It was a special day today ....

[JimT]

.44 Special that is. Heading to the Range this morning I decided I would shoot some factory loads and see how they did out of the USFA .44 Special. I have had some of these for decades and they needed to be used.

On the Range I set up at 20 yards. I shot groups using the Outers Pistol Rest to steady the barrel .. holding the gun with my hands resting on the pad.

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I had factory loads from Federal, Cor-Bon, Black Hills and Double Tap. I also had some handloads with me.

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The Cor-Bon 165 gr. JHP loads gave the snappiest recoil ... not heavy, just fast. They hit quite load as the gun is sighted for the 250 gr. Keith bullet. The Double Tap 240 gr. loads gave the heaviest recoil which, in the .44 Special, is not heavy.

All in all, a Special Day!

[Bronco]

Such a nice day it was

[Drawdown]

Jim I'd have to say thers not a bad group out the entire bunch, and it favors the heavier loads. Fine shooting!

[Walt]

Very nice, JimT!

I have arthritis in the base of both thumbs so I value mild big bores like .44 spl and .45 Colt highly. Single actions are preferable over double actions because of the hump in the grip frames of the double actions. I am envious of you having that fine USFA revolver. Very nice firearm! And fine shooting as well. Thanks for the post and the pictures.

[JimT]

Very nice, JimT!

I have arthritis in the base of both thumbs so I value mild big bores like .44 spl and .45 Colt highly. Single actions are preferable over double actions because of the hump in the grip frames of the double actions. I am envious of you having that fine USFA revolver. Very nice firearm! And fine shooting as well. Thanks for the post and the pictures.

Thank you. I was blessed to be able to get it. It's as good or better than any Colt SAA I have ever owned.

[Ysabel Kid]

So jealous! I would like to have a .44 Special day soon!

[AJMD429]

So jealous! I would like to have a .44 Special day soon!

I have a Charter Arms Bulldog... but would love to have a 44 Special on a Ruger frame of some sort, or even the Charter Arms 6" 44 Spl I once shot, vs my (probably more practical but not as much fun) 3" one.

[JimT]

The problem with the .44 Special is owning one makes you want to get another. And after that, another.

[Nath]

Superb that is Jim.

My Mrs says I'm special, every day !!!

[Ysabel Kid]

So jealous! I would like to have a .44 Special day soon!

I have a Charter Arms Bulldog... but would love to have a 44 Special on a Ruger frame of some sort, or even the Charter Arms 6" 44 Spl I once shot, vs my (probably more practical but not as much fun) 3" one.

You mean like this?

[Ysabel Kid]

The problem with the .44 Special is owning one makes you want to get another. And after that, another.

I fail to see the issue here...

[Walt]

John Taffin is evidently a devoted aficionado of .44 specials. About ten years ago he stated in an article that he had 113 of them. I'm not totally addicted to them but I have half a dozen. They're pretty hard to find but I'll buy one if I stumble across a good one. My favorite load is 7.5 gr of Power Pistol behind a 240 or 250 gr bullet.

[JimT]

When I first got the USFA .44 Special I spent time loading and shooting it. Rather than cut the sights I finally figured out a couple loads that shoot to the sights. Both are with the Keith SWC #429421. The light load is 6.5 gr. of Unique. The heavy load is 16.5 gr. 2400. These two loads do everything I want to do. I mess with some other loads and bullets now and again, but the majority of my handloads are these two.

[Oldncrusty]

Nice work. Still hoping to own a Special one of these moons.

[Walt]

Hey JimT, how about sending a picture or two of your beautiful USFA .44? I'd love to see it.

[JimT]

Hey JimT, how about sending a picture or two of your beautiful USFA .44? I'd love to see it.

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These were a special run for The Shootists. Mine is serial number 3. John Taffin has 1 and 2. I was the 3rd Chairman of The Shootists. Deacon Deason was 2nd. I was 3rd. Paco Kelly was 4th. I forget how many we had made but it wasn't a lot ... maybe a hundred? I am not sure. The grips on mine are one piece walnut by Paul Persinger.

[Walt]

OMG, that is so way beyond beautiful!
Thanks!!

[Walt]

JimT, the picture in my addled brain is beginning to clear. Weren't you the one who at the original Shootists Holiday in Colorado brought along a Ruger Single Six in .22 lr with one chamber bored out to accept .22 magnum?

[Walt]

This must have been at a subsequent Shootists event but I'm still amused by the story of attendees bringing their best long range cannons and Hal Swiggett winning the jackrabbit shooting contest with his 3" Charter Arms .22 lr topped with a 1x Hutson Handgunner scope.

Great story

[JimT]

JimT, the picture in my addled brain is beginning to clear. Weren't you the one who at the original Shootists Holiday in Colorado brought along a Ruger Single Six in .22 lr with one chamber bored out to accept .22 magnum?

Yessir. My Dad built the gun. He bought it in the early '60's .. rebarreled it and rechambered one chamber to .22 Magnum. The story and photos are here - https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/family_gun.htm

[Walt]

Wonderful story, Jim. Definitely a family heirloom.

Thanks!

[Walt]

You may have been aware of my late arrival to this, my first and only forum. I feel like I'm in the company of sixgun royalty and I'm deeply appreciative. Thanks to all.