Since I cast my own, I have a choice of H&G #503, Lyman #429421, NEI #260.429 and the RCBS #44-250KT bullets. Before there were scopes or red dots there were iron sights. Speer offers the perfect .44 Special jacketed bullet. Number of Views: 5765, Published on 10-20-2014 09:24 PM Missouri Bullet Company Cast Lead Bullets 44 Caliber (430 Diameter) 240 Grain Hi-Tek Coated Semi-Wadcutter Box of 500. It is true that guns made prior to 1956 utilized a different grade steel than revolvers chambered for .44 Magnum and later production .44 Special revolvers, but they are nonetheless strong and can easily handle loads that generate 25,000 psi. Hodgdon H-110 also performed well when mated to the heavyweight 305- and 307-grain cast bullets; however, to prevent erratic ignition and possible hang-fires, loads should not be reduced. 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 traditional .44-caliber bullet weight is 240 grains, and here we have several proven performers. For a "Knockdown" Load, I used 5.0grs of Titegroup under a 240-250gr RN. Granted, with modern revolvers the .44 Special can be loaded close to magnum standards for serious hunting duties when needed. This is not a handicap, as many powders are capable of pushing 250-grain bullets 850 to 900 fps (roughly equal to the .45 Colt factory load), while a few select powders can push the same bullets over 1,000 fps while staying within pressure guidelines. First, not all guns are of equal strength some will handle significantly greater pressures, while others cannot. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. 4.3 Grains of Trailboss. Reloading Press & Equipment; Molds; Share. I used CCI-350 magnum primers with HS-6 and Silhouette powders, but regular primers would work just as well. The new rifle is built on an aluminum billet chassis with carbon-fiber forend and cheek riser featuring V-block bedding. one says 5.0gr of Unique, the other says 5.7gr. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. During the past 40+ years, I have shot dozens of big game from pronghorn to black bear and elk with the .44 Special, all with handloaded ammunition. ", "Truth is treason in the empire of lies" Ron Paul, Colt's Manufacturing Company Armorer Instructor. It is especially important when handloading the Cutting Edge 200-grain Raptor or 240-grain Solid bullets to use the exact data and overall cartridge lengths as listed, or pressures will change rapidly. Whether a Perfect Packin Pistol 4" S&W-style is fancy or plain it still serves the purpose. Of course, the situation changed when S&W introduced the .44 Magnum 50+ years ago. Whether we travel the sagebrush, foothills, forests, or mountains there are .44 Special loads that will handle any situation were likely to encounter. Contest void where prohibited by law. But there are limits to the bigger-is-better scenario, based upon your tolerance to recoil. Can't use 44 Special loads, none will get into the pressure ceiling. But do you know how to properly use them? Reloading: Powder Comparison .44 Special Loads Rupp's test included IMR Target and IMR Red, both relatively new powders from that company, against the new Winchester 244with tried-and-true Alliant Bullseye for comparison. Nonetheless, many shooters still recognized the virtues of the .44 Special, especially when handloaded, because it offers low extreme spreads, lower recoil and muzzle report, and fired cases clear the chambers with ease. Discussion: I no longer use the same bullets and cases for the special loads as I do the Magnum, since all my rifles and pistols use the magnum round. 44F. Available in different sizes and red dot ready, it'll fit your needs, whatever they are. Select medium-burning pistol powders often gave outstanding accuracy while offering low extreme spreads and a modest muzzle report. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Since you are buying bullets, they will probably be too hard. Bullet sizes vary from .429 for jacketed to .432 for some lead in diameter. Would those others powders burn better? Going up to my standard load of 7.5 Unique registers just over 1,000 fps from a 4 S&W Model 1950. JHP 250 gr. I used to load down the .44 mag cases to .44 special velocities. It is within industry pressure guidelines at 15,500 psi, while offering moderate recoil and good accuracy. As to the heavier, 240-grain lead bullets, samples from Hornady and Speer were included. #375. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Having always been a fan of moderate loads using lead bullets suitable for casual paper punching, the .44 Special naturally comes to mind for use in .44 Magnum revolvers. Go Back. 44 special 240gr Hornady HP/XTP 2400 Starting 8.9gr for 600fps Max. * Thanks, Olddesertrat. If you have a fixed sight revolver 250-260 grain bullets will probably shoot close to the sights. Deployed military should use stateside address. JSP * As smokeless powders progressed and improved, by the early 1920s handloaders began developing loads that enhanced the performance of the .44 Special. The difference in Special and Magnum case lengths is .125 inch, and Redding includes a washer of that thickness to use under the die lock ring that makes switching calibers easier. Dies are made by virtually everybody, and for years they have been configured to accommodate both Special as well as Magnum cases with minor die adjustments. 1,200 fps. Unique is a great powder to use and have on your bench. 1.450 in. The idea of .44 Special for Everyday Workin' Loads is a relatively lightweight sixgun, around 1/2 lb. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Additionally, their charge weights are lighter (reducing powder costs) and also offered a notably reduced muzzle report, which makes them especially pleasant by comparison. 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. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Alliant - Power Pistol: 250 gr. Powder charges used in the .44 Special case seldom require magnum primers, although they are frequently recommended with ball or spherical powders. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Why the .44 Special? This revolver is equipped with the usual target trigger, target hammer, and adjustable target sights complete with a red insert on the front blade and a white outline on the rear notch. 5 as produced by Bowen Classic Arms; at right is the original KEITH LONG RANGE COLT.. 429421 cast bullet to a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. 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. .44 Special (Hodgdon Data) reloading data with 130 loads. The Special's case was lengthened to accommodate the use of emerging smokeless propellants. WMR, WSF, WST, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div. The .44 Associates and several industry notables helped influence Smith & Wesson and Remington to ultimately develop the .44 Magnum, though it was primarily Elmer Keith that was the ultimate persuader. Groups run 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" at 25 yards with this load if a decent bullet is used and accuracy follows to 50 yards, which is the maximum distance . Magtech FMJ ammunition delivers reliable, accurate performance on the range. 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. Contest open to U.S. residents only. After a while, however, even the most recoil-tough shooter looks forward to toning things down a bit. Our Price: The Hodgdon site lists 8.0 gr of HS-6 as a max load for the .44 Special with a 240gr cast bullet. All Reloading Equipment; . JSP; Nosler 240-gr. For me, the .44 Special and the above loads fit the bill nicely. Powder: Bullet Weight: Bullet Make: Bullet Type: Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. The Best of both worlds: After nearly 4 years of waiting, Dan Wesson's DWX is here. By comparison, revolvers typically chambered for the Special are lighter, handier and better suited for everyday belt carry. Contest open to U.S. residents only. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. 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. Forty-four Special cases manufactured since World War II (or very shortly thereafter) are of solid-head construction and are equally as strong as .44 Magnum brass. Our test guns are both S&Ws: a blue M24-3 made in 1983 and a stainless M624 from 1986. 5.0 gr. SWC. Most famous was Elmer Keith. Our 6204 members have posted 87352 times in 5929 discussions. In all likelihood, it would be where I finished as well. Manufacturer #: 44B (50) UPC #: 754908168118. In other words, a load comparable to the black powder .45, with a 250-gr. bullet. 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. References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders Guide (1995) Hodgdons Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) Speer Reloading Manual, #12 Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. The .44 Magnum was potent as it fired a 240-grain lead bullet with gas check to around 1,450 fps in production revolvers with 6.5-inch barrels; however, most current factory loads have been reduced. Either 17.0 grains of #4227 or 8.5 grains of Unique will give right around 1,000 fps. Welcome to The Cast Bullet Association Forum, TC Contenders & Other Single Shot Handguns. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. All Rights Reserved. Colt New Frontier SAA .44 Spl., 7 1/2 " barrel, 629-6 S&W Mountain Gun Round Butt N frame Tapered Barrel 39.5 ozempty, This is my woods packin side arm, I sight this load 2" high at 25 yard mark (POI) and with this round I intend to take a Texas Whitetail and or hawg out to 50 yard mark with no compunction at all.Happy Trails Gentlemen. Although it's a bit longer than the hollowpoints, loads with it fit comfortably in the S&W's cylinders. An oversized bullet will shoot OK, but any undersized in my experience won't. Trigger pull on the test sample was set at 4 pounds. Product #: 544483. . The .44 Special is really anything but special in terms of performance, as least as factory loaded. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company Unfortunately, the .44 Magnums greater power pushed the Special from the stage. Cast bullets work well in the .44 Special, including the original Lyman/Keith No. JHC. The .44 Special is based on the black-powder .44 Russian case that earned a superb accuracy reputation in domestic and international target competition. The loads I have tried today are all 240 gr's, and OAL set to 1.45" Unique 6.5 gr = 640fps 7.0 gr = 749 fps 800X 7.0 gr = 650 fps Bullseye 5.5 gr = 720 fps AA#2 6.0 gr = 708 fps For those that load for the 44 special, max 15500 loads what are some of your pet loads you like? All this resulted in changes in muzzle velocity with many loads. .44 Special (Using Hornady Bullets) reloading data with 223 loads. DO NOT use Magnum loads in .44 Specal Cases. Ruger Redhawk 44 mag 51/2 barrel & Ruger 44 mag Super Blackhawk old model 71/2 barrel. His loads have been successfully tested and used by others for more than 25 years. For any loads over 900 FPS, I suggest using a jacketed bullet. The Oregon Trail Laser Cast 240 SWC shoots every bit as good as carefully home cast bullets. Many guns will easily handle loads that generate 22,000 psi, 25,000 psi and even more; those loads will be discussed here in a future Pet Loads article. Early ammunition contained 26 grains of black powder that pushed the 246-grain, lead roundnose bullet 780 fps. A Colt Model P will probably not blow up, but it will loosen up pretty quick. Fun, accurate and economical load. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Buy 44 Caliber Bullets .429 Diameter 240 Grain Hunting & Self Defense 50 Count: GunBroker is the largest seller of Other Reloading Supplies Reloading Supplies Ammunition Reloading All: 981766936 . . 44 Caliber: Diameter.429: . What is most interesting is that sometimes velocities were faster than those from an original Model 1950 Target with the same barrel length, but other loads recorded lower speeds. If Im looking for a little more velocity, I go with the Lyman/Thompson #429215GC that lubed, sized and gas checked weighs around 220 grains. Mag. This was the dawn of the smokeless era, and with it came some problems. Joseph Von Benedikt is with Jorge Spat to learn all about it. SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 . For the vast majority of us, the .44 Special will do everything needing doing with the sixgun. 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. It is easy to load and shoot while being easy on the budget. I have other powders like Bullseye, Titegroup, and Power Pistol but I'd like to save those for my 9mm and 7.62x25 loads. Post WWII revolvers are stronger. The .44 Special was introduced in about 1907 and is an extremely accurate cartridge. Though the .44 Magnum is an offshoot of this cartridge, the Special was based on the older black powder .44 Russian. The point being, the overall length of straight-wall, sixgun cartridges is a crucial measurement in relation to pressure and velocities. The 240-grain cast bullet loads shown also offer potent protection. . On the other hand, when pressures are held to 15,500 psi, most powders cannot push various 240-grain jacketed bullets fast enough to expand reliably. The .44 Special was formally introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1907. I think you are also going to shorten the life of your revolver with Keith Loads. 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? It is good. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. No purchase necessary. XTP; Nosler 240-gr. Free shipping for many products! The revolver pictured above is a reproduction Keith No. Before the readership has a collective coronary, let me quickly point out that the .44 Special can live happily ever after on a steady diet of ammo loaded with quality cast bullets. It was obstreperous enough in my 5-shot Taurus M431, which is a heavier piece than the CAs. Instead of using it in my lighter weight .44 Special sixguns, I mostly use it in .44 Magnums. 429421 bullet that weighed 250 grains in solid form and 235 grains in hollowpoint form. A Colt Single Action Army dating back to 1910 measured .431 inch, while a 1963 New Frontier SAA measured .430, a 2014-era New Frontier SAA ran .429 inch, and a 1980 3rd Generation Single Action Army measured .434 inch. Explore our articles, guides, and join our community to get started on your reloading journey today. Add .5 grs. Very low recoil, expected more with this heavy of a bullet. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Using wheel weight alloy, they weigh approximately 255260 grains. A Smith & Wesson Model 1950 Target 24-6 (middle) .44 Special with a 6.5-inch barrel was used to develop the accompanying data. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Pistol Loads | Rifle Loads | How to Reload | Reloading Gear | Contact, Pistol Loads | Rifle Loads | How to ReloadReloading Gear | Contact, Pistol LoadsRifle LoadsHow to ReloadReloading GearContact, Copyright 2023 Reload Ammo Built with by Edward KadoPrivacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Service | Amazon Affiliate Disclosure, Copyright 2023Reload AmmoBuilt with by Edward KadoPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyTerms of ServiceAmazon Affiliate Disclosure. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for .44 Special Lee Double Cavity Bullet Mould 429-240-2R Diameter 429 Weight 240 gr at the best online prices at eBay! over the decades have fired many rounds of cast 240 SWC deep . I second the motion to buy that new Lyman Cast Bullet handbook. I used the M24 for jacketed bullet loads and the M624 with cast bullets. High-performance .44 Special loads can reach 1,200 and 1,300 fps, closely crowding .44 Remington Magnum performance. It shares the same cylinder length as the Model 29-5 (bottom) rather than the short cylinder of the original Model 1950 Target (top). However, it is a +P 44 Special load at 20,000 psi. .430" 200 Grain RNFP bullet. Factory loads are readily available and range into the dozens, but reloading is the way to go. Contest void where prohibited by law. Even the potent .357 Magnum delivers less muzzle energy than a 240/250-grain cast SWC on top of a case full of 2400 or 4227. Is there a preferred source of data? Pet Loads and Handloader are registered trademarks of Wolfe Publishing Company. Learn from CBA members that have been casting their entire life. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. There are plenty of bullet weights and styles available for reloading the .44 Special: (from left) 180-gr. While the original intent of the .44 Special may have been as a target round, savvy handgunners havelong since used the cartridge for informal shooting and the taking of small to medium game at moderate ranges. In 1870 Smith & Wesson developed the .44 Russian for its military revolver made for the Imperial Russian army, and a civilian model followed in 1878. The idea of .44 Special for Everyday Workin Loads is a relatively lightweight sixgun, around 1/2 lb. Left to right: 250 gr. . A popular Cowboy bullet is the 200-grain RNFP. Subscriber Services. Left to right:- 250 gr. 5.6 gr . The load consists of a Lyman Ideal 429421 cast bullet, designed by Elmer Keith, himself. JHP; and Sierra 240-gr. Internal gun dimensions can vary significantly, including barrel groove diameter and throat dimensions. 12-07-2019, 10:15 AM #7 Larry Gibson During 1927 and 1928 he designed the well-known Lyman/Ideal .44- caliber No. Deployed military should use stateside address. SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 gr. cast RNFP; 240-gr. Whether it's punching paper, whacking steel, hunting or protecting what's yours, the .44 Special makes a lot of sense. However, .44 Special loads are so mild, you can really use whatever you want to. Guns were Ruger GP100 (three-inch barrel) and Smith & Wesson Model 629 (five-inch barrel). Lighter and tougher and more precise than ever, it's the perfect back country hunting rifle. It ties with two others as my favorite sixgun cartridge. Including, free printable targets, tips, safety instructions and of course gun loads. Although the new S&W large-frame Hand Ejector revolvers of 1908 were fully capable of handling stiffer loads, the Special was never factory loaded to its full potential. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. At left is a reproduction of Keiths original No. Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. These three lead bullets make the .44 Magnum a versatile cartridge (left to righ): The 200-grain wadcutter is inexpensive and great to shoot at targets. Because of the smaller case, pressures will be exceeded. If you have an older revolver this is a good limit. The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. Just stick to near-maximum loads to keep up the velocity and ensure adequate expansion. I have .44 Specials whose chamber throats are as tight as 0.427 and as large as 0.433, and I just took possession of a Spanish copy of the old S&W Triple-Lock with 0.437 throats. The Special case was lengthened from .97 inch to 1.16 inches and originally loaded with black powder, receiving 3 grains more than the Russian cartridge for a boost in velocity. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. 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. Number of Views: 5768. For me, the .44 Special and the above loads fit the bill nicely. 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. For the mild .44 special loads, I recommend all lead bullets and loads that produce 700-850 FPS speeds. Overall fit and finish is good, the front cylinder edges are rounded for easy entry into a holster, belt or backpack. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. I have revolvers with longer barrels, but the shorter barrel makes more sense when carried on the hip, and a slight velocity loss is unimportant. You will notice the standard Keith load is conspicuous by its absence. Brass and some other items can be shipped via USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail. Keith bullets from H&G, Lyman, NEI and RCBS loaded in .44 Special brass. . Available online most anywhere. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Also, as previously indicated, the chamber throats measure a comparatively snug .429 inch. Required fields are marked *. 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. ; they are best relinquished as collectors items and should not be used with the accompanying data. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Although they could not fully duplicate the velocities obtained with classic magnum revolver powders such as Alliant 2400, they were not far behind and are excellent choices for +P loads. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. HP, .44 with 225 gr. SWC+GC, 265 gr. 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6 30min chamfer? For example, Remington currently lists a 240-grain jacketed HP or SP at 1,180 fps; Federal has a 240-grain JHP at 1,230 fps; Winchester lists a 240-grain HSP at 1,180 fps (all tested from a 4-inch, vented test barrel); and Hornady lists a 240-grain bullet at 1,350 fps from a 7.5-inch barrel. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The following are for 5 or 6 inch revolvers. Subscribe To American Handgunner 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. Much has been written about sizing cast bullets to correspond with groove diameter. With the Oregon Trail 240 SWC over 26 gr. Most notable was Elmer Keith, a cowboy, hunter, big-game guide, and by the middle 1920s a gun writer. check out the. Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Either weight can be driven over 1,000 fps and provide about all the power that can be comfortably housed in a medium-weight revolver.
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