.44 special Keiths and red dot

[Thumbcocker]

Anyone have a good utility load for .44 special using 429421's and red dot? They will be shot in a Lispey's. Trying to duplicate the accuracy of 7.0 of Unique with a tad less powder. Will mostly be used on rogue soda cans and plinking. Maybe a few lesson in humility shots at the 100 yard burm.

Thanks

[Rico1950]

6.0 grains of RD is pretty mild in the 44 magnum. I'd try 5.0 in the special.

[RayinNH]

Thumbcocker, I just checked my notes. I used 5.5 grains Red dot with H&G #45, a 240 gr. SWC. My notes just said , good load, pre chronograph days...Ray

[Thumbcocker]

Thanks. The alliant data lists 4.2 or so for 246 grn boolit. Would like a bit more ooph than that but nothing super hot.

[9.3X62AL]

Thumbcocker--

At Angeles Shooting Ranges, there is a half-size bison silhouette at 100 yards on the pistol range. Using "Skeeter's Load" (#429421 atop 7.5 grains of Unique, CCI 300 primers, W-W cases) I hit that critter a LOT more often than I miss it. The 44 Special in a good revolver will more likely instill confidence than humility.

[Dale53]

Speer shows 5.0 grs of Red Dot with a 240 gr Keith gives 750 fps. That represents a good target load.

FWIW
Dale53

[Thumbcocker]

Will try for 800-850 but accuracy uberalles.

[warf73]

Not sure what my practice load is but its very accurate out of my 4 5/8" 44mag at 15 yards. Red dot is my go to powder for the 44mag very mild and accate. The Lyman keith style mold, with red dot seem to go hand and hand.

[358wcf]

TC,
I don't understand your reluctance to use the Unique load. At 7 grains, you still get a full 1000 rounds per pound of powder- I try to standardize a solid load of Unique in all my handgun loads, shotshells, and cast boolit rifle loads. I use Unique out of habit somewhat, as I buy it in 8 pound kegs. I think there's about 16-18 pounds in the locker, so that will outlast this old guy!
My standard load in 44Special is a 245-250gr SWC over 7.5gr Unique-- that load does anything I want my 4" S&W to do, and does it accurately!

Given the state of the economy, the job situation, and everything else, I know I am taking a hard look at using loads that allow me to stretch my powder supply a bit--

358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

[Thumbcocker]

Not trying to dis unique, Mom, apple pie or Elmer Kieth. Uniques has the ability to make a lot of things go bang. My own expereince has been that for many of my guns best accuracy is found a little faster or slower than Unique.

So far red do has give good accuracy in .30-06 at 13 grains with a 314299, .30-40 karg with 7.0 and a 311291 with no gas check and 0 buckshot with 3.0 grains, .30-30 6.0 grains with a soup can with no gas check also size also size 0 buckshot with 3 grains, .357 with the Lee 158 rf at4.5 grains, .45 acp in Ruger convertible with the lyman 200 grn swc at 4.5 grains also 3 grains with a .454 round ball, .44 mag. with Keith boolit at 6.5 grains, and .45 colt with the Kieth boolit at 6.5 grains.

Red dot has my attention. For year my walking around load in .44 mag , was a Kieth over 7.0 of 700x as reccomended in an article by Mike Venturino. I found that 6.5 of red dot gave the same accuracy with a bit less powder. The Lispy's .44 special is scary accurate with 7.0 of Unique but if I can get equal accuracy with a bit less red dot it would simplify things.

Hunting loads are a totally different deal. I will use 4227, 2400, or H110 to burn blind and deafan. If I can standardize on red dot loads for a lot of stuff so much the better.

[excavman]

Have you tried Trail Boss? I use 4.0 grs in the 44spl with a 200 cast. 4 - 5 grs should work with the Keith bullet.

Larry