.44 Special and HS-6 loads?

[nolongcolt]

So in a few days I will have a new Ruger Flattop .44SP with 4.62 barrel. I have had great luck with HS-6 in my .45 Colts and .44 mag Ruger and others. What are you shooters finding to be the best load range for this powder using a .240gr lead SWC of .431 dia? Or other bullets that you shoot. I have not had a .44SP for years.

[tullymars]

www.lasc.us/ArticlesFryxell.htm The only HS6 load I've tried is 10grs behind a 240 lswc. It came from the writings of Glen Fryxell. Seems to mimic Skeeters load. I love the way HS6 meters and burns. Great mid-range load.

[bradshaw]

nolongcolt.... over the decades have fired many rounds of cast 240 SWC deep-seated over 10.6/HS-6 in .44 mag brass. Air space and load approximate traditional crimp cannelure seating of SWC in .44 Special brass. Velocity, as I recall, runs around 1050 fps on Redhawk 5-1/2". It is 200 fps faster, while a hair less accurate, than same bullet deep-seated over 5.5/HP-38 in .44 mag brass. Which is to say, still tight enough to shoot under 6-inch groups at 100 yards from a proper revolver. I'm talking commercial cast bevel base SWC, which in my experience remain accurate until you lean on them too hard.

Actually, the accuracy is better----with the proper Ruger or Smith AND a co-operating shooter. These popcorn-mild loads thump a metal at from two football fields with surprising authority.
David Bradshaw

[nolongcolt]

Thanks David and tullymars. Those loads are sort of what I was looking at for a practical maximum. For sure will try the traditional Skeeter loads with Unique and 2400 as well. HS-6 has worked so well in my .45 Colt, .44 mag and also .44-40 I dont see any reason it wont work here too.

[bud]

I've been using the HS powders for years with much success. HS5 is just like Unique...same loads. HS6 is very consistent. HS7 I use in heavier CB loads plus it works very well in mid-range rifle CB loads.

[texmike]

The Hodgdon site lists 8.0 gr of HS-6 as a max load for the .44 Special with a 240gr cast bullet. 10grs is a hot load; maybe not unsafe, but hot. Here's the web address which is a good reloading source. www.hodgdon.com/

[nolongcolt]

Thanks guys. I shot up to 8.5 grs of the stuff on Sunday. 7grs was quite wimpy compared to 7.5grs of Unique. Much milder. Even 8.5grs seemed less peppy than the Unique load. It is a slightly slower powder. I have some loaded up to 10grs I will try next time out. I have lots of loading manuals that pretty much all hold Special loads at SAAMI. Been to the Hodgdon site many times as well. Put some Altamont faux ivories on it today, looks and feel better. Factory panels are thin, the ivories fill my hand better, plus they are smooth. The checkering on the factory panels bite a bit with upper end loads! I really like the gun.

[bradshaw]

Years ago, decades ago, in deep seating commercial cast 44 SWC Bevel Base for mild loads in .44 mag brass, I discerned better accuracy from HS-6 than Unique. However, I did not look thoroughly into the powder comparison. Just settled on 231/HP-38 for light and HS-6 for a bit more steam, while maintaining accuracy. I would defer to Hodgdon data for the .44 Special, although my deep seated loads in mag brass approximate COL for .44 Special.

As with the old .45 Colt, there are plenty old & beautiful .44 Special revolvers which must NEVER be fed bumped up loads.
David Bradshaw

[ohnomrbillk]

I shoot a GP100 in 44 special. I found this article really helpful when trying to round up load data.

www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian%20Pearce%20on%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

[nolongcolt]

Thanks for posting that link. Unfortunately, it loads page one, freezes, then kills my computer! Is there any other way to get that article on line? Thanks!

[cubrock]

Some of the most accurate loads I've ever shot out of my .44 Specials have been crafted with HS-6. It is an excellent powder for the cartridge, in my book. Without checking, I believe it was with 9 or 9.5 grains under a 240-grain Keith bullet.

[nolongcolt]

cubrock, Yes, in fact just this weekend I found 9 grs to be a really good load. I went up to 10.5 and that was good also but being a trifle warmish, I would opt for the little less enthusiastic 9 gr load. Also found 17.5grs of IMR 4227 very good with the same SWC. This is a good shooting revolver!

[frankb48]

Sept 23, 2013 22:04:04 GMT -5 bradshaw said:

nolongcolt.... over the decades have fired many rounds of cast 240 SWC deep-seated over 10.6/HS-6 in .44 mag brass. Air space and load approximate traditional crimp cannelure seating of SWC in .44 Special brass. Velocity, as I recall, runs around 1050 fps on Redhawk 5-1/2". It is 200 fps faster, while a hair less accurate, than same bullet deep-seated over 5.5/HP-38 in .44 mag brass. Which is to say, still tight enough to shoot under 6-inch groups at 100 yards from a proper revolver. I'm talking commercial cast bevel base SWC, which in my experience remain accurate until you lean on them too hard.

Actually, the accuracy is better----with the proper Ruger or Smith AND a co-operating shooter. These popcorn-mild loads thump a metal at from two football fields with surprising authority.
David Bradshaw

Mr Bradshaw when you deep seat a SWC where do you crimp it. Actually I found your thorough explanation in another thread, so you need not answer
Thanks Frank

[oldschool]

Oct 8, 2013 9:16:19 GMT -5 ohnomrbillk said:

I shoot a GP100 in 44 special. I found this article really helpful when trying to round up load data.

www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian%20Pearce%20on%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

Send me your email in a private message and I'll send it to you directly.

[nolongcolt]

I want to thank oldschool for emailing this article to me. I could not download that thing off the net to save my soul!

Thanks W.