Need 44 Spec help......

Bailey Boat · December 10, 2006, 12:27 PM

Hi Guys..... Newbie to the forum, but not to reloading, need some help if you please.........
I have recently rekindled my love affair with my S&W 696 and discovered that I had never bothered to work up any loads for this fine handgun. I tried several from my manuals and was dissapointed with the entire lot. I would like to get a 185 grain bullet up into the 850 to 1000 fps range with excellent accuracy.
Can anyone share some "moderate" loads that you have found for this caliber????

Daniel BOON · December 12, 2006, 05:49 PM

and thats about what I reload; for me, 1000fps is too hot(it has a 3 inch brl.)
but I'm old and gray; i usually stick to the old powder like bullseye; its dirty, and smokes a lot, but I get good accuracy out of it, no matter what caliber; I also stay to 240 gr hard cast for the 44; its a slow moving freight train, like the 45 colt, but it works.

Hook686 · December 13, 2006, 05:32 AM

Alliant's web site might help you:

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...25&bulletid=80

Bailey Boat · December 16, 2006, 08:53 AM

Alliant is my powder of choice also and I have tried Green Dot, bullseye and 2400, none of which impressed me. Maybe I just need to go back and do the whole work up all over again and try 240's as well and give up on the 180's.... Thanks for the replies guys....... I'll go back to lurking for a while........ Gone, but still here.......

Edward429451 · December 16, 2006, 01:04 PM

With your 3" barrel, 2400 will probably not give you the results you're looking for unless you pack a lot in and don't mind a big fireball. I'm getting pretty good results with Unique in the short barrels.

bottomscratcher · December 16, 2006, 03:08 PM

Have you tried W231

http://www.wwpowder.com/data/handgun/44swspec.php

I use it in a 624 3" with good results with 200gr Speer Gold Dot

Also works great for 265gr. GC lead in 44mag case 29-2 6.5", very clean at around 1000fps with excellent groups at 50yards provided I do my part. Works well for fast wild pigs around 150-200 lbs.

Also load it in .45acp for a 625 5".

I use 2400 for the higher magnum loads.

Hotdog1911 · December 16, 2006, 05:19 PM

Sending ~200 grains of lead @1000fps from a Smith K frame is going to beat it to death-quickly. Forty-Four anything @ 850fps is all you need for SD. Just ask the Germans, Japanese, North Koreans, domestic BGs et all what a 45 caliber does @ 850 fps. Yes, a question from the man in the back row...

bottomscratcher · December 16, 2006, 06:30 PM

If I remember correctly the Speer 200gr. Gold Dot factory load does about 875 from a 6" tube, my .44spl Gold Dot handload is about that. I believe the 200gr. Gold Dots are made open up at above 785fps or so which should be about 3" tube territory. Not sure how much more a "N" frame weighs over an "L" but it does make a difference.

zeke · December 18, 2006, 12:23 AM

Unique and VV N350 (lower flash) work very well for Rem 180 sjhp, Hornady 180 xtp and Speer's 200 GDHP.

180 Rem sjhp over 8.5 grains unique and Fed 150 LP primer equates to about 970 fps and very good accuracy from 696. The Hdy xtp is more accurate, but also more expensive. The 696 is a L frame.

900 fps from 696 using Speer's GDHP is easily achievable, and a 200 grain lrnp at 800 fps (practice load) is very close to equaling POI with the Speer 200 grainer or the Rem and Hdy 180 grainers.

Quicker powders will increase pressure significantly, and slower powders have alot of muzzle flash, concussion and recoil.

Just an opinion.

Bailey Boat · December 22, 2006, 03:35 PM

Thanks guys, at least I have more now than I did before. I'm determined to find a good, accurate load for this gun, because I thnk it's such a cool piece. If/when I get something worked up and printing well with good velocity I'll come back and share...

Thanks again.......

December 10, 2006, 12:27 PM	#1
Bailey Boat Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: NC Posts: 365	Need 44 Spec help...... Hi Guys..... Newbie to the forum, but not to reloading, need some help if you please......... I have recently rekindled my love affair with my S&W 696 and discovered that I had never bothered to work up any loads for this fine handgun. I tried several from my manuals and was dissapointed with the entire lot. I would like to get a 185 grain bullet up into the 850 to 1000 fps range with excellent accuracy. Can anyone share some "moderate" loads that you have found for this caliber????

December 12, 2006, 05:49 PM	#2
Daniel BOON Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2005 Location: Henderson NV Posts: 360	I have a mdl 24 and thats about what I reload; for me, 1000fps is too hot(it has a 3 inch brl.) but I'm old and gray; i usually stick to the old powder like bullseye; its dirty, and smokes a lot, but I get good accuracy out of it, no matter what caliber; I also stay to 240 gr hard cast for the 44; its a slow moving freight train, like the 45 colt, but it works.

December 16, 2006, 05:19 PM	#7
Hotdog1911 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2006 Posts: 282	Thumbs-up for W231 Sending ~200 grains of lead @1000fps from a Smith K frame is going to beat it to death-quickly. Forty-Four anything @ 850fps is all you need for SD. Just ask the Germans, Japanese, North Koreans, domestic BGs et all what a 45 caliber does @ 850 fps. Yes, a question from the man in the back row...

December 13, 2006, 05:32 AM	#3
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	Alliant's web site might help you: http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...25&bulletid=80

December 16, 2006, 08:53 AM	#4
Bailey Boat Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: NC Posts: 365	Alliant is my powder of choice also and I have tried Green Dot, bullseye and 2400, none of which impressed me. Maybe I just need to go back and do the whole work up all over again and try 240's as well and give up on the 180's.... Thanks for the replies guys....... I'll go back to lurking for a while........ Gone, but still here.......

December 16, 2006, 01:04 PM	#5
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	With your 3" barrel, 2400 will probably not give you the results you're looking for unless you pack a lot in and don't mind a big fireball. I'm getting pretty good results with Unique in the short barrels.

December 16, 2006, 03:08 PM	#6
bottomscratcher Member Join Date: September 9, 2006 Posts: 25	Have you tried W231 http://www.wwpowder.com/data/handgun/44swspec.php I use it in a 624 3" with good results with 200gr Speer Gold Dot Also works great for 265gr. GC lead in 44mag case 29-2 6.5", very clean at around 1000fps with excellent groups at 50yards provided I do my part. Works well for fast wild pigs around 150-200 lbs. Also load it in .45acp for a 625 5". I use 2400 for the higher magnum loads.

December 16, 2006, 06:30 PM	#8
bottomscratcher Member Join Date: September 9, 2006 Posts: 25	If I remember correctly the Speer 200gr. Gold Dot factory load does about 875 from a 6" tube, my .44spl Gold Dot handload is about that. I believe the 200gr. Gold Dots are made open up at above 785fps or so which should be about 3" tube territory. Not sure how much more a "N" frame weighs over an "L" but it does make a difference.

December 18, 2006, 12:23 AM	#9
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,759	Unique and VV N350 (lower flash) work very well for Rem 180 sjhp, Hornady 180 xtp and Speer's 200 GDHP. 180 Rem sjhp over 8.5 grains unique and Fed 150 LP primer equates to about 970 fps and very good accuracy from 696. The Hdy xtp is more accurate, but also more expensive. The 696 is a L frame. 900 fps from 696 using Speer's GDHP is easily achievable, and a 200 grain lrnp at 800 fps (practice load) is very close to equaling POI with the Speer 200 grainer or the Rem and Hdy 180 grainers. Quicker powders will increase pressure significantly, and slower powders have alot of muzzle flash, concussion and recoil. Just an opinion.

December 22, 2006, 03:35 PM	#10
Bailey Boat Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: NC Posts: 365	Thanks guys, at least I have more now than I did before. I'm determined to find a good, accurate load for this gun, because I thnk it's such a cool piece. If/when I get something worked up and printing well with good velocity I'll come back and share... Thanks again.......