.44 Special Loads Over The Years - All With bullet #429421

[JimT]

From Elmer Keith in the late 1950's
Light loads 5.0 gr. Bullseye
Target loads 7.5 gr. Unique
Heavy Loads 18.5 gr. 2400 in the older balloon-head cases. In modern solid head cases, cut the powder charge to 17.0 grains.


1960's Lyman Reloading Manual
Unique - min. 5.0 gr. max 8.0 gr.
2400 - min. 12.5 gr. max.17.7 gr.


Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook
Unique - min. 5.0 gr. max. 6.9 gr.
2400 - min. 11.4 gr. max. 13.2 gr.
(The 50th Anniversary Lyman manual changed the minimum charge of Unique to 6.0 gr. - the rest stayed the same)


Speer #13 Reloading Manual
Unique - min. 6.4 gr. max. 6.9 gr.
2400 - min. 12.0 gr. max. 13.0 g

[Rube Burrows]

I just recently loaded up some test loads of various amounts of 2400. Hope to get to test them out in my Blackhawk 44spl Flattop soon.

[Bronco]

Powders change formulas over time. I found out in a round about way, luckily without any damage or injury and gratefully to the strength of a Redhawk!.
I was away from reloading for a long time( 10 yrs or so )and went to reload some max 44 mags. I checked with my reloading notes and away I go. Seriously sticking cases to eject! What the H&%%!
Got home checked my notes, good; pulled a few apart and weighed the powder, good; checked my old reloading manual, good; Jesus what the heck is wrong! Went a bought a NEW manual of the same name sake and the max load wes 3 grs less than the old manual
Live and learn and luckily it was not the death of me
By the way the powder was 2400!

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’ve pretty much settled on 6 gr of Unique for light loads with 240 gr machine cast bullets and 7.5 gr of Unique under the Keith bullet.

[samsi]

In recent years I'd settled on 8.5 Power Pistol with the Keith bullet, but that was before Alliant powders got scarce around these parts. 8 grains of Universal also makes for a good load and I've been meaning to do a direct comparison with Unique at the same charge weight.

My light load with magma style 240's is 5.5 W231. I arrived at that through sheer laziness as that's what the Dillon measure was set to from the last batch of 45acp I'd done at the time I first tried it.

[Scott Tschirhart]

In recent years I'd settled on 8.5 Power Pistol with the Keith bullet, but that was before Alliant powders got scarce around these parts. 8 grains of Universal also makes for a good load and I've been meaning to do a direct comparison with Unique at the same charge weight.

My light load with magma style 240's is 5.5 W231. I arrived at that through sheer laziness as that's what the Dillon measure was set to from the last batch of 45acp I'd done at the time I first tried it.

Kinda handy that way. Jeff Cooper used a 215 gr bullet in the .45 Auto over 7.5 gr of Unique. Pretty hot by today’s standards though.

[Old Savage]

I have loaded a S&W 24 from about 750 - 1150 fps with good results. A wide range of pistol and shotgun powders work well. Manuals can be quite conservative I suppose in deference to older guns.

[samsi]

In recent years I'd settled on 8.5 Power Pistol with the Keith bullet, but that was before Alliant powders got scarce around these parts. 8 grains of Universal also makes for a good load and I've been meaning to do a direct comparison with Unique at the same charge weight.

My light load with magma style 240's is 5.5 W231. I arrived at that through sheer laziness as that's what the Dillon measure was set to from the last batch of 45acp I'd done at the time I first tried it.

Kinda handy that way. Jeff Cooper used a 215 gr bullet in the .45 Auto over 7.5 gr of Unique. Pretty hot by today’s standards though.

There's still some disagreement over what bullet the Colonel was using, but the closest I ever got was 6.5 Unique with the H&G68. It's plenty sporty and younger me used to shoot 'em up by the bucket load, though I'll admit that these days running through 70-100 is enough.

[Scott Tschirhart]

There's still some disagreement over what bullet the Colonel was using, but the closest I ever got was 6.5 Unique with the H&G68. It's plenty sporty and younger me used to shoot 'em up by the bucket load, though I'll admit that these days running through 70-100 is enough.

Your load seems plenty stout. I don’t push my old .45 that hard.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Here is an index with links to excellent articles about the .44 Special

https://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_ ... _Articles/

[Scott Tschirhart]

.44 Special blues

https://youtu.be/j-oHf_dBqq8?si=6-E4JVK6dsFpcang

[Scott Tschirhart]

And my introduction to the .44 Special

https://youtu.be/Gs8AqzN9Ga4?si=zqYVyiqqirn4g-8v

[Bullard4075]

Thanks everyone.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Shooting my favorite two .44 Specials in the rain this morning.

The Smith 69 shoots the Skeeter load at an average of 898fps which is just about perfect for most everything. It fouls some with my cast bullet loads and I think I need to polish the bore a bit.

The Bowen/Ruger clocks at 949fps on average.

This is a really useful velocity range.

[Griff]

In the two years I was blessed to own a Winchester 94 in 44 Mag, I shot a lot of 44 spl. Most of it handloaded with the RCBS 200 grain FN bullet. I bought my first sixgun used, a Colt SAA in 45 Colt and have never looked back. I suppose that if that 94 hadn't been stolen, I've had looked for a matching sixgun. But, with the wide latitude that a 45 Colt allows in performance for both rifle & handgun, I don't find I have a need for a .44. But, I got a lot of respect for those that do enjoy theirs.

[Scott Tschirhart]

If it hadn’t been for the Shootists having that USFA revolver done in.44 Special some years ago, I would likely feel the same way.

And the purchase of 2000 pieces of Starline brass with the Shootists head-stamp.

[LeverGunner]

I use 4.8 Bullseye with my cast RCBS 44-250-K

I also use the Ranch Dog CTL4320-265-RF, but I usually drop the powder charge a bit, 4.4 Bullseye was very accurate but printed a bit too high for my liking.

I've shot a lot of the RCBS 44-240-SWC, which is gas checked. I've used various loads, but 5.5 Unique is sort of my go to load.

I've not worked with titegroup in the 44 Special, but I've got a pound to mess with. I've loaded it in 38 Special and 45 automatic some years back, but didn't get any more until just a couple of years ago. I can't find a lot of information on it for 44 Special since most people either work in the the +P range or stick to old reliable powders. I'll be working up loads with all my bullets and likely some 44 Special level loads in 44 Magnum to run though my Winchester 92.

[Walt]

I have found that 7.0 gr of Power Pistol at about 840 fps works better for me than any other combination using 429421 bullets.

[LeverGunner]

I have found that 7.0 gr of Power Pistol at about 840 fps works better for me than any other combination using 429421 bullets.

Thanks, I've yet to try PP. Is that into the +P territory or just standard pressure?

[Walt]

No, at 840 fps it is definitely a standard pressure load. It's accurate and fun to shoot.

[samsi]

I have found that 7.0 gr of Power Pistol at about 840 fps works better for me than any other combination using 429421 bullets.

Thanks, I've yet to try PP. Is that into the +P territory or just standard pressure?

8.2 grains is max at standard pressure with Power Pistol and the Keith bullet (according to Speer anyhow). I nudge it up to 8.5, just because the 8.2 was so close to 1000 fps that I couldn't stand it. I've shot the same load deep seated in 44 mag and it works well there too.

[LeverGunner]

Thank you for the information. I've been wanting to try PowerPistol for a couple of years, but haven't picked any up yet. For a while it was pretty hard to find.

[samsi]

Thank you for the information. I've been wanting to try PowerPistol for a couple of years, but haven't picked any up yet. For a while it was pretty hard to find.

I've been really happy with it in 44 mag (medium loads) & Special, both 45ACP & Colt, and 38 Special. If it weren't for the scarcity I'd make it my one powder for handguns.

[Scott Tschirhart]

https://americanhandgunner.com/ammo/the ... fect-load/

From Tank Hoover

[JimT]

I've noticed over the years that using Unique in the .44 Special and .45 Colt, you can figure about 100 fps per grain of powder. It varies of course from gun to gun and with barrel lengths, but that Skeeter load will give an honest 800 fps and better in the .44. And a grain more in the .45 Colt gives around 850 fps. Like I said, some guns are faster or slower but it's a good "ball park" figure.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Unique isn’t magic but at 7.5 gr in the .44 Special it seems to be remarkably consistent.

I just loaded some .432 diameter Keith bullets which should seal the chamber mouths much better.

A .430 slips right through the throats on my Ruger new model flattop.

[GunnyMack]

I I had Single six out the other day for a few more pics that Levergunner requested and decided to check throats, a .430 xtp fell right through. I'll have to see what I have for unsized cast.

[Scott Tschirhart]

.430 is still better in my Bowen Blackhawk

[Scott Tschirhart]

But .432 solved all the problems with the Bisley.