44 special 250gr SWC Unique light load?

[flashbang155]

Hi all
Looking for a light load using Unique and a 250 grain cast Keith style SWC powder coated bullet use in my 629-6 5 inch for my partner.

6.8grs seems a little to wild but I'm finding a hard time discovering published old school 44 special light loads.

I went as far down as I'm willing to go using 44 Magnum cases with 7.0grs of Unique under a 250gr cast Keith style powder coated bullet, it's just a little much.

I have no interest in other powders as I found loads to use for the others.

Any real world loads under 6.8grs of Unique?

TIA


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[ontargetagain]

Lots of older info here on most calibers. Always check other load data from manufactures against these too just to be safe because 'safety' comes first
Reloading Pages of M.D. Smith
Karl

 

[Krogen]

There's really no worry about going to a lower powder charge with Unique. Just try some reduced charges. It will get dirtier and muzzle velocity will probably become less consistent. Just keep on the lookout for squibs. You could go low enough to stick a bullet in the barrel. Not a big deal provided you notice it and don't fire a second round.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have an older manual , with that bullet they show a minimum of 6.0 grs of Unique . Hope this helps .
Regards , Paul

 

[OFT II]

The grand kids like 5.5 grains of Unique with a 240 grain SWC. My arthritis does too.

 

[tt66]

I have shot 6.0 gr of Unique and found it safe and comfortable. I recently found Trailboss and I love it for reduced 45 Colt loads.

 

[mtgianni]

6.0-6.5 gr of Red Dot rock but I am not sure that Unique is adaptable for what you want.

 

[Kurusu]

I was almost certain that Unique and light load didn't belong in the same sentence.

I've been wrong before.







often

 

[Bakebfr480]

I load 7.5 grs. of Unique with Elmer's bullet.

 

[tops]

The book listed a factory load with a 246 gr. bullet at 755 fps. I never checked it too be sure.
I load a 44 s Spec. case, 6 gr. of Unique, 240 gr. SWC, 6 1/2 in. barrel and it chronographs at 784 fps. Larry

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I load 7.5 grs. of Unique with Elmer's bullet.

Me too!...........

 

[BigMuddy]

My old Speer #10 lists starting load of 5.7gr. with Unique in the Special. Showed 739fps from a CA 4" Bulldog. Max load shows 6.3 gr.

I've loaded 6.0 gr. and it shot ok. A bit dirty but that's Unique. I would think anything from 5.7 to 6.0 would be mild enough.

All of these are with a 240 gr. lead SWC.

Dan

 

[cowboy4evr]

The OP has stated he has no interest in other powders . I will add , for the benefit of anyone else wanting less recoil / fps that a faster powder will work much better . Ramshot Zip is a " low recoil " powder , burn rate is faster than unique and would work well in that application . Red Dot would also work well . I like RD much better than titegroup as it fills the case fuller , making the chance of a douible charge less possible . Trail Boss would work well here , probably the best choice for the desired performance . Cost wise , it is by far the most expensive . A bottle of Trail Boss is just 9 ounces and is only slightly lower cost than , say a one pound bottle of Red Dot . Regards , Paul

 

[44wheelman]

I leave my powder thrower at 6.5 for.. My .41 loads for the M58, my 225gr acp loads, and my 240gr .44spl loads.... call me lazy. I wouldn't be afraid of 6.0-6.2 with a 250gr. boolit. Would not go that low for jacketed.

Incidentally, I'm using WLP primers. They may be a tad hotter than std large pistol primers as WLP are for both std & magnum loads....but I don't know that for sure. But then I only use Federal primers for my W296 hunting loads.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I used to load 7.5 Unique in .44 Special but now stick with 6.4 grains over both 215 and 240 store bought cast lead bullets. I use an old Pacific press but use my Lee Loader powder scoop which is 6.4. Lead bullets only!! When I started reloading in the mid 1980s I loaded jacketed bullets with 6.4 grains of Unique and it got stuck in a Colt SAA barrel. Now lead bullets only for that charge.

 

[rockquarry]

I won't list or recommend the load because I'm not sure it's safe, but my first Lyman cast bullet book from the '70s shows #429421 and a .44 Special Unique load with a muzzle velocity of 455 fps from a 7 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk. I'd be concerned with the bullet clearing the barrel using such a load.

 

[Dale53]

The OP mentions he is not interested in another powder. However, a faster burning piwder will work better for light loads. Bullseye has long been THE choice for this purpose. Red Dot has also been mentioned. My choice would be Titegroup as it is not position sensitive. I am not bothered by it's low volume as I watch every case for powder level while using one of my Dillon 550B's. Titegroup also measures well in small loads.

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

 

[M29since14]

I was almost certain that Unique and light load didn't belong in the same sentence.

I've been wrong before.

often

Me too, on both counts.

I agree you about Unique, and with Dale53's additional comments. Unique definitely can be used in the 6-grain range, but it is not going to be ideal. I've made and fired lots of 44 Specials with 6.5-grains. Never have been satisfied with what the chronograph says. (Too much variation.)

 

[flashbang155]

Thanks for all the input.

A friend of mine has a copy of Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and a starting load for the bullet [245gr SWC] is 5.0gr of Unique.

So I made a few with 5.5grs of Unique as I belive 5.0 is a little to low and I have not read about anyone that used that starting load.

It maybe a sooty mess.

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[StakeOut]

I use 4.0gr of Trail Boss and 5.5gr of Unique for light target 44spl loads under a 240gr hard cast SWC.