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Old September 12, 2009, 10:18 PM   #1
Blue
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44 S&W Special(Speer #4427) in 44 Rem Mag Brass

I have some 44 S&W Special GDHP SB (Speer # 4427) bullets but zero 44 Special Brass. I looked around at several places today and could not find any factory ammo or brass anywhere in 44 S&W Special.

However I have large quantities of 44 Rem Mag Brass all processed and ready to load.

Speer # 14 shows this bullet (#4427) and various recipes on page 950. I would probably begin at 9 gr. of 231 and a COAL of 1.610" + standard CCI Large Pistol Primers. (Looks like the primer shortage is temporarily over, at least around here - got the "How many do you want?" for the first time in recent memory. By interpolating, this should be close to 1000 fps +/- "book value" velocity.

I digress -- back to the question -- on page 950 of Speer # 14 it also says "Short Barrel Velocities" (4").

For a Model 29 with an 8 3/8" Barrel what could I estimate for resulting velocity? Higher or Lower than the short barrel in view of the additional barrel length friction?

Thanks,
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Old September 12, 2009, 11:35 PM   #2
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You can expect the additional 4 3/8" of barrel length to give you additional velocity. I'd guess an additional 100 fps, but a lot of factors could give you more or less than that.
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Old September 13, 2009, 12:48 PM   #3
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44 Spec advice

Thank you, RidgewayCO. I appreciate your comments.
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Old September 13, 2009, 01:14 PM   #4
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That bullet is their 200 GR 44, and 9 GR of 231 is a VERY light load, My Spear book shows minimum of 11.5 GR of 231. Even Hodgdons web site shows a min of 10 for a 200 GR bullet.
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
But my big problem with your load is W231. I load both 45 ACP 9mm and 44 special with 231 and it’s my favorite over all powder. But I also have a Smith 624 (44 special) with an 8 inch barrel and W231 does not work very well. 231 is such a fast powder that I couldn’t get constant accuracy with it.
For the longer barrel guns I have much better luck with HERCO which is a much slower powder.
I agree with others that normally that longer barrel will get you around 100 FPS but I don’t think your going to get that much deference with 231. With a slower powder you will.
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Old September 13, 2009, 01:18 PM   #5
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Your 8 3/8" barrel is just screaming for some Alliant 2400 powder.

and some cast lead (bullets).
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Old September 13, 2009, 02:07 PM   #6
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The Speer #4427 bullet (200gr GDHP) is designed for .44 Special velocities (less than 1150 fps). That's why Speer doesn't show them loaded up to fire-breathing speeds in the .44 Magnum.

In Speer #14, I read the range of loads for W231 with this bullet to be from 8.9gr to 10.0gr, so your 9.0gr looks fine as a starting place.

In years past CorBon loaded a 180gr HP/XTP bullet at 1200 fps for use in the .44 Magnum as a personal defense load. Accurate, clean, sufficient energy, and reduced recoil for quick double-action work. The Speer 200gr GDHP bullet at 1140 fps would duplicate the energy of that old CorBon load.
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Old September 13, 2009, 02:16 PM   #7
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ballisticsbytheinch.com

+1 for 2400
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Old September 13, 2009, 04:52 PM   #8
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44 Special

Thanks, Ridgeway for the Backup.

The #4427 IS a special bullet and Speer says (In the 2009 Catalog) that it is designed for the 44 Special Charge and Velocity Range but special care must be taken not to go too fast with it. Since the 4427 "Gold Dot" is scooped out much more than the Mag "Gold Dot" to ensure full expansion at 44 Spec velocities and would tend to self destruct at the higher 44 Mag Speeds.

For my Full House Mag Loads I DO like 2400 and H-110. But for this - I don't think so.

I will go with the recommendations on page 950 of Spper 14 for now.

Someone just dropped these in my lap and I was just wanting to put them to good use. Could be an excellent SD combo.

Thanks for all the responses.
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Old September 13, 2009, 10:15 PM   #9
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I hope I am not hijacking the thread but let's say you wanted to load a 300 grain bullet in a .44 Mag case and keep velocity under 1200 fps. What powder would you recommend.
What about a 240 grain bullet ?
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Old September 13, 2009, 10:37 PM   #10
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Depends on the bullet and the weapon

444,

It depends on several things - Lead or Jacketed - Bullet OD - MFR - Weapon.

If you present a specific bullet and Weapon and Barrel Length maybe we can find a suitable load for < 1200 fps for the 300 gr ( most likely closer to 1000 fps). Lots of choices out there for 240 gr. bullets of different designs but we would need to use a particular bullet of your choice to give a reasonable and specific answer.

Last edited by Blue; September 13, 2009 at 10:43 PM.
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Old September 13, 2009, 10:42 PM   #11
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The bullet will be jacketed. I don't have a specific bullet in mind.
The barrel will be long.

I am not so much looking for a specific load as I am looking for a powder recomendation for that application.
I am purposely being a little vague because I don't want to throw more variables into the mix that might distract from the basic question. The velocity is important and I don't know if a faster burning powder would be the way to go over more traditional .44 Mag powders like 2400 or H110.
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How the farmers gave them ball for ball,
From behind each fence and farmyard wall,
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Under the trees at the turn of the road,
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Old September 13, 2009, 10:58 PM   #12
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300 gr 44 Mag Powder Choices

Here are a few Powders to Consider for the Speer # 4463 UCSP 300gr

296, H-110, AA #9, IMR 4227, 2400, AA 1680.


For the Sierra #8639 JSP 300gr - add these powders to the above N350, Blue Dot, N110, and H4227.

All well below 1200 fps but depending on barrel length.

Ref Speer # 14, and Lyman 49th.
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