found casual plinking load for my 24-3 .44 spl

[Patrick L]

Well, I think I've settled on my fun shooting load for my .44 special. It's the Lee 200 gr RNFP, unsized and lubed with LLA. I load it over 4.0 gr Bullseye. It's ridiculously mild, easy and cheap to load, and it shoots about like this:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/Pistols/GunStuff108.jpg

This is 5 shots at 25 yards, standing two handed single action. I don't shoot much better than that.

Funny, everyone seems to tout the classic Keith/Skeeter load of 7.5 Unique/Lyman 429421 as a mild mannered plinking load. I have tried that load with a 200 gr bullet and it did shoot well, but I don't find it mild. It's not abusive, just not what I'd call mild. I like this better.

[Echo]

Can't beat a clean target! Looks like a good load, to go with a great gun!

[9.3X62AL]

Patrick--

Nice shooting, sir.

I share your view that "Skeeter's Load" is not mild-mannered. The intent of that load was to elevate the 44 Special into a viable defensive round in revolvers with sufficient strength to contain it over long-term usage. Your Model 24 or a Colt New Service or SAA fit that description.

Traditional factory 44 Special loads prompted a 246 grain lead RN boolit to the same velocity achieved by the 44 Russian, about 700 FPS. Sedate, but I'll not stand downrange to field them just the same. The 44 Magnum runs a 240 grain bullet/boolit perhaps 1300-1400 FPS, depending on barrel length. Elmer Keith said "1200 FPS is all you need" with his #429421 in either 44 revolver. Skeeter's Load splits the difference between the 44 Russian and Elmer, running about 900-1000 FPS as determined by barrel length. It also closely matches the 41 Magnum's lead bullet "police load" ballistics, and both came to light at about the same time.

90% of my shooting of the 41 Mag, 44 Special, and 44 Mag involve shooting of cast SWCs at 900-1000 FPS. There's a time and a place for rip-snortin' full-tilt Magnums--just not real frequently for me. There is certainly room for the mild and accurate loads you feature in this thread, too. I emptied out 150 44 Specials last week, and I think I'll try some 200 grainers (SAECO #446) with your 4.0 x Bullseye recipe just for fun in my M-624 x 6.5". Thanks for sharing the info.

[exile]

I just bought that mold for use in my .44 mountain gun with .44 special cases. Glad to hear it works for you. What kind of crimp (if any) are you putting on that boolit? Good shooting.

exile

[C A Plater]

That's pretty much the same load I use in my Bulldog Pug. I've gone as high as 4.5 grains but accuracy fell off and 4.0 was more pleasant to shoot in the light revolver. I was using 215 grain SWC that I acquired a couple thousand some years back in a trade and am now just running out of. I'd planed to use the Lee 200 grain as a fitting replacement and it's nice to hear them working for some one.

[Bret4207]

I've never heard that Skeeters load was mild. Maybe in a Redhawk, but not in some of the lighter 44 Specials.

Looks like you found a good load there. Nice gun too!