Accuracy Load for .44 Special?

[Dale53]

My experience leaves me quite satisfied with +or- one tenth of a grain each side of the desired powder charge. Frankly, if you keep it +or-.1 of a grain, neither the chronograph, nor the target from a Ransom Rest can tell the difference.

I only weigh my pistol charges when check weighing. I use a Dillon 550B (actually two of them) and have learned to operate it smoothly for best results of the powder measure and the rest of the operations on the Dillon. You can actually vary the powder charge from most measures by the way you operate them.

Until just recently, my ONE load for the .44 Special was 7.5 grs of Unique behind a Keith 240-250 gr bullet. It will shoot extremely well in my 24 and 624's and will do about all I need from a .44 Special. Definitely a GOOD load in my guns (including a Cimarron single action).

Dale53

 

[keppelj]

Ok, Dale53, you make me want to try Unique 7.5. Maybe I will if I can find some. But even more, what succeeded it. What was that?

 

[Dale53]

keppellj;
I didn't supersede it, I just added an additional bullet that I am still working with. That's the Group Buy (from cast boolits) 200 gr full wadcutter. I have only shot a few but they haven't yet attained the level of the "Skeeter Load":

I was feeling a bit "frisky" one day in front of my fellow shooters. I said, "Watch This" and loaded up six rounds in the 624 (6½" barrel). I told them I hadn't shot this revolver for a couple of years and wasn't sure if I had sighted it in for point of aim or for a six o'clock hold. So, I held right at the bottom of the ten ring and fired the first shot (The idea was I would get a "10" regardless of the way the revolver was sighted). It cut the ten ring so I knew that it was sighted "right on". I then held center and shot the last five shots in a tiny group (25 yards, standing). MY buddies' eyes bugged out

. I would have liked to have had them believe that was just a normal group for "El Dale" but they knew better

.

As a matter of fact, I have still to equal that target shooting standing, again, but it does kind of illustrate the accuracy of that revolver with the "Skeeter Load" (7.5 grs of Unique behind a 250 gr Keith bullet - popularized by Skeeter Skelton). That was done with the issue sights and, now, that I am half blind that won't be apt to happen again without optical help. Hey! It was fun while it lasted

I wish I could do that all the time, but, alas, doesn't happen...

Dale53

 

[keppelj]

Dale, very nice shooting. Congrats. We do live for that. I have a few of those targets tucked away, but I don't recall that I shot any of them with an audience. Happy for you indeed. I'll try your load recommendation next time out. For the moment I have a crusty carbon build up in the cylinder throats, down from .429 (clean) to .427, to clean out.