I'm talking about this load.

I know it says target on the box, but it's a 200 grain lead semi wadcutter hollow point traveling at 870 fps. That's gotta hurt.

I am a sucker for semi wadcutters and would like some feedback on these as defensive loads.

The Federal SWCHP round has been around a long time, and is a fine self defense load. In my experience with it, quite accurate, too. I've killed a couple of deer with it in years past.

Before I retired the Model of 1926 .44 Special from bedside duty I kept the Federal 200 grain SWC-HP in it and thought highly of the load. It really "cut wads" in soaked Fort Worth phone books. Expansion was decent but some didn't open much. In my view it didn't matter when the bullet was already large in diameter to begin with. I don't think expansion is the do-all and end-all of handgun defensive loads anyway. I like the load. It was accurate and in a 5-inch N-Frame revolver was very pleasant to shoot.

The six rounds I kept in the revolver are still rolling around in the corner of one of my dresser drawers.

It clocked 851 fps out of my revolver which is acceptably close to the advertised velocity.

Thank you all for the feedback.

I have Hornady 180 XTPs loaded in the 3" 29-3, but I will get a box of Federals.

I like the Federal load but like the 180gr Hornady XTP load better.

Here is some chronograph numbers for the Federal .44 Spl 200 gr LSWCHP from three S&W revolvers I own.

Model 696 3" - 827 fps

Model 24-3 4" - 851 fps

Model 24-3 6.5" - 923 fps


Roadster

I no longer have a .44 spl, but when I did that is the load I carried. I killed several phone books with it. There is NO DOUBT that it would get the job done in a self defense situation. In the gun I had it was very accurate, recoil negligable, penetration was great and that HP went "splat", made a big ole hole.

quote:

Originally posted by animalmother:
I like the Federal load but like the 180gr Hornady XTP load better.

I've never found any ballistic gel tests for 44 Special. Do you know where to get some? (pun not intended )

Also, what it is about the Hornady that you prefer? I went with them originally because of their higher energy (I know, not the end all be all) claim of 400 lb-ft.

As much as you love this stuff, Wyatt, you should bite the bullet and buy a block of Perma-Gel. Evan Marshall's forum www.stoppingpower.net may have gelatin results if you do a search in the test bed forum.

If the FBI load is good, then that .44 spl. Federal load can only be better.

quote:

If the FBI load is good, then that .44 spl. Federal load can only be better.

Sorta my opinion too.

quote:

Originally posted by bmcgilvray:

quote:

If the FBI load is good, then that .44 spl. Federal load can only be better.

Sorta my opinion too.

That's what I was thinking as soon as I saw it.

I like the Hornady load because of the XTP bullet. Seen many tests of different 44s over the last few years and the 180gr XTP load has always been consistantly accurate.

I thank all that have responded!
I had no idea that Federal even made such a load?
It would have to be considered the ".44 FBI load".
Glad it's still in production. I'll be checking into this one myself.
Perfect numbers for fast recovery....
Thanks Again!

quote:

If the FBI load is good, then that .44 spl. Federal load can only be better.

depends upon how much alloy metals are added to harden the lead to reduce fouling & the overall depth & width of the hollow cavity; I recntly held a Remington variant of the .38 spl +p FBI load & the Federal .44 spl lswchp load next to each other; the Federal lead appeared to be not nearly as prone to deformity & the cavity was smaller (when scaled up for its size) compared to the Remington .38 spl load

just some food for thought