.44 Spl MV ?????

Gecko10 · July 29, 2008, 05:12 PM

I returned to reloading after about a 25 year break and am developing a moderate defensive load for an old Bulldog, just for the fun of it.

I am loading a .44 Spl, 200 gr (.429) Speer, GDJHP over 6.0 grs of HP-38, CCI primer, COL of 1.45 with a moderate to firm crimp. Tested Muzzle Velocity is 732 fps. The gun is a first gen Bulldog, 3” bbl. The listed Muzzle Velocity for this load should be in the 880 fps range, but I can’t find out the gun that was used to test it so I'm assuming it had a longer bbl.

Does this Muzzle Velocity sound about right for a 3” bbl? I was hoping to get it to the 800 fps range, but 6.2 gr of HP-38 is the Max for this bullet and will probability generate a Muzzle Velocity in the 745 range when I test it tomorrow.

One of the reasons I'm concerned is that my chronograph is brand new and is a Shooting Chrony F1. Also, I set it up at 10' from the muzzle, per the instructions, which would make some difference I would think.

I just would have thought this load would have produced a higher Muzzle Velocity in this gun.

Thanks guys!!!!!

AlaskaMike · July 29, 2008, 06:58 PM

A shorter barrel will certainly drop the velocity a bit, but certainly not 150 fps, unless the lab used something stupid like a 10" barrel.

You might want to get another manual or two and cross-check your load.

Mike

RidgwayCO · July 29, 2008, 06:58 PM

For that bullet, Speer #14 lists the range for Win 231 (the same powder as HP-38) as 6.0gr to 6.9gr (COL = 1.490", CCI 300 primer, Remington case). With a 5.5" barrel Cimarron SAA, they recorded 730 fps for the start load, so your Bulldog is actually performing well. If you want higher velocity than HP-38 can give, try Alliant's Power Pistol or VihtaVuori's 3N37.

Gecko10 · July 30, 2008, 05:31 AM

RidgewayCo wrote:

For that bullet, Speer #14 lists the range for Win 231 (the same powder as HP-38) as 6.0gr to 6.9gr (COL = 1.490", CCI 300 primer, Remington case). With a 5.5" barrel Cimarron SAA, they recorded 730 fps for the start load, so your Bulldog is actually performing well. If you want higher velocity than HP-38 can give, try Alliant's Power Pistol or VihtaVuori's 3N37.

Thanks Ridgeway. I just wanted to confirm that (1) I was not doing something wrong and (2) my new chrono was not way off (this is the first chrono I've owned or used.) I'm going to try 6.2 grs of HP-38 today which should give me around 740-750 fps and I think I will leave it at that as the recoil in this light gun, is starting to slow down recovery. So far there is no indication of overpressure.

I have just started to reload again, after a 25 year break, so my knowledge of detail and experience level is lacking.

Edward429451 · July 30, 2008, 10:02 AM

That sounds about right for a Bulldog load. I've chrono'd a lot of loads in my 2.5" Bulldog (mostly cast but some J bullets), and that's in the range of velocities that I get.

Try Power Pistol as suggested! Not sure what you'll get with J bullets because I load mostly cast, but PP and cast were made for each other and gives me the highest velocities and lowest SD than any other powder so far.

**Mike Irwin** · July 30, 2008, 01:29 PM

Most reloading information I've seen for .44 Special seems to have been done with a 6" barrel.

Gecko10 · July 31, 2008, 06:27 AM

Well, 6.2 grs of HP-38 put the muzzle velocity at 766 fps, a surprising increase from the 6.0 732 fps load. Likewise the increase in recoil was notable making the recovery time too long for a defensive load, for me at least. The accuracy of the 6.0 round seems to be little better also.

Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 30, 2008, 01:29 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	Most reloading information I've seen for .44 Special seems to have been done with a 6" barrel. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 29, 2008, 05:12 PM	#1
Gecko10 Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 46	.44 Spl MV ????? I returned to reloading after about a 25 year break and am developing a moderate defensive load for an old Bulldog, just for the fun of it. I am loading a .44 Spl, 200 gr (.429) Speer, GDJHP over 6.0 grs of HP-38, CCI primer, COL of 1.45 with a moderate to firm crimp. Tested Muzzle Velocity is 732 fps. The gun is a first gen Bulldog, 3” bbl. The listed Muzzle Velocity for this load should be in the 880 fps range, but I can’t find out the gun that was used to test it so I'm assuming it had a longer bbl. Does this Muzzle Velocity sound about right for a 3” bbl? I was hoping to get it to the 800 fps range, but 6.2 gr of HP-38 is the Max for this bullet and will probability generate a Muzzle Velocity in the 745 range when I test it tomorrow. One of the reasons I'm concerned is that my chronograph is brand new and is a Shooting Chrony F1. Also, I set it up at 10' from the muzzle, per the instructions, which would make some difference I would think. I just would have thought this load would have produced a higher Muzzle Velocity in this gun. Thanks guys!!!!!

July 29, 2008, 06:58 PM	#2
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 947	A shorter barrel will certainly drop the velocity a bit, but certainly not 150 fps, unless the lab used something stupid like a 10" barrel. You might want to get another manual or two and cross-check your load. Mike

July 29, 2008, 06:58 PM	#3
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	For that bullet, Speer #14 lists the range for Win 231 (the same powder as HP-38) as 6.0gr to 6.9gr (COL = 1.490", CCI 300 primer, Remington case). With a 5.5" barrel Cimarron SAA, they recorded 730 fps for the start load, so your Bulldog is actually performing well. If you want higher velocity than HP-38 can give, try Alliant's Power Pistol or VihtaVuori's 3N37.

July 30, 2008, 05:31 AM	#4
Gecko10 Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 46	RidgewayCo wrote: For that bullet, Speer #14 lists the range for Win 231 (the same powder as HP-38) as 6.0gr to 6.9gr (COL = 1.490", CCI 300 primer, Remington case). With a 5.5" barrel Cimarron SAA, they recorded 730 fps for the start load, so your Bulldog is actually performing well. If you want higher velocity than HP-38 can give, try Alliant's Power Pistol or VihtaVuori's 3N37. Thanks Ridgeway. I just wanted to confirm that (1) I was not doing something wrong and (2) my new chrono was not way off (this is the first chrono I've owned or used.) I'm going to try 6.2 grs of HP-38 today which should give me around 740-750 fps and I think I will leave it at that as the recoil in this light gun, is starting to slow down recovery. So far there is no indication of overpressure. I have just started to reload again, after a 25 year break, so my knowledge of detail and experience level is lacking.

July 30, 2008, 10:02 AM	#5
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	That sounds about right for a Bulldog load. I've chrono'd a lot of loads in my 2.5" Bulldog (mostly cast but some J bullets), and that's in the range of velocities that I get. Try Power Pistol as suggested! Not sure what you'll get with J bullets because I load mostly cast, but PP and cast were made for each other and gives me the highest velocities and lowest SD than any other powder so far.

July 31, 2008, 06:27 AM	#7
Gecko10 Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 46	Well, 6.2 grs of HP-38 put the muzzle velocity at 766 fps, a surprising increase from the 6.0 732 fps load. Likewise the increase in recoil was notable making the recovery time too long for a defensive load, for me at least. The accuracy of the 6.0 round seems to be little better also. Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!