Blackhawk 44 Special

[2Tite]

I've wanted a single action 44 special for a long time but couldn't afford a Colt or USFA. I have been eyeballin' the Rugers but noone locally had one or could get one. I found one 2 weeks ago at a gun show. The $439 came hard but took it today and fired it. I'm in love with it. Smooth shooting, adjustable sights, light recoil and I can hit with it......Did I tell you I could hit with it? Anyone got suggestions for favorite loads I might try? This thing will be the center of attention for a while.................

[Wally]

I use a Lee 208 WC bullet with 5.5 grains of Bullseye--it is very accurate. Th mold is no longer available so you can use a 429241 Keith bullet with 5.0 grains of Bullseye..it too is a great load. I have a S & W model 24, 29 and a Ruger Suepblackhawk--I have found the Specials are more accurate than the later because the cylnder throats in the model 24 are at 432" in it.

[Rocky Raab]

That wasn't a bad price for a gun in such HUGE demand. (I'm finally second on my local waiting list!)

Any decent 215 or 240-gr SWC plain-base bullet will be fine. I load commercial cast versions as well as Hornady or Speer swaged bullets. As long as you stay below 900 fps or so, even the swaged ones don't lead the bore.

I like 5.0 of Universal Clays or W231 for a nice mild load with either bullet weight.

[Houndog]

I just bought an old 4 inch Taurus 44 special for a truck gun and it's fast becoming one of my favorite revolvers! It fits well, has manageable recoil and shoots to point of aim! I'm using a 240gr Kieth plain base SWC from an RCBS mold over 7.0 grains of Unique in Starline brass and a Federal standard primer. I tried the old Skeeter load with 7.5 Unique, but it shoots the above load better. Now if I can only find a Smif I'd be a happy camper!!!!

[Trey45]

You guys have me itchin for one of those 44's now. I had one in my hands a couple weeks back and almost put money down on it, but decided against it. Wish I had got it now.

[Tallinar]

I imagine you'd have a tough time going wrong with 6.0 to 7.0 grains of Unique with a 240 gr SWC. I shoot this load pretty frequently with .44 magnum brass in my 7.5 inch Blackhawk. Fun little practice load.

Not sure how it would do in .44 special, but I have recently found 5.5 gr of 700X with a 200gr RNFP to be a pretty decent, light .44 magnum cowboy load. I haven't chrony'd any of these loads though.

[2Tite]

I'll try the loads with Unique and Bullseye. I tried 4756 for the first loads it shot fine but was a little sooty. I'd like something a liottle cleaner. It did shoot well though. Thanks folks for the information..............Anymore suggestions?

[358wcf]

My standard practice/everything but hunting load is 7.0gr Unique behind a 245gr RCBS SWC and WLP primer. Mild shooting, and oh, so very accurate, when sized to .431 to match the cylinder throats!
The revolver is a 4" S&W Model 27 (yes, a .357!) I had converted to 44Special last year by Hamilton Bowen. Always wanted a Smith 44Special, had too many .357Mags, and finally did the deed! Why did I wait so long??
Long live the Special!!

358wcf:coffee:

[Longshot]

Use the Lyman pistol reloading book , and start with a reduced powder charge .

Longshot

[S.R.Custom]

Under an RCBS 44-250-K, 8.2 grs of Herco is the most accurate charge I've come up with in the Ruger. Velocity is right around 1000 fps. in a 7.5" barrel.

[Dale53]

I have a number of .44 Specials. My "standard" load for .44 Special for YEARS has been the Skeeter load (7.5 Unique under a 240-250 Keith). I have Old Unique. I hear that the NEW Unique may be a little hotter. Before I would change over I would just run the "old" through a chronograph and then match that velocity with the new.

At any rate, that may explain the popularity of 7.0 grs of Unique under the 250 Keith bullet.

Since I got my new Ruger Lipsey .44 Special, I have been using 4.1 grs of Clays. I have not chronographed it but it DOES shoot well and is extremely clean burning. This is a target load and is VERY pleasant to shoot.

Clays has one "less than desirable" characteristic in the .44 Special case. You could EASILY drop a double charge in the case and never see it. It would NOT be my first choice as a blanket recommendation for that reason.

Unique bulks up quite a bit better (and it takes more) so it is easier to watch when loading on a progressive press.

Elmer Keith recommended 5.0 grs of Bullseye for a pleasant target load (yeah, even Elmer liked "Pleasure loads" for general shooting:drinks:).

Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook Third Edition is still available direct from Lyman and is probably the single best source (I recommend you have at least two different sources and three is better) for pistol and revolver loads. The loads show the pressures and velocities that will be pretty dern close to what you ACTUALLY get in YOUR guns.

Congratulations on a fine purchase. Really, with a good trigger job, there is hardly a better revolver out there if you like single actions. The throats on my 5½" version are within a couple of ten-thousandths of each other, they are round, and they are a near perfect .4315". These ARE really just about as good as it gets unless, possibly you want to spend a couple of thousand dollars on a custom revolver. Me, I am HAPPY with mine and I am a seriously critical shooter (just ask my friends[smilie=1:). My recently purchased 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum is in the same class - EXCELLENT.

Dale53

[targetshootr]

What's the barrel length? I like 6.0-6.5 gr Universal under a 250 K in my 44 specials. My favorite gun of all may be my Clement's 5 1/2" 44 spl conversion on an old model flat top 357.

[MtGun44]

7.5 Unique under a 250 Keith like Lym 429421 or RCBS 44-250-K or H&G 503.
Size boolit to throat diameter, std primer.

Bill

[Newtire]

I am searching for a good Unique load for a 240 grain bullet and have recently picked up a Lyman 429667. From 44man's post a little while ago, it seems like a natural with it's shape & all. I found a good deal on a used reworked Smith 629 and am looking for a good plinking load for this thing.

I have had great luck using just the Lee 200 gr RNFP with 7.7gr. Unique in a 44 magnum case. To tell the truth, I used 7.7gr only because after adjusting until my fingers about wore out, I ended up with that on my B & M measure and called it close enough to 8.0gr which I was shooting for. It really really shoots in my Taurus Tracker.

Will be interesting to follow this thread.

[9.3X62AL]

I'm another adherent to and believer in Skeeter's Load--a 240-250 grain SWC pushed out by 7.5 grains of Unique. There may be a difference between old Unique and new Unique--but my chronograph can't discern it in 44 Special or 38 Special. The new stuff seems to burn a bit cleaner, but that's not a big issue for me. From my Model 624 x 6.5", #429421 runs about 925-950 FPS.

[StarMetal]

I'm another adherent to and believer in Skeeter's Load--a 240-250 grain SWC pushed out by 7.5 grains of Unique. There may be a difference between old Unique and new Unique--but my chronograph can't discern it in 44 Special or 38 Special. The new stuff seems to burn a bit cleaner, but that's not a big issue for me. From my Model 624 x 6.5", #429421 runs about 925-950 FPS.

I agree on the unnoticeable difference in velocity of the old and new Unique. Like said it does burn a tad cleaner and likewise that doesn't concern me either. Now...there is a difference in velocity with the old and new 2400.

Joe

[Matt_G]

Now...there is a difference in velocity with the old and new 2400.

Joe

Joe, what is considered old? I assume it is Hercules vs. Alliant.
If so, I'm ok as all my 2400 here is Alliant...

[Four Fingers of Death]

Yep! read up on ol' Elmer and try his loads. I have only used the old 2400 and it is a great powder, but I'd back off and work up with the new stuff.

I just love firing 'Elmer's' out of my 44Mag and cain't wait to get home and load up some 'Lil' Elmer's' for my neww 44 Specials.

I thought the 5gns Bullseye was his target load for the 44Mag. It isn't a bad load in the 44Mag.

[Dale53]

4fingers;
You are NOT wrong. He recommended the same charge of Bullseye in both calibers for "light" loads. Here it is straight from the horse's mouth from an old Lyman page:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/Qimg025.jpg

Dale53

[What Cheer]

My standard .44 Special load has been, and still is, 7.5 grains of Unique and a 250 grain SWC plain base bullet, Mostly Lyman 429421, Saeco 441, or RCBS 44-250-K since that mould was introduced in 1992/93.

I have used this load in Colts and Smith & Wessons since 1965 and now I am looking forward to trying it in my Ruger .44 Special Blackhawk.

It has performed very well in every revolver I have tried it in.

Best regards,

What Cheer

[What Cheer]

Dale53,

The photo you posted with the Keith loads, is that from a Lyman/Ideal handbook?

Could you provide the manual number and the publication date?

Thanks, and best regards,

What Cheer

[Dale53]

What Cheer;
That picture was taken several years ago. I still have the manual around here somewhere but I can't easily lay my hands on it.

Dale53

[Dale53]

What Cheer;
You are lucky. I was able to find the book. The page pictured is page 88 of the Lyman "Handbook of Cast Bullets". This is a small handbook about half the size in outside dimensions of the later "Cast Bullet Handbook" 3rd Edition.

Unfortunately, Lyman did NOT see fit to insert the Copy Right date (I thought ALL books had to have that - apparently not). However, it mentions that "Handbook of Cast Bullets" arrived shortly after the 41st Edition of the full size "Reloading Handbook". The Handbook of Cast Bullets was Edited by Charles C. Lyman III.

I have found the "Handbook of Cast Bullets" to be a most worthwhile addition to my reloading library. I believe that you might still be able to find one in a used book store, Amazon, etc.

Dale53

[Four Fingers of Death]

4fingers;
You are NOT wrong. He recommended the same charge of Bullseye in both calibers for "light" loads. Here it is straight from the horse's mouth from an old Lyman page:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/Qimg025.jpg

Dale53

Thanks for that, I haven't picked up the Bible ('Sixguns by Keith' :D) for awhiles. I'm o/seas at the moment and previously only concentrated on the 44Mag as that is what I had then. Got both now, so, I'll have to re-read it (any excuse will do). I bought a shotgun or two as well recently, best be dusting 'Shotguns by Keith' off as well :D

I bought a hat just like Elmer's once to annoy a mate who was a rifle shooter and 105% Jack O'Connor fan, but I'm 6'3" tall and there's lots of tree out here, I kept knocking it off my head. Still got it, use it in the garden or as a big sunshade when I shoot cowboy in very hot weather.