44 Special--200 vs 240 grain loads
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Dave T
Member
Back before I gave up reloading I became a convert to the LBT designs. They had a 250g .430" bullet that was a dandy in the Special case. I too prefer a 240g or 250g to the 200g, at least in alloy bullets.
The Speer Gold Dot 200g is highly thought of by about everyone as a jacketed bullet. I think the sleeper in factory ammo may be the Cor-Bon 200g DPX. That's the Barns solid copper design that has a good track record of expansion and penetration.
YMMV,
Dave
The Speer Gold Dot 200g is highly thought of by about everyone as a jacketed bullet. I think the sleeper in factory ammo may be the Cor-Bon 200g DPX. That's the Barns solid copper design that has a good track record of expansion and penetration.
YMMV,
Dave
ajpelz
Member
200 grain
The higher velocity will lead to more reliable expansion.
The higher velocity will lead to more reliable expansion.
Not forever... Once you hit about 1000-1050 fps, there is limited value in going any faster, just more recoil. And with your 3" barrel, you will have difficulty in getting the velocity you want. If you want higher velocity, then you'r'e likely better off with the Maggie. I know, my opinion, and I have both calibers; both are 3".
Again, IMHO. and don't trust, but do verify. You don't wanna ruin a nice gun. Too much pressure may work for a while, but you may screw up the timing and stretch the frame, etc. I know it can happen, because I did it...many decades ago.
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Grayfox
US Veteran
Mostly I just shoot paper. My favorite load is a 240gr LSWC over 6.0 grs of W231. Runs right at 800fps out of my 6" 24-3. Pleasent to shoot and very accurate.
For jacketed bullets, I like the Remington 210gr JHP and 7.5grs of Unique. It clocks at 940fps out of the same gun.
For jacketed bullets, I like the Remington 210gr JHP and 7.5grs of Unique. It clocks at 940fps out of the same gun.
Rock77
Member
I have shot both the .44 Special and the .44 Magnum for years and this is what I have settled on for the .44 Special. I currently have two revolvers chambered for the .44 Special, a Lew Horton S&W 624 and a Taurus 441. I have used both the 180 gr. and 200 gr. Hornady XTP for years. I use VV N-350 and am able to get loads between 900 fps and 1000 fps with no pressure issues. This load is a strong defense load and has been very accurate in both of my revolvers.
You will find in your 44. Special that the heavier bullets will create more control issues in the lighter guns, I save the 240 gr. and heavier bullets for my .44 magnums where the weight of the guns helps to control recoil and are of course very strong weapons.
As some have suggested on this thread there is sure no harm in loading up some good cast bullets and load for the factory .44 Special velocities for paper punching and general plinking, then save the jacketed bullets for defense and hunting loads.
You will find in your 44. Special that the heavier bullets will create more control issues in the lighter guns, I save the 240 gr. and heavier bullets for my .44 magnums where the weight of the guns helps to control recoil and are of course very strong weapons.
As some have suggested on this thread there is sure no harm in loading up some good cast bullets and load for the factory .44 Special velocities for paper punching and general plinking, then save the jacketed bullets for defense and hunting loads.
Wow, this is an oldtimers thread. I used those bullets back in 80s for self-defense loads in .38, .357 and .45. Soft swaged bullets but they had a gaping hollowpoint. He also sold a 146 grain "hydrashock" wadcutter with a post in the center of basically a reverse hollow-base wadcutter. I think he was originator of the design, as soon afterwards S&W picked up the bullet and was loading it in their branded ammo. When S&W went out of the ammo business and Federal bought their entire line, just about the only two things they kept were that Hydrashock load and the Nyclad line. Of course later Federal refined the Hydrashock into a jacketed bullet.
Great bullets. They were economical as well. No wonder he went out of business.
I very well remember the Albertus swagged lead bullets. I was thrilled when I discovered that he sold .30 caliber bullets that weight (IIRC) about 173 grs. Loaded over 8gr. of Unique in my .30-06 1903-A3, I could get 10 shot groups at 100 yds. of under 2 inches. They were wonderful. If I could buy them today, I buy as many as my budget would allow! I never had a .30 rifle that didn't shot these bullets very well. You couldn't load them hot without leading the bore, but a slow to medium speeds, they were excellent. In a two-groove 03-A3 barrel the on target results were sometimes shocking, especially when fired with iron sights. I do wish that fellow had been able to stay in business. (I hope this comment is not inappropriate to the thread. If it is, please let me know and I will remove it).
For the sake of posterity Elmer Keith only used 18.5 of 2400 in the old balloon head cases. Once solid head cases came along he decreased his charge weight to 17gr of 2400 due to decreased case capacity. This was of course with his 429421 bullet.
Elmer explains this himself in this article that he wrote on page 25.
http://www.elmerkeithshoot.org/GA/1969_01_Elmer_Keith_Favorite_Load.pdf
Elmer explains this himself in this article that he wrote on page 25.
http://www.elmerkeithshoot.org/GA/1969_01_Elmer_Keith_Favorite_Load.pdf
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