Loads for 5-shot L-frame 44 Special ?

[hammer]

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Have been loading for the 44 Special and 44 Magnum for over forty years.

Mostly in N-frame S&W, Rugers, Colt SAA, etc.

Have a 5-shot L-frame S&W 44 Special with the 3-inch barrel that I have had for a while, but haven't really put serious study to its optimal loading.

Was wondering if there is anything "special" that y'all would do for maximizing this S&W's potential (not necessarily maximizing its velocity).

Have been loading for the Charter Arms 3-inch Bulldog for a long time. For the Charter Arms, managing recoil takes pretty high priority.

Don't think that is as big an issue with this S&W.

Your thoughts will be much appreciated.



Hammer

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[boxhead]

I don't load for what you own but if I did it would be the 200 gr Gold Dot at ~ 1000 fps driven by 10 grs of HS-6. Won't beat you or the thin forcing cone of your piece and should prove plenty as it ain't too far off the proven ballistics in the 45 ACP.

[zac0419]

When I get back I'm loading 200gr full wadcutters (bought from rimrock bullets) ahead of hs6. I don't know the exact load yet I need to see how deep they seat. I'm trying to mimic buffalo bores anti-personnel load for the 44sp. Mine is a 396 Night Guard.

[serialsolver]

In my 696 and 396 I use a 240 bullet in front of 7.5 gr unique. The 396 is a hard kicker with that load and I prefer 6 gr unique in the 396 for practice. I've heard of folks using mr Keith's heavy 44 sp load in the L frames but I'm not interested in doing that.

[paul105]

Did you have a bullet weight in mind? What are you planning on using the load for?

Here are a range of loads with Lyman's 429244 SWCGC (Thompson design from Montana Bullet Works)-- weight lubed and checked 265gr:

Chrono 5 long paces from muzzle
Temp: 60 to 70 deg F
Starline cases and Win WLP primers
S&W 696 3"

5.8gr HP38 -- 691 fps
8.4gr Power Pistol -- 909 fps
9.0gr HS6 -- 832 fps
15.2gr A2400 -- 979 fps
17.0gr A2400 -- 1,086 fps

The 17.0gr load is a beast in my 396 3" titanium Mt Light - not too bad in the all steel 696. This load isn't shot much at all just carried when I grab the 396 to walk the dogs in bear country.

FWIW,

Paul

[dale53]

I have been loading for the .44 Special for many, many years. However, all of my .44 Specials have been full size revolvers (S&W Model 24 (6"), Model 624(4"), and 624(6.5"), a Cimarron Single Action (4 5/8"), and last and certainly not least, a couple of Ruger flattops (4 5/8" and 5.5").

I have several .44 Magnum revolvers and have no necessity to hotrod the .44 Special. If I did, it would be the Keith load at 16.5-17.0 grs of 2400 or equivalent with H110.

My most used load in the Special is the so-called Skeeter load (7.5 grs of Unique behind a 250 gr Keith bullet). A very good field load in all respects. It also works very well at the range.

A few years ago I got aboard a Group Buy for a six cavity mould for a 200 gr dbl ended w/c. 5.0 grs of Red Dot chronographs at nearly 900 fps. 4.0 grs is a nice light target load. Either works very well on edible small game. A .44 Wadcutter at 900 fps would make a FINE personal defense load, too.

If I had a lightweight with short barrel, and wanted a compatible reload for carry, I would be hard put to do better than that wadcutter ahead of an appropriate powder charge.

Just a thought or two..
Dale53

[sixshot]

For serious work it would be hard to improve on the 200 gr Gold Dot that Ed mentioned. My everyday plinking load in the special is 5.5 grs of 231 with a 240 gr HP or a 250 Keith, this load is easy on the back end & a proven winner out the front end.

Dick

[hammer]

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Thank you for your ideas and thoughts.

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