January 04, 2011 By Lane Pearce. While M.D has passed the reins on to me, I hope to continue the legacy of the site and provide readers with accurate information on the useful hobby of reloading ammo. https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/reloading-the-44-special/250248 With my two new .357s, I wasn’t too interested in target shooting, however, I did load thousands of rounds of .38 Specials using Elmer Keith’s recipe — 13.5 grains of #2400 under his 168-gr. – Taylor”, This is the Desert Storm Cartridge. We have data for the 250 gr Full Wadcutter 44 bullet from Matt's Bullets - 8.5 grains of Unique in 44 Magnum cases gives us a clean shooting accurate load. These are our best ammo deals which we update this page regularly with our lowest-priced ammunition. A database of .44 S&W Special handloads. Favorite Loads Hot off the Press .44 S&W Special. The standard target load at the time was a 148-gr. For the mild .44 special loads, I recommend all lead bullets and loads that produce 700-850 FPS speeds. Magnum. 44 Special Load Data. This makes LoadData.com an … 01; Favorite Loads Hot off the Press .44 S&W Special. 44 SPL WADCUTTER, STANDARD PRESSURE, LOW FLASH (ITEM 14E) This load was developed to be used in ALL/ANY 44 SPL firearms including Charter Arms. 2 alloy), and no leading was noted. 17 Rem. The .44 Associates and several industry notables helped influence Smith & Wesson and Remington to ultimately develop the .44 Magnum, though it was primarily Elmer Keith that was the ultimate … (Cowboy Action) 44 Russian (Cowboy Action) 44 S&W Special (Cowboy Action) 44-40 Win. Looking at the accompanying data table, it is obvious I made the choice to use the .44 Special at lower velocities and work toward loads with jacketed and lead bullets that would be fun to shoot. This Ruger GP100 1761 in .44 Special represents a recent resurgence of the .44 Magnum’s parent cartridge. 9mm Luger. Rifle Cartridges. JHP For more than 100 years it has served the shooting public, the military and handgun hunters with distinction. LOAD DETAILS: GUN TYPE .44 Special: FIREARM: PISTOL: LEAD TYPE : Lazer Cast Bullet: CALIBER TYPE : 44 mag: RATING : 10: LEAD SIZE : 200: POWDER TYPE : Unique: POWDER AMOUNT : 8.3 Gr. 32 S&W Long (Cowboy Action) 32-20 Win. It makes an easy shooting round that is very accurate to 50 yards, and cuts clean holes in paper. I used the M24 for jacketed bullet loads and the M624 with cast bullets. The "38 caliber" 0.357" to 0.359" wadcutter is most common wadcutter, at least in the CONUS. loads in this category, but the one of most interest for self-defense is their 200-grain lead wadcutter at around 1,000 fps. Four .38 Specials pose for comparison; (l.-r.) jacketed hollow point, lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter. data … The .44 Special created a wave of enthusiasm that resulted in a group forming during the 1930s known as “The .44 Associates” that shared load data, bullet designs, hunting experiences, etc. Select A Caliber or Gauge Below To View Recipes. With a small... From the "Guns & Ammo" April 1982 issue: The .223 Remington, a NATO cartridge, and the 6mm-223... Give a Gift   44 Rem. Bullets as heavy as 300 grains are available, but it's difficult to get enough velocity out of the Special case to make them useful. Dies are made by virtually everybody, and for years they have been configured to accommodate both Special as well as Magnum cases with minor die adjustments. A good, hard 240-grain semi-wadcutter at close to 1,000 fps will take deer, elk and black bear. 38 Special +P. Since many shooters shoot Specials in their .44 Mags for practice and plinking, I also chronographed some representative Special loads in a six-inch M29-3. Whether you want to reload your own ammo for competitive or recreational purposes, we have a vast selection of reloading data to find that perfect pistol load. |   A charge of 5.5 to 6.5 grains of Red Dot with just about any decent bullet - jacketed or cast - almost always results in adequate velocity, uniform ballistics and terrific accuracy. 45 Colt. All of the cast bullets shown in the load table were obtained from a local commercial caster and had a Brinell Hardness Number of 15 (the same as Lyman No. 12 gauge. The case while large enough for the .50 cal bullet, has a rim that is the same size as the .44 Magnum. 40 S&W. Gary 01-02-2013, 07:59 AM #9. XTP; Nosler 240-gr. Be sure to bookmarkthis page to quickly see whatever we've currently got. The .44 Special is often ranked as one of the best revolver cartridges of all time. A long-time favorite powder for big bore sixguns,.44 Special,.44 Magnum and.45 Colt, has been Hodgdon’s #4227. The .44 Special offers sufficient performance for hunting big game with Keith-style cast semi-wadcutter (SWC) bullets driven from 900 to 1,200 fps. JSP; Nosler 240-gr. less to start.) 44 Special Handgun Cartridge by Nosler Inc. TECHNICAL INFORMATION: When loading for the 44 Special, as with any revolver cartridge, bell the case mouth just enough to reliably guide the bullet into position, seat the bullet so that the top of the cannelure is just visible above the case mouth and then give it a good roll crimp. By Lane Pearce. 38 Super Auto +P. I do remember it being a … A popular Cowboy bullet is the 200-grain RNFP. Bullet weights ranged from 180 to 240 grains. The traditional .44-caliber bullet weight is 240 grains, and here we have several proven performers. The age-old question, 9mm vs .45 ACP. When I first started shooting the .44 Special it was very easy to find heavy load data, much heavier than what I have included. Only if you see more than one load, is it less than maximum. ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 Special Ammo 200 gr. 38 Special. Suitable powders for the .44 Special run the gamut of burning rates, depending on the bullet weight and velocities desired, but one stands out, and it is well known to the round's legion of fans. An occasional trip through the case trimmer will result in more uniform crimps - a big part of consistent ballistics - and better accuracy. By Bryce M. Towsley. Let us hope that for the next century, the grand old .44 Special continues to make as many shooters happy as it already has. For several years I used the M624 in IPSC-type matches, and my ammo was all powered by Red Dot. Several years ago, a prominent gun magazine asked readers what their favorite powder was for reloading the .44 Special. Springfield … Keith pestered the ammo companies to bring out heavier .44 Special loads, but there was a fear that such powerful loads would blow up an older, weaker revolver. 38 Special. HP, .44 with 225 gr. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. ammo is loaded to a maximum average pressure (MAP) of about 14,000 CUP, while the .44 Mag. The .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also commonly known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc, (pronounced "forty-four special"), or 10.9x29mmR is a smokeless powder center fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1907 as the standard chambering for their New Century revolver, introduced in 1908. A number of years ago, I planted two 250-grain cast bullets (from Lyman mould 429421) … An excellent assortment of expanding jacketed bullets is available in .44 caliber these days. For a while .44 Magnum cases were not easy to come by, so the only shooter I knew who owned a revolver chambered for it at the time mostly used .44 Special cases. Hard Cast Wadcutter (1,000 fps) 20 Round Box . Whether it's punching paper, whacking steel, hunting or protecting what's yours, the .44 Special makes a lot of sense. Hodgdon's load data for the .44 Spl. 44 S&W Special. Still, velocity spreads remained high using W-572 with both bullets. Except for one inconsistency, the .44 Special produced fairly even velocities with Rim Rock 200-grain wadcutter and RNFP Although it's a bit longer than the hollowpoints, loads with it fit comfortably in the S&W's cylinders. All Rights Reserved. 45 Auto. JHP; and Sierra 240-gr. The .44 Special was introduced in about 1907 and is an extremely accurate cartridge. Loading the venerable .38 Special wadcutter – The .38 Special cartridge case is much longer than a .45 ACP cartridge case. The story of a confederate sniper’s revenge and an exclusive look at his rifle. But in 1956 Keith's efforts culminated in the introduction of the .44 Magnum. Development … One drawback of the wadcutter is that it is often (perhaps always, in factory ammunition) loaded as a flush-seated wadcutter. While this powder is supposed to be ideal for 9mm, .45 ACP and .38 Special, I was in the process of developing a .44 Special load using Oregon Trail’s Lasercast 240-grainers for my Ruger GP100, with the Smith & Wesson 629 in there so I could compare speed from a three-inch barrel versus a five-inch. The Sentry 12: A New Kind of Shotgun. Target shooters flocked to the .44 Special. Hodgdon's load data for the .44 Spl. $20.00 Contact Us: 210 Grain Round Flat Nose (.430) Ideal choice for Cowboy action shooting as well as general plinking. 17 Rem Fireball. Rimfire Power. 380 Auto. The old barrel came off, was replaced by a seven and one-half inch .44 Special barrel of .426" groove diameter and that old Bisley has given groups of one-half inch using 9.0 grains of Unique and the Lyman #42798 .44-40 flat-point bullet. Range Life. Smith of Huntsville, Alabama has shared his plentiful knowledge of reloading ammo with our nearly 4 millions visitors! 38 Special +P. The overwhelming answer in the avalanche of replies was "Red Dot!" JHC. (WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), (JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet) Loads for .38 special: (Note: These are near maximum loads (in some cases ARE MAXIMUM), you should use 10%. The cartridge was the fine, old .44 S&W Special stoked with hand-loads that pushed the 250-grain Lyman/Keith No. Sponsored Post. Powder charges used in the .44 Special case seldom require magnum primers, although they are frequently recommended with ball or spherical powders. Magnum. Handgun calibers range from 7 MM TCU to the .500 S&W Magnum. We also have loads for all kinds of handgun bullets, from FMJ and XTP to Spitzer Boat Tails and wadcutters. It came to market as a commercial cartridge in 1991. For defense purposes, a lighter 180- or 200-grain HP bullet makes sense. From 1996-2020 M.D. 2020. It is unlike any other rifle on the market because it offers features no one else does; those looking for a rifle that fits like a custom-made firearm should look no further than the Benelli Lupo. SWC, 240 gr. Thank you for visiting our site! Gun Reviews. The 180-grain hollowpoints from Sierra and Hornady offer reliable expansion, and Speer offers a 200-grain "personal protection" version of its Gold Dot Hollow Point specially designed for the .44 Special. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type I can't agree more. In a pair of S&W 83/8″.44 Magnums, this load clocks out at about 1,067 fps with 7/8″ groups. 44 Rem. PRIMER : CCI: BRASS : Remington: BARREL LENGTH : 5 1/2: F.P.S : Approx 1050-1100: GROUP SIZE : 3/4 five shots 15 yards: OVERALL LENGTH : seat in the crimp grove light crimp: GUN DETAILS : Ruger Redhawk 44 … He began creating YouTube videos in 2017, and built The Reloaders Network in 2018. .44 Special load for 215 grain wadcutter; ... as I recall. Just stick to near-maximum loads to keep up the velocity and ensure adequate expansion. Like the classic .38 Spl. Check out our special ammunition deals below. comprises a half-dozen mostly flatpoint or semiwadcutter cast bullets weighing from 165 to 240 grains. The .44 Russian proved very accurate, and it didn't take long for savvy target shooters of the day to realize its potential. cast SWC; Hornady 200-gr. Pulsar Thermion XG50 Thermal Riflescope - First Look, Leupold DeltaPoint Micro Red Dot Sight for Pistols: New for 2021, Swarovski Z5(i) P BT L 3.5-­18x44mm Scope Review, Leupold DeltaPoint Micro Red Dot for Pistols: TESTED, The Story of Civil War Sniper Jack Hinson and His Rifle, RCBS Rebel Single Stage Press – First Look, How to Shoot Better: Tools and Tips to Improve Factory Ammo Accuracy, [RETRO] .223 and 6mm-223 Load Data for Long-Range Handguns, Cameras Don't Lie: Subsonic 9mm vs. .300 Blackout, Red vs. Green Lasers: Visibility in Bright Light, Guns & Ammo TV: Cameras Don't Lie: 9mm vs .45 ACP. As to the heavier, 240-grain lead bullets, … My favorite load with this bullet is 7.5 grains of TiteGroup for a modest velocity of 745 fps, light recoil and one-hole groups. Wadcutters loaded over W-572 narrowed velocity spread by 53 fps compared to the semiwadcutters loaded over the same powder. Rounded up was a selection of bullets from Hornady, Remington, Sierra, Speer and Winchester. long-nosed semi-wadcutter. 45 Auto I used CCI-350 magnum primers with HS-6 and Silhouette powders, but regular primers would work just as well. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Unique was also popular for .44 Magnum, but a maximum load produced lower velocities than the other powders. All right are Reserved RELOAD AMMO, Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), No Thanks I Don’t Believe in 2nd Amendment. HS-6 and Blue Dot are excellent choices for such applications. Velocities are modest, typically ranging from 650 fps to around 1,000 fps. PRESS RELEASE FOR BUFFALO BORE ANTI-PERSONNEL 200gr. It's best to shoot all lead bullets outside to avoid lead fumes. The. The Guns of James Bond: Roger Moore . The following data is from Lyman's 45th edition of their "Reloading Handbook" for 44 Special. More Gun Reviews. 44 Special Load Data. Latest. There are plenty of bullet weights and styles available for reloading the .44 Special: (from left) 180-gr. Experimenters such as Elmer Keith proved that a heavily loaded .44 Special was very effective on big game. cast FP; 200-gr. The Hornady 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) is a "magnumized" 6.5 Creedmoor. A.38 Special 148 grain wadcutter at around 700 fps will shoot through 18" of ballistic gelatin. Took a break for supper, and the lightbulb came on! comprises a half-dozen mostly flatpoint or semiwadcutter cast bullets weighing from 165 to 240 grains. With 5.5 to 6.0 grains of Red Dot, that same bullet does yeoman service in target loads, too. XTP; Hornady 240-gr. Because they are so easy to control in a small… Skip to content. In this segment of “Cameras Don't Lie,” competitive shooters Patrick Sweeney and Jim Tarr head to the range to put the vaunted loads on record, and then consider the footage. Rifle Cartridges. The winning combination of a 38 Special case is why. A 195 grain.44 mag wadcutter at modest velocity will have a serious terminal effect. I also cast a 200 gr full wadcutter and it also works well with 4.0 grs of Bullseye in .44 Special cases. If there is only ONE load… Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Cast vs. Swaged While some competitors enjoy casting their own lead wadcutters, there is an advantage in buying factory swaged lead bullets instead—swaging does not leave any voids in the bullet that can cause inaccuracy and … Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Designed with a protruding rim for use with a revolver, it was not intended for a semi-automatic pistol like the 1911. 44 S&W Special. July 12, 2017. Haven't shot wadcutters in .44 for many years having found it easier to cast a SWC that I could use in a .44 special as well as a .44 mag. 5.0gr BE @838fps, 1.5" group 6.5gr Unique @924fps, 1.84" group Handloading Notebook Personal reloading notes. The 240-grain cast bullet loads shown also offer potent protection. That.44 mag wadcutter will smoke most anything. Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. 44 Special Load Data; 44 Remington Magnum Handgun Load Data; 45 Auto (ACP) Load Data; 45 Colt (Single Action Army & Replicas) Load Data; 45 Colt (Ruger & T/C Contender & Encore) Load Data; Cartridge Data; Components by Caliber; Nosler Home; Load Data 44 Special Load Data. Hard Cast Wadcutter (1,000 fps) 20 Round Box . However, .44 Special loads are so mild, you can really use whatever you want to. Cowboy Action has recently given the .44 Special a shot in the arm, and the lighter cast bullets further broaden the Special's appeal. A very pleasant everyday load is assembled with Oregon Trail’s 240 SWC over 18.5 grains of #4227. 9x18mm Makarov. 17 Caliber.172” Diameter . To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. dard .44 Special load consisted of 7.5 grains of Alliant Unique combined with the 250-grain Lyman cast bullet 429421 at about 950fps. Left to right:-- 250 gr. SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 gr.