My latest Colt SAA, and in .44 Special of course

[Wyatt Burp]

A year and a half ago I got a 7 1/2” 1979 .357 for $1500. It shot great but I wasn’t fond of the caliber and weight. Even though I have other .44 and .45 Colt SAAs I just traded straight across for this 1982 5 1/2” .44 Special. No box or papers. This one is here to stay. I added the elk grips and lighter main spring. That’s the .357 at the bottom.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

44 $pecial is a great cartridge! I have an Uberti 1873 in it and findit to be an absolute dream.

Ivan

 

[silicosys4]

I would have made that trade all day long.

The .44spcl is my favorite caliber in the SAA. I don't have a Colt in that caliber anymore, I sold off the 3rd gen I had because I just couldn't warm up to the nickel finish. I far prefer a good bone/charcoal CCH finish. I've been looking for a nice Colt 4 3/4 SAA ever since for a reasonable price. No luck so far, they are a hot item.
I found this Standard Mfg. last year though.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

When I first got my 624 I remember reading that a 44spc could be loaded almost to 44mag spec's . I proceeded to ask that question here and let me say the amount of responses was crazy . Talk about opening a can of ......

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

When I first got my 624 I remember reading that a 44spc could be loaded almost to 44mag spec's . I proceeded to ask that question here and let me say the amount of responses was crazy . Talk about opening a can of ......

Reload long enough you meet other reloaders who obviously don't know what they are doing.

 

[alwslate]

When I first got my 624 I remember reading that a 44spc could be loaded almost to 44mag spec's . I proceeded to ask that question here and let me say the amount of responses was crazy . Talk about opening a can of ......

Many years ago I bought a new 4" model 624 .44 Spl. There had been some questions about their strength and S&W had verified that the cyl had the same steel and heat treatment as the .44 magnums and marked the box with a large red C indicating that that particular gun had been checked. When I got into discussions here about handloading the .44 Spl in the 624 above squib level the paranoia and absolute fear of loading any thing above the old 12,000 or so psi loads were ridiculous.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Many years ago I bought a new 4" model 624 .44 Spl. There had been some questions about their strength and S&W had verified that the cyl had the same steel and heat treatment as the .44 magnums and marked the box with a large red C indicating that that particular gun had been checked. When I got into discussions here about handloading the .44 Spl in the 624 above squib level the paranoia and absolute fear of loading any thing above the old 12,000 or so psi loads were ridiculous.

Over 30 years ago at a cowboy shoot I got a jacketed .44 bullet stuck in the bore. my powder charge was 6.4 Unique. I assumed it was too weak a charge but maybe I forgot to put the powder in in that one round. When asking here about that I was told the powder charge is fine for jacketed bullets. Next time I load some rounds I’ll try again. what do you think of that load with jacketed bullets? Reasonable?

 

[alwslate]

Over 30 years ago at a cowboy shoot I got a jacketed .44 bullet stuck in the bore. my powder charge was 6.4 Unique. I assumed it was too weak a charge but maybe I forgot to put the powder in in that one round. When asking here about that I was told the powder charge is fine for jacketed bullets. Next time I load some rounds I’ll try again. what do you think of that load with jacketed bullets? Reasonable?

Just my opinions but to start with I gave up on Unique powder years ago. Poor metering, large velocity variations and pressure spikes. I look at the 624 .44 spl the same way I view my two 4" model 29-2 .44 magnums. Mid range loads with cast 240-250 gr SWCs at a little over 900 fps. There is no reason to ever use jacketed bullets for loads in this velocity range. When I was still able to hunt Deer I did use some 240 gr JHPs for full power handloads in my three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk. The first deer I ever took with a handgun was a full power handload with a Hornady 240 gr JHP out of my Ruger Redhawk which I no longer own. We all have opinions, these are mine. Just took a look at my Speer #13 manual. 6.4 grs Unique is below Speer's minimum charge with a 240 gr jacketed bullet. A very low pressure load. Unique doesn't burn well at very low pressures and with the poor metering it's not surprising that you stuck a bullet in your bore.

 

[BigMuddy]

Over 30 years ago at a cowboy shoot I got a jacketed .44 bullet stuck in the bore. my powder charge was 6.4 Unique. I assumed it was too weak a charge but maybe I forgot to put the powder in in that one round. When asking here about that I was told the powder charge is fine for jacketed bullets. Next time I load some rounds I’ll try again. what do you think of that load with jacketed bullets? Reasonable?

In the Brian Pearce “Standard Loads” June 2017 Handloader Pet Loads for the 44 Special with a 240 XTP he listed 6.5 gr. Unique @ 835 FPS and 7.0 gr @ 866. These loads are all at or below 15,500 psi.

I agree with not using jacketed bullets at that level unless that’s all you have. I never shot in a CAS match that allowed them? Unique does meter poorly, more so the lighter the charge weight.

Dan

 

[Wyatt Burp]

In the Brian Pearce “Standard Loads” June 2017 Handloader Pet Loads for the 44 Special with a 240 XTP he listed 6.5 gr. Unique @ 835 FPS and 7.0 gr @ 866. These loads are all at or below 15,500 psi.

I agree with not using jacketed bullets at that level unless that’s all you have. I never shot in a CAS match that allowed them? Unique does meter poorly, more so the lighter the charge weight.

Dan

This was a very popular local match in the mid 1980s that even allowed .30-30s to be used at first until they damaged the metal plates too much. Jacketed handgun loads were allowed as were old double actions. I shot an 1878 Colt DA .45 with BP loads but shot it SA. Not because DA wasn’t allowed, but because the DA trigger pull was really heavy.

 

[Crookedcreek]

When I got into discussions here about handloading the .44 Spl in the 624 above squib level the paranoia and absolute fear of loading any thing above the old 12,000 or so psi loads were ridiculous.

That is why Elmer Keith never, ever ask for thoughts or advise on the Internet!