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  #1  
Old 07-18-2010, 07:14 PM
Kaumheimer Kaumheimer is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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Default Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?

I'm shooting 240 gn swc Oregon trail bullets on a 6.5" 24-3 and a 4" 624. Have tried 6.2 gn Unique with some luck on the 24-3 but am not satisfied.

I'd prefer to keep the load on the light side. (The classic Skeeter load seems a bit on the high side for me with a 240 gn bullet.) I'm just shooting paper.

Looking for accuracy above all.

Am willing to try 200 gn bullets too.

Any ideas?

mahalo
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  #2  
Old 07-18-2010, 07:29 PM
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jag312 jag312 is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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My 696 likes this load: 4.5 grains 700-X, 200 grain copper plated bullet by X-treme. The velocity is about 775 fps. My 696 has razor-edge accuracy with just about any load.
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  #3  
Old 07-18-2010, 07:38 PM
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michael thornton michael thornton is offline
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My 4 inch 624 and 3 inch 624 like 7.5 gr of unique with 240 swc, not a real hot load
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  #4  
Old 07-18-2010, 07:39 PM
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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Try some W231.
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  #5  
Old 07-19-2010, 12:22 AM
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valkyriekl valkyriekl is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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I asked about AA#5 and a 240gr LSWC here on this forum, and it was recommended that I try 6.3gr AA#5--it works quite well, although it probably isn't the "light load" you're looking for--it feels very much like a full-powered .45ACP 230gr load in a revolver.

I've heard 7.3-7.5gr Unique works well, too.
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  #6  
Old 07-19-2010, 01:40 AM
NE450No2 NE450No2 is offline
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I have shot a lot of loads with 44 Special cases in my 44 Mags with 240 gr bullets. Try 3.8 to 4 gr of Bullseye.

For a little more "juice" try 7 to 7.5gr of Unique.
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  #7  
Old 07-19-2010, 02:02 AM
ADQRAZOR ADQRAZOR is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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I have found that most any 200 gr RNFN cast bullet shoots well ( currently working through a box of Silver State cast bullets) With AA#5, 7.8 GR (Little Dandy Rotor #9). Use them in a 696 and Colt SAA. Very accurate and mild, powder meters well and very clean. Approx 700-710 fps
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  #8  
Old 07-19-2010, 07:19 AM
TSQUARED TSQUARED is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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I use the 245 gr. LSWC with Trail Boss powder - the minimum listed on the Hodgdon website. Works well in either my S&W 696 or 624.
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  #9  
Old 07-19-2010, 08:29 AM
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Mule88 Mule88 is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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Im getting one inch groups from my 624 with 215-250 gn CSWC and 7.5 gn. universal clays. This is from a rest at 25 yds. Very accurate and burns cleaner than Unique.
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  #10  
Old 07-19-2010, 09:06 AM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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I have always used 6.5-grains (not 7.5) of Unique in the 44 Special with the 250-grain Keith bullet. It works so well I have never changed the powder charge, but will admit I have used other bullets from time to time. I haven't seen any of them improve on accuracy except for the Winchester factory 246-grain round-nose slug, which I was only able to get one time. It was a great shooter.
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  #11  
Old 07-19-2010, 10:55 AM
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KSCowboy KSCowboy is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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I've used 5 grains of Bullseye for many years for both plinking and SASS shooting with accurate results.

Recently I've been trying 5 grains of Clays with very good results also.
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  #12  
Old 07-19-2010, 01:15 PM
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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My standard .44 special load is 7.0gr of Unique under a 240 LSWC with a standard primer. Pleasure load's are 5.2gr of Trail Boss with a Speer LSWC also with a standard primer. Both of these load's are very accurate out of my S&W's and Ruger's.
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  #13  
Old 07-19-2010, 02:16 PM
mtgianni mtgianni is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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5 gr Green Dot w 240 gr cast.
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  #14  
Old 07-19-2010, 04:47 PM
Joed49 Joed49 is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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I've always used 7.5 gr of Unique with the 240 gr LSWC from the Lyman mold. The problem if you go lower then this is the case doesn't expand enough and gives a poor seal. If you shoot lower charges you'll notice the cases are blackened.
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  #15  
Old 07-19-2010, 06:16 PM
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5.0 gr. Bullseye under a 240 SWC or 200 RNFP has been a favorite .44 Special load of mine since 1975. Accurate and easy shooting, I shoot mostly the 200 RNFP load lately.
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  #16  
Old 07-19-2010, 08:00 PM
mikesb mikesb is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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215 gr.lswc with 5.5 to 5.8gr of 231 in 44spl brass works very well in my 29-5 with 5in barrel
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  #17  
Old 07-19-2010, 08:01 PM
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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4.7 grains of Bulleye with a 240 grain buulet. My personal favorite is the Lyman 429383 245 grain LRN design.
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  #18  
Old 07-19-2010, 08:49 PM
Kaumheimer Kaumheimer is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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Looks like I have plenty of homework to do. Appreciate all the help!

mahalo
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  #19  
Old 07-24-2010, 06:11 AM
Kaumheimer Kaumheimer is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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Default Range Report

Just wanted to update you all on my activities with the 4" 624 which I shot for the very first time today.

I tested a number of loads but these worked the best:

7.0 gn Unique
6.3 gn AA#5

I used a 240 gn Rainier FP bullet @ 25 yards.

I shot the AA #5 first and indeed it's a very accurate load without a great deal of recoil.

The Unique was a bit hotter and I had to readjust the sight when using it. It shot a bit higher, but once I screwed down the elevation it was right in the bullseye.

I was very pleasantly surprised with the 624 because as you of course know, shooting a gun with a 4 inch barrel at 25 yards is challenging. This was a joy to shoot.

The only glitch was that about 75 rounds into the testing the cylinder started to bind. It was difficult to draw back the hammer and took some effort to snap the cylinder back into place after releasing it. I noted some unburnt powder near the yoke so I assume some must have gotten underneath the extractor or (somewhere!) and gummed up the works. This is a very tight gun that clearly has not been shot too much. I took a cloth and cleaned underneath the extractor and on the surface of the forcing cone and that seemed to do the trick.

Will see if I can figure out how my 6.5" 24-3 works with these loads and report back at a later date.

Thanks all for your help.

Last edited by Kaumheimer; 07-24-2010 at 06:40 AM. Reason: edited for grammar
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  #20  
Old 07-24-2010, 04:18 PM
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dg101win dg101win is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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I have found that 6.7 of Unique behind a 240 bevel base swc or 250 flat base keith bullet works great. This is with a Wolf primer out of my 4 inch 624 and my Ruger 5 1/2 inch .
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  #21  
Old 07-25-2010, 12:50 AM
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valkyriekl valkyriekl is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaumheimer View Post
Just wanted to update you all on my activities with the 4" 624 which I shot for the very first time today.

I tested a number of loads but these worked the best:

7.0 gn Unique
6.3 gn AA#5

I used a 240 gn Rainier FP bullet @ 25 yards.

I shot the AA #5 first and indeed it's a very accurate load without a great deal of recoil.

The Unique was a bit hotter and I had to readjust the sight when using it. It shot a bit higher, but once I screwed down the elevation it was right in the bullseye.

I was very pleasantly surprised with the 624 because as you of course know, shooting a gun with a 4 inch barrel at 25 yards is challenging. This was a joy to shoot.
If I were crazy enough to shoot Bullseye/Conventional Pistol with .44 Special (I currently shoot BE with revolvers in .22 and a .45; I could shoot .44 for centerfire) the 6.3gr AA#5 load would definitely be a go-to load. Through my 6" S&W 629-5, shots are right on the money at both 50 yards (slow fire) and 25 yards (timed/rapid fire).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaumheimer View Post
The only glitch was that about 75 rounds into the testing the cylinder started to bind. It was difficult to draw back the hammer and took some effort to snap the cylinder back into place after releasing it. I noted some unburnt powder near the yoke so I assume some must have gotten underneath the extractor or (somewhere!) and gummed up the works. This is a very tight gun that clearly has not been shot too much. I took a cloth and cleaned underneath the extractor and on the surface of the forcing cone and that seemed to do the trick.
I keep an old toothbrush in my shooting kit for these special occasions. It also helps to push the extractor rod only about half-way through its stroke and then letting it snap back in while pointing the barrel straight up upon ejecting the empties--enough to pop the cases loose, and most of the time they'll fall right out without giving unburnt/partially burnt powder much of a chance to get underneath the extractor star.

It's good to hear you're having success with these loads!
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  #22  
Old 07-26-2010, 10:42 PM
Kaumheimer Kaumheimer is offline
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Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads? Any accurate 4" or 6.5" .44 Special target loads?  
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Thanks Valkyrieki, I’ll bring along a toothbrush and pack some canned air in my trunk.

FWIW I took out my 6.5” 24-3 and tried a 6.2 Unique load yesterday with the 240 Rainier bullet and it was also very accurate with less recoil.

I also experimented with a few rounds of a 200g Oregon Trail bullet with 6.5 and 7.1 gn Unique. They will send you a few bullets as a promo and I tried them yesterday. They had less recoil than the 240 Rainier bullet and seemed very promising as far as accuracy.

I ordered a box and will come back with a report once I get a bunch to work with.
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45acp, 624, 629, 696, bullseye, colt, extractor, primer, ruger, saa, sass, skeeter, universal, winchester

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