Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. 9.9gr for 750 fps The test gun was a 3" Charter arms Winchester cases Winchester WLP primers COL-1.500" Edit to add Link to Alliant load data. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet. Several years ago, a prominent gun magazine asked readers what their favorite powder was for reloading the .44 Special. 429244 255-grain bullet (right) with gas check.
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During the 1920s Elmer Keith developed the Ideal/Lyman No. JSP; Nosler 240-gr. cast SWC; Hornady 200-gr. Purchase A PDF Download Of The American Handgunner Nov/Dec 2020 Issue Now! The manuals dont show every type of powder for every bullet weight for the .44 special. Let us hope that for the next century, the grand old .44 Special continues to make as many shooters happy as it already has. and the special requirements for residents of these states; CA, CT, IL, MA, NJ, and NY. That changed when Elmer Keith and the other .44 Associates of the 1920s and 1930s began handloading it to its maximum potential; then, the .44 Spl.
In 1932 when Hercules 2400 powder first appeared, Keith loaded 18.5 grains in balloon-head cases to reach 1,200 fps. Who knew wild turkey's were so stupid!? 308 (June/July 2017). (II) Limit one entry per household.
250 gr. The .44 Special is a joy to handload, but there are some important points to be aware of that will help handloaders assemble top-notch ammunition tailored specifically to their guns. For many decades this was the standard load from Winchester and Remington and is still available. For a "Knockdown" Load, I used 5.0grs of Titegroup under a 240-250gr RN. .44 Special and HS-6 loads? | Single-Actions 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6 30min chamfer? Other items may require special handling and be shipped through UPS . Contest open to U.S. residents only. (II) Limit one entry per household. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. Explore our articles, guides, and join our community to get started on your reloading journey today. Our mission is to help you improve your skills, save money, and achieve greater accuracy with your reloads. Handgun Data. Keith pestered the ammo companies to bring out heavier .44 Special loads, but there was a fear that such powerful loads would blow up an older, weaker revolver. 7, Ramshot True Blue, Alliant Unique and Power Pistol. HP, .44 with 225 gr. (I) Giveaway ends July 31, 2023. For the vast majority of us, the .44 Special will do everything needing doing with the sixgun. JHP; and Sierra 240-gr. SWC, 240 gr. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/4%20Special.pdf, Vintage Boxes - Gear, Shell, Case, Primer, Group Buys Design, Active , Waiting and Archives, Closed Buys/Waiting for delivery/in shipment, If this is your first visit, be sure to
High-performance .44 Special loads can reach 1,200 and 1,300 fps, closely crowding .44 Remington Magnum performance. 15,500 PSI is the maximum SAAMI pressure. Winchester Lead Cowboy 44 Special 240gr LFN Handgun Ammo - Winchester cowboy loads with its flat nose, cast lead bullets and target velocities. This site is going to be as much member run as possible. HS-6 and Blue Dot are excellent choices for such applications. In my experience 300 grain bullets shoot high and achievable velocity in the Specialtoo low. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. Bullet sizes vary from .429 for jacketed to .432 for some lead in diameter. Before there were scopes or red dots there were iron sights. These .44 Special single-action sixguns include (1) a custom Colt New Frontier SAA, (2) Keith No. could legitimately claim top gun performance. Balloonhead cases, such as these from Peters, U.M.C. If you want to baby your 44 Special revolver, or just want a decent plinking load, then 6.5 grains of unique or 4.7 grains of Red Dot is fine. The .44 Special and Unique | Load Data Article
Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. If you shoot the Skeeter Load with hard bullets you can crack the barrel extension on your revolver. Both are N-frames with trim 6 -inch barrels. Look for your answers in our Forum and in our bi-monthly publication the Fouling Shot. The new big bore pistols feature industry-first capacity, with a standard 15-round capacity and 22+1 rounds of 10mm or 18+1 rounds of .45 ACP from the extended magazines. The SAAMI maximum pressure limit for the .44 Spec. Going up to my standard load of 7.5 Unique registers just over 1,000 fps from a 4 S&W Model 1950. The 250-grain cast bullet can be loaded up to 1,400 fps for big game hunting. Make sure to watch till the end. At left is a reproduction of Keiths original No. Therefore, I no longer use the .44 mag cases when loading down to .44 special velocities. The Special's inherent accuracy stems from a previous design. I am not able to find data for various bullet weights. Ruger Redhawk 44 mag 51/2 barrel & Ruger 44 mag Super Blackhawk old model 71/2 barrel. Number of Views: 5765, Published on 10-20-2014 09:24 PM
These bullets are extremely effective on up to deer-size game. JFP, 240 gr. 30 days easy returns; 100% money back guarantee. For lead bullets near 900 FPS, I recommend a GC (Gas Check), the little copper bottom on the lead bullet as below (5th item from left). Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. The 240 grain #8610 bullets are intended for larger, more tenacious game, but also are effective for deer-size game. I replicate that load with a Lyman 246 grain round nose or a Magma 240 grain round nose and 5.0 grains of Bullseye in my Ruger Bisley Flat Top. The .44 Special is an excellent field cartridge, and when combined with handloads is capable of taking varmints and big game. A good, hard 240-grain semi-wadcutter at close to 1,000 fps will take deer, elk and black bear. have introduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act (H.R. You must be a subscriber to see the full article. SWC+GC, 265 gr. Add to cart. Shooter's Reference Load Data for .44 Smith & Wesson Special The accompanying data has been listed in tables at 22,000 psi (Category 2) and 25,000 psi (Category 3) loads, with 15,500 psi standard pressure (Category 1) loads suitable for all revolvers covered in Handloader No. During 1927 and 1928, he designed the now-famous Lyman/Ideal .44-caliber bullet 429421 that weighed 250 grains in solid form and 235 grains in hollowpoint form. Looking at the accompanying data table, it is obvious I made the choice to use the .44 Special at lower velocities and work toward loads with jacketed and lead bullets that would be fun to shoot. .430" 200 Grain RNFP bullet. Both revolvers shoot this load well. A charge of 9.5 grains of Blue Dot produced 880 fps and consistent accuracy with the FTX. 5 by Bowen Classic Arms, (3) custom USFA with Smith & Wesson adjustable sights, (4) Ruger Blackhawk Flattop No. Theyre certainly capable of doing everything we expect the sixgun to do. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. The revolver pictured above is a reproduction Keith No. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Our goal is to bring you everything you need to accurately reload your own weapon of choice, along with all the accessories to go with it. By the 1920s smokeless powders had been significantly improved, which resulted in handloaders developing ammunition that enhanced the performance of the .44 Special to create +P loads. Number of Views: 5819, Published on 10-20-2014 09:14 PM
.44 Special: When the .44 Special was introduced in late 1907, even though the brass was longer than the .44 Russian and the Triple-Lock sixgun was certainly stronger than the S&W Top-Breaks, for some strange reason it was loaded to the same level as the .44 Russian; they simply increased the black powder charge from 23 to 26 grains. This is definitely not the case if youre looking for accuracy. U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas.) The sole reason for the low pressure limit on the 44 Special was the existence of those wonderful Spanish copies of N-frame S&W's. Is there a preferred source of data? Cast bullets work well in the .44 Special, including the original Lyman/Keith No.
The Mossberg 500 Pump Action Shotgun is one of the most popular home defense shotguns on the market. As smokeless powders progressed and improved, by the early 1920s handloaders began developing loads that enhanced the performance of the .44 Special. 5 Accurate No. Contest void where prohibited by law. I push this with 16.3 grains of #2400 yielding 1,217 fps from a 51/2 barrel. Contest open to U.S. residents only. For reloading .44 Mag, faster-burning powders are better for practice ammo while the slow-burners are better for maximum velocities. Bullets under 200 grains have never given me anything but short-range accuracy. The traditional .44-caliber bullet weight is 240 grains, and here we have several proven performers. JHP The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. But don't be misled. The .44 Special is based on the black-powder .44 Russian case that earned a superb accuracy reputation in domestic and international target competition. 4.3 Grains of Trailboss. As Beagle6 says,the Skeeter Loadis not a top load, but at 950 -1000 fps it has enough power to down anything short of Bison and Bears. For example, Smith & Wesson N-frame revolvers have historically featured throats that measure .431 to .432 inch, though two L-frame revolvers and a recently manufactured Model 24-6 measured .4285 to .429 inch. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Deployed military should use stateside address. Load data for 44 Special - Cast Bullet Forum Product #: 544483. No purchase necessary. 44 special 240gr Hornady HP/XTP 2400 Starting 8.9gr for 600fps Max.
Using 2400 in loading 44 Special - RugerForum.com Not even in a .44 Magnum pistol. Deployed military should use stateside address. For the mild .44 special loads, I recommend all lead bullets and loads that produce 700-850 FPS speeds. Your email address will not be published. 6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 PRC: Which is Better? The Hodgdon site on-line has loading data for ~15,500 PSI loads. The Association's central purpose is to help shooters enjoy casting bullets, You must enable JavaScript to be able to use this site in full. Just saying. Eventually Federal Cartridge offered a 200-grain lead SWC-HP at 900 fps (recently reduced to 870 fps), while Winchester followed suit with a 200-grain Silvertip HP and Remington with a 200-grain LSWC at the same velocity. Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different.
A popular Cowboy bullet is the 200-grain RNFP. Just stick to near-maximum loads to keep up the velocity and ensure adequate expansion. For general-purpose plinking, target work and even defense, using one of the various 245- to 255- grain cast SWC profile bullets pushed around 850 to 875 fps will prove effective and pleasant to shoot. Subscribe To American Handgunner Most modern jacketed bullets must be traveling at least 850 to 900 fps to achieve reliable expansion, a velocity that was easily reached with most 200-grain bullets using standard pressure loads. Skeeter Skelton was perhaps most influential for helping to renew interest in the .44 Special, with articles appearing in the late 1960s and 1970s that ultimately helped influence Colt to reintroduce the Single Action Army and New Frontier during the late 1970s (both of which are currently available again), while Smith & Wesson produced its Models 24 and 624 (1950 Target) during the mid-1980s. The Skeeter Load (7.5 grains Unique and a 250 -260 grain cast bullet) is widely used because Skeeter Skelton promoted it in many articles. Whether we travel the sagebrush, foothills, forests, or mountains there are .44 Special loads that will handle any situation were likely to encounter. Free shipping for many products! Jacketed bullets create a bit more wear on the rifling, but it's better than trying to wire brush out a bunch of lead build up. Our test guns are both S&Ws: a blue M24-3 made in 1983 and a stainless M624 from 1986. 2, No. I use that load extensively. There is no published data for +P in 45 Schofield caliber, and there won't be much in 44 Special, and the data that is, won't go to 25,000psi which is where the pressure ceiling is in the medium framed Rugers. For Cowboy Shooting, I used a lite load right out of the Hodgdon Cowboy Action Data pamphlet. Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor of Gun & Ammo, and John Myles from Smith & Wesson discuss features of the Equalizer 9mm micro-compact pistol and new-for-2023 M&P 5.7. 2 Accurate No. During 1927 and 1928 he designed the well-known Lyman/Ideal .44- caliber No. However, .44 Special loads are so mild, you can really use whatever you want to. Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Most famous was Elmer Keith. 5 by Clements Custom Guns, (5) factory-engraved USFA PreWar SAA, (6) custom Colt Flattop Target pattern, (7) original Keith Long Range Colt and (8) a USFA factory engraved SAA. Can't use 44 Special loads, none will get into the pressure ceiling. We manufacture Partition, AccuBond, E-Tip, Ballistic Tip, Custom Competition and much more. They are true magnum bullets, featuring a heavy jacket and 1 1/2% antimony core, yet they will expand reliably at 44 Special velocities. It often produces tight groups and, when developing top-notch handloads, is one of the least finicky cartridges. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Bullseye starting loads should be OK. Handgun Data - Speer Buy 50 rounds of Herters 44 Mag 240 grain SP brass cased ammo: GunBroker is the largest seller of Pistol Ammunition Ammunition All: 973242959 . ; they are best relinquished as collectors items and should not be used with the accompanying data. Introduced in 1900 by Laflin & Rand of Haskell, New Jersey, later to be absorbed by DuPont, Unique was the Johnny on the spot powder to help the .44 Special move right along the popularity scale in subsequent years. Shooter's Reference Load Data for .44 Remington Magnum It ties with two others as my favorite sixgun cartridge. Published on 10-20-2014 09:25 PM
Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson were celebrating passage of a bill to ban so-called assault weapons in the Should life go sideways at home, at work, in North Korea or aboard the International Space Station, you really wont find a better defensive tool. I loaded some for a friend's 6" S&W 624. . 200 210 grain bullets will hit 800 fps with 5.2 grains of Tight Group or Bullseye. For defense purposes, a lighter 180- or 200-grain HP bullet makes sense. My favorite load with this bullet is 7.5 grains of TiteGroup for a modest velocity of 745 fps, light recoil and one-hole groups. 429421 cast bullet to a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. The .44 Special is really anything but special in terms of performance, as least as factory loaded. All Ammunition Reloading; Reloading Equipment. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. But in 1956 Keith's efforts culminated in the introduction of the .44 Magnum. I still favor genuine Keith designs for general use, as they are accurate, perform well on game, are easy to cast, and without a gas check, they are especially economical. The .44 Special is often ranked as one of the best revolver cartridges of all time. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Remington Magnum has always been a favorite revolver for sport and pleasure. It is important to note that Keith would likely have been completely satisfied with the power and performance of his heavy .44 Special handloads, but wanted them available as a factory offering. The 240-grain cast bullet loads shown also offer potent protection. To help illustrate this information, sidebars are included containing sample dimensions from a variety of guns. 1,200 fps. Though the .44 Magnum is an offshoot of this cartridge, the Special was based on the older black powder .44 Russian. All Rights Reserved. .44 Special is a fun caliber to shoot. Deployed military should use stateside address. We show you how. SWC. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible.
44 S&W SPL LOW RECOIL 240GR FMJ. WMR, WSF, WST, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div. I used the M24 for jacketed bullet loads and the M624 with cast bullets. _________________________________________________. Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. Works well in a 3" Sheriff's Model, a 12" Buntline Special, and everything in between. My experience shooting those behemoths suggests they exceed my limit. For a bit more horsepower, including hunting deer-sized game, the load I prefer consists of 8.2 grains of Alliant Power Pistol with the 250-grain Keith bullet, which generally produces around 1,000 fps in most revolvers with barrels of 434 to 612 inches (or 950 to 975 fps with 4-inch barrels). This bullet is seated over 7.5 grains of Unique powder and stuffed in a .44 Special case, sparked with a large pistol primer. A LEE size die can reduce them if they are too large. |
We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. XTP; Hornady 240-gr. .44 S&W Special (Pet Loads) | Handloader Magazine When considering an all-purpose .44 Special powder, Ken Waters, in Pet Loads noted, Im pretty sure my choices would be Unique and Blue Dot.. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Elmer laid down specific specifications for a bullet bearing his name: three equally sized full caliber driving bands, a deep crimping groove between the middle and top bands, a large grease groove between the middle and bottom bands and a flat bottom with no bevel. 5 and No. With variables, this load generally produces around 18,000 psi and is a +P load. Not much of a kicker, seated bullet to crimp grove LBT style bullet. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Many of these revolvers will handle loads that generate 25,000 psi with ease, as I have multiple guns (with minimally cut chambers) that have digested. Since many shooters shoot Specials in their .44 Mags for practice and plinking, I also chronographed some representative Special loads in a six-inch M29-3. Unique is about the best all around powder, but if you want a slower burning powder, I suggest 2400. What kind of gun? 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company Manufacturer #: HT-430240EK. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. For everyday "working" .44 Special loads, I find 240- to 255-grain cast bullets at around 1,000 fps to 1,050 fps especially useful. The rifling is EDM (Electric Discharge Machining) rather than the traditional Smith & Wesson cut style that was present on all the companys sixguns manufactured prior to 2000. Modern solid-head cases, such as the Starline case (right), handle loads of all pressure levels. 5 are top choices for loads that push standard weight (250-grain) bullets between 900 to 1,000 fps. This also helps powder to ignite properly and usually results in lower extreme velocity spreads and improved accuracy. The Oregon Trail Laser Cast 240 SWC shoots every bit as good as carefully home cast bullets. Internal gun dimensions can vary significantly, including barrel groove diameter and throat dimensions. Then there is the question of what do you expect to use it for. When. Out of my 5.5" Redhawk I get 828 fps. The Russian case is but .970 inch in length and just couldn't hold enough of the bulky new powder to achieve the desired velocities, so in 1907 Smith & Wesson lengthened the older case by .190 inch and a star was born. But do you know how to properly use them? Filled with .44 Magnum cartridges, it is ready for target practice or hunting. In your Super Black hawk that should get you 950 fps at about 18,000 PSI. They offer moderate recoil and muzzle report, low extreme spreads, and they are easy to shoot accurately while being capable of taking big game. Number of Views: 5768. . I am not about totest thisbecause the recoil at 1200 fps is decidedly unpleasant in a light-weight Special, and I am a wimp. one says 5.0gr of Unique, the other says 5.7gr. I am using it to knock down steel targets from 20 to 50 yards. .44 Special Lee Double Cavity Bullet Mould 429-240-2R Diameter 429 Also, as previously indicated, the chamber throats measure a comparatively snug .429 inch. Granted, with modern revolvers the .44 Special can be loaded close to magnum standards for serious hunting duties when needed.