My favorite .44 mag load only goes about 1200 fps from my 7.5" Ruger Flattop, deer I've shot with it have not seemed to notice that I could have loaded them to 1350.
Skeeter Skelton's 44 special load
- Thread starter DeplorabusUnum
- Start date
Current thinking seems to be that a flat-nose .44-45 caliber bullet at ~900 fps will penetrate a deer completely. I no longer hunt, so it's all academic.
I will say that I've shot all my old .44 Mag full-power ammo, and the brass will be reloaded with enough BE-86 to send a 240-grain LSWC ~950 fps from my Old Model Super Blackhawk.
Doug M.
Member
Remember that pressure testing even in the 70s was relatively primitive. That has also resulted in recommendations being tuned downwards.
As noted at least once above, in the .44/.45 revolvers, the 240+ grain SWC at 900 or a bit above is likely to have adequate performance for all uses except creating really miserable recoil. Those days are long gone for me.
As noted at least once above, in the .44/.45 revolvers, the 240+ grain SWC at 900 or a bit above is likely to have adequate performance for all uses except creating really miserable recoil. Those days are long gone for me.
StrawHat
Member
I hunt with a 245 grain wadcutter bullet at hardball speed. Complete penetration, stem to stern, and not just once.Current thinking seems to be that a flat-nose .44-45 caliber bullet at ~900 fps will penetrate a deer completely. I no longer hunt, so it's all academic.
Kevin
Eddie Southgate
Member
I shoot the full original Skeeter load in my Second Model and my Flattop Ruger . The 7.5 grain load I shoot in those as an everyday load and also as a carry load in my Charter Arms stainless Target Bulldog 4" gun. His original load was more than 7.5 grains but he settled on 7.5 as an easy shooting general purpose everyday load in all of his .44 special guns . The original load was a bit more powder and the 255 grain Ray Thompson gas check bullet . He swapped to the Keith bullet because he felt like he was wasting time and money on the gas check at the pressure and velocity he was shooting even with the original load. He also said he found the Keith to be every bit as accurate as the Thompson bullet. I have all of the versions of the .44 Keith bullet as well as two versions of the Thompson .44 and I agree with Skeeter 100 % . Both will shoot every bit as good as I do and not one bit better , for me. The original Sheeter load is stout but is safe in N frames and Ruger's . I would not shoot it in my Charter .
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Gunhohulk
Member
I’m new to .44 specials and am prepping brass to load up some .44 ammo. I have a bulldog, 6.5” second model and a 696. Should the 7.5 gr of unique over the 255 gr Keith bullet be good to go in all 3?
Eddie Southgate
Member
I would shoot it in all three without hesitation .
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The Skeeter load has been my standard for over 25 years.........Through 4 ea 24's and 2 ea 624's.....Nothing is loose........Not gonna change===============Provided Unique powder comes back around.
The Skeeter load should be fine in your two S&Ws.
It kicks too much in a Charter Arms Bulldog. Believe me, I tried it, back when I was much younger and more tolerant of recoil.
Agree the 7.5 of Unique is going to be very unpleasant in the Bulldog. I speak from experience. My best results for a comfortable, controllable load in the CA .44s has been with a lighter bullet at pretty much factory load velocity levels. I have a Lee mold for a 215 grain SWC that is noticeably more pleasant to shoot in the CA than any of the heavies.
Eddie Southgate
Member
Never had any issue handling the 7.5 load with the Keith 250 or the Thompson 255 in my Bulldog. It slaps the knuckles a hair but not enough that I have any trouble shooting it accurately. If 7.5 is too much for you try 6.5 of Unique or 5 of Red Dot .
I have shot that in every .44 I have . Never had any problem with control or recoil how the POIP changed that much.
Just luck? who knows...
Just luck? who knows...
Since Unique has been relatively scarce, and BE-86 is listed right next to it on the burn-rate chart, and I was able to score a good deal on some BE-86, and still have some Unique in my stash, I decided to do some load "development" to emulate the Skeeter load using BE-86.
S&W model 29 6" barrel
Used Montana Bullet Works 255 Gr LSWC gas checked
Going to bump my BE-86 loads to 7.3 & 7.4 and test another round
S&W model 29 6" barrel
Used Montana Bullet Works 255 Gr LSWC gas checked
Loaded 7.5 gr Unique.
Per Garmin Xero chrono, 5 shot samples, low 851.3 fps, hi 923.8 fps, average 893 fps
Loaded 7.0 gr BE-86
low 820.9 / hi 845.9 / average 831
Loaded 7.1 gr BE-86
low 817.9 / hi 827.2 / average 822.3 (go figure - but it was shot on a different day, so conditions were not identical)
Loaded 7.2 gr BE-86
low 838.6 / hi 852 / average 846.4 (same day as 7.1 load)
Going to bump my BE-86 loads to 7.3 & 7.4 and test another round
Was that in Special or Magnum brass?
Starline 44 Special. Testing in my model 29, but also have a model 24-3 where I intend to use it - so am using 44 spl brass.
If shooting in a 44 magnum, changing only the brass (44 magnum brass versus 44 special brass) makes an insignificant difference in velocity for your handloads. About 20 fps.
9.0 grains UNIQUE with a 240 grain bullet gets me in the high 900's for velocity out of a 4" gun. Much whompum in that load.
9.0 grains UNIQUE with a 240 grain bullet gets me in the high 900's for velocity out of a 4" gun. Much whompum in that load.
I kow this is counter to prevailing opinion... Just shoot special brass. If you get the dreaded problem, it causes...3 minutes with a brush...good grief It is so much more pleasant to shoo tspecials...till you really NEED mag loads...heck at the ranges I will shoot even a deer with a handgun the specials I load will work
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
BE-86 is my new favorite.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
I have taken deer with a .38 Special and a 9mm Beretta pistol, each where one shot kills.
Of course I knew people when I was a teenager that were poachers and they swore by the .22 LR. They also made some fine shine too.
Gunhohulk
Member
I appreciate all the good input. I have about 10lbs of unique (bullseye as well) so I’m hoping it will be available again by the time I use up what I already have.
