.44 Special

[Grayfox]

Most factory ammo for the .44 Special runs a 246gr Lead bullet at around 750fps. My own pet load is a 240gr LSWC at about 800fps. Yet it seems like everytime someone talks about their own .44 Specials they tend to list velocities of 900fps or better.
So I was curious, am I the only person happy with what basicly amounts to a standard load? Does everyone else feel the need to bump it up a bit? How fast do you load 'em?

 

[TAROMAN]

A 240 at 900 FPS is a very useful hunting load.
Well within the limits of the 44 Special.
Or, for what I use it for, bowling pins.

 

[LaVistaBill]

Remington factory 246 gr. loads did only 633 FPS out of my 3" Charter Bulldog. That's a bit too weak. My carry load is the Federal 200 gr. LSWCHP at 772 FPS. To me anything in the 750-950 FPS range is enough in .44 Special. As we have the .44 Magnum, I can't see "whumping-up" the Special anymore...

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Years ago I tried Elmer's loads, too hot for me or my S.A. so reduced to 15 grs. 2400. Now that's the load I used until I got a Charter Bulldog. Had to go much lighter again. Don't remember the load as the Bulldog is long gone.

 

[DFrame]

I'm perfectly happy with Cowboy equivalent loads. I use a 200 grain RNFP and Trail Boss.
I've NEVER been inclined to "hot rod" a calibre that is perfectly adequate with standard pressure loads.
If I need more power I'll use my Anaconda!

 

[Rule3]

Most factory ammo for the .44 Special runs a 246gr Lead bullet at around 750fps. My own pet load is a 240gr LSWC at about 800fps. Yet it seems like everytime someone talks about their own .44 Specials they tend to list velocities of 900fps or better.
So I was curious, am I the only person happy with what basicly amounts to a standard load? Does everyone else feel the need to bump it up a bit? How fast do you load 'em?

246 grain bullet?? Who, where??

Mostly 200 or 240

You referring to Cowboy loads or self defense loads.

Try the Skeeter load. You will get 900 FPS +

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/92995-44-special-load.html

 

[JBnTx]

I'm content with standard power 44 special loads. Trailboss is a fantastic powder for the 44 special.

I have both 44 special and 44 magnum Ruger revolvers. I treat them as two entirely different calibers. I don't hot rod the 44 special and I don't download the 44 magnum.

I also don't shoot 44 special in the 44 magnum.
That's what the 44 specials are for.

 

[eb07]

Loading to modern max levels I am getting around 940fps out of my 2.5" barrel.

7.8gr of power pistol. 240gr speer jhp. This is a standard load.

8.0 is about at 15.5k so my load is well within limits and not pushing it.

The 8.0 to 9.0 range is pushing it.

 

[Frank237]

Both of my .44 Specials ( 3" M696, FA M-97 4 1/4")get carried in mtn lion/bear country so I load to 900+ fps with a 250 gr Keith style SWC.

Otherwise I'm a 850 fps guy with 240 gr #429421 slugs or occasionally less for gophers, or plinking at the quarry.

 

[2152hq]

I use Bulleye,,5gr and a 240grLSWC. Probably about 750fps in my guns.
The Alliant Powder guide shows 5.2gr as their one and only load w/that bullet (actually a 'Speer' LSWC) @ 790fps in a 5 1/2" bbl.
I don't have a cronograph so it's my guess on the vel. That's close enough for me. It shoots well, accurate and clean in T/Ls, Colt SAA and Repro OpenTop Colt S/A..

 

[RussellD]

Loading a simple, mild and accurate practice load- 5.0 grains of WST with a 240 SWC.

 

[Lenny_D]

I've recently chrongraphed my favorite 44 special loads out of my 3" barreled 696. My practice and carry load was averaging 820 fps and the load I'd take into the woods with big critters is only slightly higher at averaging at 875 fps. Both loads were using the 240 grain LSWC Keith style Missouri Bullet and Unique.

Len

 

[Maximumbob54]

How hot you load it depends on what gun you are loading it for in the first place. No way would I load anything hot for the compact frame snub .44's but a standard frame .44 I could see warming it up a little. I usually cast a 200gr and load it just shy of the max load where they tend to be more accurate.

 

[tops]

I load 6. grs. of Unique and a 240 gr. SWC at 784 FPS with a 6 1/2 in. barrel. When I want a 240 gr. bullet to go faster I use a .44M. Larry

 

[Redhawk500]

I noted the "new" Unique is faster, over 1000 fps from 4 5/8 Ruger Flattop with 240 grain cast SWC and 7.5 grains Unique. I carried the factory 246 grain lead round nose Remington in a 3 inch Charter Arms Bulldog. It was a 700 fps load (no chronograph back then).

 

[TripleLock]

I use Bullseye,,5gr and a 240grLSWC. Probably about 750fps in my guns. ... It shoots well, accurate and clean in T/Ls, Colt SAA and Repro OpenTop Colt S/A..

Me, too.

And what he said:

I'm content with standard power 44 special loads. ... I don't hot rod the 44 special and I don't download the 44 magnum.

I also don't shoot 44 special in the 44 magnum.
That's what the 44 specials are for.

 

[mikld]

No, to answer your question, you ain't the only one to use "standard" loads for you .44 Special. If I "feel the need" for a bigger boom, and more recoil, I'll shoot one of my .44 Magnums. If I'm wanting a easy shooting, pleasant shooting session, I'll shoot "standard" .44 Special loads. Keith hotrodded his .44 Specials 'cause the .44 Magnum wasn't available then...

I like to match the gun/load for the intended purpose. I like shooting .38 Specials at 20 yards, using 150 gr. DEWC light loads. If I want to try at 50-60 yard targets or gophers at 50-75 yards, I'll shoot a .357. If I'm relaxing and shooting my .44s, a Special will get the job done quite well, but if I want to make a lot of noise sending a big bullet down range pretty fast, I'll go with a .44 Magnum, either outta my 7 1/2" Ruger, my Dan Wesson 44H. or my Puma carbine.

 

[Maximumbob54]

That does make me wonder what would have happened had he been hotrod with a .38/40, .45 Colt, or other caliber instead of the .44 special. Would we have had the .40 Magnum instead???

 

[semperfi71]

How hot you load it depends on what gun you are loading it for in the first place. No way would I load anything hot for the compact frame snub .44's but a standard frame .44 I could see warming it up a little.

I agree with this philosophy. My M696 is loaded with the very soft Hornady 240 grain SWC bullets to about 750/800 fps due to the very thin forcing cone. My Colt SAAs are loaded with a hardcast 240 SWC at about 850/900 fps as well my M24-3. I also have a Ruger New Vaquero with the 3 1/2 inch barrel (what a sweetheart gun!) in .44 Special which is loaded to 900 fps, this because I carry it horseback and need the power.

Some .44 Special shooters seem to forget Elmer loaded his .44 Specials up to 1200 fps because there was no .44 Magnum. When he got his .44 Magnum he quit loading his .44 Specials that hot.

As well I do not shoot .44 Special cases in .44 Magnum handguns. When I want a reduced plinking load I shoot .44 Magnum cases with a 240 grain bullet at 800/900 fps. This so I do not have to scrub out the "lead-ring".

Additionally I would not feel "under-gunned" with any .44 or .45 caliber 240/250 grain load at 650 fps for self defense. With a WC or SWC bullet I would think it would be an ideal weapon for defending from humans. Low recoil with the ability for a quick response, low flash with the correct powder choice, and some protection from over penetration.

 

[Aticus]

Grayfox, I agree with you. I load to basic factory specs. I might get a little faster but if you want a 44 bullet to go 1200 fps get a 44 Mag or perhaps a 460.

 

[bubbajoe45]

Elmer

That does make me wonder what would have happened had he been hotrod with a .38/40, .45 Colt, or other caliber instead of the .44 special. Would we have had the .40 Magnum instead???

No. He DID experiment with all those calibers (and more). Keith settled on the 44 Special because he got the best results with it (reliable power with max case life and accuracy). Check out his books . . .

 

[BigBill]

I use unique gun powder for all my leadcast loads in magnum revolvers. I use the 2400 gun powder in my magnum loads. For pistol loads unique works ok too. My point is keep it simple.

For my 44 magnum loads I use the 2400 powder with the 200gr JHP Speer bullets to around 1400fps. It might be closer to 1500fps. My 240he JHP loads are about 1350fps.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I have several 44Spl Smiths including a 696.

My favorite load is 6.5g W231 under a 250g SWC.

I believe it's @ 850fps and totally within the parameters of a modern 44Spl. Useful is what I'd call it. No magnum, but enough for just about whatever you need a handgun for.

Fun shooting too. They're the next level under the Skeeter load.

EK referred to the Skeeter as a 'gallery load' and AFAIK, he never went back to standard 44Spl loads as they were such under performers.

 

[LaVistaBill]

You must be a young pup...the original .44 Special load in 1906 had a 246 gr. round-nose lead bullet. It was supposed to be an improvement on the .44 Russian, but the velocity was dummed-down for some reason, so ballistics were almost identical to the older load. As far as I know Remington and Winchester still offer the .44 Special in this format.

246 grain bullet?? Who, where??

Mostly 200 or 240

You referring to Cowboy loads or self defense loads.

Try the Skeeter load. You will get 900 FPS +

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/92995-44-special-load.html

 

[STCM(SW)]

How does 5.5 gr of WW231 with a 204 gr LWC I mold sound for a target load in any of my .44 Spl 6" sound?

 

[Aticus]

You must be a young pup...the original .44 Special load in 1906 had a 246 gr. round-nose lead bullet. It was supposed to be an improvement on the .44 Russian, but the velocity was dummed-down for some reason, so ballistics were almost identical to the older load. As far as I know Remington and Winchester still offer the .44 Special in this format.

My sources tell me that S&W designed the Special because the Russian didn't give proper performance with the smokeless powders of the day. That's why the ballistics are relatively the same.

 

[ironhead7544]

For practice, a minimum load of Unique and a 250 K. For carry, the Skeeter load. If I wanted to hunt with a modern 44 Special, Elmers load.

Minimum Unique load in 5 and 1/2 inch barrel - 820 fps

Skeeter load - 840 fps 3 inch, 880 fps 4 inch

Elmer's load - 985 in 3 inch.

 

[OFT II]

240 grain cast SWC and Unique powder.

5.5 grains = load for the grandkids.

6.5 grains = my favorite load

7.5 grains = Whitetail deer load

 

[LaVistaBill]

I guess I would have thought it just the opposite as black powder cartridge cases were generally longer due to the bulk of black powder as opposed to smokeless powder, but it could have been the early smokeless stuff used was like nitrocellulose strands or gun cotton that was also somewhat bulky. Ammo companies also sometimes made the cases longer so they could not be used in older guns like the .38 Special/.357 Magnum. I have a friend who used to be the Reloading Editor for Shooting Times magazine and for his .44 Special revolvers he makes up a lot of loads with .44 Russian brass and I know they are accurate as I just used some in his Colt New Frontier a couple of weeks ago.

My sources tell me that S&W designed the Special because the Russian didn't give proper performance with the smokeless powders of the day. That's why the ballistics are relatively the same.

 

[Rule3]

You must be a young pup...the original .44 Special load in 1906 had a 246 gr. round-nose lead bullet. It was supposed to be an improvement on the .44 Russian, but the velocity was dummed-down for some reason, so ballistics were almost identical to the older load. As far as I know Remington and Winchester still offer the .44 Special in this format.

No actually I am an old fart curmudgeon,

The OP stated

"Most factory ammo for the .44 Special runs a 246gr Lead bullet "

It's not. Rem used to make some loads with that bullet.

Please be kind and post some links to this factory ammo that is actually still made and in stock.? Or perhaps some bullet casting companies that make it.