The frame has been round-butted and fitted with a set of custom grips. I believe the ejector rod (button) is non-factory; certainly unlike the factory ones on my 3 other Rugers. I've heard mention of "Colt ejector rods" being used, but haven't seen one firsthand. It has a SBH hammer. The paragraph was removed. As I mentioned, it has a Freedom Arms dove-tailed sight blade, drift adjustable for windage. The seller indicated it had been "regulated" for Skeeter's load...a 250gr cast bullet over 7.5 grains of Unique at 950 fps or so from a 5-6" barrel. I'd have to believe it, seeing where my 240JSP @ 975 fps impacts.
I did some load testing with my first .44spl, a 5.5" Bisley, this past fall. I used a single bullet (Nosler 200JHP) and 15 different powders. I targeted 900 +/- 50 fps. The clear winner for accuracy was Alliant 2028. I used published data for Unique and substituted 2028, grain for grain. Like others, I usually found 2028 to give 20-30 fps higher velocities than the identical charge of Unique.
Once I had the N200JHP load for the 5.5" .44spl (7.5 grains 2028 @ 950fps) , I broadened the scope to include the Zero 240JSP as well as a few .44mag revolvers....always targeting a pleasant, all-day-plinking load in the 800-1000 fps range. In my .44mag SBH I tested 4 different cast bullets from 247-288 grains.
My "bucket load" is one I can take to the range in a bucket and use successfully in any gun that will chamber it. I have a "light magnum" .357 bucket load that performs great in everything from a couple airweight snubbies, to a 3" J frame, 4" K frame and a Python. . I have special loads for special purposes but, for paper and steel with five different guns, I have a bucket load.
Bottom line : with my two .44spls, my buddy's new GP .44spl, two .44mags, 2 jacketed bullets and 4 cast bullets ...2028 always shines. It burns a little cleaner than Unique, meters a bit better than Unique and....unlike Unique in my experience....delivers superb, oftentimes unsurpassed, accuracy. When I was younger my benchmark for handgun accuracy was 5-shot, 1" groups at 25yds from the bench. With my 65-yr-old eyes, and the range that's most convenient to me, it's now 1" at 50 feet. With 2028 I've managed that with several combinations of bullets and guns in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, I know of no published data with tested pressures for Alliant 2028, so I won't suggest anyone try it. But experienced handloaders who follow Brian Pearce's writings on the .44spl might be inclined to experiment.
