44 Special Loads

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Oct 27, 2007
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133
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MN
Ok, I got a Lipsey 44 Special for an investment. Since Ruger is coming out with a catalog item I can see my investment isn't. :cry:

So I'm going to use it. :D Probably as my woods gun.

As such, how powerful can I load it. Where I currently live my three biggest threats in the woods could be black bear, cougar and moose. I'm confident on the second, but what about moose? Can a 44 special handle a bull moose in rut or a cow moose with calf danger? How about a black bear sow with cubs?

Or should I stick with my 44 magnum Vaquero?
 
it will handle the blackbear in washington well with good shot placement. my suggestion would be the 250gr. keith with 12gr of 2400 for 950+fps.

i carry a .44 vaquero with .44spl loads most of the time and i believe the .44spl will do most of what the .44mag will do inside about 50yrds.
its past that distance that i want the retained energy of the mag.

never been in a fight with an enraged moose so i wont comment on that
:)
 
Good choice, shoot the hell outta it. I wouldn't hunt a moose with one as a general rule but I feel you'd be well armed with said Keith bullet at 900-1000fps for use as a last resort. Remember, It's for the worst case scenario where you need that combination of power and portability considering most folks never truly NEED a back up gun. We all like to think so but in reality most of the shooting involves targets of opportunity like big rocks, stumps and old trees MAYBE even the all powerful rabid tin can charge.

On the question of "How powerful" can you load it. It is a very sturdy gun that can take a lot more than a 44Spl was developed for. With that being said use your common sense and manual data when loading...it's a funny thing for me when someone asks "How much will it take?"...the problem is you have to destroy that gun to find out what was TOO MUCH. If uyou decide to push it, just grab that 44 magnum and don't waste time with heavy 44Spl loads.

All this and $4.00 will get you a nice coffee.
 
Sell it for a profit, then wait until next year and get a new one for $450 - $480 bucks.

Some guys will tell you a 44 Special Blackhawk can handle a 250 Keith @ 1200 fps. If true, I'd say that load will handle close in tangles with all 3 animals you mentioned.
 
Do yourself a favor. The Handloader magazine has a really good article by Brian Pearce regarding the .44 Lipsey Special complete with reloading information.

The issue is #260 June 2009. Spend a couple of bucks and consider yourself lucky to have access to a great companion article to your fine revolver. (I have a .44 Lipsey Special 5½" and it is a fine shooter).

Dale53
 
I have a Lipsey's 44 shortie (4 5/8ths) & I shoot 2 loads in it. First is a good plinking load of 5.5 grs W231 & the 250 Keith slug, the second load is the old "Skeeter" load of 7.5 grs of Unique & the same 250 Keith, this load runs about 925 fps in my gun & I used it on a Montana whitetail this fall, complete penetration with both hits through the shoulder/lung area. If I need more I go to a bigger gun rather than strain a smaller one.
More important than power is controllability, you gotta hit em or power serves no purpose. But yes, you can go hotter & do it safely.

Dick
 
"If I need more I go to a bigger gun rather than strain a smaller one." sixshot

I don't understand going beyond reasonable limits with any handgun. One of the movies great understated lines that applys here:

"You're gonna need a bigger boat."
 
If I need more I go to a bigger gun rather than strain a smaller one." sixshot

Yep...+1 on the above comment. My Lipsey's easily handles 1100 fps loads but it's more fun with Skeeter's load or a little slower.

Rodfac
 
If you don't reload, I don't, Buffalo Bore has a 255 gr Keith SWC at at somewhere around 1000 fps + or- that is a pretty good all around load.
Double Tap has a new load that is very similar, but is about half the price.
DT also has a 200 gr HP that is an excellent load as well.
 
batmann":1jcj3ddq said:
If you don't reload, I don't, Buffalo Bore has a 255 gr Keith SWC at at somewhere around 1000 fps + or- that is a pretty good all around load.
Double Tap has a new load that is very similar, but is about half the price.
DT also has a 200 gr HP that is an excellent load as well.

Thank you very much! :D Since I haven't got into reloading yet this is important to know.

I used to load my own shotshells, but haven't for years. I have a rock chucker, 44 mag die(?) that I traded for in the 1980's; as well as my scale from the old days. I need to make a table for the reloader. What else would I need?

Youse guys talk about a "keith slug" like I'm supposed to know what that is. Haven't got a clue! What is a better description?
 
Go to Double Tap's web site and they have a picture.
I should add that Cor-bon has a SD load of a 165 gr HP that is designed for self defense and has flash surpressent powder.
 
LB, when we refer to the Keith slug we are talking about a series of bullets that were designed by the late Elmer Keith back in the 20's-30's.
His "Keith"slug for the 44 was the #429421 & weighs about 250grs depending on alloy. Many of the commercial casters furnish "Keith" style bullets to their customers.
There are many bullets out there nowdays that are called Keith slugs but they aren't, usually any SWC cast handgun bullet is referred to as a Keith.
Elmers heavy load for 44 specials back in those early days was 17 grs of 2400 with his bullet, this load produced about 1200 fps depending on barrel length, its a very heavy load for heavy duty guns only, it will ruin a small frame gun. Also, it should be reduced with todays somewhat faster burning 2400, the Brian Pearce article mentions this I think.
The ever popular "Skeeter" load of 7.5 grs of Unique with the 250 Keith is a very nice, somewhat reduced load that is perfectly safe in the new Lipsey's guns, yet it has good power.

Dick
 
sixshot covered it.

look up 429421 or 44-250-k mould on midwayusa.com . the keith stabalized well with a good flat point, a lighly tappered shoulder and a sharp driving band (the part you see at the case mouth) to give alot of shock. more like getting hit with a shotput than an arrow.

i should add to my statement above that hunting and deffence are different. ive never seen or heard of a big animal just dropping over from any handgun. they ussually pick flight and dont know where the shot came from and run or lumber off 40-100 yrds with a good hit. this means that with an animal focused on you and you shoot them even with a good shot they have about 60 seconds to %$#@ you up. so unload and get gone. then call the forrest circus if you cant find the animal to alert them to a wounded animal.
 
maxpress":3gogfdrh said:
sixshot covered it.

look up 429421 or 44-250-k mould on midwayusa.com . the keith stabalized well with a good flat point, a lighly tappered shoulder and a sharp driving band (the part you see at the case mouth) to give alot of shock. more like getting hit with a shotput than an arrow.

i should add to my statement above that hunting and deffence are different. ive never seen or heard of a big animal just dropping over from any handgun. they ussually pick flight and dont know where the shot came from and run or lumber off 40-100 yrds with a good hit......

I have taken deer with bow & arrow, center-fire rifles, and handguns....

The reaction to a clean chest shot with any of those weapons is almost identical --- run or stagger for up to about 100 yards (usually less), fall over, go to sleep.

The biggest difference among them is that while I've taken big game with a lousy arrow hit (that happened to cut a major artery) I have never had an arrow "knock them down." But, I have seen big animals go down instantly when big bones are hit with rifle and big-bore handguns --- and then maybe get up and stagger around a bit before finally dropping:-(

JMHO - YRMV
 
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