Looking for a good 44spcl load
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OFT II
US Veteran
For a mild load try 5.5 grains of Unique, 6.5 grains for a medium load and 7.5 grains for a warm load. This info is for a 240 grain slug.
crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
what gun are you going to use it in and for what purpose? Hunting, target shooting, self defense ???
There ya go. That's the info we need to really help you out here.
semperfi71
US Veteran
A 240/250 grain cast flat point or semi-wadcutter loaded to anywhere from 800 fps to 1,000 fps (whichever is comfortable for you) with any powder that produces the best accuracy (which could be one of about 30 powders or so).
When you find the load you want, if you intend to keep the revolver for life buy ALL the components NOW to last the rest of your life. if you can.
When you find the load you want, if you intend to keep the revolver for life buy ALL the components NOW to last the rest of your life. if you can.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Yes, welcome to the forum!
I don't load for the 44Spl. I had some brass around here once but chose not to use it in my 44Mag revolvers. Nothing wrong with it though, I just decided to use 44Mag brass, even for my light loads.
All of the loads listed will work very well. I have a really light load that I used for PPC from my M629 Classic with a 5" barrel. It is a very light load but I found that others used it for pin shooting. It is a bit under the minimum from Alliant though so I hesitate posting it.
It uses a 200gr LRNFP Cowboy bullet and recoil is very light with the heavy barrel of the Classic. Makes for good follow up shots!
I don't load for the 44Spl. I had some brass around here once but chose not to use it in my 44Mag revolvers. Nothing wrong with it though, I just decided to use 44Mag brass, even for my light loads.
All of the loads listed will work very well. I have a really light load that I used for PPC from my M629 Classic with a 5" barrel. It is a very light load but I found that others used it for pin shooting. It is a bit under the minimum from Alliant though so I hesitate posting it.
It uses a 200gr LRNFP Cowboy bullet and recoil is very light with the heavy barrel of the Classic. Makes for good follow up shots!
Joni_Lynn
US Veteran
Welcome to the forum Pat
pbcaster
Member
I have had good luck in several revolvers using 5.0 grains of Red Dot, 240 grain bullets(RN or SWC), and .44 Special cases. That load is very accurate(at least in my revolvers)and burns quite clean.
Mule88
Member
Try 7.5 gn of Universal clays, burns cleaner than Unique and i find it more accurate.
I found that I like a little bit lighter bullet in the 44spl. I haven't had any problems pushing the 215gr bullets out of a charter arms bulldog, a S&W 624 & a contender.
For the last couple of years I've been using the lee cast bullet (214g). I can't believe the beautiful clean round holes they cut in paper. The holes look like they were made with a paper punch.
I'm using 4.8gr of titegroup to push that bullet. That's been an extremely accurate load that's easily managable for target duty & is still hot enough for other needs.
For the last couple of years I've been using the lee cast bullet (214g). I can't believe the beautiful clean round holes they cut in paper. The holes look like they were made with a paper punch.
I'm using 4.8gr of titegroup to push that bullet. That's been an extremely accurate load that's easily managable for target duty & is still hot enough for other needs.
Dave T
Member
My general purpose/plinking/practice 44 Special load is a Berry's 240g FP, seated deep enough to crimp over the shoulder of the point on top of 6.1g of HP-38 (I'm told this is the same as WW 231). I prefer the Berry's plated bullet as it leaves the revolver much cleaner than cast bullets of the same weight and at the same level of performance.
The above load chronographs at an average of 824 fps from a 4" barreled S&W Model of 1950 44 Target. Groups five or six shots into 2" @ 20 yards, which is about as good as my aging eyesight can manage. (smile)
Dave
The above load chronographs at an average of 824 fps from a 4" barreled S&W Model of 1950 44 Target. Groups five or six shots into 2" @ 20 yards, which is about as good as my aging eyesight can manage. (smile)
Dave
DGNY
Member
You are most welcome to join in the fun. Especially as you have inquired about a classic S&W cartridge, still so useful after all these years.
Regards,
Dyson
Regards,
Dyson
This is my 2 loads for the 3" 629
A nice plinking load, also good for bowling pins. 240 gr cast SWC over 5.0 Titegroup 650 fps
My next step up is 240 cast SWC over 5.7 Titegroup 850 fps
Great for bowling pins after they have soaked up a few rounds and get heavy. I would also be happy with this load for 2 legged varmints.
A nice plinking load, also good for bowling pins. 240 gr cast SWC over 5.0 Titegroup 650 fps
My next step up is 240 cast SWC over 5.7 Titegroup 850 fps
Great for bowling pins after they have soaked up a few rounds and get heavy. I would also be happy with this load for 2 legged varmints.
Kaumheimer
Member
In my opinion Smith Crazy is 100% correct. In experimenting I've also found the 200gr LRNFP Cowboy bullet to be preferable to the 240 gr lead SWC. The recoil is not only very light but it's incredibly accurate on top of 6.6 gr Unique. I don't really like a lot of recoil and the 200 gr bullet is much easier to manage and a lot more fun. Give it a shot.
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Murdock
Member
One thing to remember with the .44 Spl is that although some gallery loads can be very accurate with light powder charges, the very light loads can get dirty. (Like under 4 grains of Bullseye, etc.)
I've used the load I posts in a 5 shot charter arms bulldog without any problems. Your smith is better made than the charter arms. Besides, a 4.8gr charge of titegroup pushing a 215gr lead swc isn't setting any records for being excessive at anything other than being extremely consistent.
I've been using 8, 8.5, and even 9gr Power Pistol behind some commercial 240gr swcbb bullits in my 696, lately. It seems to handle them well.
Ozziess396
Member
I have been using this load for over 30 years and its safe in Charter Arms bulldogs and in my 629 and the number of 24's that I own.
I have fired them in my Ruger 77/44 rifle and they are accurate at 50 yards and feels like a 33 rifle.
I use a 240 GR semi wadcutter bevel base made by Penn bullets and I use a load of 6.2 GR of Herco.
(MIN=5.8 @ 721 FPS, MAX=6.4 @ 792FPS as listed in Speer manual #10).
I have a Smith 28 that back in the 70's was turned into a 44 special with a Douglas barrel that's 3 inches in length. With this load mounted on a Ransom rest the gun held a 1 ½ inch group at 50 yards.
I have shot thousands of this load over the year.
+1 to Murdock comment on light loads being very dirty. I have always found that mid loads of the suggested min/max are the cleanest. I have loaded some 9mm with very light (but safe) loads with 231 which I feel is very clean yet the cases came out looking like I had shot them with black powder, both inside and out.
http://www.pennbullets.com/44/44-caliber.html
I have fired them in my Ruger 77/44 rifle and they are accurate at 50 yards and feels like a 33 rifle.
I use a 240 GR semi wadcutter bevel base made by Penn bullets and I use a load of 6.2 GR of Herco.
(MIN=5.8 @ 721 FPS, MAX=6.4 @ 792FPS as listed in Speer manual #10).
I have a Smith 28 that back in the 70's was turned into a 44 special with a Douglas barrel that's 3 inches in length. With this load mounted on a Ransom rest the gun held a 1 ½ inch group at 50 yards.
I have shot thousands of this load over the year.
+1 to Murdock comment on light loads being very dirty. I have always found that mid loads of the suggested min/max are the cleanest. I have loaded some 9mm with very light (but safe) loads with 231 which I feel is very clean yet the cases came out looking like I had shot them with black powder, both inside and out.
http://www.pennbullets.com/44/44-caliber.html
I just loaded up some of the 7.5 gr. Unique load under some 250 gr. Keith bullets to test. This load has been mentioned here and several other places. It seems quite accurate with no pressure signs in my 4" 624, but bruised my thumb joint in the first two shots so badly I had to finish the string left handed. I am using brand new Herrett Roper stocks that were fitted to my hand tracing, which really disappoints me!
Anybody else experience this or am I just getting so damn old I don't have enough muscle in my palms to handle hard recoil any more?
- MajorDude
Anybody else experience this or am I just getting so damn old I don't have enough muscle in my palms to handle hard recoil any more?
- MajorDude
Ozziess396
Member
MajorDude
Are you loading that for 44 special or magnum cases?
That is a way over charge for a 44 special case. With a 240 GR using Unique in the 44 special, Speer manual #10 the max is listed as 6.3 for jacketed, but for 44 magnum that same bullet the minimum is 11.6.
Alliant online load data only shows a MAX of 6.9 for a 250 gr cast.
Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide
Are you loading that for 44 special or magnum cases?
That is a way over charge for a 44 special case. With a 240 GR using Unique in the 44 special, Speer manual #10 the max is listed as 6.3 for jacketed, but for 44 magnum that same bullet the minimum is 11.6.
Alliant online load data only shows a MAX of 6.9 for a 250 gr cast.
Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide
rburg
Member
Some of you guys who are smarter than me....Help me out. I seem to remember Skeeter Skelton had some loads he referred to (or his coworkers did) as his "cow killer loads". I seem to remember them as 44 special loads made from specially prepared Bullseye powder. Anyone willing to take a bite at that?
Yeah, as I remember it, the loads were heavy .44 Special loads with either 2400 or Unique. He was going to test them on cows, or had to kill a cow that had been hit on a road. The powder got contaminated and the loads were pretty much bloopers and did not do the job on the cow. His friends who were watching named them. Muley Gil, who has a complete memory for all things Skelton, can probably give you a better account if he replies to the thread.
