No Clear winner,

[tj3006]

I tested my 5.5- inch Redhawk against my new 5inch Model 629 Classic
   The Smith was a clear winner shooting Skeeters from 44 Special Brass. My Redhawk Did not like them at all. I thought it was me mishandling the heavier single action trigger pull. But I no longer think so.
The Smith was clustering them into about 4 inches at 25 yards and the Ruger about 7 inches. ( I am no Elmer Keith) A better shooter would probably do half that size or less.
   But when I switched to a 240 grain XTP over 18.5 then 19.5 Grains of 2400 in Magnum brass the Ruger shot better than the Smith. I put 5 into 3 inches with the Ruger and 5 into about 4 with the Smith.
 I need a better shooting rest, and I have an idea to make one.
    My old forest Service Jeep died on me. And I am not shooting off the hood of the 2024 Nissan Frontier I replaced it with. I put a 2-foot hunk of 2X12 over the corner of the bed by the tailgate and rested on that.
 It worked ok, but i will come up with a better arraignment. 
   I think that 240 grain XTP load will work well for a ton of applications. I think I will put 50 more together with an even 19 grains of 2400, and a few with Longshot and try them in my other 2 44 mags. a 4 5/8ths SBH and a 7.5 inch Bisley.
 The Smith is a keeper though.
  Think I will order some Pachmyer grippers and a couple speed loaders...tj

[x101airborne]

When I started testing my first Redhawk 44 Mag, it was hard to find happiness until I got near top end. I dont know why it does not like downloaded cartridges much. I was planning on a 200 to 240 going around 1050 but still subsonic. I did find one load that sorta worked. A 240 grain cast hollowpoint that barely broke the sonic crack. Accuracy was about 4 inches at 50 yards, using 800-X powder. I will have to go back and look at my notes, but it was a magazine load off of Load Data dot com.

[tj3006]

800X, I never used it.
I have a bunch of cases ready to load. Going to use Longshot I think. It seems like a cross between Unique and 2400 in that the charge weight is higher than unique and lower than 2400.
While the velocity sort of splits the difference too. ...tj

[edk]

May 18, 2024 16:18:19 GMT -5 tj3006 said:

The Smith was a clear winner shooting Skeeters from 44 Special Brass.

So you've decided "no clear winner"? Why give this equal weight as compared with the two 44mags shooting mag brass?

[tj3006]

I shot both loads through both guns.
The Smith shot the Specials better the Ruger shot the magnums better.

[markh66]

I'm usually wrong about a lot of things but I recommend you get rid of that hunk of 2x12 and find something more appropriate for bench testing those loads. Chances are you'll be surprised at how well both of those guns shoot assuming of course they're not lemons.

[tj3006]

I have a plan for something better.
Using one of those tripod rifle rests with the swivel, that clams on to your rifle. i plan to look at one this weekend and make sure it will work.