and a 3" 624. I can't even begin to think of how many 1000's of "Skeeter Loads" have gone down the bbl's of those revolvers. And half a dozen .44spl Colt Clones. I also had a Colt New Service in .44spl, it was tight when I got it and tight when it left 20yrs & 3,000-4,000rds later. Only .44spl load I used until I started Cowboy Action Shooting.

It's a great load. Blow a Jackrabbits head clean off.
But not a load for Cowboy Action Shooting. For that I went down several notches.

[Petrol & Powder]

Dale53, I have no doubt about this statement: "The old NRA Reloading Manual has pressure tested loads for the .44 Special. A 240-250 gr Keith (Lyman 429421) shows less than 12,000 psi (less than SAAMI for a .44 Special) with 7.5 grs. of Unique.........."

But I have to wonder if that was copper units of pressure (CUP) instead of psi or maybe even a typo in the manual?

All of the data I've seen, including chronograph readings, from the "Skeeter Load" [7.5 grs of Unique with a 240-250 gr. LSWC in a 44 Special casing] has been at or slightly over the SAAMI max of 15,500 psi but it does get you over 900 fps with that bullet.

I not disputing what you saw but that sounds uncharacteristically low in terms of pressure for that load.

[Petrol & Powder]

......... My question is why get all excited over 44sp and first thing done is try to make a mini 44mag out of them. ..............

To answer this question (and it is a very valid question): The goal is NOT to make a mini 44 mag out of the 44 Special. The goal is to get the 44 Special to where it should be before SAAMI castrated it with that ridiculously low 15,500 psi limit.

There is a huge difference between the 44 Special (max pressure of 15,500) and the 44 Magnum (max pressure of 36,000 ! ).
The gap between those two cartridges is enormous. For years I have held that there needs to be a 44 Special +P rating. There is no such thing as a 44 Special +P but there sure is room for one.

If one needs the performance of a 44 Magnum we are fortunate enough to have the guns and cartridges available to reach that level of performance. We don't need to duplicate the upper end of that performance range using the 44 Special but it sure would be nice if we had a SAAMI sanctioned Special +P load that was somewhere in the range of 18,000 -22,000 psi range.

I think the 44 Special is an awesome cartridge but I also think that with modern strong guns like the Ruger GP-100 and S&W 24/624 we can get the true capabilities out of that cartridge without going anywhere near the extremes of a 44 magnum.
There is a real need to fill that gap between the Special and the Magnum.

[Dale53]

P&P;
It was before psi and was CUP, I am sure. However, if you want a copy I can furnish it...:wink:

Dale53

[murf205]

Amen, Petrol&powder, that's why I have settled on the 980-990fps threshold for MY intended 44 spl purposes. I just read where the original 45 Colt load of 40 grs ffg and a 255 lead boolit was traveling better than 900 fps. If you go by todays standards, Colt started out with a +P load, and it worked like a charm in 1873, BUT..you didn't have a ton of lawyer's waiting to pounce on the industry then either.

[Walks]

I got my Hands on a Colt New Frontier in .44spl a couple years back. Unfortunately My Rheumatoid Arthritis precludes even the Skeeter load.
I can just handle the Cowboy load of Lyman# 429478 210gr or RCBS #44-200-FN over 4.0gr of TiteGroup.

I've used the RCBS #44-200-CM, Lee #429-200-FN & Lyman#42798 too. That #427098 Has been discontinued this year. I have the discontinued Lee #429-214-1R.
They all have worked well in .44spl for me.

Never had a bullet that wouldn't give a 3" 5shot group or
less at 25yds in any .44spl Revolver I've tried it in.

Although I definitely prefer the Lyman #429421 over the RCBS #44-245-K. The front driving Band on the RCBS is way too small, I don't think it gives enough "bite" too line up the rest of the bullet moving into the forcing cone.

[Petrol & Powder]

P&P;
It was before psi and was CUP, I am sure. However, if you want a copy I can furnish it...:wink:

Dale53

That makes a little more sense. If it is CUP it should be listed as CUP and not PSI, they are not interchangeable.

[dogdoc]

The old NRA Reloading Manual has pressure tested loads for the .44 Special. A 240-250 gr Keith (Lyman 429421) shows less than 12,000 psi (less than SAAMI for a .44 Special) with 7.5 grs. of Unique. The newer Unique is reputed to be a bit faster (about a 1/2 gr.) so for the same results, about 7.0 grs. of today's Unique should give you the same.

However, the modern "N" frame Smith's will handle 7.5 grs. "Until the cows come home". That "Skeeter" load is a great field load.

Just a few years ago, we had a Group Buy 200 gr. dbl. ended W/C (fulfilled by Lee). Crimped in the crimp grove ahead of 5.0 grs. of Red Dot powder, chronographs at 878 FPS which makes an excellent field or defense load. 4.0 grs. of Red Dot makes for an excellent target load. Nearly 900 fps with that full wadcutter load should make an excellent defense load for a carry gun if you are comfortable to carry reloads in your carry gun.

Just a thought or two...
Dale53

If the powder is different rather than lot to lot variations, the powder company would call it something else. I do not think it’s faster burning


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[RED BEAR]

I read somewhere that the early keith loads where probably balloon head cases an as such had more room in them than modern cases. Can't say for sure if this is a fact.

[Dale53]

For the record:
I just looked at the .44 Special article in the NRA Reloading Handbook and the pressure listings are in PSI.

AND, the cases are solid head cases. This is NOT antique data, but it has been some years since the NRA published this data. However, this is GOOD data.

Dale53

[Petrol & Powder]

I'm skeptical

[Forrest r]

I'm skeptical

+1 ^^^^^

Everything I've seen pointed to the 6.9gr/7.0gr of unique/429421 combo as being at the 15,500psi ceiling. There's nothing wrong with the "Skeeter" load just never used it much myself. When I wanted a target/plinking load for the 44spl I always used fast burning powders. If I tried lite loads of unique I'd end up with unburnt powder/a lot of crud. Instead of bumping up the unique to the Skeeter load pressure for heavier loads I'd opt for 2400 and loads close to the Keith load. When power pistol came out it replaced the unique/skeeter load all together.

The op was asking about 950fps to 1000fps loads with his 24-3. He never stated what the bbl length was. To get 1000fps:
3" bbl ='s keith 2400 load
4" bbl ='s skeeter load
6 1/2" bbl ='s bullseye/reddot/titegroup/wst/AA#2

[Walks]

Red Bear,

It is a fact. Keith himself wrote of reducing his .44spl load of 18.5grs of 2400 Powder in balloon head cases .
Down to 17.5grs in solid head cases.

[Rodfac]

I too make good use of Skeeter's load (7.5 gr. of Unique) with most any quality 240-250 gr LSWC. I've chrono'd them at 980 fps from a 4-5/8" Ruger BH Flat Top and enjoyed excellent accuracy. For the most part I use ACWW +1-2% tin for mold fill out and size to 0.430"-0.431" for my Rugers and a S&W M24 with 6.5" bbl. Using Win 231, I cut the charge to 6.5 gr. for ~900 fps and equal accuracy. In truth, I like 231 better in the .44 Special...cleaner than Unique and it measures a heck of lot better.

I cast 95% if what I shoot in the old Special using Mihec's excellent copies of the H&G 503, as well as Lyman's 429421 for these mid-level loads, but also like Lyman's 429244 GC if using 2400. Another good bet is Lyman's 429215 GC, for lighter recoil and equal accuracy. When putting up loads for an older Marlin 336 in 44 Magnum, I size to 0.432" to better fit its oversize bore. That same size works as well in the revolvers in spite of being 0.002" over throat dia. I don't push these oversize bullets with due regard for the pressure implications.

As always, these are my loads assembled for my guns and I'm satisfied they are safe. If interested you should consult a GOOD manual, consider the pressure implications in your guns and work up to them.

Brian Pearce published a great article on the .44 Special in Handloader 236 Aug-Sept 2005. In it he classified a variety of handguns by pressure/strength limitations. His work included both jacketed and cast bullet data that's very useful whether target or hunting loads are desired. Skelton's load with 7.5 gr of Unique falls in what he classifies as Category Two, (above 15,500 but below 22,000 psi). It's worth buying the back copy of that magazine, just for the loads and pressure discussion.

Best Regards, Rod

[Dale53]

Rodfac;
Excellent information. Frankly, I was reading that same article, by Brian Pierce, this week, and consider it right on point.

Dale53

[Forrest r]

I too make good use of Skeeter's load (7.5 gr. of Unique) with most any quality 240-250 gr LSWC. I've chrono'd them at 980 fps from a 4-5/8" Ruger BH Flat Top and enjoyed excellent accuracy. For the most part I use ACWW +1-2% tin for mold fill out and size to 0.430"-0.431" for my Rugers and a S&W M24 with 6.5" bbl. Using Win 231, I cut the charge to 6.5 gr. for ~900 fps and equal accuracy. In truth, I like 231 better in the .44 Special...cleaner than Unique and it measures a heck of lot better.

I cast 95% if what I shoot in the old Special using Mihec's excellent copies of the H&G 503, as well as Lyman's 429421 for these mid-level loads, but also like Lyman's 429244 GC if using 2400. Another good bet is Lyman's 429215 GC, for lighter recoil and equal accuracy. When putting up loads for an older Marlin 336 in 44 Magnum, I size to 0.432" to better fit its oversize bore. That same size works as well in the revolvers in spite of being 0.002" over throat dia. I don't push these oversize bullets with due regard for the pressure implications.

As always, these are my loads assembled for my guns and I'm satisfied they are safe. If interested you should consult a GOOD manual, consider the pressure implications in your guns and work up to them.

Brian Pearce published a great article on the .44 Special in Handloader 236 Aug-Sept 2005. In it he classified a variety of handguns by pressure/strength limitations. His work included both jacketed and cast bullet data that's very useful whether target or hunting loads are desired. Skelton's load with 7.5 gr of Unique falls in what he classifies as Category Two, (above 15,500 but below 22,000 psi). It's worth buying the back copy of that magazine, just for the loads and pressure discussion.

Best Regards, Rod

A copy of the 236 article is on this website.
http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian%20Pearce%20on%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

Pearce did an updated article on the 44spl in the feb 2018 #312 handloader magazine. In the updated article he used a lot of the newer powders, more bullets/better bullet selection. And he only did class II (22,000psi) & class III (25,00psi) loads.

[Petrol & Powder]

Rodfac - I've read that article many times and it is a good source of information. Thanks for bringing that up. Forrest r - thank you for the link to that article.

And I'll agree that ww231 is a good option to Unique that meters far better. I've assembled "Skeeter" equivalent rounds with WW231 and when using a progressive press I feel 231 is always a better route than Unique. I prefer to load my 44 Special rounds on a single stage press because my volume of that cartridge isn't that high and it's not worth the time to convert the progressive press for small batches.

I keep a few pounds of Unique on hand and it's a useful powder to have around but I don't like to put it in an automated powder measure.

[ddixie884]

I like 7.5 Unique or 8gr Power Pistol under a 250gr swc in .44spl. Power Pistol meters better but is a bit flashey..........

[Forrest r]

I like 7.5 Unique or 8gr Power Pistol under a 250gr swc in .44spl. Power Pistol meters better but is a bit flashey..........

True, but the flashlight has always come on when I hit the loud button.:brokenima

[Thin Man]

Many (about 35) years ago, I was prowling a gun show and met a vendor who had two (2) original M24 barrels for sale. Both were 6 1/2", blue and absolutely brand new in the brown S&W wrappers. I asked the price and was quoted $35 for one or both for $60. I almost tore the back pocket patch off my jeans going for my wallet and bought both. My goal was to convert a M28 Highway Patrolman (already had one in waiting) into a functional M24 just for the caliber. Got the cylinder chambered for a recessed rim, barrel installed, put on a checkered rear sight from a M27, removed the grooves from the front of the trigger (have always preferred these smooth), and installed genuine ivory stocks (estate find) with a Tyler's grip adapter. My chosen load was a 250 K boolit over 7.0 Unique and the revolver loved it. Screaming accurate. PS - saw the vendor who sold those barrels to me at the next show and he approached me to ask if I still had one or both barrels and if they were for sale. I answered that one was already installed and the second was waiting for another M28 (or M27) for conversion. He was disappointed but knew he had sold them to a 44 Special enthusiast.

Then about 5 years ago I found a M624 (also 6 1/2") in an estate sale and brought it home. I assembled a batch of the above listed load and tested both revolvers against each other. My original "parts gun" still loved the load but the M624 was not quite as happy with it. I'm slowly searching for that special load for the SS revolver but in no hurry. After all the search is as much of the fun as settling on a final load combination and getting to enjoy it.

[Petrol & Powder]

Thin Man - sounds like an excellent conversion. A good example of the quality that can be achieved. I'd be willing to bet the careful hand fitting that went into that M28 to M24 conversion was the reason the finished gun shot so well.

I don't know who re-chambered your M28 cylinder but I hope you gave him a case of beer along with his payment ! Sounds like he did a god job. A carefully fitted barrel that clocks correctly, has no thread crush, a breach face that is perfectly square and the correct B/C gap also goes a long way to making a good revolver.

[35 Whelen]

A couple of things here-

If I'm not mistaken that 24-3 has a 3" barrel. Bullets from the RCBS 44-250 KT, at least those from mine, have less bullet in the case than bullets from a 429421 mould, which lowers pressure and velocity. So, given those two situations 950 is in all likelihood not going to happen with the Skeeter load, probably more in the 900-925 fps range.

I fired several hundred of this load/bullet out of various Uberti's and it was much staple deer hunting load and averaged 935 fps out of the 4 3/4" barrel. I love that bullet and load and everything I've shot with said load has assumed ambient temperature post haste.

Another thing I discovered is the AL 20/28 is all but a grain-for-grain duplicate of Unique in the .44 Special, and it's flakes are smaller so it meters better. Of late I've switched to Power Pistol and 8.2 grs. and the bullet in question yields around 950 fps, but bumping it to 8.5 moved the bullet really close to 1000 fps.

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Single%20Actions/Uberti%204.75%20%20RCBS%2044-250%2050%20yds.-text_zpskvvp6ixu.jpg (https://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Single%20Actions/Uberti%204.75%20%20RCBS%2044-250%2050%20yds.-text_zpskvvp6ixu.jpg.html)

And finally don't overlook Herco. I tried it on a whim and 8.5 grs. of if pretty much duplicated the Power Pistol load.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Single%20Actions/Uberti%204.75%20%2050%20yds.%20Offhand-text_zpsmuxcltja.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Single%20Actions/Uberti%204.75%20%2050%20yds.%20Offhand-text_zpsmuxcltja.jpg.html)

35W

[ddixie884]

Yes you can go to 8.5 of PP in the 24-3 and even to 9grs as that is a tier II load at 22,000psi. Brian Pearce says the 24-3 is good for tier III at 25,000psi. See below.

Edit;
This would be with 240 to 250gr swc.

[NorthMoccasin]

+1 on the Lyman 429215. Cast of 2.5/2.5/95 over 8.2 Unique, it develops 980 fs in my 5.5" Blackhawk, and is very accurate. Hollow pointed, (Eric Ohlen) it expands to quarter size in water or deer. The Lyman 245 RN (429251?) over 8.1 of Power Pistol is also very accurate at 1087 fs. Hollow pointed it expands well. Either load will do anything I want a 44 special to do.

BTW, the 429215 over 10.0 Unique is a super mid range load in the 44 magnum. Every gun I have tried it in loves that load, and it sure is more pleasant to shoot than full house loads!

[rking22]

Here is the NRA article with the pressure data,for everyone’s reading pleasure! Becides, I like this thread!
http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/NRA%20-%20Loads%20for%20the%2044%20Special.pdf
And then there is this more modern data from a thread a few years back:

“In a closed breach Contender test barrel "Skeeter's load" of 7.5 gr Unique under the 429421 (255 gr) in WW cases with a Fed 150 primer give excellent internal ballistics with a peak average psi(M43) of 22,500. In a revolver with longer throats and the barrel/cylinder gap the psi will be lower but the load is still in the "+P" catagory compared to standard SAAMI MAP for the .44 SPL cartridge.

Skeeter developed that load for Colt P models and he and most everyone else has shot a lot of them. Out of my 5 1/2" barreled SAA revolver that load runs right at 825 fps. I've shot several thousand 240 gr commercial cast over Skeeter's load with nary a hic cup and nothing but excellent accuracy with pleasant shooting.

Larry Gibson
Last edited by Larry Gibson; 07-18-2012 at 04:34 PM.“

Goes to show that dramatic differences can be measured between supposedly identical loads, tread carefully!

[Reverend Al]

One of my New Year's resolutions is to finally load and test fire some of these .44 full wadcutters in my two S&W 624's. I managed to buy a used mould for it last year and I finally have a few of them cast and ready to try ...

https://i.imgur.com/ZWfeLFe.jpg

[35 Whelen]

I use that bullet and a load of Clays in my Bulldog.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cast%20bullets/429438loaded-1_zpsa08a4275.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Cast%20bullets/429438loaded-1_zpsa08a4275.jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Charter%20Arms%20Bulldog/185grSWC-edit_zps692a31e4.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Charter%20Arms%20Bulldog/185grSWC-edit_zps692a31e4.jpg.html)

It helps in that in recoil no longer feel like a pound of C-4 being detonated in my haND and is reduced to the sensation of a single Black Cat firecracker instead.

35W

[Forrest r]

Now your getting somewhere, shot a lot of wc's/hbwc's in the 624 & bulldogs over the years. Thinned the herd on molds & I'm down to these 5 wc/hbwc 44cal molds.
https://i.imgur.com/iMopAGs.jpg?3

[Dale53]

Here is my Group Buy 200 gr dbl ended W/C. As I may have mentioned, 5.0 grs. of Red Dot gives just under 900 fps. and 4.0 grs. gives an excellent target load. That wide meplat does a FINE job of delivering serious terminal effect.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/44200grwadcutter-0244_1600x1200.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/44200grwadcutter-0244_1600x1200.jpg.html)

FWIW
Dale53