What are your favorite .44 HE (special) handloads?

[peppercorn]

I am hoping to have a .44HE before too much more time goes by and am wondering about the loads for it.

Is a .431 diameter SWC lead bullet too large?
I have some of these on hand for my .44Mag loads and thought I read somewhere that the most common size was
.429 or .430 for these older Hand Ejectors.

Also, I have plenty of Unique on hand but am wondering about 'modern' data that is listed in my manuals and whether or not it is too hot for the older guns?

Any input is appreciated.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I have used 4.3 gr of Trail Boss with a 204 gr WC in my 1923 Target HE & 1935 2ed md HE with no problems.
Also 6 gr of Unique in the 1935 HE with a 250 gr LSWC.
All were .430

 

[992B]

I use 6.0 of Unique with a 200 grain SWC for an old Triplelock. For my Wolf & Klar (Third Model) 44 Special I use 6.5 of Unique with a 240 grain cast bullet. Bullet diameter is either .429 or .430. No need to hotrod these fine old guns!!

Gary

 

[peppercorn]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Does anyone think it is a bad idea to use the .431 Laser Cast lead bullet in this gun?

 

[hanover67]

When you get the gun slug the barrel to find the bore/groove diameter. I have 3 .44's. Two of them have .429" groove diameters and one, a Colt New Frontier, has a .427" diameter. I size my cast bullets to .430 for the .429 barrels, and .428 for the .427 Colt. My practice is to use lead bullets .001" larger than the barrel.