Using wheel weight alloy, they weigh approximately 255260 grains. For the vast majority of us, the .44 Special will do everything needing doing with the sixgun. We show you how. Since then, even the .44 Magnum's performance has been eclipsed by several bigger bore and more powerful handgun cartridges. 429421 bullet to improve the .44 Specials accuracy and terminal performance. Manufacturer #: 44B (50) UPC #: 754908168118. I like to load the .44 Special using moderate amounts of powder thus providing a very economical cartridge to use any time in any .44 Magnum. The .44 Special was formally introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1907. It ties with two others as my favorite sixgun cartridge. .44 Special (Hodgdon Data) reloading data with 130 loads. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Gun Loads Forum - .44 Special Home Reloading Pistols .44 Special If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. SWC-HP is one of the first jacketed bullets offered by Speer nearly 50 years ago. He remarked that he liked it generally, but that it was too warm for falling plate competition. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Mikey Hartman, Lt. Col. If you shoot the Skeeter Load with hard bullets you can crack the barrel extension on your revolver. 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. could legitimately claim top gun performance. 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. For light loads with 250-260 grain bullets, 5.3 grains Vhitavouri 320 or 4.8 grains Tight Group will deliver 700 fps and good accuracy. Using standard weight 240-gr. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Revolver Is Back, A World Record Attempt: Practice Round and Media Day, Interview with Israeli Defense Forces, Part 1. This load significantly increased the effectiveness of the cartridge while still being easily managed when shooting fast with double- action sixguns. 240 gr. Stick to 200 grain load data with these bullets since all the lead is seated flush in the case. Most notable was Elmer Keith, a cowboy, hunter, big-game guide, and by the middle 1920s a gun writer. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2022. The .44 Special was introduced in about 1907 and is an extremely accurate cartridge. Phil Sharpe, in his book Complete Guide to Handloading, used Unique for 38 of 160 .44 Special loads to include bullets weighing from 145 to 260 grains. You want a light push fit through the cylinder throats. The Hodgdon site lists 8.0 gr of HS-6 as a max load for the .44 Special with a 240gr cast bullet. Its a natural outgrowth of half-jacketed bullets, and unlike traditional jacketed bullets, consists of a full-length copper cup with a lead core. My favorite load for my Ruger Blackhawk 44 Special is something I got from an article by Skeeter Skelton. The .44 Special was formally introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1907. For any loads over 1000 FPS, I suggest GC for sure or using a jacketed bullet. 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. In my experience 300 grain bullets shoot high and achievable velocity in the Specialtoo low. Subscribe To American Handgunner Joseph Von Benedikt is with Jorge Spat to learn all about it. 44 Caliber: Diameter.429: . Mag. We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. It is good. JFP, 240 gr. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Works well in a 3" Sheriff's Model, a 12" Buntline Special, and everything in between. 44F. So, I'm going to start at 5.5gr and work up from there. I loaded some for a friend's 6" S&W 624. A World Record Attempt and everyone is out at the range shooting and practicing. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. 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. Including, free printable targets, tips, safety instructions and of course gun loads. 1,200 fps. Contest void where prohibited by law. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. But I'll trade a little sootiness & extra recoil for the added assurance. does not engender a reputation as a "hot" cartridge. My standard choice for loading the .44 Special is whats normally known as the Keith bullet. and Western, were weaker in construction and have often deteriorated with age and should not be reloaded. I am not able to find data for various bullet weights. Please note that many of the starting loads in Category 2 are within industry pressure guidelines of 15,500 psi. I also drool in my sleep. Though the .44 Magnum is an offshoot of this cartridge, the Special was based on the older black powder .44 Russian. Using an expander ball that is at least .003 to .004 inch smaller than bullet diameter is suggested. I would defer to Hodgdon data for the .44 Special, although my deep seated loads in mag brass approximate COL for .44 Special. With variables, this load generally produces around 18,000 psi and is a +P load. For those who dont cast, check out the Oregon Trail Laser Cast 240-gr. 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. Make sure to watch till the end. 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. 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. U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas.) Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. bullet. Just stick to near-maximum loads to keep up the velocity and ensure adequate expansion. JHC. 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. 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. I used CCI-350 magnum primers with HS-6 and Silhouette powders, but regular primers would work just as well. An occasional trip through the case trimmer will result in more uniform crimps - a big part of consistent ballistics - and better accuracy. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Taurus has redesigned this sporting pistol for performance. Powder: Bullet Weight: Bullet Make: Bullet Type: Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. With the Oregon Trail 240 SWC over 26 gr. Bullets under 200 grains have never given me anything but short-range accuracy. 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. 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. less than a comparable .44 Magnum, and also less recoil while still being more than adequate for any situation which should arise. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. The fun is in the fact that I can use one powder, Unique. A charge of 5.5 to 6.5 grains of Red Dot with just about any decent bullet - jacketed or cast - almost always results in adequate velocity, uniform ballistics and terrific accuracy. 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. Experimenters such as Elmer Keith proved that a heavily loaded .44 Special was very effective on big game. less than a comparable .44 Magnum, and also less recoil while still being more than adequate for any situation which should arise. Purchase A PDF Download Of The American Handgunner Nov/Dec 2020 Issue Now! 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. It is safe in any good post WWII Special, anddependably accurateif you usesoft alloy bullets, ~BHN 9,correctly sized for the revolver. Manufacturer #: HT-430240EK. 7 Accurate Solo 1250 Regardless of the loads chosen, be certain to use data exactly as listed, as changes in bullet design, bullet seating depth and overall cartridge length, primer, etc., will change the pressures and performance of the load. However, it is a +P 44 Special load at 20,000 psi. Fun, accurate and economical load. He is a published fiction and non-fiction writer, earned his pilots license in 1965, and is the original founder of Reload Ammo in 1996. A Colt Model P will probably not blow up, but it will loosen up pretty quick. 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. We typically ship within 7 days, 2 weeks maximum if there is a delay in paper works. With a satin stainless finish, this Model 629 is built on the traditional N-frame and weighs 41 ounces unloaded. 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. Very low recoil, expected more with this heavy of a bullet. Brass and some other items can be shipped via USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail. Taurus Marketing Manager Caleb Giddings highlights the features of the new Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum, a purpose-built revolver with a 10.5-inch barrel and an effective recoil-taming brake, with Guns & Ammo Executive Editor Joe Kurtenbach. Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different. No purchase necessary. . SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 gr. Number of Views: 5819, Published on 10-20-2014 09:14 PM Tests have shown, however, that using bullets that are close to throat diameter to begin with usually yield best accuracy while increasing pressures very little, if at all. Available in different sizes and red dot ready, it'll fit your needs, whatever they are. Left to right: 250 gr. 2 alloy), and no leading was noted. SWC, 240 gr. 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. . Give a Gift Whether we travel the sagebrush, foothills, forests, or mountains there are .44 Special loads that will handle any situation were likely to encounter. 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 . The Special's inherent accuracy stems from a previous design. As to the heavier, 240-grain lead bullets, samples from Hornady and Speer were included. Either 17.0 grains of #4227 or 8.5 grains of Unique will give right around 1,000 fps. I used to load down the .44 mag cases to .44 special velocities. The traditional .44-caliber bullet weight is 240 grains, and here we have several proven performers. It is within industry pressure guidelines at 15,500 psi, while offering moderate recoil and good accuracy. Regardless of bullet diameter chosen, the expander ball die should measure at least .003 or (better) .004 inch smaller than bullet diameter to achieve correct bullet and case neck tension. It is a faithful rendition of the original and should quicken the pulse of .44 Special fans everywhere. Make sure they are a snug slip fit inyour cylinder throats. Join the exclusive reloading community founded in 1996 and be the first to know about our latest news, reviews, and insights. DO NOT use Magnum loads in .44 Specal Cases. 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. Current industry maximum average pressure is established at a rather low 15,500 psi, which is in deference to early sixguns and select U.S.-manufactured and imported guns. 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. My long-favored cast bullet load of 7.5 grains of Unique used with this 240 jacketed . 7, Ramshot True Blue, Alliant Unique and Power Pistol. 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. Who knew wild turkey's were so stupid!? They offer moderate recoil and muzzle report, low extreme spreads, and they are easy to shoot accurately while being capable of taking big game. When the .44 Mag was introduced in 1955, Hercules 2400 and IMR 4227 soon became the most popular powders for .44 Magnum hand-loads. JHP 5 built by Bowen Classic Arms. Our 6204 members have posted 87352 times in 5929 discussions. Ruger's multi-role small frame autoloading rifle - Sear - combines AR-10 power with AR-15 Portability. Even when bullets of this diameter are used in guns that have a tighter barrel groove diameter of .4265 inch to .428 inch (typically found in the Colt Single Action Army and New Frontier SAA), accuracy is still excellent. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. It shares the same cylinder length as the Model 29-5 (bottom) rather than the short cylinder of the original Model 1950 Target (top). Modern Smith & Wesson N-frame revolvers are stout, as they share the same outside cylinder dimensions as the Model 29 .44 Magnum; however, they are slightly shorter. (II) Limit one entry per household. Theyre certainly capable of doing everything we expect the sixgun to do. Contest open to U.S. residents only. With 6.0 grains of Unique and a 51/2 sixgun the result is a very pleasant shooting, and accurate, load of 825 fps. Reloading the .44 Special is an uncomplicated delight. HP, .44 with 225 gr. Top performing examples include Hodgdon Longshot, Accurate No. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Here you will find load data for some of the most recent cartridges on the market, with more being added each week. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Shown is Elmer Keiths customized Keith Long Range Colt that was originally owned by Teddy Roosevelt. When smokeless powder loads appeared, velocity was standardized (with the, same bullet) at 755 fps, which is offered by Remington and Winchester (although actual velocities usually hover around 700 fps). Though to me the .44 Special is not that special, and I dont need oodles of powder choices behind it for a particular use in the field. Much also depends on the particular model, age, and condition of the .44 spl. For reloading .44 Mag, faster-burning powders are better for practice ammo while the slow-burners are better for maximum velocities. Therefore, I no longer use the .44 mag cases when loading down to .44 special velocities. However, as factory loaded with a 246-grain lead roundnose bullet at approximately 750 fps muzzle velocity, the .44 Spl. No purchase necessary. Depending upon barrel length, sixgun and bullet, these loads will be in the 900 to 1,000 fps range. A LEE size die can reduce them if they are too large. Keith 429244 and 7.5 Unique. 5.2 grains gave 800 fs., so pressure goes up pretty fast. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. For the mild .44 special loads, I recommend all lead bullets and loads that produce 700-850 FPS speeds. Then there is the question of what do you expect to use it for. Using bullets from Hornady HP-XTP , Hornady FP-Cowboy, Hornady HP-XTP, Hornady SWC-HP or SWC, Hornady HP-XTP or CL-SIL. Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. The .44 Special (center) was based on a lengthened .44 Russian cartridge (left), while the .44 Remington Magnum (right) is based on a lengthened .44 Special case. Bullet fit is key for accuracy.