Shooting the Smith & Wesson Model 544 44-40

[gjn]

Its always fun to shoot something a little different so I've been working on loads for a Smith & Wesson Model 544 in 44-40. I really like the feel and balance of a 5" N frame and Smith made a little under 5,000 of these a few years ago. I had been using 20.5 grains of IMR-4227 with either a Hornady or Nosler 200 JHP. Velocity averaged around 920 fps with a SD of 38. I ran across a post on Marlin Owners where someone had put a fair amount of time and effort into working up a load and settled on 11.2 grains of Longshot. I've been using Longshot in my 500 Wyoming Express with very satisfactory results so I tried it in the 44-40. Using 11.2 grains with a Nosler 200 JHP velocity averaged 943 fps with a SD of 20. I then used the same load with a LBT 245 grain WFN-GC I cast which averaged 1047 fps with a SD of 12. Have now loaded the cases 5 times with no problems and accuracy has been excellent. I've settled on that as my go to load and figure that will do anything I want to do with this handgun.

Here's the Smith 544;



A loaded round with the bullet I'm using;



Here's a link to the article referenced above
www.marlinowners.com/forum/reloading/85440-44-40- longshot-reload-data.html

[toroflow]

What diameter are the lead slugs you're using? I have a 544 and am interested. Thanks.

[gjn]

They measure .431

[toroflow]

I always wondered if S&W used a true .427" bore on the 544s, or just used a 29 barrel (.429").

[gjn]

I believe they used .429 barrels.

[toroflow]

I believe then I will quit buying .427" lead and use some of the 6,000 .429" lead I have stockpiled!