Accurate load for .44 Special

[daveg.inkc]

Any tips on an accurate .44 Special load ? I have a few for .44 Mag. Just wondering what works for the reloaders here. Thanks!

 

[Thumbcocker]

8.0 grains of power pistol 250 grain Keith boolit.

 

[gunzo]

My vote would be for the famous Skeeter load, 7.5 Unique with a 250 Keith style bullet.

In modern strong guns of course!

 

[daveg.inkc]

I just bought a 1972 Super BH. I see .44 Flat tops are a huge favorite. My 1975 Super BH is scoped. I found 23 gr IMR 4227 240 is good. I will get a bottle of Power pistol. And the 7.5 Unique is about like 8 gr in .45 Colt. You can darn near switch loads between the 2. What was Elmer's load,, 22 grs of 2400? I like 21 grs in my .45

 

[Rclark]

7.5g Unique or Universal under 240-250g SWC . I've many loads that work very well with the .44 Special, but this is the load I use.

 

[daveg.inkc]

Thanks Rclark! I will put this to use. And a fellow member here advertises cast .430 bullets. I use his .45 cast bullets. So I ordered 300 for this Super. I was wanting a short barrel and this beautiful Old Model was on Classified. This baby has the sweetest, no creep trigger. OM's sure have a different feel. I'm hooked!

 

[daveg.inkc]

Now, Friday I called ShopRuger and asked for Ivory grips to buy. I told lady it was for an Old Model, just to be sure they would fit. She refused to sell ANY parts for an unconverted piece. I said "Hold on, here's a serial number for a NM!" " We dont have any Ivorys for Super Blackhawks!" I will never send them one to convert now.

 

[daveg.inkc]

So, I found a pair of Ajax on Ebay. I will show them,, ( more than one way to skin cats!)

 

[loaded round]

Never laid a 44 Special, how was she? Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[daveg.inkc]

Never laid a 44 Special, how was she? Sorry, couldn't resist!

I just saw my mistake ! Trouble is with the .44, she thinks she is Special!! And there the problems begin

 

[daveg.inkc]

Anyone seen my glasses?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Any tips on an accurate .44 Special load ? I have a few for .44 Mag. Just wondering what works for the reloaders here. Thanks!

7.5g Unique or Universal under 240-250g SWC . I've many loads that work very well with the .44 Special, but this is the load I use.

You should note that the Max load for Universal and a 240gr bullet is 5.6gr 873fps at 13,300CUP.

From the Hodgdon website. I have used 5.2gr of HP-38/W231 and a 240gr lead or copper plated bullet for 858fps with good results. You could bump that up a little in a sturdy gun like a Blackhawk.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

 

[daveg.inkc]

Thanks all, I am looking for a mild .44 load. I'm sure I will l fire Mag loads thru this sweetheart. Something about a Ruger that makes you want to feel it buck in your hand!

 

[Rclark]

Jimbo, the Skeeter load (7.5g Unique under 240-250g SWC) has been used... well seems like forever. Universal has been considered an equivalent for as long as I can remember which I've verified over my chronograph (1033fps vs 1037fps). As for pressure, the .44Special SAAMI is 15.5K . It is true over the years they have 'dumbed' down the reloading manuals (seems like I remember 6.0g Unique being 'max' now for example) . Anyway, I will say the Skeeter load is safe in my guns. Your mileage may very. I consider it a medium general purpose 'shoot all day' load while 6.0g is a 'puff, light, two legged SD' load.


daveg.inkc, Just wondering ... You shooting the .44Special out of the SBH? If so you can just load down your .44Mag cartridges to .44 Special velocities. For example 7.0g is equivalent to the 6.0g .44Special load, while 8.5g of Unique is equivalent to the 7.5g Unique .44Specal load. And so it goes.

 

[daveg.inkc]

I like HP 38. And Herco. I'm going to shoot this weekend. Had a DR. Appointment today, I'm going to have back surgery in August, so I need to get a little shooting in before. Hope to be healed enough to deer hunt. No more climbing trees. I'm planning on resting .270 M77 over a bale of hay.

 

[shootinfule]

My favorite load for my 44 Bisley Flattop 4-58" is Oregon Trail Lasercast 200 gr RNFP .431, 5.0 gr Titegroup, CCI # 300. Very comfortable and accurate.

 

[daveg.inkc]

My favorite load for my 44 Bisley Flattop 4-58" is Oregon Trail Lasercast 200 gr RNFP .431, 5.0 gr Titegroup, CCI # 300. Very comfortable and accurate.

Thanks! Titegroup is another powder I've not tried. Bet that works in .45 Colt. Thanks, I will try your load.

 

[noahmercy]

3.5 grains of Clays under a 200 grain button-nose wadcutter was a hoot. Super clean load and cloverleaf groups at 25 yards with my Super Redhawk. Recoil was like a powderpuff 38 Special. Bullets came from a Lee mold, and I think Rim Rock sells a similar bullet commercially. I've also run shootinfule's load and had fine results. Titegroup is wonderful for light-to-medium loads in big cases because it isn't sensitive to it's position within the case. Only drawbacks are a fairly loud "bark" and it is very possible to get a double (or even triple) charge in a big case if you're not paying attention.

 

[stevemb]

If downloading with mag cases, you may want to consider deepseating to reduce case capacity. No carbon ring in chamber to worry about. Less powder used per shot. Also, that ole Elmer load of 22grs of 2400, careful. Newer 2400 has been found to burn a bit faster and many have dropped their charge weights. Others here may be able to give you exact charge weights. Luck. You may know all this..

 

[Kermit]

A nice light load is a 200 grain RNFP bullet over 5.0 grains of Bullseye. For a heavier load go with the tried & true Skeeter load. Those two work for me in my Ruger .44 special Flat Top.

 

[wdr2]

I also use 8.0gr of Power Pistol with a 250gr cast, mine is a 432640HP Miha plain base mold.
Using Starline brass, Fed SP, cast with WW +2% tin, sized 0.431, and powder coated = 1001 fps (ES of 12fps for 10 shots) out of my Ruger Bisley 5.5in midframe. Very accurate in my revolver.

I will be deer hunting with this load using a somewhat softer alloy of 70% WW and 30% lead.

Bill
Idaho

8.0 grains of power pistol 250 grain Keith boolit.

 

[sailorb]

5.6 gr of W231/HP38 with a 240 gr. LSWC will give you a wonderful, accurate and mild load you can shoot all day long. The beauty of the .44 Special is you don't need to turn it into a mini-magnum.

 

[snakeeyes4445]

I see that John Taffin's books often show pictures of very good groups with 6.0 of Unique. I had found that load to take my second model Hand ejector to point of aim and I like the light recoil. I should try the Skeeter load again, but all of my .44's have been indifferent about it.

Those would be a four inch Anaconda, a 7.5" line bored Custom Clements OM, a NM Flattop 4 5/8 and a Realtree Anaconda. They all like the six grain load better, but maybe a little more crimp would help with the 7.5 grain load. My regular crimp in ten degree weather fails to fully ignite the 8.0 Power Pistol load of Brian Pierce.

They all like 15.0 to 16.0 of 2400 and a 240 Keith, but I don't need to use that in the older gun.

 

[Rancher Will]

I use Unique Powder to load my wife's .44 Special ammo. I load my .44 Mags with 2400 powder. both are loaded with Keith Type, Lyman 429421U, Cast 250 Gr hard (Linotype) bullets lubed with pure bees wax.