44 Special over the chrony

[dougader]

I went to the range with my son this morning before the rain started. I took my first ever 44 Special loads with us. Fired from a 4-5/8" Ruger New Model Bisley Flattop.

Load 1:
240 grain swc over 6.2 grains WW231. Federal 150 primers. 6 shots averaged 785 fps.

Load 2:
240 grain swc over 10.2 grains Hercules Blue Dot. Fed 150 primers. 6 shots averaged 917 fps

I liked both loads. Accurate as I am. The Blue Dot load was a bit cleaner with no powder residue at all. I had the rear sight all the way down and was still shooting high at 25 yards. Happy with 2-1/2 to 3 inch groups at that range.

We also took along my first OM 357 Ruger Blackhawk. It's been rode hard, has only honest wear, but locks up like the proverbial bank vault and shoots like the dickens. The chambers are tight enough that a few of my Lee Tumble lubed bullet handloads wouldn't chamber; about 9 out of 50 rounds.

Best group of the day was with the 357, 6 shots of Winchester 125 jhp factory ammo; they all went into one ragged hole at 25 yards, about 1-1/4".

Wish all my revolvers shot as good as this Old Model Ruger Blackhawk. Was thinking of having this one converetd to 41 or 44 special, but it shoots so good now I am thinking I should leave it alone!

Love the NM Ruger 44 Special but it needs an action tune in order to work as well as the 357 OM.

 

[contender]

Sounds like a good day to me! I'd leave that 357 alone. And as for the 44 spl, yep, a good slicking of the action can help a gun. Just make sure it gets done right!

 

[PO2Hammer]

I had to take my new .44 special flat top Bisley in to Ahlman's http://www.ahlmans.com/ for an action/trigger job. I had them keep the springs full power. Worth the $85 and four week wait.

I'm using 5.5-5.6 grains Universal under a 240 LSWC-HP, should be around 850 fps. I'm still getting some unburned powder, but accuracy is very good. Bench rested them today at 50 yards and got 5" for all 6, pretty darn good for my old eyes. That would never have happened without the action job, mine had a lot of creep.

I need to bump my load up a little. I'm at Hodgdon's max, but have read that many shooters go well above that.

 

[dougader]

I know its worth the $ and time. I had Alan Harton tune a 45 Colt Montado. Buttery smooth action and the trigger breaks real clean; I'm guessing it breaks at about 3 lbs.

Just work up slow on your loads that are above the book max, especially if you use a powder not in Brian Pearce's articles (Handloader) on loads for the 44 Special.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Good idea. I just finished re-reading that article. I had been thinking of switching from Universal to Unique anyway.

What type of SWC are you using? Cast or swaged?

 

[dougader]

I used some hardcast 240 grain swc's. I forget the maker. I know I ordered 1k from 2 different places. One order was from Tennessee Valley Bullets (TVB), but I forget who these were from.

I also ordered 100 hand cast bullets from Jesse at TVB that are the original Keith 250 grain SWC. I am anxious to work up a couple loads with these.

FYI, I just tried to log on to tvb website and all the links were broken. I hope he's still in business.

 

[Dobetown]

PO2Hammer
Tell me more about Altmans, some of the prices look good.
How about turn around time?
thanks

 

[PO2Hammer]

My trigger job took 4-1/2 weeks. My Bisley had more creep than any other firearm I've owned and the hammer had a lot of side to side play. The trigger is near perfect now. Not quite as crisp as my S&W 624, but it's pretty darn good. The action is smoother and the hammer feels more solid.I also had them re-cut the serrations on the front sight.
They replaced/added a couple small parts, couldn't read what they were on the receipt, but they were less than $10, probably shims.
total ~ $85. I drove it there and picked it up.

 

[pistoleer44]

I went to the range with my son this morning before the rain started. I took my first ever 44 Special loads with us. Fired from a 4-5/8" Ruger New Model Bisley Flattop.

Load 1:
240 grain swc over 6.2 grains WW231. Federal 150 primers. 6 shots averaged 785 fps.

Load 2:
240 grain swc over 10.2 grains Hercules Blue Dot. Fed 150 primers. 6 shots averaged 917 fps

I liked both loads. Accurate as I am. The Blue Dot load was a bit cleaner with no powder residue at all. I had the rear sight all the way down and was still shooting high at 25 yards. Happy with 2-1/2 to 3 inch groups at that range.

We also took along my first OM 357 Ruger Blackhawk. It's been rode hard, has only honest wear, but locks up like the proverbial bank vault and shoots like the dickens. The chambers are tight enough that a few of my Lee Tumble lubed bullet handloads wouldn't chamber; about 9 out of 50 rounds.

Best group of the day was with the 357, 6 shots of Winchester 125 jhp factory ammo; they all went into one ragged hole at 25 yards, about 1-1/4".

Wish all my revolvers shot as good as this Old Model Ruger Blackhawk. Was thinking of having this one converetd to 41 or 44 special, but it shoots so good now I am thinking I should leave it alone!

Love the NM Ruger 44 Special but it needs an action tune in order to work as well as the 357 OM.

What's RAIN? :roll: