.44 Special Loads For a Rainy Day

[Skyhunter]

Model19man said:
It must be a regional thing because around here everything Alliant has always been available. It's in stock all over for example Midway USA.

I haven't seen any Unique (or any other Alliant powders for that matter) here in Western Tennessee in almost 3 years. I'm glad I stocked up!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[Model19man]

Model19man said:
It must be a regional thing because around here everything Alliant has always been available. It's in stock all over for example Midway USA.

I haven't seen any Unique (or any other Alliant powders for that matter) here in Western Tennessee in almost 3 years. I'm glad I stocked up!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

It was in stock at Midway last week when I ordered a pound each of Green Dot and Herco. I have close to 5 pounds of Unique so I didn't order any more. Now the Midway site says no backorders and Unique not available????

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I've fooled around with lots of 44 sp loads in my cast bullets, but never Blue Dot. Not sure which powders you have, but the ones I've gotten great accuracy from a 6" 629 are:

205 gr RNFP over 5.9 gr Trailboss 1.415 900 ft/s
205 gr RNFP over 6.0 gr CFE Pistol 1.537 1035 ft/s
250 gr RN2R over 12.5 gr 2400 1.530 1000 f/s
250 gr RNFP over 5.5 gr 231 1.522 800 ft/s
255 gr Keith over 13.2 gr 4227 1.560 770 ft/s

I've found Trail Boss to be a nice accurate soft shooting load in every caliber I've tried.

 

[78bagger]

Hey guys, I lucked out and found this thread just when I needed it. I was going through the safe and pulled out a 624 that Hadn't seen the light of day in quite a while.Went out to the shop to see what I had for parts and found a ton of 44 spl cases from Starline and a bunch of 240g SWC from SNS that I'd been using for the 29. I've only done one run of Specials and that was a year or so ago. Mostly been loading rifle rounds as the scopes are easier to see. Anyway, I had been loading the mags with 12.4 g of Autocomp so I got a load out of the Hornady book for a special load using Win 231. I had a pound waiting for a use. The minimum load was 5g? I started at 5.4 and got all the dies set on the Dillon. I ran 6 rounds through and looked in the cases and there's hardly anything in there. Weighed all the loads and they're 5.4 exactly. Maybe I'm just used to seeing rifle rounds full of powder, but I started to wonder if these 44 special loads are going to be position sensitive? Glad I found this thread.

 

[CH4]

Great rainy day project. I like Unique under most 44 spl loads, along with Bullseye and 231 for 180 to 255 grain bullets. I have some Trail Boss, so will try it.

 

[shawn mccarver]

It's raining and flash flooding here in Mississippi, so I decided to take some time and load up a box of .44 Special for the Ruger Flatop Blackhawk. Here's the load:

Case: Starline
Primer: Federal #155
Powder: Alliant Blue Dot
Charge: 8.0 grains
Bullet: Missouri Keith, .430 Diameter, 240 Grain LSWC

Anybody else use Blue Dot for .44 Special? I'm using Hornady data for a 240 grain LSWC. Usually I load .44 Special with Unique, but in the past year I've been using Blue Dot with magnum primers (only because standard large pistol primers are hard to find here). I've shot this load before and it's a bit snappy in the Ruger, but nowhere near max.

In 44 Special, I like the real Keith 429421 so it clocks out of a 4-inch Model 24 or 29 at about 950 foot seconds. For the most part, that load will pretty much do everything that needs doing.

 

[Nemo288]

I got a load out of the Hornady book for a special load using Win 231. I had a pound waiting for a use. The minimum load was 5g? I started at 5.4 and got all the dies set on the Dillon. I ran 6 rounds through and looked in the cases and there's hardly anything in there. Weighed all the loads and they're 5.4 exactly. Maybe I'm just used to seeing rifle rounds full of powder, but I started to wonder if these 44 special loads are going to be position sensitive?

FWIW the online Hodgdon recipe for HP38 and a 240 SWC in the 44 special is:
4.2 gr. 717 fps 8.4kcup - 5.2 gr. 858 fps 13.2 kcup COAL 1.45"

My Hornady 8th book uses the 240 swaged and knurled Hornady "SWC" which is nothing like the Keith bullet:
W231: 4.9 gr. 650 fps - 6.2 gr. 800 fps COAL = 1.49"
3" test barrel (!)

Almost all 44 special loads with the faster powders are going to leave a lot of air in the case.
Some powders are more position sensitive than others, you'll just have to experiment.
(I have never used HP38/W231).
The Universal and CSB-1 I use do not seem to be particularly position sensitive.

Because of the low powder density of 44 special (and magnum) target loads,
I played around with fillers for several years and came to the conclusion
that they are more trouble than they are worth in revolver loads.
I have tried Grex (shotgun buffer) which is my favorite, Pufflon (way messy), tumbling media (both kinds),
toilet paper, various homemade wads (styrofoam and other material), and foam earplugs.
The nitroexpress crowd tends to use foam caulk backing rod to fill up those huge cases.
That will be my next (and most likely final) filler to try in the 444 for reduced loads.
The only current load I continue to use filler in is a 44 magnum equivalent in the 444 where 24 gr. of 2400 only fills up half the case.

 

[78bagger]

Thanks Nemo, I appreciate the help. At 7000g a pound, and 6g a round, it looks like 1100 rounds a pound. If that math is right, this could be a fun and cost effective range round.

 

[jeeps]

240 hard cast SWC at 850-900 FPS will take care of anything with good hits. What am I worried about with this load? Not a darn thing!!

 

[StrawHat]

…
Be prepared for squib loads. Wooden dowel, or brass stick, no steel.
…

I have to disagree with you there. A wooden dowel is about the worst thing you can use to remove a stuck bullet. When it shatters, it will jam in there tight enough you will need to almost drill it out. I much prefer a bore diameter steel rod. A couple of taps and the bullet is removed. No damage to the bore.

Kevin

 

[RMFnLA]

I've fooled around with lots of 44 sp loads in my cast bullets, but never Blue Dot. Not sure which powders you have, but the ones I've gotten great accuracy from a 6" 629 are:

205 gr RNFP over 5.9 gr Trailboss 1.415 900 ft/s
205 gr RNFP over 6.0 gr CFE Pistol 1.537 1035 ft/s
250 gr RN2R over 12.5 gr 2400 1.530 1000 f/s
250 gr RNFP over 5.5 gr 231 1.522 800 ft/s
255 gr Keith over 13.2 gr 4227 1.560 770 ft/s

I've found Trail Boss to be a nice accurate soft shooting load in every caliber I've tried.

I'm dying to try Trail Boss in my .45 Colt Uberti 1858 conversion but I've never seen it available anywhere.

So frustrating…

 

[Model19man]

I'm dying to try Trail Boss in my .45 Colt Uberti 1858 conversion but I've never seen it available anywhere.

Trail Boss is not available anywhere and has not been for years. I asked at my local reloading store they said they have had it on order for years. The manufacturer says they are not making any but might in the future.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I loaded Blue Dot back in the 70-80's for my 38 and 357 Magnum for
factory loads and +P or full 357 loads, that had a high fps and good accuracy, in my revolvers.

I did not have a 44 back then and am now out of BD powder.

It might be a little "Fast" for 100 pecent loads in a 44 but I would still
like to see what that powder can do, just for giggles, if I had the makings.

 

[Skeet 028]

I loaded Blue Dot in the past and found it a bit squirrely at times...mostly winter but that's when I shot most handgun. Blue Dot is hard to get good powder throws with too. I have quite a few 44 sp loaded and most are loaded with 200 gr RNFP w/ 7.5 gr Unique. Good load for fun shooting also 200 gr Spire point home cast at .4295-.430. I use them in my Flat top Ruger and my 4 inch 29-2. For some reason I have found a plethora of 44 sp cases lately. Even a couple hundred 44 Russian...44 mag not so much. I won 150 once fired and 50 new primed mags yesterday in a local auction for 25 dollars. the mag cases get loaded with 240 KT semi wadcutters and usually Unique, Herco or 2400

 

[Nemo288]

I have to disagree with you there. A wooden dowel is about the worst thing you can use to remove a stuck bullet. When it shatters, it will jam in there tight enough you will need to almost drill it out. I much prefer a bore diameter steel rod. A couple of taps and the bullet is removed. No damage to the bore.

I have an aluminum rod on the theory that it's softer than the steel bore.
Luckily I have only had one stuck bullet in my shooting "career".
And that happened in my 7.5" Redhawk due to W296 coagulating in
a slightly compressed load stored for many years.
It was a fizzle sticking the bullet in the forcing cone.
Luckily I noticed it before pulling the trigger again.
I had to pry the powder out of the rest of those loads with a crochet hook.
One reason I gave up on 296 and most ball powders in general.
There are several good alternatives like 2400 and IMR4227.

Notice the swollen base of the bullet due to inertia when it stopped suddenly and the gas blasted base rim.
This, to me, is also evidence that jacketed bullets can and do obturate given enough of a kick in the pants.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I Used to load Blue Dot in .44 mag for upper midrange loads. It worked good. It had a reputation for pressures that spiked quickly and maybe some temperature sensitivity. I think there has been some reformulation of the powder to correct this. I haven't used it in many years now, having substituted AA-9.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Position sensitive powders

Recently I decided to get some use from my 396NG (2.5" bbl) that's been hiding in the safe for too long.

Mainly used Power Pistol, LongShot & Blue Dot with HDY 200gr XTP. Also some Rim Rock 185gr LSWC-HP bullets I had a few dozen of & added gas checks (190grs) & sized to .4304"

P-P & L-S usually run real close in smaller capacity cartridges but when I noticed L-S wasn't performing (chrono results) as well as I expected it dawned on me I needed to check for position sensitivity in this cartridge & do some additional follow-up tests with my LabRadar.

The short story on testing from an initial muzzle down position before aiming & then muzzle up is that P-P was virtually unaffected, L-S was next worst & B-D was the most position sensitive with these load fills in the 44 Special.

All powders charges were dispensed from a Charge Master 1500 & then doubled checked on a Lyman Ohaus M5 beam scale before seating the bullet.

Bullet: HDY 200gr XTP
Primer: FED 150
-------------------------
P-P @ 9.7grs
Muzzle down= 1023fps
Muzzle up= 1029fps

L-S @ 9.7grs
Muzzle down= 984fps
Muzzle up= 1016fps

B-D @ 11.1grs
Muzzle down= 795fps
Muzzle up= 872fps

.

Additionally I tested the L-S load using two different primers, FED-150 & CCI-300, to see if there was any difference. (Regrettably I didn't think about also trying some WLPs until later.)

L-S @ 9.7grs
Muzzle up= 1011fps (FED-150)
Muzzle up= 1023fps (CCI-300)

.

One other test comparing B-D with the HDY 200gr XTP & the 190gr LSWC-HP-GC bullet.

Bullet: HDY 200gr XTP
Primer: FED-150
-------------------------
B-D @ 10.3grs= 840fps
B-D @ 10.7grs= 864fps
B-D @ 11.1grs= 872fps
B-D @ 11.5grs= 921fps

&

Bullet: R-R 190gr LSWC-HP-GC
Primer: FED-150
-------------------------
B-D @ 10.3grs= 840fps
B-D @ 10.7grs= 862fps

Oddly the lead gas check was exactly the same as the jacketed bullet?

Again these velocities are from a 2-1/2" bbl so keep that in mind.

Also, some or all of these loads are +P so use them accordingly in a modern revolver in good repair.

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[RMFnLA]

Trail Boss is not available anywhere and has not been for years. I asked at my local reloading store they said they have had it on order for years. The manufacturer says they are not making any but might in the future.

And yet it was so well received. I've never read a negative thing about it as long as it was used as intended.

 

[RMFnLA]

Slightly off-topic, but I got back into reloading in the midst of COVID because no ammo was available.

Components were in short supply as well so I settled on a pound of Blue Dot at a show for much more money than I'm willing to admit, but it turns out to be awesome for my 9mm EDCs.

7.5 gr under a 124 gr. V-Crown; data says 1180 fps, all I know is it shoots clean and accurate in both my Shield and my P365.

 

[Nemo288]

I needed to check for position sensitivity in this cartridge & do some additional follow-up tests with my LabRadar.

Awesome testing!
That's the kind of data we only get in this forum and not from the manufacturers.
I am saving that data in my 44 special file.
Only handgun I really shoot any more.

Those aluminum 44 specials kick like a magnum don't they?
I have a 3" 396 and the very rapid recoil keeps me on my toes.
The 396 weighs half of what the 696's do.
Luckily I have a lot of experience shooting magnums and don't mind the experience.
Having said that, I have no desire to shoot a 329 with full house loads.
My wrists hurt just thinking about it.