Loading the .44 Spl Flattop to it's full potential

[Three50seven]

I recently became the proud new owner of a 4 5/8" .44 spl flattop Blackhawk. I have been reloading .44 spl for several years; beginning with a Taurus model 431, followed by a CA Bulldog, and then continued to load it as plinking ammo for use in my SBH and Rossi 92. I have always used 4.5 grs of either Titegroup or Trail Boss for a nice mild load that didn't consume much powder. The Taurus and Bulldog are now long gone, so I am left with the new Blackhawk, as well as the two 44 magnums. I have started to become interested in loading the .44 special up to it's full potential, now that I have a gun capable of handling it. All the loading manuals I have (Lee 2nd edition, Lyman Cast 4th edition, and a Speer manual from the 80's) show top-end loads that are mild enough for the small-frame revolvers. I know Keith stuffed 17 grs of 2400 underneath a 250 gr SWC, but that seems like overkill in this age with the .44 Magnum widely available. Not to mention I'm sure it's hard on brass :shock:

So, what are you folks feeding your .44 spls? I have a good supply of 250gr SWC and also some 240gr XTP's that I may try as well. I have 2400, H110, Titegroup, and Red Dot on hand, and can get most other Hodgdon and some Alliant powders locally. I realize that you should always follow a loading manual...but in this case, I don't know of any published data that has what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jimbo357mag]

The 44 Special brass is not a problem at all, it is entirely the gun and the possibility of the wrong load getting into the wrong gun.

 

[rkrcpa]

I've been very happy with Skeeter's load of 7.5 gr. of Unique under the 250gr. SWC.

 

[contender]

I've always been partial to Skeeter's load & info. Never felt the need to do any more than that.

 

[ra]

Here is some hotter 44 Sp. loads, I have shot a hefty charge of WW 296 and a 240 gr. lead and jacketed bullet and both I and my Flat Top Rugers have survived.

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian%20Pearce%20on%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=4

Roger

 

[Three50seven]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm a little embarrassed to say, I've never used Unique...I will have to find some and try out the Skeeter Load. Alliant lists 6.9grs @ 920fps as max load, so Skeeter's 7.5grs should be right around 1000fps out of the 4 5/8" barrel. Sounds just about perfect!

 

[Rclark]

I prefer the Skeeter Load too. Although I have shot a few Keith loads (17.0g 2400 under 240g SWC). 7.5g of Unique, Universal, or 20/28 work just fine.... I get around 1000fps out of 5 1/2" barrel. For my little CA Bulldog, it gets 6.0g Unique under 240g SWC.

 

[mikewriter]

I have several .44 mags, so I don't try to "push" my Special - also a Flattop 4 5/8" barrel. I try for around 800 fps. Recently checked some loads on my chrono that were with 4.8grs of Titegroup. They gave me 800 fps out of my Special, fired a couple in a .44 mag with a 7 1/2" barrel and was surprised to see an average of 1066.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm a little embarrassed to say, I've never used Unique...I will have to find some and try out the Skeeter Load. Alliant lists 6.9grs @ 920fps as max load, so Skeeter's 7.5grs should be right around 1000fps out of the 4 5/8" barrel. Sounds just about perfect!

I have used very little Unique and never saw what all the hub-bub was all about. It does nothing that a BUNCH of other powders cant do just as well or better. It also meters like gravel. I Have a one pound container that must be close to 30 years old
Just sitting there on the shelf. I think that back in the day it was very common on dealers shelves for shotgun use but now there are much better powders for shotguns . The need has dwindled and the maker has went on to more profitable powders.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I don't hot rod the .44 Spl. Since they're shot in a .44 Mag, any chore which needs more horsepower involves a simple change of ammo. So my .44 Spls are loaded with 240 gr LSWC and the Alliant book load of Unique, in the 750-850 fps range on paper. Haven't chrono'ed them to see what they really do in the 7.5" RH barrel, though.

Rick C

 

[stevemb]

Brian Pearce touts a load using Power Pistol Powder that kinda one-ups the Skeeter/Unique loading that we find traditional now. Kinda hard to play with a 44spec and not trod the path of tradition. Someone above mentions using 20/28 powder as a swap out to Unique, a good idea there, too.

 

[dougader]

I just use what I have on hand and the flat top shoots them fine. W231 and Blue Dot for me, with Universal, 2400 and AA9 waiting in the wings.

 

[snakeeyes4445]

I have one like yours, a five inch Smith Second Model HE, and a line bored sevenand a half Clements Custom OM. All three really like 6.0 grains of Unique and any unselected 240, usually with WWLP primers. John Taffins books are full of photos of small groups shot by random Specials with this mild factory equivalent load.

I have had nearly equivalent accuracy with 4.5 to 5.0 grains of 231, and Tite Group or Red Dot could be even better if that is what you have.

For a performance load, accuracy is excellent with all my guns and 2400.
The best accuracy is between 15.0 and 16.0 grains. We don't have a lot of bears here in Iowa so I just load to the recoil level that I like at 15.0. You could go down to 13.5 or up to the limit at 17.0 if you want to try something else.

Brian Pierce's Power Pistol loads failed to ignite reliably at ten degrees F, but they probably just needed more crimp. They were mid range loads as is Skeeter's which I have only found to be average in any of my guns.

Always fun to look for better loads, but I am either plinking or hunting and those two loads work very well, one for each purpose.

 

[BucolicBuffalo]

All I have been doing is plinking. So just loading 44 Russian's. But I do need to load up some heavier stuff for fun and y'all giving out some good ideas.

 

[Rodfac]

I've been very happy with Skeeter's load of 7.5 gr. of Unique under the 250gr. SWC.

Words to live by for day to day use. It's my everyday packin' load. 6.5 gr of Win 231 is just as good, maybe better, and at the same 950 fps velocity.

I've been up to 1150 fps chrono'd with 240 gr LSWC's using a cpl grains less than Keith's old 2400 load. If you're interested in performance, however, I'd do a search for Glen Fryxell's excellent articles. They're in the LASC site. He's done a lot of research, is the modern guru when it comes to home cast bullets, especially the HP versions. He's a great, readable writer too.

HTH's Rod

 

[Three50seven]

I've been very happy with Skeeter's load of 7.5 gr. of Unique under the 250gr. SWC.

Words to live by for day to day use. It's my everyday packin' load. 6.5 gr of Win 231 is just as good, maybe better, and at the same 950 fps velocity.

I've been up to 1150 fps chrono'd with 240 gr LSWC's using a cpl grains less than Keith's old load. If you're interested in performance, however, I'd do a search for Glen Fryxell's excellent articles. They're in the LASC site. He's done a lot of research, is the modern guru when it comes to home cast bullets, especially the HP versions. He's a great, readable writer too.

HTH's Rod

I went to 3 well-stocked shops today and couldn't find a single pound of Unique. I did pick up a can of 231 though, so I will experiment with that for now. Loaded up a few earlier in the week using 13gr of 2400. They showed potential, but still need some work for sure.

I have read quite a bit of Fryxell's stuff on the special, as well as the .357 MAX. He is a very knowledgeable and interesting writer for sure.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Try between 5.0gr and 7.0gr of W231 with a 240gr bullet in the 44 special.

from Hodgdon Online ----- 5.2gr of HP-38/W231 - 858fps -13,200 CUP

 

[Rclark]

I tested W-231 from 6.0 (894fps, 32 ES, 15 shots) to 7.0 (996fps, 14 ES, 10 shots) under 240g SWC and all were accurate loads.

 

[kooz]

I think you will find that with the 2400 and 240-250gr bullets that your accuracy will not start coming around until you hit about 15.5gr or so...that has been my experience anyways. I usually start at 15gr and work my way up and will find a sweet spot around 15.5-16.5 gr usually. If I want a more easy shooting load, the Unique works much better for that at about 7-7.5gr . good luck

 

[Three50seven]

The 2400, even at 13grs, had noticeably more felt recoil than the other load I tested. From what I'm reading here, the 231 is probably my best bet.

 

[Barkis]

I just use what I have on hand and the flat top shoots them fine. W231 and Blue Dot for me, with Universal, 2400 and AA9 waiting in the wings.

I have 2lbs of Blue Dot powder and have been wondering what to do with it. I'd be interested in hearing about your BD loads. I have an RCBS 250K and Saeco 246 gr RNFP that I load in my 44, generally over 5 grains of Bullseye. Can you share your Blue Dot load?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Blue Dot will leave unburnt kernels of powder in the cases if you don't get the pressure up enough. You can expect any 44 special loads will have to be loaded quite heavy with a heavy crimp to be clean. I have reduced 44 mag loads by 10% with no problems but when going to a -20% it was difficult to get it to burn cleanly and those kernels can jam a gun.

 

[stevemb]

Since the OP mentioned the 240gr XTP, I'll say you may want to try the 200gr XTP in the 44spec..

 

[Rodfac]

Since the OP mentioned the 240gr XTP, I'll say you may want to try the 200gr XTP in the 44spec..

I like the 200 gr XTP as well...better expansion than the 240 which I have a suspicion was made heavier for rifle use. At any rate, 231 is also a good powder for mid-range loads with the 200 XTP.

Rod

 

[dwayne]

I like the Skeeter load but prefer using 2400 at the same velocities. In my 5.5" FA97, 14 grains of 2400 will make a tad over 1000 fps with my 250 grain LSWC. Be sure to check my memory against a good manual. IMHO, the 44 Special is a GREAT revolver chambering -- enjoy!

 

[jimbo1096]

I have used 2400, H110, Unique, WW231 and lately Herco in the 44spl. The Herco is a good powder in substitution for the Unique and 9gr under a 250gr LSWC bullet is a good load in my stainless flat top Blackhawk. I have gone up to 9.5 but see little difference. This is a "Ruger only" load in my opinion. With H110 I have used up to the 18.5gr H110 with the same bullet and it was not unpleasant to shoot but not overly accurate in my gun and not pleasant to shoot. I have not worked up any loads with jacketed bullets so can't comment there.

 

[Paul B]

I go with Skeeter's load, 7.5 gr. of Unique with a cast bullet, Lyman #429241, Elmer's bullet. My alloy casts a 255 gr. bullet. I have shot the 17.0 gr./2400 load in a Ruger flat top .44 Mag. with 6.5" barrel and frankly, it's a bit uncomfortable. I would think is would be even more so in a 4 5/8" gun. My poor old arthritic knuckles don't tolerate much rapping these days. My current .44 Spl. is an S&W M624 with 6.5" barrel. Very accurate with Skeeter's load. Sufficient power with decent controllability. What's not to like?
Paul B.

 

[dougader]

I just use what I have on hand and the flat top shoots them fine. W231 and Blue Dot for me, with Universal, 2400 and AA9 waiting in the wings.

I have 2lbs of Blue Dot powder and have been wondering what to do with it. I'd be interested in hearing about your BD loads. I have an RCBS 250K and Saeco 246 gr RNFP that I load in my 44, generally over 5 grains of Bullseye. Can you share your Blue Dot load?

I've been loading 240 grain bevel base swc's with 10 grains of Hercules Blue Dot for about 915 fps; standard large pistol primers. You might try 9 grains of Alliant Blue Dot and go from there. I have the Bisley flat top and the loads seem soft to me.

Also use 6.7 grains W231 but can't recall the velocity right now...somewhere around 875 fps.

I used data for the 240 grain jhp in Speer 14 to work up my loads.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I've been loading 240 grain bevel base swc's with 10 grains of Hercules Blue Dot for about 915 fps; standard large pistol primers. You might try 9 grains of Alliant Blue Dot and go from there.

How old is that powder? I have been reloading for more than 10 years and I only know Blue Dot as being Alliant - Blue Dot.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/

 

[Three50seven]

Not sure when Hercules became Alliant, though I'm sure someone here can give you a time frame...I was given some 2400, Rel7, and Red Dot a few years ago all marked Hercules and in the foil/cardboard type bottles. I have since used it all up and have had zero issues with it.