Anyone have a favorite load using the following components?

44 Special
240 grain JHP
Titegroup powder

This is for use in a S&W 21-4 Thunder Ranch revolver. Not interested in any "Ruger or Freedom Arms level loads."

I can't find anything with Titegroup powder in the equation and jacketed bullets in this weight.

Thanks in advance!

Duke426, I did some research and, unfortunately, TiteGroup is probably a little too fast for your desired application. Keep in mind that SAAMI's max average pressure for the .44 Special is only 15,500 psi.

The fastest powder shown by Speer #14 for their 240gr jacketed bullets is W231 (which is slower than TiteGroup and is presented as "do not reduce"). The Hornady 6th Edition shows a very light Bullseye load generating only 700 fps, along with much slower powders generating much higher velocities.

I believe that Speer's data reflects a valid concern about sticking a jacketed bullet in the barrel with such low pressures. Jacketed bullets tend to have much more resistance than lead bullets, requiring more pressure to drive them at equivalent velocities.

If you really want/need a .44 Special load with a 240gr bullet, then your viable options are probably:

1) Use slower powders like Power Pistol or AA #7 if jacketed bullets are a must, or

2) Use swaged or cast bullets.

Personally, I've gone to lead bullets almost exclusively for my .44 Specials, the only exception being the Speer 200gr Gold Dot HP. And since it's plated, the GDHP is between jacketed and lead as far as resistance.

Hope this post doesn't rain on your parade excessively...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RidgwayCO,

Try some Unique, it's tailor made for the spl.

Duke:

I loaded some Sierra 240grJHC over 7.5gr of Unique. The load clocked at 925FPS and was fairly accurate out of a 6.5 inch 29-2.

Frank

Thanks to everyone for your help!

I'm pushing 240gr Keiths over 16gr of 2400 ... it's a hot load, no doubt, but it's accurate.

Sierra Rifle and Handgun Reloading Data Edition V recommends 8.1 grains of Unique as maximum load with 240 grain JHC, nominal 900 fps with 6.5" S&W Model 24. Some faster powders included Bullseye 5.9 grains, 750 fps; W231 6.5 grains, 800 fps; Red Dot 6.4 grains, 850 fps. No reloading manual I know of recommends looking down the burn rate tables and developing loads for similar burn rate powders but Titegroup is between Bullseye and W231 or Red Dot mentioned above. I'd switch powders and stick with book loads if you must have 15,500 psi level loads. Fast powders and heavy weight jacketed bullets doesn't leave you much wiggle room. Unique is a nice powder for industry standard loads. I use Sierra 180 grain JHC bullets with 18 grains of 2400 for 1300 fps for deer hunting. My everyday .44 Special load is 7.5 grains of Unique and a 240 grain cast lead bullet. Sorry for mentioning loads you were not interested in.

I use Unique for all my pistol loads, from 38 spl to 44 mag. Only thing about Unique, when using my hopper sometimes is varies a few tenths. So check it more often thats all.

I'd visit the Hodgdon site and see what they recommend.