44 special

[burch]

I have a Uberti Cattlemen in 44 spl. with a 5.5 bbl. I’m looking for suggestions on bullet selections some of you other folks are using. I might even be interested in buying some to try out. I’m looking for soft cast soft lube with a BHN around 15 and .431 dia.
burch

[Lefty SRH]

The MiHa clone of the H&G 503 is a great boolit. I shoot a lot of them inmy 44spl FT

[Lefty SRH]

Its hard to beat a Keith style bullet in the 44spl

[MajorDude]

I have a Uberti Cattlemen in 44 spl. with a 5.5 bbl. I’m looking for suggestions on bullet selections some of you other folks are using. I might even be interested in buying some to try out. I’m looking for soft cast soft lube with a BHN around 15 and .431 dia.
burch

My favorite is also the MP 503 clone. I also have the Lyman 429-421 but like the HP capability of the MP mold.

How do you like that Uberti? I have been thinking about one of those.

[W.R.Buchanan]

+1 on all of the above. I have the MP mould and it is one of the best working moulds I own.. That boolit is a do all for the .44 Special.

Randy

[Larry Gibson]

For sure the Lyman 429421 and the RCBS 44-250-K are excellent choices for the 44 SPL. For either bullet I am partial to the "Skeeter" load of 7.5 gr Unique.

However, these days I mostly load the 429360 (240 gr SWC or the Lee TL 430-240-SWC because they are a 4 and 6 cavity moulds. I load either over 5.5 gr of Bullseye (or 700X) which run right at 800 fps with excellent accuracy. The Lee 429-200-RF is also an excellent lighter weight bullet which I load over 6 gr Bullseye.

[RED BEAR]

I like a 210 fp with 7.8 gr unique. For the wife and youngsters i load the same bullet with 4.5 gr unique very mild and very accurate. I am a huge fan of mp molds you can't go wrong with there molds.

[lightman]

I have to agree with all of the above. Its hard to beat a Keith Type bullet. Clip on wheel weight alloy should do everything that you want. If you want to stretch your wheel weights you could mix wheel weights 50-50 with soft lead and add 1 or 2% tin.

[Good Cheer]

I'd love to have a Lyman #429478.
Tempted on getting an Accurate #43-220N.
Have settled on a heavy round nose with a big hollow pointing.

[rintinglen]

I have 3 44 specials and I keep coming back to the 429-421 over 7.5 grains of Unique. I have an acquaintance who has been touting Power Pistol, and I may give it a try, but it will have to work overtime to better the results I get with good old Unique.
237379

[Guesser]

All of the above.....I agree with. If you want to duplicate the old standard RN; Lee has one that drops at 240+ and if you wish to try a lighter SWC the Lee 214 has served me well in several 44 Special SA and DA revolvers.

[burch]

My favorite is also the MP 503 clone. I also have the Lyman 429-421 but like the HP capability of the MP mold.

How do you like that Uberti? I have been thinking about one of those.
I have a couple Uberti’s. They’ve came a long way on quality. My last one is a Taylor tuned. I also have that mold.

[burch]

I have two 44 spl. My other baby is a S&W 696 no dash. Oh yea

[NorthMoccasin]

Lyman 429215 220gr GC and 429383 245gr RN are my 44 spl go to slugs. Either one is very effective in HP form when cast of 2.5/2.5/95 alloy. The 245GR RN just looks right in a 44 spl ctg.

[Gray Fox]

Burch: I have a 696 no dash, too. What do you usually load and in what diameter? GF

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have two 44 spl. My other baby is a S&W 696 no dash. Oh yea

I have one of those too! 6.0 gr of W231 with Mihec 503 shoots to the sights, and will go 200 Meters if needed. (200 M Rams)

Do yourself a favor and get a set of X Frame Grips that have the extra padding in the web area See pic. Takes the bite right out of hotter loads. I got them from S&W but they are Hogue grips.

Randy

[35 Whelen]

I have a Uberti Cattlemen in 44 spl. with a 5.5 bbl. I’m looking for suggestions on bullet selections some of you other folks are using. I might even be interested in buying some to try out. I’m looking for soft cast soft lube with a BHN around 15 and .431 dia.
burch

What are you going to be doing with the revolvers? For only target shooting and such, I've really come to like RN bullets because they seem a little more accurate than SWC's. I recently pick up a Lyman 429383 and bullets from that mold are really accurate-

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cimarron%20Model%20P/Cimarron%20Model%20P%2050%20yds.%20practice_zpsgtd cimc8.jpg (https://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Cimarron%20Model%20P/Cimarron%20Model%20P%2050%20yds.%20practice_zpsgtd cimc8.jpg.html)

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2044%20Special/429383%2075%20yds_zpstiwz7ci5.jpg (https://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2044%20Special/429383%2075%20yds_zpstiwz7ci5.jpg.html)

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2044%20Special/429383%2075%20yards_zps8x0gkhqp.jpg (https://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2044%20Special/429383%2075%20yards_zps8x0gkhqp.jpg.html)

I've never been a big fan of Lee molds, but if you don't mind doing a little pre-casting work on them and cleaning up the rough machining, they can sometimes cast some really good bullets. The 429-240-2R has worked quite well for me too.

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cimarron%20Model%20P/Cimarron%20Model%20P-red_zpscdyvlthh.jpg (https://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Cimarron%20Model%20P/Cimarron%20Model%20P-red_zpscdyvlthh.jpg.html)

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Single%20Actions/Uberti%204.75%20%202%20RN%20edited_zpsw9rkxzxq.jpg (https://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Single%20Actions/Uberti%204.75%20%202%20RN%20edited_zpsw9rkxzxq.jpg .html)

For shooting and hunting I prefer SWC's. I'd have a hard time picking between anyone's 429421, the RCBS 44-250KT and MP's H&G 503 copy. I've killed game with all of them and could fill up the server with photos of nice groups fired with all of them.

I've standardized on heavier bullets in the 245-255 gr. range because they all shoot fairly close to POI in my Uberti's. But I also tried the Lyman 429215 mold which casts a gas checked SWC in the 210-215 gr. range. It too cast some very accurate bullets.

35W

[Petrol & Powder]

Its hard to beat a Keith style bullet in the 44spl

/\ Agreed /\

[Dale53]

I have been a fan of .44 Specials for many, many years. Like many above, my favorite bullet is a Keith. Currently, for several years, I have been using The H&G #503 from a Mihec mold.

A good target load is 5.0 grs. of Bullseye. My favorite field load is the Skeeter load (7.5 grs. of Unique). This may be a bit stout for Italian single actions, so you may want to drop this to 6.9 grs of Unique (this is within SAAMI standards).

I have used the Skeeter load in my Uberti Cimarron without issue - YMMV.

Handloader #236 has an excellent article on the .44 Special covering categhory #1, #2, and #3 strength levels of the revolvers commonly found. I suggest any that want to know the strength levels with loads for each level might want to pick up a copy (I have a digital copy on my various devices). The article is written by my current favorite author on reloading for handguns, Brian Pearce.

FWIW
Dale53

[osteodoc08]

Another fan of the Keith. I love 231 for all my sub maximum loadings and the 44 special is no different. My go to max load is 2400 however. As mentioned, the Brian Pearce article is a wealth of knowledge. It is easily found on the interwebz.

[Reverend Al]

Not sure about the Uberti SAA clones, but my S&W 624's will shoot pretty much anything that I put in them for boolits and powders, they're just not fussy at all. (One of the reasons that I love the .44 Special cartridge so much!) Most of my shooting has been with the Keith 429421 or a similar clones just because I have lots of those types of boolits on hand, but I've tested other types and weights of .430 to .431 "44" boolits in my S&W's and they all shoot way better than I can hand hold them.

[35 Whelen]

The Uberti "clones" (they're not really clones because they're slightly larger than a Colt) in .44 Special will handle loads well over factory pressures by virtue of the fact that they are chambered in 45 ACP whose factory pressures are as high as 23,000 psi.

35W

[derek45]

ARSENAL H&G 503 elmer Keith mold.
https://i.imgur.com/z1oEwmp.jpg
clear coated with "smokes"
https://i.imgur.com/nQGypmJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BoOhoIe.jpg

[derek45]

the 200gr LEE is another nice one....

where did you find a 44 special cattleman ?
I've been saving up to buy one.

https://i.imgur.com/2tyCKEI.jpg

[burch]

I’m still working on my 696. I’ve been using a 250 SWC but I’m not happy with the results yet.

[burch]

the 200gr LEE is another nice one....

where did you find a 44 special cattleman ?
I've been saving up to buy one.

https://i.imgur.com/2tyCKEI.jpg
I bought my Cattlemen for Taylor & co.

[Arkansas Paul]

For sure the Lyman 429421 and the RCBS 44-250-K are excellent choices for the 44 SPL. For either bullet I am partial to the "Skeeter" load of 7.5 gr Unique.

Agreed. My 429421 mold was one of my best purchases.
I too like the Skeeter loads. Either 7.5 grains of Unique or 7 grains of 700X. Both are fantastic loads.

[shdwlkr]

Years ago lee precision made a 6 cavity 44 mold that dropped a 255 grain bullet

[Walks]

For the plinking & Cowboy Shooting, I favor the Lyman #429478 210gr RN. Over 4.0gr of TiteGroup. For Hunting or SD you can't beat the Skeeter load of a Lyman #429421 over 7.5grs on Unique. Any thing hotter go to a 44Mag.

[DougGuy]

The Uberti "clones" (they're not really clones because they're slightly larger than a Colt) in .44 Special will handle loads well over factory pressures by virtue of the fact that they are chambered in 45 ACP whose factory pressures are as high as 23,000 psi.

35W

Are the Uberti 45s rated to 45 ACP+P? It would seem that if they chamber a firearm in 45 ACP caliber, and 45 ACP+P will readily chamber in the same gun, that it would indeed be rated for the +P pressures to avoid safety and liability issues. I have not heard yay or nay on this one.

If they are, this would rate the Uberti equal in maximum pressure to the medium framed (three digit prefix in serial number) Ruger New Vaquero and Flattop Blackhawks. This is quite a step up from the SAAMI max of 15,500psi for 44 Special.

What kind of pressure does the infamous Skeeter load develop?

[JoeJames]

My go to load in my 44 Special Ruger 4 1/2" Blackhawk SA with Speer swaged .430" 240 grain SWC's is 6.8 grains of Unique for about 900 fps, and is quite accurate. With Oregon Trail hard cast .431" 240 grain SWC's I back it down a hair to 6.5 grains of Unique for the same velocity. Both are very accurate in my Ruger SA, and in my 44 Special 5" GP100. They are both mild loads, but will handle anything in Arkansas, and without thumping you around.

[35remington]

Per credentialed and verified testing, and corroborated by multiple recent sources, around 21,000 psi.

[35 Whelen]

Are the Uberti 45s rated to 45 ACP+P? It would seem that if they chamber a firearm in 45 ACP caliber, and 45 ACP+P will readily chamber in the same gun, that it would indeed be rated for the +P pressures to avoid safety and liability issues. I have not heard yay or nay on this one.

If they are, this would rate the Uberti equal in maximum pressure to the medium framed (three digit prefix in serial number) Ruger New Vaquero and Flattop Blackhawks. This is quite a step up from the SAAMI max of 15,500psi for 44 Special.

What kind of pressure does the infamous Skeeter load develop?

Uberti manuals state to shoot only factory loaded ammunition. 45 ACP+P factory is 23,000 psi ammunition.

Brian Pearce in his data lists 8.5 grs. of Unique under a 255 gr. cast SWC as an under 22K psi load, so I would guess 7.5 grs. would be 16-18k maybe....?

FWIW last fall I loaded 8.5 grs of Unique under a 429244 SWCHP and fired it out of two of my Uberti's; a 5 1/2" and a 7 1/2". Velocities were smidge under 1100 and a bit over 1100, respectively, and both revolvers gave excellent 75 yd. accuracy. I had hopes of trying a long-ish shot on a deer, but alas the first that showed up was but 38 yds. away and dropped at the shot. Nice expansion with the bullet though.

35W

[35remington]

6.9’grains Unique is considered at the current 15,500 psi SAAMI limit using the 429421.

[atr]

I usually shoot the 240 gr Keith with Unique, but I just purchased some of the 200 gr RN (0.430) from the vender here on the site.
Again using Unique they shot very well this morning at 50 ft off-hand they all ended up in about a 6 inch square.

[burch]

My 429421 using wheel weights throws a 255 gr. bullet. What min. to max. load should I go with using Unique.

[35 Whelen]

My 429421 using wheel weights throws a 255 gr. bullet. What min. to max. load should I go with using Unique.

What revolver are you shooting?

35W

[atr]

burch...here are some loads from older Lyman manuals...for 250 gr PB
the one showing 7.8 gr of unique is listed as MAXIMUM....

237505 237506

237507

hope this helps

[Forrest r]

burch...here are some loads from older Lyman manuals...for 250 gr PB
the one showing 7.8 gr of unique is listed as MAXIMUM....

237505 237506

237507

hope this helps

Yup, they used to use these things called balloon headed cases back then. In those balloon headed cases lyman used to recommend 7.8gr of unique. At least my lyman 34 (1940)/36 (1949)/38 (1951)/39 (1953) have the same very load listed.

Balloon headed cases have more case capacity and use more powder to make the same pressure as the modern cases we use today. The balloon headed cases didn't have a solid web around the primer cup (case on right). This made them not only have more case capacity, they were weaker in the web area of the case creating the recessed cylinders in revolvers to help support that are of the balloon headed cases.
https://i.imgur.com/PW0EPRc.jpg

What is interesting about lyman & all their testing is after switching over to the modern cases we use today lyman put out in their #44/1967 manual that a max load of unique/429421 was 8.0gr. By 1980 lyman backed the max load of unique down to 6.9gr.

Huuummmmm, decisions/decisions what data to use???
balloon headed case data from 1940 7.8gr
1967 data 8.0gr
1980 (3rd cast handbook) until 2016 (lyman 50th) 6.9gr


Myself, never did care for the "skeeter" load in the 44spl. There's better powders for target/plinking loads along with there's better powders out there for hunting loads. To me the skeeter 7.5gr of unique/429421 combo is nothing more than a jack of all trades/master of none. Powders like AA#5/AA#7/longshot/true blue/universal clays for example meter better, burn cleaner & will easily either equal unique with most of them out performing unique with better accuracy & velocity.

I have yet to see that skeeter load outperform the 15.0gr to 16.0gr 2400 loads with 200gr to 250gr bullets with bbl lengths ranging from 2 1/2" to 10".

[35 Whelen]

The Skeeter load is definitely a Jack-of-all-trades load. I've used in on 2 or 3 deer and one hog, a couple of which were near 50 yds. distance. With a 255 or so gr. SWC the load worked great and all animals shot with the load assumed ambient temperature and the bullets whistled through the animals and out across the pasture for parts unknown.
I've certainly fired loads in ny .44 Specials that were far more powerful, but I don't think they're at all necessary for hunting anything the size of deer and hogs. I just personally see little need it using 15 or 16 grs of 2400 for a hunting load when half as much Unique will do the same thing.

35W

[sharps4590]

As much success as I've had with Unique in revolvers chambered to old cartridges, my 696 S&W does not like Unique under any bullet. Perplexed and disappointed I was!!! After a lot of shooting the 429421 over different powders I did find that the revolver likes 5.3 grs. of Bullseye under that bullet.

[35 Whelen]

That's interesting, sharps. I meant to say in my last post that I've never found one powder to me "more accurate" than another in my .44 Specials, when they're used as intended, that IS NOT using light charges of slow burming powder, etc. But then again, I've used Bullseye, Red Dot, Unique and Power Pistol almost exclusively.

35W

[WALLNUTT]

4.5g to 5.0g of anything fast: BE, HP38, 231, Tite Group under Accurate 210g full WC. Comfortable all day.

[burch]

burch...here are some loads from older Lyman manuals...for 250 gr PB
the one showing 7.8 gr of unique is listed as MAXIMUM....

237505 237506

237507

hope this helps

Speaking of Unique and old load data I happen to have a couple cans of old Unique. They have the red and gold label.

[burch]

So if I stick with 6.0 to 7.5 of Unique I should be ok.

[sharps4590]

I would surely think so burch. Start low, work up and let the revolver tell you what it likes.

35 Whelen, frustrating as all get out is more like it. I tried about everything I could lay my hands on, 2400, H-110, 231, SR-7625, Unique, Blue Dot and maybe some others I've forgotten. A healthy dose of Blue Dot was pretty good. I had a couple pounds of Bullseye and tried it more out of frustration than with any expectation of success. First load out showed promise and I tweaked it to 5.3 grs.

Unique has been my "go to" powder for revolver cartridges such as the 44 Spl. for....I guess over 40 years. My Colt New Frontier in 44 Spl. loves it and the old Ruger I had in 45 Colt was deadly with it out to 500 yards...the Colt doesn't do bad out that far either. Oddly, my Freedom Arms Mod. 97 in 45 Colt also does not share the same love affair with Unique that I do. I did finally get a load with SR-7625 that it does love. Good thing I have a surfeit of 7625. Unique wasn't far behind but it didn't shoot with 7625. That's with a cast, 255 gr., RCBS SWC of 50/50, lead/lino alloy. With heavyweight bullets, 300 grs. plus, 296 and H-110, (aren't they the same?), shot scary accurate out of it. Years and miles have considerably reduced the power level of my handloads in revolvers.

[DougGuy]

So if I stick with 6.0 to 7.5 of Unique I should be ok.

As long as you are using a similar boolit that those loads were intended for, yes. When changing to a different boolit that might sit lower in the case, as in the case of a full wadcutter where the base of the boolit is seated considerably lower in the case, you would need to compensate for that variance. Even though the boolit weights are the same or close, it matters most how much volume there is in the case below the base of the boolit.


As much success as I've had with Unique in revolvers chambered to old cartridges, my 696 S&W does not like Unique under any bullet. Perplexed and disappointed I was!!! After a lot of shooting the 429421 over different powders I did find that the revolver likes 5.3 grs. of Bullseye under that bullet.

This would certainly have me looking at something besides the powder. Can't blame the powder if the gun has tight cylinder throats or a wonky forcing cone.

[Tinbullet]

The Lyman 429215 GC over 5 grs of Titegroup yields 825 fps from my Ruger 4 5/8 Blackhawk. It's my go to bullet for competition plate shooting. Also The 429421 over 7.5 grs of Unique for 950 fps is very accurate. Lastly the Lyman 429383 over 7.2 grs of Power Pistol yields 880 fps. All bullets 15 bhn and sized at .429".

[Tinbullet]

Unless you know the "EXACT" history of this old Unique gun powder I would suggest using it to start campfires!
A buddy ran into trouble with some "OLD" powder.
The bullets just barely left the barrel!
Better safe than sorry.

[km101]

Here is the link to the Brian Pierce article on .44 Special loads. Very informative and something that anyone who loads for the “special “ should keep handy.

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian%20Pearce%20on%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

Enjoy!

Ken

[sharps4590]

The revolver cylinder throats and forcing cone are fine as is the bore. Not only did I check them, repeatedly, I had my 'smith check them suspecting perhaps I was missing something.

[smkummer]

Larry Gibson said it best earlier. His loads mimic mine that are currently loaded on my shelf. I reduce my 700x and bullseye load a bit though. In the 4.8 range. The 44 special is so special, many loads work, and work well. You decide what you like. My current cowboy load is 4.2 700x and lee’s 200 FP bullet. These are fun to shoot one handed. Even the standard 246 grain 750 FPS load is fun one handed. It’s all fun.

[burch]

Unless you know the "EXACT" history of this old Unique gun powder I would suggest using it to start campfires!
A buddy ran into trouble with some "OLD" powder.
The bullets just barely left the barrel!
Better safe than sorry.

Well ****. I was hoping I had a good supply of Unique.

[35 Whelen]

Well ****. I was hoping I had a good supply of Unique.

Hey, I'm finishing off one of the old cardboard cans of Unique and it works fine. As my sweet mother used to tell me "Don't borrow trouble." Use the ****ed powder.

35W

[Lloyd Smale]

I have two all time favorite 44 spec molds. the 429215 lyman and the rcbs 240 swcgc. Both do need gas checks though but what ive found in all my 44 specs and magnums is that if neither of those two bullets give you excellent accuracy then bring it to a gun shop and swap it. Ive owned probably a dozen 44 specs and at least twice that many 44 mags and those two bullets are in the top 3 in accuracy in all of them with bullets under 250 grain. The #3 is again a gas check bullet. the lyman 429244. Load 7.5 grains of unique with any one of those bullets and id bet you will smile.

[salvadore]

The 210 round nose mentioned earlier is the modern version of the original known as the Anderton bullet. Anderton used it successfully to win matches around the turn of the century..not this one. It held more lube and had a slightly different nose profile. I do like the rcbs version of Keith's bullet but use Lee's 240gr. roundnose more often. Using range scrap and a modest amount of hp38 gives me an unusually accuate load in my Smith m24-4 (classic) and a ruger
44 spec. flat top. Just sayin.

[Patrick L]

Much as I like the Keith, most of my .44 shooting is light, light and pleasant. I shot mostly the 200gr Lee RNFP over 3.5 gr Bullseye. Accurate, pleasant, and cheap to load. And even though it is a conventional boolit (not micro band) I shoot the as cast, lubed with thinned LLA.

[onelight]

ARSENAL H&G 503 elmer Keith mold.
https://i.imgur.com/z1oEwmp.jpg
clear coated with "smokes"
https://i.imgur.com/nQGypmJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BoOhoIe.jpg
I think even Elmer would approve of that bullet really nice.

[pbcaster45]

Here's a good load I use in my Colt New Frontier 7 1/2 inch .44 Special.

Bullet: Lyman 429244 255 gr. (WW/.432/SPG/Hornady GC)
Powder: Alliant Power Pistol 6.9 grs.
Primer: Winchester Large Pistol
Case: R-P
Velocity: 882 fps

I'm a little more adventurous with my Ruger Bisley Flattop .44 Special 5 1/2 - but I haven't checked the velocity yet...

RCBS 44-250K (.430/LBT Magnum Lube)
Powder: Alliant Power Pistol 8.0 grs.
Primer: Federal 150
Case: Magtech