Reloading EverythingLoad DataTitan ReloadingWideners
Lee PrecisionRepackboxRotoMetals2Inline Fabrication
MidSouth Shooters Supply
Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 45

Thread: My Ruger Flattop 44 special

  1. #21
    Boolit Master AnthonyB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    1,380
    I have the standard and Bisley models, both with the 4 5/8 inch barrel. They really are special revolvers. I have been shooting the Skeeter load in both but am also ready to drop down to a milder 200 grain load. Will be following your progress with much interest.
    Tony

  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master
    rintinglen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Orange, VA NOW
    Posts
    6,492
    Quote Originally Posted by Good Cheer View Post
    Anybody using Lyman #429478?
    I have that mold (Somewhere,) but I did not have much luck with it. Groups were half again as large as I was getting with the heavier, Keith type boolits. It does not shoot nearly as well in my 44's as I would like. The most accurate lighter boolit I have found is the 429-215, but that is a gas-check design.
    _________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.

  3. #23
    Boolit Master
    JoeJames's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Arkansas Delta
    Posts
    1,468
    I sold my S&W Model 629 not long after I got the Lipsey Ruger 44 Special mostly because I had no use for it anymore. I prefer more sedate but accurate 44 Special loads running around 894 fps. I saw no reason to try to crank them back up to near 44 Magnum velocities with the Skeeter load. But obviously the 44 Special has room for different tastes.
    Britons shall never be slaves.

  4. #24
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    I understand not wanting to hotrod the special. The skeeter load is nowhere near a 44 magnum though, in either pressure or velocity. It’s too hot for general plinking I find. But it’s nice to know it’s there if I want it.

    When I had a 44 magnum, I generally shot special to skeeter loads. Occasionally I’d shoot magnums and starting magnums but I always found myself using the special or +p special loads.

    The itch to swap spurred me to get the flattop special. Coupled with drooling over a picture or two in a Taffin article. I’ve always had that itch to swap unfortunately. It’s caused me to get rid of some nice guns.

    The 7.0 unique load I tried leaded very minor with a 50/50 ww/Pb +Sn alloy. The 7.5 unique skeeter load leaded much more. I think the alloy is too soft for that pressure. I’ll try some with WW+Sn alloy next. If I don’t get sidetracked on another project.

  5. #25
    Boolit Buddy eastbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    303
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCN0148 (3).jpg 
Views:	39 
Size:	95.6 KB 
ID:	291306Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCN0151 (2).jpg 
Views:	39 
Size:	110.1 KB 
ID:	291307 as i like shooting double action i opted for a four inch 624 in 44 spl.

  6. #26
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    East Central Illinois
    Posts
    4,490
    Nothing wrong with those Smiths. They had real rifling.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  7. #27
    Boolit Master curioushooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    906
    Love it. Really like the stainless two-tone. Kinda wish my 5.5" Bisley looked that way.

    What I'd really like is a BRASS frame though, but not with a "Dragoon" finger biter trigger guard.

    I've frankly been amazed at 44 special in these revolvers. Outstanding cartridge. The skeeter load (7.5 grains of Unique with a 429421) is outstanding all around load, and it frankly feels like a target load in these heavy revolvers. It works with pretty much any SWC about 250-260 grains. There is of course the near 44 magnum Keith loads, which frankly run about as powerful as much modern 44 mag ammo. I get 1250 FPS from my Blackhawk using the H&G503 MP bullet and 16.5 grains of 2400. I've chrononed a lot of new 44 mag ammo back when I had one and it was about that fast.

    And there is a whole fun word in between these loads. I am beginning to favor 9 grains of Herco with 503 bullet which runs just under 1100 FPS, or just sub sonic. Very potent, not punishing, and surprisingly quiet.

  8. #28
    Boolit Master Rodfac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Oldham Co., KY
    Posts
    637
    Having read everything Skeeter wrote about the .44 Spl back in the early '70's, I was overjoyed when Lipsey's announced Ruger would make a trial run of Flat Top BH's in that wonderful caliber. I read the release, and made the call immediately, getting one of the first 4-5/8" bbl'd ones & it turned out to be all that I'd hoped over those long decades of waiting. (1st Pic below of a 25 yd group shot with it just after I got it). Over the past decade it's turned out to be the single most accurate revolver that I've ever owned.

    Then, somewhat later, less than a year IIRC, I found a 5-1/2" Lipsey's model at the Knob Creek Range Gun Shop here in KY. It was new and at a good price and I promptly bought it, but feeling somewhat disloyal to my original 4-5/8" model. As it turned out, the 5-1/2" bbl'd gun was no more accurate (even with that add'l inter-sight distance) than its shorter stable mate. And, too, it's not as comfortable while carrying in a high-rise OWB holster. I much prefer the shorter bbl. as a result.

    Lastly, I found & bought the most useful of those Ruger Flat Tops, the stainless steel 4-5/8" bbl'd one. It's proven to be my usual carry choice for work around the farm when I feel like toting a 45 oz. revolver, leaving me with no worries about bluing/rust problems. Both are essentially equal in terms of accuracy, and have similarly good/excellent triggers.

    For all three of these Ruger Flat Tops, I've performed the "poor boy's trigger job" modification. (Lifting one of the trigger return spring arms off its peg.) This simple procedure has left them with a nice let off at an estimated 4 lb. trigger pull weight...my preference for any SA sixgun.

    Loads are easy in all of them: Skelton's justly famous daily working load: 7.5 gr of Unique backing any quality 240 gr LSWC for ~950 fps from 4-1/2 to 5-1/2" bbl's. This load has worked very well indeed in every .44, Mag or Spl, that I've shot to include all the Rugers as well as a Colt SAA 5-1/2" and an original Smith M-24 w/6-1/2" bbl. All of them will plunk a cylinder full into less than 2" at 25 yds all day long.

    And their moderate recoil allows plenty of practice without beating up the shooter. BTW, that same load (7.5 gr of Unique) is also a winner with Lyman's 429215 gc (220 gr) and their equally great 429244 gc (250+ gr). My mold cabinet also has Lyman' 429421 and Mihec's MP 433-244 solid and HP, MP 432-256 solid, and RCBS' 43-250? Can't remember it's exact designation but it's a Keith 240-250 gr look alike. All do outstanding work with Skeeter's old prescription. Too, I'll add that I've not had a lick of trouble from leading with any of them. My alloy is: ACWW +1-2% tin sized to 0.430" and lubed with 50-50 beeswax/alox.

    When I've run low on Unique, I've had equal accuracy and velocity with a grain more of Herco, and a half a grain less of Win 231. I'd contend that these loads are good for most any lawful purpose, here in the lower 48, that can be handled by a sixgun...further, inside 50 yds, I'd say they're good for all but the big bears anywhere.

    These are just some musings from an old but dyed in the wool . 44 Special aficionado. Pics: 1st is the original Lipsey's .44 Spl with a pair of my stocks replacing the factory 'cheese cutters'. The 2nd is the SS version, again with set of home-made grips in black & white ebony. YMMv, Rod



    Last edited by Rodfac; 11-14-2021 at 10:24 PM.
    Rod

  9. #29
    Boolit Master Rodfac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Oldham Co., KY
    Posts
    637
    Very nice 624 Eastbank. That's one of my 'grail' guns, tho I'm running out of time...75 yo now. I understand there was some sort of problem with the heat treating on 624 cylinders, IIRC. Was yours subject to the Smith recall? Best regards, Rod
    Rod

  10. #30
    Boolit Master AnthonyB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    1,380
    Quote Originally Posted by Rodfac View Post
    Very nice 624 Eastbank. That's one of my 'grail' guns, tho I'm running out of time...75 yo now. I understand there was some sort of problem with the heat treating on 624 cylinders, IIRC. Was yours subject to the Smith recall? Best regards, Rod
    Rodfac, I have one of the “problem” 624s. Bought mine at the Nation’s Gun Show in Dulles, VA. Mine will chamber a 44 Mag round, though a too-long round will obviously tie up the cylinder. Never found corroboration, but I think the faulty chambering and not heat treating was the problem. Smith has no more cylinders and will supposedly issue any revolver in the lineup as a replacement if one of the revolvers is sent in for work. Mine has a big note to never do that!
    Tony

  11. #31
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    Eastbank, very very nice. Thanks for sharing.

    Rod, howdy neighbor. Thanks for sharing your experiences. That stainless model is very nice.

  12. #32
    Boolit Grand Master



    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Southwestern Ohio
    Posts
    8,456
    Rod;
    That is EXCELLENT shooting, my friend. When those flattops hit the market, I got a blued 5.5” barreled one and put my favored Pachmayr grips on it. It shoots like a “House Afire”. I also got a SS Flat Top with a 4 5/8” barrel for field use. It shoots as well as the blued one. I had a trigger job done on each of them. I left the SS stocks as issued and it meets John Taffin’s criteria as a perfect packing pistol.

    I mostly use the Skeeter load but 4.0 grs. Of Red Dot behind a 200 gr Group Buy wadcutter works extremely well for a nice target and small game load!

    FWIW,
    Dale53
    Last edited by Dale53; 11-08-2021 at 11:36 PM.

  13. #33
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    I agree with Dale, that is excellent shooting.

    Mine had some creep when I got it. But it had a lighter hammer spring. I put a standard Blackhawk spring in it. It helped with a solid hammer hit as well as improved the creep. The free spin pawl Ruger uses has a nub on the bottom that makes it move back from the cylinder ratchet. With the light spring, I was getting the hammer not all the way down after a dry fire. I prefer a standard spring feel anyways.

    When I changed grip frames I put an older hammer in as the original one didn’t match the ears well enough. The hammer base was proud. The hammer I used improved the trigger pull and it’s clean and fairly crisp.

    I also removed the protrusion on the transfer bar. Reports are that it’ll eventually break the transfer bar, though I’ve not had one long enough to do it. I just filed it flush. I have a bit more to go, but only a few thousands. If I dry fire it, and press on the back of the hammer, it will pin the transfer bar. Just polishing the transfer bar will likely make it just right.

  14. #34
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Central VA
    Posts
    5,513
    This thread has really piqued my interest. At the ripe old age of 72, I’ve owned and shot a respectable variety of firearms, long and short. Through all of this, the only caliber I’ve never owned that I still see as a gap in my life is a 44 Special. I’ve owned a Model 29 S&W, but never a Model 24/624 nor a Flat Top Ruger in 44 Spl, so this is about the only thing I’d really go out of my way to acquire. When I visit my friend who owns both I can experience them both vicariously, but I still walk away empty handed and heavy of heart.

    Keep this up and maybe I’ll figure out which minor organ I can do without to trade for one of these neat little guns, the smallest of the true big bores, IMHO.

    Froggie
    "It aint easy being green!"

  15. #35
    Boolit Grand Master Good Cheer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    the Ark
    Posts
    5,276
    Quote Originally Posted by rintinglen View Post
    I have that mold (Somewhere,) but I did not have much luck with it. Groups were half again as large as I was getting with the heavier, Keith type boolits. It does not shoot nearly as well in my 44's as I would like. The most accurate lighter boolit I have found is the 429-215, but that is a gas-check design.
    Thanks for the feed back. It's a mold I intend to try out and have just been busy with other things.

  16. #36
    Boolit Master
    DHDeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    636
    I bought the 4 5/8" SS Bisley version a couple years back. I had some nicely figured Walnut grips made for it, spent some time on the internals for a nice pull, and put Bowen rear and Garza front sights on it. No warts on my revolver.

    About the only bullets that have been down the barrel are the PB and GC 432-640 powder coated. It doesn't seem to matter whether I use the large or small HP pins. Universal, Longshot, or HS6 shoot well with HS6 used most. I mostly stay in the so called tier II level (Brian Pearce).

    They're great revolvers!

  17. #37
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    101
    If any of you gents run onto a Lipsey’s .44sp Bisley for sale that you don’t want for yourself, please let me know .
    Last edited by umwminer; 11-09-2021 at 09:04 AM.

  18. #38
    Boolit Master curioushooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    906
    I got the 5.5" model simply because Ohio requires 5" of barrel length to hunt deer.

  19. #39
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    65
    Attachment 291870

    Here is mine, recently acquired.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 9C855590-3545-4F4C-92FF-CD7D03838249.jpg  

  20. #40
    Boolit Buddy Iwsbull's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    354
    Nice

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check