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Author Topic: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?  (Read 8377 times)

GaBoy45

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Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
« on: May 26, 2012, 07:14:00 pm »
So I bought a Ruger Vaquero in .44 Special and have had good luck with the Skelton load of 8.5 grains of Unique throwing a 240 grain LSWCHP. Accurate and seems to be good for an all purpose load. But what about throwing some lighter bullets? Anyone got a favorite load for a 200 grain or less bullet that they wouldn't mind sharing?
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    Evil Jim

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #1 on: May 26, 2012, 07:36:41 pm »
    That Skeeter load is the starting point for my Special loads.
    Start with 7.5 grains and slowly work up till you are happy.
    I LOVE Unique, use it in my .44 mags and specials and my .45 acps.


    Jim
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    GaBoy45

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #2 on: May 26, 2012, 07:51:12 pm »
    Thanks Jim. I guess some quality time with the reloading bench and range time is in my future woe is me :clap.
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    Evil Jim

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #3 on: May 26, 2012, 08:22:05 pm »
    This is a pretty good article to work from.
    http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=28


    Jim
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    Georgiahttp://gasandlead.wordpress.com
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    Moral of this lesson:
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    GaBoy45

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #4 on: May 26, 2012, 08:34:27 pm »
    So is this what happens when one is bit by the Big Bore Bug?
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    Evil Jim

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #5 on: May 26, 2012, 09:42:40 pm »
    It gets BAD.
    Get some 200gr Gold Dots and load them up as hot and accurate as you can.
    They are about the perfect .44 S&W Special defense load.


    Jim
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    Georgiahttp://gasandlead.wordpress.com
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    Moral of this lesson:
    Don't get in any gun fights with buffalo hunters. There ain't no such thing as cover.

    THE NORSEMAN

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #6 on: May 31, 2012, 01:11:58 am »
    Try Universal Clays.  Acts identical to unique, but burns cleaner.  Especially at lower pressures.

    Also, if you are looking for a squeaky clean, and accurate(even if expensive) load, try Vihtavuori N330 or N340 powder under a 180 or 200 grain XTP.   As for exact data, follow the books, but here's a start.- http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/6/22
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    GaBoy45

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #7 on: May 31, 2012, 11:52:44 am »
    I will check it out. My dies, brass and Hornady 240 grain LSWCHP's just walked through the door so once I get some powder (we are out of all of the powder we use for pistol loads) I will be in business.
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    seanp

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #8 on: May 31, 2012, 05:13:23 pm »
    I'm thinking that LSWC's in the 200gr range would be a pretty good number on an 150 -300# varmint...
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    HiVelSword

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #9 on: May 31, 2012, 05:25:31 pm »
    I love 200 grain hollowpoints. In both .44 and I even prefer it over 230 in my .45's (though I've no qualms about carrying 230's)
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    THE NORSEMAN

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #10 on: June 01, 2012, 12:20:22 am »
    These are the swagged tumble lubed bullets with the crosshatch pattern all over the bearing surface, correct?  If so, don't push them past 1,000.  Too soft.  They'll lead badly.  At 1,000 or under though they're good stuff.  I've found them to be a very accurate bullet.   
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    This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty. . . . The right of self defence is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any colour or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction- St. George Tucker, Blackstone's Commentaries

    steveracer

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #11 on: June 01, 2012, 12:05:07 pm »
    I use 240 grains SWC over 8 grains of Unique. From my 2nd Model HE .44 it makes one boring little hole in the paper from 15 yards. One time I fired 120 rounds, and the hole was no bigger than a sporting clay.
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    red44spl

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #12 on: June 01, 2012, 02:33:24 pm »
    10.5 gr of Blue Dot with a 250gr cast will put you around 850fps
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    GaBoy45

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #13 on: June 02, 2012, 09:13:10 am »
    Quote from: THE NORSEMAN on June 01, 2012, 12:20:22 am
    These are the swagged tumble lubed bullets with the crosshatch pattern all over the bearing surface, correct?  If so, don't push them past 1,000.  Too soft.  They'll lead badly.  At 1,000 or under though they're good stuff.  I've found them to be a very accurate bullet.   

    Yes they are. I really wasn't planning on doing anything more than the Skeeter Skelton load. A 240 grain LSWCHP at 950-1000 max seemed like a really good all around...er...round.
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    steveracer

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #14 on: June 02, 2012, 10:05:53 am »
    Even at 800, that bullet is great all around shooting awesomeness.
    The Kieth load was a bit hotter, but a much harder bullet alloy. FYI: the guys at Gunblast made up some Kieth loads and shot them from all type of Vaquero and had no trouble at all.
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    GaBoy45

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #15 on: June 02, 2012, 04:06:54 pm »
    Getting powder tomorrow, so will probably get to sit down and load Tuesday. Will post some results and hopefull some pics as to the results.
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    GaBoy45

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    Re: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?
    « Reply #16 on: June 06, 2012, 06:44:50 pm »
    So I loaded up 50 rounds of .44 Special. I went a little lower with the charge than I originally intended because the loading data I had suggested a 6.5 grain charge for Unique with the 240 grain LSWCHP bullet so I went with that for my first batch. Hopefully going to the range and chronograph the FPS, the load data said an average of 850 FPS, and see how it groups. If it works I might go to a 7 grain charge and see. Anyway, thanks for all the info guys. My first batch looks good.
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