Your opinion's please regarding this .44 Special Bullet

[VonFatman]

This is a great load for me. I will be purchasing some 200gr. RNFP bullets from Missouri Bullet with a stated 12 B hardness. Does anyone see a problem with using this "Cowboy" bullet (Cowboy in Missouri Bullet's description) with this charge. I'm thinking it's moving slow enough to be used without undo leading.

I'm not getting leading now using hard-cast bullets using my 4" 624, 2" 24-3, 4 7/8" Ruger or 5.5" Ruger.

Bob



200 gr. LRNFP
5.5 gr Tight Group
Win Primers
Starline Brass
OAL: 1.435
880 fps S&W Model 624 four inch

 

[pinkymingeo]

I tried Missouri Bullet's softer 200lswc .452's in my 625s, which I shoot over 5.5 AA2 in the mid-800s. They all got a pretty good bit of leading. Switched to the harder bullets and the problem pretty much went away. I'd order their harder cast option.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Pinky,
I think the reason for your problem was the fact the rifling in the M625 is much shallower than the M624.

I think Bob is served well by the load he is proposing.

I have used commercially cast 44 cal. 200gr RNFP bullets in my M629 5" with light charges of Bullseye with great results too.

Just curious though Bob, why Titegroup for this load? I know it is not supposed to be position sensitive but that is a teeny weeny bit of powder for that big ole' case.

Help me out here.

 

[zeke]

Favorite 44 special load uses a 200 lrnfp, but with 6.4 grains hp-38. Essentially same poi as 200 grain speer gdhp.

The only 44 special where it has some difficulty is a 3 in 24-3. The 24-3 has variable cylinder mouth diameters, .433-434 in.

While am a fan of lighter 200 grain bullets, they seem to work better with tighter tolerances and tighter cylinder throats. Might have something to do with the transsition from cylinder to barrel with shorter bullet.

 

[TSQUARED]

Titegroup provides very low velocity variation but is a very fast and hot burning powder and prone to leading with lead bullets at higher velocities. I do use Titegroup with jacketed bullets in 9mm.
For lead bullets in straight walled cases I have switched to Trail Boss. An additional benefit of Trail Boss is because of it's low bulk density it is virtually impossible to have a double charge without seeing it.
In the 44 Special I prefer the old 245 gr. Keith style LSWC Lyman #429421 with Trail Boss. The Hodgdon website has excellent load data for Trail Boss.

 

[VonFatman]

I stumbled on to this load several years ago and it's an excellent range/medium velocity load. Very accurate and inexpensive (only 5.5gr)

It works well in my 624 4" and 24-3 (snub & 4")

Thus...I was thinking I'd stay with the load if I could with my Ruger .44 Specials (4 5/8" & 5 1/2")

I don't have Trail Boss on hand but do have several pounds of Tight Group and some other fast powders for "under-900 fps" shooting.

Bob