Factory Ammo options - 44 special

[burch]

With all the crap going on in this country now i`m going with factory ammo instead of my reloads for personal defense. I have a 696 - 44special. So what are all of you using in your 44 spec. for personal defense. I have to stick with a fairly heavy bullet `cause of the forcing cone issues on these 696`s and hate sub sonic loads anyhow. With the big bores I really don`t see the need for +P ammo but your opinion with be valued here. Accuracy is always the key so i`d really like to hear from those folks that have experimented with different loads in the 44 spec.

Thanks to all,
Burch

 

[Pisgah]

I have two factory loads I use. The Federal 200 gr. LSWCHP, and the Georgia Arms load with the 200 gr. Gold Dot JHP.

 

[Spotteddog]

Either one of those are great choices. With the caveat of if they can be found?
Because of it's cost and availability, you may want to consider running reloads that duplicate the performance of the load chosen for practice? The .44 Special's strong suit has always been its accuracy and relatively low muzzle blast (sub-sonic). Other than the 246 grain Lead round nose factory stuff, there are few bullets that wouldn't serve a S/D shooter well. Which also include IMHO the heavy Keith type SWC. A 255 grain version of which I run for S/D in my 696.
YMMV?

 

[burch]

Either one of those are great choices. With the caveat of if they can be found?
Because of it's cost and availability, you may want to consider running reloads that duplicate the performance of the load chosen for practice? The .44 Special's strong suit has always been its accuracy and relatively low muzzle blast (sub-sonic). Other than the 246 grain Lead round nose factory stuff, there are few bullets that wouldn't serve a S/D shooter well. Which also include IMHO the heavy Keith type SWC. A 255 grain version of which I run for S/D in my 696.
YMMV?

Funny you should mension that. I just bought a Lyman 255 SWC mould for casting. I had my heart set on the 429421 but i`m not giving up on the one I have until I try a lot of different loads for it. What powder are you using for the 255 grainer ?

 

[Spotteddog]

#.429244? (I run a gas check version, but it's not required)
I use Bullseye and 2400.
4.5 of Bullseye=650 FPS plinker/target load.

12.0 of 2400=900+FPS

 

[burch]

429244 is the mould I have too, thanks for the tip. I have some Bullseye, Unique and H- Universal on hand to try out. With your 650 fps load i`m assuming you don`t use the gas check on `em. I like that idea cause i`ve never seen the need for hot loads anyhow. You`ll get great performance with a heavy bullet running it on the slower side.

 

[Spotteddog]

Depending on the hardness, you may not need one at all?
FYI- Expect that target load to print well above the sights 1"-3" high @ 10-15 yards. If your gun is anything like my no dash, you won't be able to "lower" the sight far enough to get it to POA. It however, allows use of a "Navy" (6 o'clock) sight hold on a 3" bullseye slow fire target, to perfectly plop them into the X ring!
Good Luck!

 

[ENH]

I carry Win. 200gr. Silver Tips off the property, but when walking out back I usually have the Georga Arms 200 gr GD's. Both are excellent loads.

 

[bubbajoe45]

I like the Federal LSWHP and the Gold Dot, but as mentioned, have trouble finding them. Have tried some CorBon 200 gr. DPXs, which I liked, but they're very expensive AND hard to find (I also prefer a heavier boolit). The Blazer 200 gr. load is supposed to be the same as the Gold Dots, but I don't get very good accuracy with it in most of my .44s. I've never been pleased with the accuracy of Silvertips either - they're fairly slow also. Somebody needs to come up with a good 240 gr. defensive load! I've never tried the Hornady 180 gr XTP.

I reload 240 gr. LSWFPs that I buy in bulk (500 for under $50) and use Trailboss powder. This stuff is GREAT! Very accurate, fills the cases, burns very clean. You can load it from 600 to 1000+ fps (I like about 850fps).
I typically use Unique for jacketed 240 gr. Hornadys (XTPs & SIL) and 265 gr Speers.

 

[Spotteddog]

I agree!
In anything but the LRN, it's a wonderful S/D caliber. I do believe that the only reason it never acquired any "stats", is because it was so seldom used. With accuracy, recoil and recovery like the .38 Special's, it was and remains an overlooked loading. But apparently such it is too remain? As is to, the .41 Magnum/Specials unfortunately...
That's why though never having owned one, I have such a warm spot in my heart for .41 Mag and 10 MM owner/shooters I guess?

 

[burch]

I bought a box of Win. 200 gr. silvertips. We`ll try `em out for accuracy at 10 yrds. and see what happens.

 

[Spotteddog]

They were what I used in my C/A Bulldog. In a way. they're a bit "too" mild, for a gun the weight of the 696. I can't recall the spec's, but they were among the lightest of all the loadings, being somewhere in the cowboy action shooting range of performance. But with a great bullet! Very accurate, shot nearly perfectly to the sights. One things sure, you could screw all 5 into someone in a hurry out of a gun the weight of a 696.

 

[Frizzman]

I have a 396 Mountain Lite and use Corbon 165gr. ammo for a "city load" and 200gr. Silvertips for other jobs. The light bullet helps reduce the recoil in such a light revolver. I do want penetration but not too much in the city environment here.

 

[Andy Taylor]

I am rather fond of both of these loads from Buffalo Bore.


http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=17


Although I will put myself in the camp of this caliber works so well that anything but LRN will work, and work well.

 

[38-44HD45]

On the rare occasions when I carry a .44 Special as a social companion, it is loaded with either Speer Lawman or Blazer, with 200 gr. Gold Dots in either. They will run about 850-875 fps. from a 4" barrel, and not much less from a 3-incher. They expand well and won't beat your gun up too badly.

 

[oldRoger]

I carry the BB-255gr also. I use 245gr Keith hardcast with 8.8gr VV 3N37 for practice, sometimes carry it on the property as well. Shoots close to the sights in my 696.

 

[Hook686]

I still have some 185 grain JHP Buffalo Bore loads. These shoot nice and have the energy of the full load 125 grain .357 magnum, with the initial bullet diameter of the .44.

 

[jp zanoya]

My home defense load is Blazer 200gr Gold Dot. They are pleasant shooting and give impressive expansion and total weight retention in my tests (water jugs backed with phone books--not the most "scientific")

 

[Spotteddog]

Yeah JP.
But I'd imagine that most folks you'd find busting into your house or garage in early AM hours, probably won't have read the results of all that testing anyway?
So you probably made a really good choice?

 

[Bang340]

About the 696's.... are they a LOT bigger than a 19? I am seriously thinking of getting a 19 or 66 for concealed (Belt Holster) carry. Would the 696 just be a bit too fat for that?

I have some Buffalo Bore that would be sweet in that gun i bet!!