Help support WeTheArmed.com by visiting our sponsors.
« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Anybody have a good 44 Special load?  (Read 9514 times)

GaBoy45

  • WTA LEO
  • Contributor
  • ****
  • Posts: 1420

  • Offline
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?
Logged
“It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”
― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

WeTheArmed.com

  • Advertisement
  • ***
    Sponsored Links

    Evil Jim

    • Manster
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 2997
    • Manster
      • Evils Thoughts...

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

    GaBoy45

    • WTA LEO
    • Contributor
    • ****
    • Posts: 1420

    • Offline
    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.
    Logged
    “It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”
    ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

    Evil Jim

    • Manster
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 2997
    • Manster
      • Evils Thoughts...

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

    GaBoy45

    • WTA LEO
    • Contributor
    • ****
    • Posts: 1420

    • Offline
    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?
    Logged
    “It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”
    ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

    Evil Jim

    • Manster
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 2997
    • Manster
      • Evils Thoughts...

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

    THE NORSEMAN

    • To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them. - Richard Henry Lee
    • Moderator
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 5071

    • Offline
    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
    Logged
    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

    GaBoy45

    • WTA LEO
    • Contributor
    • ****
    • Posts: 1420

    • Offline
    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.
    Logged
    “It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”
    ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

    seanp

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 4977
    • Redneck Canadian

    • Offline
    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...
    Logged
    "Nobody wants to be here and nobody wants to leave."
    The Road - Cormac McCarthy

    HiVelSword

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 4009
    • Sweeten' the ride

    • Offline
    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)
    Logged
    To all those killed by a 9mm, "Get up! You are not dead! You were shot with a useless cartridge!" -HVS

    "You see, Doctor, God didn't kill that little girl. Fate didn't butcher her and destiny didn't feed her to those dogs. If God saw what any of us did that night he didn't seem to mind. From then on I knew... God doesn't make the world this way. We do." Rorschach-Watchmen

    THE NORSEMAN

    • To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them. - Richard Henry Lee
    • Moderator
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 5071

    • Offline
    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.   
    Logged
    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

    • Member
    • **
    • Posts: 173

    • Offline
    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.
    Logged

    red44spl

    • Lurker
    • Posts: 4

    • Offline
    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
    Logged

    GaBoy45

    • WTA LEO
    • Contributor
    • ****
    • Posts: 1420

    • Offline
    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.
    Logged
    “It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”
    ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

    steveracer

    • Member
    • **
    • Posts: 173

    • Offline
    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.
    Logged

    GaBoy45

    • WTA LEO
    • Contributor
    • ****
    • Posts: 1420

    • Offline
    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.
    Logged
    “It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”
    ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

    GaBoy45

    • WTA LEO
    • Contributor
    • ****
    • Posts: 1420

    • Offline
    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.
    Logged
    “It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”
    ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men
    Help support WeTheArmed.com by visiting our sponsors.
    Pages: [1]   Go Up
    « previous next »
     



     
    Terms of Use
    Copyright
    Privacy Policy