Loading for 44 Special

WillyBow8 · November 15, 2011, 02:42 PM

I just purchased a Ruger 44 Special revolver and I'm a hand loader. I'm thinking I want to shoot 200 grain plated heads. I also am partial to Unique. Does anyone out there have some loads using these components that they might suggest?

thanks,

floydster · November 15, 2011, 02:53 PM

What is a "head"?

WillyBow8 · November 15, 2011, 02:58 PM

the bullet

rclark · November 15, 2011, 03:35 PM

I've done a lot of testing with 240g bullets SWC in .44Spec, so no favorite loads with Unique for 200g Plated bullets. However (I am sure you have manuals to dig through) I do believe a Unique load between 6.0g and 7.0g will be a good starting place. From there you can work up to a load that is accurate and a velocity you can live with .... Hope that helps! FYI, plated bullets should be treated like lead bullets (as apposed to jacketed) as far as looking up loads in the manuals.

Chesster · November 15, 2011, 11:42 PM

I'd go with the Skelton load of a 240gr slug over a 7.5 gr measure of Unique. Worked for me well for the past 37 years in heavy .44 Special guns. I drop to 6.5 for old Colt SAA, Charter Arms Bulldogs, taurus 431s, etc.....

rclark · November 16, 2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

240gr (lead SWC) slug over a 7.5 gr measure of Unique

My favorite too... 7.5g of Unique or 7.5g of Universal Clays.

**Unclenick** · November 16, 2011, 10:01 AM

I'll second Universal. Meters much better and burns cleaner than Unique. Does most of the same things, though I often find the charge weights end up being around 5% lower, but not always. Seems to be cartridge and pressure-specific difference.

Try 6 grains of Universal and work up toward 7.5 with the 200 grain bullets. Mild primer is fine.

Edward429451 · November 16, 2011, 10:07 AM

I have a 200 gr FRN that I cast for my Bulldog 44 Special and have a couple good loads for it that you could try. The first is (surprise) 7.0 gr of Unique and it pushes it 769fps/16ad/75es from the 2.5" barrel and the other load is 5.0 Trailboss 686fps/9ad/33es. Fed 150 LP primers for both loads.

zxcvbob · November 16, 2011, 10:18 AM

It will depend a lot on the seating depth, and there's no cannelure on those bullets to guide you. But about 7.0 of Unique ought to do it. Bullseye is another good one; about 6 or 6.5 grains.

Since you're using light bullets I'd go with a faster powder than Unique unless you're working up max loads, maybe even 5 grains of Red Dot.

PawPaw · November 16, 2011, 11:38 AM

Yep, I like the Skelton load as well; it's all I've used for several years in that caliber. It's got more "oomph" than the standard factory load, good accuracy, and it doesn't stress the firearm.

GeauxTide · November 16, 2011, 01:42 PM

Brian Pearce wrote an excellent article on the Ruger 44 Special. I've used 8.0gr of Unique with 240gr Missouri Keith and 17.0gr of 2400 with 240 Remington SP.

89blazin · November 16, 2011, 03:31 PM

Cartridge Bullet Powder GrainsMAX Velocity Min.OAL
44 Special 180 JHC Unique 9 985 1.6
44 Special 200 GR. Speer GSHPUnique 7.8 855 1.49 min
44 Special 225GR SpeerJHP-SWCUnique 7.7 1089
44 Special 240 GR. Speer JHP Unique 7.6 836 1.47 min
44 Special 240 Grain SWC Unique 6.5 852
44 Special 240 Grain SWC Unique 7.5 975
44 Special 246 LRN Unique 6 800 1.59
44 Special 165 GR. CAST LRNFPUniversal Clays 6.30 1042 1.365
44 Special 185 GR. CAST LRNFPUniversal Clays 6.4 1031 1.4
44 Special 200 GR. CAST LRNFPUniversal Clays 6.50 960 1.45
44 Special 200 GR. NOS JHP Universal Clays 6.80 967 1.46
44 Special 240 GR. CAST LSWCUniversal Clays 5.60 873 1.45

I've shot all these loads out of a Rossi w/ 3inch barrel. Please do not consider this info as advice or recommendation, and you should be able to verify all the above. The power is MAX load/grains.

rclark · November 16, 2011, 07:26 PM

Quote:

I'll second Universal. ... Does most of the same things, though I often find the charge weights end up being around 5% lower, but not always. Seems to be cartridge and pressure-specific difference.

Could be ... but I just tested (back to back) Unique and Universal and the average were only like 7fps (from memory) difference given 7.5g pushing 240g SWC.... In this cartridge I can treat it as 'the same' stuff .... just different color

.

November 15, 2011, 02:42 PM	#1
WillyBow8 Member Join Date: March 29, 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 18	Loading for 44 Special I just purchased a Ruger 44 Special revolver and I'm a hand loader. I'm thinking I want to shoot 200 grain plated heads. I also am partial to Unique. Does anyone out there have some loads using these components that they might suggest? thanks,

November 15, 2011, 02:58 PM	#3
WillyBow8 Member Join Date: March 29, 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 18	the bullet the bullet

November 15, 2011, 03:35 PM	#4
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,622	I've done a lot of testing with 240g bullets SWC in .44Spec, so no favorite loads with Unique for 200g Plated bullets. However (I am sure you have manuals to dig through) I do believe a Unique load between 6.0g and 7.0g will be a good starting place. From there you can work up to a load that is accurate and a velocity you can live with .... Hope that helps! FYI, plated bullets should be treated like lead bullets (as apposed to jacketed) as far as looking up loads in the manuals. __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.

November 15, 2011, 11:42 PM	#5
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,538	I'd go with the Skelton load of a 240gr slug over a 7.5 gr measure of Unique. Worked for me well for the past 37 years in heavy .44 Special guns. I drop to 6.5 for old Colt SAA, Charter Arms Bulldogs, taurus 431s, etc..... __________________ Chesster Proud NDN "The American Idle" Vote 'Pro-Choice' on 2nd Amendment issues!!!

November 16, 2011, 10:01 AM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I'll second Universal. Meters much better and burns cleaner than Unique. Does most of the same things, though I often find the charge weights end up being around 5% lower, but not always. Seems to be cartridge and pressure-specific difference. Try 6 grains of Universal and work up toward 7.5 with the 200 grain bullets. Mild primer is fine. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; November 16, 2011 at 10:08 AM.

November 15, 2011, 02:53 PM	#2
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	What is a "head"?

November 16, 2011, 10:07 AM	#8
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I have a 200 gr FRN that I cast for my Bulldog 44 Special and have a couple good loads for it that you could try. The first is (surprise) 7.0 gr of Unique and it pushes it 769fps/16ad/75es from the 2.5" barrel and the other load is 5.0 Trailboss 686fps/9ad/33es. Fed 150 LP primers for both loads.

November 16, 2011, 10:18 AM	#9
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	It will depend a lot on the seating depth, and there's no cannelure on those bullets to guide you. But about 7.0 of Unique ought to do it. Bullseye is another good one; about 6 or 6.5 grains. Since you're using light bullets I'd go with a faster powder than Unique unless you're working up max loads, maybe even 5 grains of Red Dot. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

November 16, 2011, 11:38 AM	#10
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	Yep, I like the Skelton load as well; it's all I've used for several years in that caliber. It's got more "oomph" than the standard factory load, good accuracy, and it doesn't stress the firearm. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

November 16, 2011, 01:42 PM	#11
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Brian Pearce wrote an excellent article on the Ruger 44 Special. I've used 8.0gr of Unique with 240gr Missouri Keith and 17.0gr of 2400 with 240 Remington SP.

November 16, 2011, 03:31 PM	#12
89blazin Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2009 Posts: 107	Cartridge Bullet Powder GrainsMAX Velocity Min.OAL 44 Special 180 JHC Unique 9 985 1.6 44 Special 200 GR. Speer GSHPUnique 7.8 855 1.49 min 44 Special 225GR SpeerJHP-SWCUnique 7.7 1089 44 Special 240 GR. Speer JHP Unique 7.6 836 1.47 min 44 Special 240 Grain SWC Unique 6.5 852 44 Special 240 Grain SWC Unique 7.5 975 44 Special 246 LRN Unique 6 800 1.59 44 Special 165 GR. CAST LRNFPUniversal Clays 6.30 1042 1.365 44 Special 185 GR. CAST LRNFPUniversal Clays 6.4 1031 1.4 44 Special 200 GR. CAST LRNFPUniversal Clays 6.50 960 1.45 44 Special 200 GR. NOS JHP Universal Clays 6.80 967 1.46 44 Special 240 GR. CAST LSWCUniversal Clays 5.60 873 1.45 I've shot all these loads out of a Rossi w/ 3inch barrel. Please do not consider this info as advice or recommendation, and you should be able to verify all the above. The power is MAX load/grains.