44 special and black powder ..... ?

the Black Spot · January 2, 2013, 04:51 PM

Anyone know what velocities I could get shooting a 255 gr bullet over
20 gr of 2f
25 gr of 2f
20 gr of 3f
25 gr of 3f

7.5" barrel

Thx!

Beagle333 · January 2, 2013, 07:02 PM

How long a'barrel is on this .44 special?

the Black Spot · January 2, 2013, 07:21 PM

I added length in first post thx!

RickB · January 2, 2013, 07:58 PM

My understanding is that you are not supposed to leave any airspace in the case, when loading black powder. Wouldn't that mean only one load for a given bullet and powder?

g.willikers · January 2, 2013, 08:01 PM

Yes - I mean no.
No air space between bullet and black powder.
But the amount of powder in the case, the bullet depth and over all length of the loaded round can vary.
To answer the OP, check the duelist's videos on using different bullets and round ball in his tests of BP revolvers, right here in this section of the forum.
Those should give you a good idea.

Doc Hoy · January 3, 2013, 10:06 AM

....You can fill the air space with an inert substance such as cornmeal.

B.L.E. · January 4, 2013, 07:00 AM

I would expect the velocities to be close to standard .44 special velocitiy since the .44 special was originally a black powder round and the smokeless ammo sold later essentially duplicated the black powder velocities.

Strafer Gott · January 4, 2013, 10:18 AM

.44 Colt is similar, as is .44 russian. Expect 650-700 fps. I suppose you could get rather more velocity with a crimped ball.

B.L.E. · January 4, 2013, 07:36 PM

You should be able to get close to 1000 fps with a .433 roundball and a full charge of fffg. More powder fits under a roundball.
It'll shoot really low however, bad if your revolver has fixed sights.

I cooked up some roundball loads for the .44 Magnum using BH209 and I was measuring 1100 fps with my chrono.

JiminTexas · January 4, 2013, 08:35 PM

The .44 Special was developed by Smith and wesson in 1907, well after the advent of smokeless powder. The cartridge is a slightly lengthened .44 Russian which increased the case capacity from the .44 Russian's 1.05cc's to 1.65 cc's. It did not significantly increase performance however.

January 2, 2013, 04:51 PM	#1
the Black Spot Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: arkansas Posts: 218	44 special and black powder ..... ? Anyone know what velocities I could get shooting a 255 gr bullet over 20 gr of 2f 25 gr of 2f 20 gr of 3f 25 gr of 3f 7.5" barrel Thx! Last edited by the Black Spot; January 2, 2013 at 07:21 PM.

January 2, 2013, 08:01 PM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Yes - I mean no. No air space between bullet and black powder. But the amount of powder in the case, the bullet depth and over all length of the loaded round can vary. To answer the OP, check the duelist's videos on using different bullets and round ball in his tests of BP revolvers, right here in this section of the forum. Those should give you a good idea. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

January 3, 2013, 10:06 AM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	And..... ....You can fill the air space with an inert substance such as cornmeal. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

January 2, 2013, 07:02 PM	#2
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	How long a'barrel is on this .44 special?

January 2, 2013, 07:21 PM	#3
the Black Spot Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: arkansas Posts: 218	I added length in first post thx!

January 2, 2013, 07:58 PM	#4
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	My understanding is that you are not supposed to leave any airspace in the case, when loading black powder. Wouldn't that mean only one load for a given bullet and powder?

January 4, 2013, 07:00 AM	#7
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	I would expect the velocities to be close to standard .44 special velocitiy since the .44 special was originally a black powder round and the smokeless ammo sold later essentially duplicated the black powder velocities.

January 4, 2013, 10:18 AM	#8
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	.44 Colt is similar, as is .44 russian. Expect 650-700 fps. I suppose you could get rather more velocity with a crimped ball.

January 4, 2013, 07:36 PM	#9
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	You should be able to get close to 1000 fps with a .433 roundball and a full charge of fffg. More powder fits under a roundball. It'll shoot really low however, bad if your revolver has fixed sights. I cooked up some roundball loads for the .44 Magnum using BH209 and I was measuring 1100 fps with my chrono.

January 4, 2013, 08:35 PM	#10
JiminTexas Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2010 Posts: 149	The .44 Special was developed by Smith and wesson in 1907, well after the advent of smokeless powder. The cartridge is a slightly lengthened .44 Russian which increased the case capacity from the .44 Russian's 1.05cc's to 1.65 cc's. It did not significantly increase performance however.