Comment about 44 spl load

[jeffh]

It amazes me that people will make adamant assertions on the Internet, without using the Internet to first verify such assertions.

It's a tricky thing to use though, when as you browse it's much like strolling the fairway at a large carnival, and most of the attention-getting hawking is for the bearded lady or the Fiji mermaid. But to just make assertions based on what makes sense to YOU personally, based entirely on "pure thought" is like coughing and sneezing on crowded public transportation without covering your mouth.

I'm going to go way out on a limb and conjecture a bit myself here and say that someone who makes such an assertion just flat-out DOES NOT KNOW, because that someone HAS NEVER DONE IT. I can't prove that, but such advice runs counter to my personal experience and a lot of trustworthy documentation I've pored over for many decades. What I CAN prove is that 6 grains of Unique with a 240 grain bullet is NOT "inaccurate." I turned my BS-o-meter off a long time ago, yanked the batteries and buried it in the back yard. Damned thing STILL goes off once in a while, and THAT was one of those times.

[bigbore5]

I can tell you that any charge of Unique less than 7grs is very inaccurate in the 44sp. If you use CCI magnum primers.

I once accidentally primed 200 hundred with them once. I caught it, but went ahead and loaded them up with 6.4grs. That's usually the most accurate load in my triple lock with the Keith bullet. Groups became patterns. Next batch with standard primers closed right back up.

[bula]

To the OP, and the comment by the custom loader. He cannot compete with the factories knocking out SAAMI spec loads. If he doesn't use the magic words.."hard cast" and list 4 digit velos, he will sell next to none. If he dials down the velo of his hardcast bullets, accuracy will suffer, sooo.. his comment. 

[LeverGunner]

I use 5.5 grains Unique with the RCBS 44-240-SWC and I get good accuracy.

[Cholla]

Jan 7, 2024 13:31:04 GMT -5 z1r said:

Howdy all,

Copied this statement form another forum: "6.5 grains of Unique w/a 240 SWC is likely to produce poor accuracy. It is simply too low of a powder charge." He was talking about the 44 special.

To put it into context, a feller posted that he'd loaded up a bunch of 240 SWC's over 6.3 grains of Unique in 44 mag cases for his 44 mag. His thought was that these would be like hot 44 special loads. I commented that even in 44 special cases the 6.3 gr was standard load. For reference, I shared that back in the day when I used a LOT of Unique, my 44 mag plinking load was 7.5 gr of Unique under  240 SWC. In my SBH, that load would consistently group well enough to regularly break clay pigeons at 75 yds.

So, I'm perplexed by the post I copied above as this has not been my experience.  Heck, if memory serves, I used a similar load in the 45 Colt in my 1917 and that thing shot lights out. I purposely loaded it light in deference to 1) the gun's age and 2) it was used by a Great Grandfather in the RCMP. 

Interested in everyone else's opinions that the quoted 44 spl load is likely to produce poor accuracy.  My experience just doesn't support that statement.  Heck, I used Unique in the .45-70 with cast bullets at similar load densities in my 1895.

WHEW!!! I'm glad I didn't read this 10+ years ago before I tried the load in question!!

Jan 7, 2024 16:55:32 GMT -5 z1r said:

These days, since Power Pistol just seems to be easier to find than Unique, it has become my go to.  

Years ago during one of the powder scarcities when Unique was all but unobtainable, I found some AL20/28 and worked up some .44 Special loads with it, finding it all but a grain-for-grain replacement for Unique. They made a "Sticky" of my data on the Cast Boolit site.

Alternatives to Standard Pistol Powders



I've expanded its use to the .38 Special where it works equally as well. Its grains are a bit finer than Unique so it meters a bit better too.

[squawberryman]

Cholla you blew square holes in the steel!

[Cholla]

Jan 8, 2024 7:39:46 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Cholla you blew square holes in the steel!

Yeah, one of my molds cast bullets that were a bit out of round. 😆

[callshot]

That is a railroad tie plate. They have good steel. I’ve pounded many spikes through them. Looks like a good pattern in the middle of it.

[z1r]

I guess this proves the guy on the other forum right, you managed to miss every one of those square targets an that plate! grinning

[z1r]

^^^^ Good shooting there!

[singleaction]

Jan 8, 2024 17:27:25 GMT -5 z1r said:

^^^^ Good shooting there!

+2. Minute of deer clockworks!

[singleaction]

I’ve burned lots of Power Pistol, Trailboss, and W231 in my 44 specials, but never used Unique. Weird, when I think about it, since I’ve read just about everything John Taffin has written regarding his loading of 44 specials with Unique. I think I’ll finally give it a shot. However, even if my guns are capable of Cholla’s impressive accuracy, a better shooter than me would need to prove it!

[LeverGunner]

I had a railroad plate, still do actually, that I shot at for years. It finally broke right at the ridge that's on the "back", IE what's actually the top. I miss it. It made a nice dull thump instead of a high pitched ring.

I had a plate that rang I'd shoot at the same time. But they probably figured I missed a lot when I shot mostly at the railroad plate.