Marksman
Member
I have shot tens of thousands of Skeeter loads in both .44 Special and .44 Magnum, I prefer a 200gr. RNFP bullet though.
Skeeter Skelton's 44 special load
- Thread starter DeplorabusUnum
- Start date
Maybe I'm a bit different, but I get bored with light loads and enjoy the little healthier recoil that the Skeeter load gives. Not excessive like some .44 magnum loads, but just enough to let you know it has some oomph. I go through the same thing when shooting .38 Spl target loads. After a while I get the hankering to blast some .357 mags. Puts a smile on my face anyway.
Model19man
Member
Very interesting article, thanks for sharing that link. The Unique load at 7.5 grains with an extreme spread of 5 FPS is telling.
Doc Watson
Member
I believe Bob Sconce of the old Miniature machine shop did the conversion work on Skeeters guns. In the April 1972 article, he just says a machinest friend of his. Years later when he did the same thing only rechambering to 45 colt, he stated that it was Bob. Hope this is of some interest.
About 12 years ago or so, Jim Fisher invited my buddy Frank and I to come up and look at some of his S&W's. While there, he dug out Skeeter's .44 Special and asked us if we'd like to shoot it. Both Frank and I nodded our heads vigorously and he took us to his range beside his home. Frank and I each fired several cylinders full, savoring the rare opportunity to actually experience a bit of handgun history. IIRC the load was Skeeter's load as well. The gun timed perfectly as was not loose, so I can attest personally that the load causes no ill affect. Only Jim would be that kind to give a chance to enjoy such a special treat.
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Doc Watson
Member
Wow! what an honor. I was a young Police Officer when he passed, could not afford any of the guns that were auctioned, I still have the list. That 1950 target is the one I would have bought if I could have.
I still have 3 N frame .44 Spl guns left in the collection. For the time that I have owned them there are only 2 loads I shoot out of them.
The first is the Skeeter load of 7.5 gr Unique with a 245 gr 429421 bullet.
The second load and my favorite is 15.0 gr of 2400 with the same bullet. I prefer this load because it fills the case. It also gives a velocity of about 1025 fps. I also shoot this load out of my .44 mag guns using 16.0 gr of 2400.
Never a problem in the years I've owned these guns.
The first is the Skeeter load of 7.5 gr Unique with a 245 gr 429421 bullet.
The second load and my favorite is 15.0 gr of 2400 with the same bullet. I prefer this load because it fills the case. It also gives a velocity of about 1025 fps. I also shoot this load out of my .44 mag guns using 16.0 gr of 2400.
Never a problem in the years I've owned these guns.
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Walter Rego
Member
The Skeeter load is stout but not hot. I shoot it in my Ruger Bisley Flattop .44 Special but when handloading for my Colt SAA .44 Special or S&W Model 24-3, I load only 6.0 grains of Unique.
That is pretty close to a factory load which still has plenty of power and I don't feel like it is stressing those two revolvers.
That is pretty close to a factory load which still has plenty of power and I don't feel like it is stressing those two revolvers.
STORMINORMAN
Member
I would opine that the all steel N-frame S&W design that can handle the pressures of a 357 Magnum (@ 35K psi) shouldn't be unduly stressed with the anticipated pressure (15.5K psi
) of the 44 S&W Special...
Just an IMHO.
Cheers!
) of the 44 S&W Special...Just an IMHO.
Cheers!
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rockquarry
Member
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I don't believe anyone implied this was a high pressure loading, rather it's a stout load with significant but not severe recoil.I would opine that the all steel N-frame S&W design that can handle the pressures of a 357 Magnum (@ 35K psi) shouldn't be unduly stressed with the anticipated pressure (15.5K psi
Just an IMHO.
Cheers!
STORMINORMAN
Member
My comment was directed towards the strength of an all steel N-frame vs. suggesting the Skeeter load was somehow "high pressure"...
If one can shoot a 357 Magnum factory load out of a J-frame (ouch!), a K-frame (with
"flame cutting"?), a L-frame or a N-frame with relative impunity I feel 44 Specials in the same N-frame design shouldn't present excessive stress for the revolver.I guess I will just have to obtain some cast 250gr lead and load up a few with the suggested 7.5gr of Unique and see how they feel in the Bulldog On Duty? Much more of a load (or bullet) than I would feel a need to carry of shoot for pleasure. I can always shoot the excess in my SB Hunter.
Cheers!
P.S. What would be the anticipated pressure for the Skeeter load, loaded a bit long?
twodog max
Member
Back in those innocent days of the 70's I was a devoted Skeeter fan. If he loaded it and said it was good I shot it as well. No 44 Special because I did not have one but plenty of 357 and 38 special.
I tried Elmer's loads and they were to ragged edge for me or at least felt that way.
I tried Elmer's loads and they were to ragged edge for me or at least felt that way.
I am another one that followed Skeeter's stories. I had several S&Ws converted to .44 Special, as well as two Ruger Old Model .357s. I've owned .32-20s, Model 19s and Model 27s, all of which had received Skeeter's mark of approval.
I fired Skeeter's .44 Special load in a Charter Bulldog. Even with rubber grips, it killed on both ends!
I fired Skeeter's .44 Special load in a Charter Bulldog. Even with rubber grips, it killed on both ends!
I have used his loads in every 44 SPL I have with no problems.
And I have quite a few .44's......
And I have quite a few .44's......
OFT II
US Veteran
7.0 grains of Unique is about as warm as I want. By the way, his name was Charles Allan Skelton, not Shelton.
Eddie Southgate
Member
Had a 4 inch 1st gen Target Bulldog and to be honest 6 1/2 gr was enough for me. Surprisingly it was an accurate handgun even with the Skeeter load. The load was more than my hand enjoyed though. I mostly loaded a 200 gr lead bullet,with Unique
If you are killing full size deer with it, it is fine for any defensive carry. In the model 29 my plinking load since 1981 is 10 grains Unique and a 240 grain cast. I also shoot it in the Redhawk, about 600 fpe, about like a top end 357.
In the snub nose 44 mag, I down load to 9.0 grains of Unique and the 240 grain cast. About the same power level, Keith used 255 grain bullets, mine are only 240.
If you are getting over 900 fps, forget about it, more than enough. If you are getting above 1,000 great even better. If you are getting 1,100 fps, near supersonic, you are in solid magnum territory but not top end, enjoy them, they are close enough to the real deal.
