44 spl

[hsc]

What 44 spl ammo do you guys shoot at the range. Do you prefer lead or copper. Is lead hard to clean out of your barrel.

Thanks

 

[gkitch]

I, like most 44 Special fans, handload most of my rounds. I like a nice 200gr lead RNFP bullet pushing along mildly for Cowboy and general messing around practice loads.
When one of the 44 Specials is with me during hunting seaon or as a companion in the field, I use 240gra lead SWC bullets at around 900+ FPS. This is a great all around load.
The lead does not build up much as these velocities. When it does get to the point that it needs to be cleaned out, there is a product called Outers Foul-out II that is absolutely wonderful.

 

[dirty gary]

I handload everything, and like gkitch I like the 200 gr lead for general purpose/target plinking. Lately I've loaded some plated 240 gr Berry's FP rounds, since I have them for 44 Mag. If I shoot a lot of lead, I run some plated rounds through to make the cleaning easier. For hunting I like the Hornady XTP in 200 gr.

 

[Boge]

...If I shoot a lot of lead, I run some plated rounds through to make the cleaning easier. For hunting I like the Hornady XTP in 200 gr.

I had thought that ol' wives' tale was dead. Shooting copper bullets after shooting lead does not clean out the lead but only "irons" the lead deeper into the bore & in a worse case scenario in a handgun can even bulge the barrel if heavily leaded. Besides, if you're getting leading then something is wrong. Usually bullets that are too hard and resultant gas cutting or a rough forcing cone.

 

[TripleLock]

All of my 44 Special ammo is handloaded; cast bullets (Lyman's No.429383 and No.429421) and Bullseye mainly, with occaisional use of Unique. Don't recall ever having any problems with leading, at least nothing that a little bit of good old Hoppe's No.9 and a few minutes worth of attention with a good bore brush couldn't handle.

I've never used jacketed or plated bullets in the 44 Special, and the only factory ammo I've ever owned in this caliber is at least 20 years old now and the box still holds all its original cartridges.

TL

 

[BUFF]

What 44 spl ammo do you guys shoot at the range. Do you prefer lead or copper. Is lead hard to clean out of your barrel.

If it is just 'at the range' shooting at paper, I would shoot the cheapest factory ammo I could find, which would likely be either W-W or R-P's traditional, lead round nose lead 246 grain stuff. The lead bullet "cowboy" ammunition is probably about the same cost. The jacketed bullet ammo is usually self defense stuff and pretty pricey per shot just to put holes in paper

Lead bullet ammunition does leave your handgun a lot dirtier than jacketed bullets do. The answer is to find a good gun cleaning solvent and brushes and get scrubbing!

That said, I probably haven't shot 100 rounds of factory loaded .44 Special ammo in the last 5 years. It is a cartridge that just begs to be handloaded. Which I do. With cast bullets, Unique powder and great enthusiasm.

 

[sixshot]

The 44 special is a great caliber & seems to be gaining in popularity since so many Lipsey's guns have been hitting the market. It will shoot almost any load accurately. You need 2 things, correct bullet fit & the correct hardness for the velocity you are running.
Don't worry about leading if you follow the above steps, just enjoy your gun. My everyday load in the special is 5.5 grs of 231 & the great 250 gr Keith slug.

Dick