don't mess with the .44 Special

D

Daimler1989

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Hi,

yesterday I chrono'd some .44 Special handloads for a gun magazine article. Although I did expect some interesting results, I was impressed with several loads.

Here are some results (sorry for them in meter per seconds, I'm in Germany), barrel length 3", 4", 6.5"

Vihtavuori N320 5,0 gr.
​
255 gr. lead SWC (Keith Type)204 197 204
Vectan A0 10 gr.
​
200 gr. lead SWC 338 347 372
Vectan AS 6,0
​
200 gr. lead SWC 280 267 294
Vectan A0 7,5 gr.
​
240 gr. lead SWC HP (Hornady) 263 278 284

This means, a 200 gr lead bullet moves out of a 3" barrel (S&W 696) with about 1100 fps with a load of 10 gr. Vectan A0. Not bad...

And the best of all: A Hornady Critical Defense 165 gr will instantly knock over a Chrony at a distance of 5 meters, one shot stop without overpenetration :eek:



apart from really bad shooting this must have been a case of Freudian shooting. The Chrony gave me some bad times trying to get plausible velocities. That's why I moved it 5 meters away, the 3" barrel velocity could not be measured at shorter distances. I probably began to hate the damn thing and then: "bam"

best regards from Germany
Ulrich
 
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44 special

Sorry abt your chrono....for those of us who have worked with the 44 spl and in my case the 44 magnum extensively, the 44 spl offers very sound ballistics.....I carry a 3" M-24 often with federal 200 gr HP SWC's.....I shoot a lot of 44 spl thru my 3,4 and 6" 24's and they will do anything I require of them ( although I must admit I have not shot any chronograph's with mine) and deliver very good accuracy....I don't normally load the specials hot, if I feel the need for speed I move up to the 44 magnum.
 
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Well if I ever need to stop a charging chrony I know what ammo to use! Sorry for the loss, I haven't managed to kill mine yet but I have a nice hardball groove along the top of my Pro Chrono. The .44 Special is a versatile cartridge and my standard load is a Lyman 250 grain 429421 a tad over 900 fps using Power Pistol powder.
 
Thanks for the data. Any pressure overload signs with the heaviest 200 gr loading?

PS Suggest an "up" elevation adjustment on the rear sight for the next 696 range session ;).
 
One would think with all the legendary German engineering, they would have invented a good 12" ruler. :p

Looks like your .44 got a good 12" penetration on the Chrony. I wonder if the FBI will buy into that.
 
Great shot, a little high though. :D

A friend of mine was shooting a 300 Winchester mag using the roof of his car for a rest. He had the barrel a little close to the car and cracked the windshield.
 
murphydog said:
Thanks for the data. Any pressure overload signs with the heaviest 200 gr loading?
Click to expand...

I only used data within the suggested range by Vihtavouri and Vectan in their reloading data, so think they should be safe. Although Vectan is quite often probably on the hotter side, as far as I found out. Primers of the 10 gr. A0 load don't seem any flatter than those of the Critical Defense Hornady Ammo.

I know, 1100 fps ist quite hot for a 696, but it wasn't intended for that gun. I probably will decrease the load, but not considerably as my wife and me need a powerful .44 Spl load for our handguns we use as a backup for hunting (finishing wounded game or SD if you encounter wild boar). I guess my 624 might digest this load with ease... 1050 fps might be enough and would not be used much.

@SMSgt: don't tell the FBI that 12" penetration included 1" of plastics and 11" of air, icluding a thin wire. Nevertheless it flattened the rear part of the front half completely, sheet metal bent to 90°

@loc n load: Federal 200gr SWC HP was in the batch too. made 741 fps from the 3" barrel
 
Another "Red Breasted chrony" taken out before its prime........... Bummer.

Well at least you got some data before it was drilled........

Thanks for the picture, it is a "Keeper", ah, not the chrony, though...........
 
Nice shot!. After messing around with 2 of those Chronys I wanted to shoot it!. Glad I returned it, got a refund.:D

I'd say sorry, but you now have a chance to buy a better one that works.;)
 
Looks just like the Chrony I let my son-in-law (excuse me EX son-in-law) borrow. Those sound like some good loads for your 44 Special. I shoot mine a great deal and to be honest I usually am pushing a 210 - 215 grain bullet at around 825 -875 fps and enjoying it. Great paper punching and works well on my dueling tree at 25 yards. Plus I can ring the 12 inch gong at 100 yards (usually 3 out of 5 shots or better) with my 3" M24-3.
That must be why they call it "Special"
Chip King
 
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thanks TAROMAN for posting this, most helpful for all those who read the fps instead of m/s
 
Just in case you didn't figure it out, it's the muzzle blast from the short barrels that causes the chronograph to not read properly when too close. While I didn't shoot my chronograph, the problems caused me to give it up completely.
 
flintsghost said:
Just in case you didn't figure it out, it's the muzzle blast from the short barrels that causes the chronograph to not read properly when too close. While I didn't shoot my chronograph, the problems caused me to give it up completely.
Click to expand...

that's what I found out when firing my test loads with slower burning powder from a 3" barrel. But moving the Chrony forward to avoid unburnt powder driving it crazy just showed me the limit of my shooting abilities :mad:

However, I know for sure that the Critical Defense might penetrate a car door and then probably the door panel...
 
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I loved the chrony picture...reminds me of the time when my son shot mine in his first try.
 
That happens every now and then at our rifle range.
Mostly with weapons that have a scope on it and the
shooter does not make an adjustment for the line of
sight and the bullet below it.

Weapons with no scopes and just iron sights are usually
caused by the shooter having just a light "Touch" of ........
flinch !!
With deer season coming on, the range master friend advised me that two units were "Killed in Action" last week, by scopes.

"Lets all bow our heads, for a moment of silence..............
Martha, stop that giggling" !!
 
M29since14 said:
Most un-German this hatred of a machine and resorting to firearms violence against it.

Tisk - tisk. :D :D
Click to expand...

owning firearms I'm a kind of Dinosaur in Germany, where everyone thinks you are a potential killer on the brink of running amok next second. So I take the liberty of being politically incorrect and getting rid of malfunctioning technical devices the old fashioned way... Just kidding, it was simply a bad aimed shot at a distance you should not use a Chrony. Usually, as an experienced bullseye shooter I set my groups a little bit higher ;)

regards
Ulrich
 
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