44 spcl, good loads?

m1978

m1978

Regular
Rating - 90%
9   1   0
have a new mod 24 on the way from smith. just curious what you guys run for 44 special. also, with cast bullets, can pure lead be used?

cheers
 
Linotype, wheelweights or Lyman #2 alloy is generally used for pistols. Save the pure lead for the Muzzleloader.
Lots of good 44 cal moulds out there - I have good luck with RCBS 245 gr SWC
 
Kieth style 245 grain SWC cast plain base (wheel weight), and 6.4 grains of Red Dot powder.
It is a 'dirty' powder, comparatively speaking.
This is pretty much, a top end load by the way.

But very good accuracy at 20-25 yards, out of my 624.....
 
i use 231,but the range of bullets is exactly the same as 44 mag- basically it's 44 mag's little brother- and being slightly smaller, i should think that the 44 special loads are easier on the gun
 
I used Lyman 215 grain gas check bullet and 231 or unique for higher velocity loads and with a 240 rn or 250 swc used 231 or unique also. With the 44 special and cast bullets you will get better preformance if your bullets are not super hard--I mainly used wheelweights with a bit of lino added for the tin.

Most commercial cast bullets are too hard for best performance in the 44 Special.

44Bore
 
thanks for the responses. so , will no.2 still expand on impact? perhaps wheelweights are best eh?

i have no desire to mimic a keith load, but would like to get a 240 gr swc, or swchp to mimic the 158 gr 38 special police load, which i believe is 850-900 fps. this, i assume should be no prob for a model 24.

i am concerned about pressure, only because the load data ive seen is frankly pathetic.

cheers
 
The 44 special operates at a lower pressure than the 44 mag--stick to 44 special loads and you won't have any issues in a modern gun--you can load up to lower end 44 mag loads but it is hard on the brass and the gun.

It is no problem to get 900-1000 fps with a 240 grain bullet with excellent accuracy. "Skeeter Skelton's" loads with unique for the 44 special have given me excellent performance and accuracy with a bit more snap than the factory loads.

44Bore
 
My best plinking load for .44 or .45 were with Unique and Cast bullets. 245 Keith SWC are pretty accurate.

Lots of people I know like the 2400 powder load from Keith. But this one is max in a 24 or 624.

Yves
 
44Bore said:
The 44 special operates at a lower pressure than the 44 mag--stick to 44 special loads and you won't have any issues in a modern gun--you can load up to lower end 44 mag loads but it is hard on the brass and the gun.

It is no problem to get 900-1000 fps with a 240 grain bullet with excellent accuracy. "Skeeter Skelton's" loads with unique for the 44 special have given me excellent performance and accuracy with a bit more snap than the factory loads.

44Bore
Click to expand...


so this woudn't place undue stress on the revolver? this is about as hot as im inclined to go at any rate, just don't want to beat up a nice gun.

cheers
 
Should not be an issue--I have shot thousands of those loads (around 650-975 fps) from a smith M-24 and a 624. The old heavy duty keith loads would approach 1150-1200 fps and I never felt the need--I had 44 mags for that.

44Bore
 
exactly. im content to keep the 240/250s at 900 tops, and maybe 1000-1050 for the 200s. that was my intention when i ordered the thing, glad to hear this will not harm it.

cheers
 
SMITH45 said:
My best plinking load for .44 or .45 were with Unique and Cast bullets. 245 Keith SWC are pretty accurate.

Lots of people I know like the 2400 powder load from Keith. But this one is max in a 24 or 624.

Yves
Click to expand...

I agree with the above. I use a Lyman mold, 429348. It is a wadcutter that weighs 180 gr. I use it with Unique powder and get awesome results. Cloverleaf groups at 25 yds in my 624.

On the other hand the loads I tried with 2400 weren't all that accurate and I always had unburnt powder even with a good crimp and magnum primers.

BTW: It isn't important but I think interesting. Dirty Harry mentions this particular mold in one of his movies. He says that is what he prefers to use. I always got a kick out of that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom