44Spec and Recoil Comparison

[bulasteve]

I vaguely recall having asked a similar question but thought I'd make it more pointed this time. The 44Spec Skeeter load that many here have hands on experience with, an old friend that almost loads itself. Out of your guns, just how much current made 2400 do you think it would take to give the same velo as the Skeeter loading of 7.5grs of Unique ? The second part of the question is..by just your hand, will you be able to tell by the recoil, which is which ? I've no chrono and hope for better info than guestimating as to how much 2400 will equal in velo, 7.5grs of Unique, in a 44spec with a nom weight SWC on top. Curious.

[jimtx]

If memory serves I believe it's 14-15grs of 2400 with a 250gr bullet. But I would still look it up.

[Encore64]

Think that's about right. 17.0 grns 2400 is about max for a 25,000 psi rated gun.

[bulasteve]

John Taffin's Book of the 44 shows lots of groups with velos written in for the Skeeter loading. Seems like velos ran from 950 to 1025 per barrel lengths and such. While lots of 2400 has been burned up going down 44spec barrels, when folks then switch to 2400 they are often looking to go beyond. So while lots of old printed data is out there, it wasn't done to equal the Unique loadings. Again, curious. Wanting to pick brains here.  

[paul105]

Data from same friend referred to in the Longshot thread.

.44 Special
5 1/2" New Model Flattop
CCI 300 Primers
240gr BBSWC

7.5 gr Unique 1,033 fps ES 29 fps (12 shots)
15.0gr 2400 1,104 fps ES 54 fps (14 shots)

Using Win Large Pistol Primers 1,076 fps ES 81 fps (30 shots)
Using CCI 350 (Magnum) Primers 1,151 fps ES 115 fps (30 shots)

No test data lower than 15.0gr of 2400.

Paul

[sixshot]

bulasteve, if you don't have a chronograph you can zero at 50-75 yds. with the 7.5 grs. of Unique & then start adjusting your 2400 load until it zero's the same & the Skeeter load, best way I know of.

Dick

[bulasteve]

JimTX, looks like your memory is darn good ! Thank you again Paul105. Dick, hadn't thought of using sights to find same velo, neat idea ! Smart bunch running around here. Thant's why we ask.

[sixshot]

bulasteve, the same principal applies when using iron sights at long range if you have a couple of bars or notches cut in your front sight. If you know where the top bar is zeroed, say 150 yds & you hit low on that Texas jackrabbit you know he's beyond 150 so you go to bar #2 or borrow one of 2 Dogs guns & hold dead on!

Dick

[diddle]

Using my FA97 with a 5.5" barrel and an Accurate Molds 431250TG bullet (gas checked, 250 grains, sized 0.430" and lubed with White's Carnuba Red), I make 1000 fps with 14 grains of 2400 and 1100 fps with 15 grains. Using the same bullet with 7.5 grains of Unique (Skeeter load) makes 1000 fps. So, in my experience, it takes 14 grains of 2400 to make the same velocity as the Skeeter load. The math says the 2400 should have slightly more recoil, but I don't feel any real difference. I hope this helps.

[bulasteve]

Not sure about your math. Same bullet, same velo, should generate same recoil as measures in ft lbs.. It's my thought though, that the in your hand perceived recoil may be less with the slower burning powder thats getting the bullet to that velo with less pressure. I do not know if this will pan out in reality, which why I'm asking for your opinions. In the end it's accuracy and terminal performance that counts I know, just have a mental itch that needs scratchin'.

[bulasteve]

Oh, Diddle, thanks for nailing down that in your gun 7.5grs of Unique equals 14grs of 2400. Was thinking it would fall between there and 14.5grs. I may play with these numbers today or Sunday here, though as said, no chrono so it'll just be by the seat of my hand stuff.

[diddle]

Bulasteve -- the recoil calculation includes the total weight of the ejecta, in this case that is bullet and powder. Since more 2400 is used than Unique, the calculated recoil would be very slightly more; hence my comment. In reality though, your comment is spot on. Diddle

[bulasteve]

Ya know, it just occured to me that I had a discussion with a gent a couple of years ago on another forum that the Skeeter loading in my opinion was too heavy for my 44spec Bulldog and he told me to try 14grs of 2400. His load for his Bulldog. Am wondering if that seed sprouted this thread for me ? I didn't try the 14grs of 2400 loading but do see that I noted it as "suggested" at the bottom of the page in my manual. Also see a much older notation that I did use 14grs of 2400 under the 3/4 jacketed HP that weighed 225grs, the old Speer bullet that I miss. I still have 1/2 a box or so, and some of the 240gr SP's too here. These kinda loads are why the 'Pachy grips stay on the Bulldog now and I sent my OE woods to someone here.

[paul105]

Found this in some old files. In July of 2003, I chronoed
13.0gr 2400
RP .44 special cases
Fed 150
250gr Keith
70 Deg F
3 1/8" S&W M396

avg of 930 fps (2 shots w/ES of 12 fps)

Only two shots, and 2400 can have some fairly large ES, so relevance may be questionable.

Paul

[bulasteve]

13grs ? I'm liking the velos. This should be a more Bulldog friendly loading. Thanks.