.44 Special Loads For a Rainy Day

[ArchAngelCD]

I have not found W231 to be position sensitive.
I use it in many handgun cartridges including the .38 Special and .45 Colt.

 

[Nemo288]

In a forum for express rifles it was mentioned that 85 gr. Blue Dot was used as a very reduced plinking load in the 4 bore.
The full power load is 14 drams of black powder.
Consider the amount of energy they are dealing with there.
It's impressive.
That is the most extreme use of Blue Dot I have heard of.
Then again the 4 bore is the most extreme sporting weapon still being shot.

 

[daverich4]

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.

These people claim to have it. I put it in my cart and there wasn't anything about out of stock.

IMR Trail Boss Smokeless Powder 2 Pounds - Midwest Reloads

 

[daverich4]

Here as well. I didn't do any due diligence on the sellers, just did a Google search for "Trail Boss for sale".

Trailboss powder | Trail Boss powder in stock

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

These people claim to have it. I put it in my cart and there wasn't anything about out of stock.

IMR Trail Boss Smokeless Powder 2 Pounds - Midwest Reloads

Looks like this one is a scam website
Scam Website Midwestreloads.com -HOME - MidWest Reloads - StopGunScams.com
I'd be very careful when someone has a product nobody else has in stock. Especially if you've never heard of them before.

 

[Nemo288]

What could possibly go wrong indeed!
Check
Dealer Locator – Hodgdon
Alliant Powder - Dealer Locator
and the known reputable online dealers.
If you don't see the advertised outlet in question, stay away.

Luckily my local target shop, Recobs, has been an official distributor/retailer for most major brands for decades.
They seem to know what's going on when we converse.
It's also nice to have an actual store to go to.

 

[Model19man]

These people claim to have it. I put it in my cart and there wasn't anything about out of stock.

IMR Trail Boss Smokeless Powder 2 Pounds - Midwest Reloads

Obvious scam - the only payment types they accept are Zelle, Cashapp and Paypal Friends & Family. Don't fall for it.

 

[Model19man]

Here as well. I didn't do any due diligence on the sellers, just did a Google search for "Trail Boss for sale".

Trailboss powder | Trail Boss powder in stock

Again an obvious scam that only accepts Zelle etc.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If it sounds to good to be true is usually is.

Here is something anyone who buys online should read:

How to NOT get Scammed

 

[BillBro]

Don't use bluedot myself but I do like power pistol.

One of my favorite loads is 8.0gr of pp and a home cast 245gr keith swc. That combo does 830fps out of a 2 1/2" bbl'd ca bulldog.

Enjoy your 44spl, it's one of those forgotten calibers that's extremely accurate and hard hitting even with mild/standard loads.

8gr is precisely the load I use too, only in a 3" 696, great load but according to my chrono a little too hot maybe for a 696. My chrono says 895fps with the same bullet and a sd of 19 and es of 7 and quite accurate if I do my part. With a 7.4gr charge I saw 845fps.
Another great 44spl powder is Ramshot TrueBlue. I liked it enough that I bought 8lbs of it. Not just for the Spl though, TB is probably my favorite all around powder. You simply cannot do better in a 9mm.

 

[Forrest r]

8.0gr of power pistol with that 245gr keith swc is within the 15,500psi saami limit for the 44spl.

The handloader magazine/Brian Pearce have done several articles on the 44spl. The link below is one of those articles (2004)

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian Pearce on the 44 Special.pdf

Another link with early 44spl loads & bullet testing.
Index of /44_Special_Articles

 

[Warren Sear]

Since Unique is no longer available, I want to save my last pound of it. I am now using Power Pistol, and am very happy with it.

My new .44 Special load is 7.0 grains of Power Pistol with a 214 grain Lee semi-wad cutter mold I just bought. I haven't measured the velocity yet, but it is probably close to 900 fps.

This is an accurate and pleasant shooting load.

 

[CH4]

Was Unique discontinued or you haven't been able to find any?

 

[Warren Sear]

I haven't found any Unique locally for a couple of years. Power Pistol is more expensive, but I am liking it.

 

[serger]

Midway has the 8 pounders for sale. $314.00 plus
the usual add on's.

 

[Model19man]

Since Unique is no longer available, I want to save my last pound of it.

It's always been in stock here. Maybe you need to buy it online?

Access Denied

No idea why it says "Access Denied" - the link still works.

 

[Nemo288]

Have not seen any Alliant powders around here for a couple of years either.
Recob's Target Shop | Product categories ALLIANT
It's just starting to show up at the major distributors.
But I prefer the walk-in scenario which saves the extra fees and supports our local shooting community.
The Australian/Hodgdon powders I use in the 444 (H4198, H322) are also still missing.
Considering N120 instead as it's available.
Vihtavouri used to be the most expensive powder around but the other brands are rushing furiously to catch up with it.
I see Midway just got Reloder-7 in but they want $52/lb. for a 5 pound jug.
The VV N120 is $43/lb. or $36.25/lb. for an 8lb. jug.

BTW Midway has a sale on Power Pistol currently.

 

[dickydalton]

One nice load is a Matt's Bullets 185 grain wadcutter over 7.5 grains of Unique. 6.5 and 7 grains didn't cut it, 7.5 was sweet.

 

[HarpHack]

Back around 2013 my notes say I had odd pressure spike issues with Blue Dot in .44 Mag, and I recall there was a warning from Alliant published about that time regarding potential problems for some loads - wish I remembered more detail.

This wouldn't likely map over to .44 Special but seemed worth mentioning. It would not be my powder choice but then I have sufficient other types on hand.

 

[Warren Sear]

Back around 2013 my notes say I had odd pressure spike issues with Blue Dot in .44 Mag, and I recall there was a warning from Alliant published about that time regarding potential problems for some loads - wish I remembered more detail.

This wouldn't likely map over to .44 Special but seemed worth mentioning. It would not be my powder choice but then I have sufficient other types on hand.

I have experienced the same phenomenon with Blue Dot in a .357 Magnum. That was in the early 1980s, and I have not used Blue Dot since.