44 special load

[Brad]

I loaded 100 rounds of 44 special with 4.5 gr of Titegroup and an NOE HG 503 clone. Quickload says it should run 750 fps or so.
I decided to see what this load does and how it feels then adjust charge weight from there.

Why 100 rounds to start? Because I plan to shoot that much on Friday and 10-20 rounds for a test just wasn't gong to satisfy me.

I have little doubt the load will be good.

 

[fiver]

I run that load under the LEE 240 swc T/L boolit.
it's good nuff to tip over the 100 yd rams without any problems.
I should probably buy the mold but I bought a grundle of them pre-made for about .25 a lb [was gonna recycle the lead] and then i tried them.
they never made it to the smelting pot.

 

[9.3X62AL]

I no longer mess around with the 44 Special, but when I did "Skeeter's Load" got about 90% of the action. That was (as most shooters my age know) some sort of 240 grain-class SWC in Special brass with a large pistol primer and 7.5 grains of Hercules/Alliant Unique. In 4" barrels it gets about 900-925 FPS; in my S&W M-624 x 6.5" it clocked about 975-985 FPS. In the N-frames or a Ruger S/A they are an all-day load, very tractable. They might be a bit much in the Charters or Tauri.

For the present, 8.5 grains of Unique or 9.5 grains of Herco does a good understudy of Skeeter's Load in the 44 Magnum. I put up Lyman #429421 in Magnum cases for the Mtn Gun and the Redhawk. The RH makes them feel like shooting 38 wadcutters, the 29 remains an all-day shooter like the 624 was. Not sure how long I can stay off the Ruger BH 44 Special bandwagon though. NICE ROLLERS.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Nothing wrong at all about a 240 (or so) lead slug chugging along at 750-950 fps. Mr. Keith was very fond of the old 41 Colt load of a 245 grainer at about 780 fps. Called it a "real man stopper". Naturally he was not popping 100 yard steel plates with it.
My carry and kayak load up north there is a 240-260 at 800-850 fps in a nice little light weight 5 shot with a 2 inch barrel. Cast of range lead I have little doubt they will do all I need accomplished.

 

[Rick]

Brad it's good to see your enjoying that fine wheel gun.

 

[Winelover]

Brad it's good to see your enjoying that fine wheel gun.

Now, if he would only learn shoot it with it's intended purpose...double action.

 

[Rick]

If that were it's only intended purpose please explain why the hammer cocks back for single action shooting? Seems like a lot of extra machining to put the extra notch in the hammer for something that should never be used.

.

 

[Winelover]

Never said it shouldn't be used single action.....apparently some shooters need on crutches.

 

[Rick]

Only a "crutch" to some that need an excuse. A preferred method to others.

 

[Brad]

I have probably fired 24 rounds double action. May try more in the future.

In John's defense I will say that double action wouldn't hamper my 25 yard shootng much. I don't stretch the legs of most of my handguns like Rick does. Most of my shooting is offhand standing on my own two legs.

 

[Winelover]

Seems like a lot of extra machining to put the extra notch in the hammer for something that should never be used.

.

I seem to recall that DA revolvers require more machining and thus are more expensive to manufacture than SA revolvers. Check Ruger's line..... every DA has a MSRP higher than a comparable SA.

 

[Rick]

Exactly so why do all the extra machining if it's only intended purpose is firing double action? Why machine the notch in the hammer allowing it to fire single action? Would be cheaper to make if it could ONLY be fired double action.

Now, if he would only learn shoot it with it's intended purpose...double action.

 

[quicksylver]

Have any of you guys ever use a "trigger Stop" on your DA....really cool ..but you have to use Fed Primers..
You know the ones that allow you to "stage" the trigger of a DA ...sort of like this..they make the trigger a two stage trigger..
Mine are a much older design and allow you to adjust the stop and replace the rubber when needed...

 

[9.3X62AL]

Interesting perspectives.

My D/A revolvers get about 95%+ of their firing done via "trigger-cocking". I don't shoot them at distance very much or very often. 50 yards is a real reach for me with sideiron of any sort.

 

[Brad]

The revolver seemed to like the Titegroup load pretty well. I need to run it over the chrono some day to see what it is doing. A bowling pin didn't care for the load at all.

 

[Brad]

Love these pistol bays. There is a 12-15 ft high berm between them. I had it to myself. I can go down range any time I want. The club has 6 of them right now, more are being built for future use. Max range is about 25 yards.

 

[9.3X62AL]

Sounds like a nice, well-thought-out facility.

 

[Brad]

Sounds like a nice, well-thought-out facility.

That it is. At 120 a year, I think, it is a good club. They plow snow off the road in the winter. They have a 100 yard rifle range, a 300 meter rifle range, and a 600 yard rifle range. The 300 meter range is supposed to always be open for members to shoot, no matches.

 

[KHornet]

Have few complaints about our range myself. Beats the snot out of the previous range I belonged to that is another 10 mi + down the road.