How low on 44 special?

C

Chainsaw.

New member
I finally figured out how to load 44 special with my 44 mag dies, now its time to load em low. Im wondering how SLOW I can run these, I dont necessarily need them super duper slow just slower is nicer. Does any one know what woud be a bottom of the barrel speed would be for 44 special lead bullets?

700?

Perhaps I should just work down till they feel really mellow?
 
It really depends on the powder you are using. Some powders down load better than others. You can make bunny fart loads IF you use the right powder and the right loading technique.
 
Thats a good point I didnt put in the above post. My intention it to use titegroup being I have tons of it, it is not position sensitive and being it doesn't care about case capacity.
 
Lyman starting loads for Titegroup in .44 Special give 701-715 fps depending on the exact bullet 240-255 grains.
Understand, that is not much below 1907 factory load of a 246 at 740.
 
A little more info would be helpful; like, what bullet you're using (especially the weight), and what your powder choices are.

Speaking generically, with a lead slug, getting down to about 700 f/s or even a little less shouldn't be a problem. Fast powders would be in order here. Heavy bullets are more consistent on the low end of things too.

I just took a peek at my data and I've never gone below 816 f/s - using a 240gn LSWC and 5.4gn of TiteGroup under them. (Smith 629; 5" bbl) My notes also say to turn up the charge for a cleaner burn (I never did because I stopped using 240 LSWC's.)
 
You can load lead bullets in .44 special or .45 Colt down to under 600 fps if you want. I have several .45 Colt loads in the 450-550 fps range using 180g or 200g Hi Tek coated bullets using Red Dot, Clays, Clay Dot and Red Dot. Red Dot is one of the more consistent in my testing at these velocities. Something about 3g to 3.5g. You should work down from published loads and watch for squibs and don't go below 400 fps.

I also use 5.6g Red Dot in .44mag cases with a 240g xtreme plated bullet for a nice plinking round, but with more recoil than the lighter loads. I don't try to load plated or jacketed at lower velocities for fear of a squib.
 
Nick, my plan is to use my cast lee 200 grain RNFP bullets.

700 sounds like a perfectly serviceable speed to work from. Actually that may just be my target speed, given the numbers shake out to about 200ft/lbs which is maybe double a 22lr muzzle energy I think that would be mighty soft shooting.
 
You can push them too slow. I planned to shoot a Distinguished Revolver round in Bullseye pistol and I thought I had the perfect tool: a S&W M24 in 44 Spl. I loaded rounds that were guaranteed to be low recoil, and low recoil they were. But, they were not very accurate! I could reliably hit the 50 yard berm with the 3.0 grains of Bullseye load. I was not reliably able to hit my target though! I think that loads below 700 fps are not going to be accurate in this pistol, but I have fired tens of thousands of round from 750 fps up to 1000 fps (Ruger Blackhawk) and those shot well.

Code: 
[SIZE="4"]6.5" M24-3  			
					
205 LSWC 4.5 grs Bullseye CCI 500  W/W cases		
T = 55°F	15-Nov-98		
		
Ave Vel =	765				
Std Dev =	16				
ES =	43				
Low = 	743				
High = 	786				
N =	6				

Accurate! 					
					
240 LSWC  3.0 grs Bullseye lot 919 WLP (brass) primers	
T = 90 ° F	2-Sep-15	
	 		
Ave Vel =	568				
Std Dev =	11				
ES =	41				
Low = 	544				
High = 	584				
N =	12		 	 	 
		 	 	 	 
Poor accuracy, vertical stringing at 25 yards, at 50 yards, aimpt top crossbar	 	 	 
					
					
240 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye lot 919 WLP (brass) primers	
T = 90 ° F	2-Sep-15
		 		
Ave Vel =	629				
Std Dev =	18				
ES =	59				
Low = 	596				
High = 	655				
N =	25		[/SIZE]





I tested 200 grain lead in my Taurus, and they all shot well at 790 fps. You could cut the load a little bit, but I still think 700 fps is the lower limit, even with a 200 grain bullet.

Code: 
[SIZE="4"]
[B]Taurus M431 3" Barrel	[/B]		
					
205 LSWC 6.0 grs Unique  thrown, Midway Brass WLP		
T = 54 °F	11-Dec-04	
			
Ave Vel =	790				
Std Dev =	27				
ES =	97		 		
Low = 	724				
High = 	821				
N =	30	[/SIZE]

Accurate, shoots point of aim And leads barrel!




 
Well that's very interesting results Slamfire. Surprising how bad the accuracy got, definitely not what I would have expected.

I tested 4.5 grains of titegroup tonight in the garage, still a little more umph than I want but per the Lee book these should be running ~850 fps. Ill try easing down just a little but I think about 4.0 grains will be where I stop. Dang I gotta invest in a chronograph!
 
What gun and barrel length are you using? I've loaded 38 special below starting load with 158 lswc and titegroup. I've also used Green dot below book level.

I was using my 38 snubnose. I can swing open the cylinder and look down the barrel easily (if accuracy stinks and can't tell a shot got on target). I was at least 10% below starting load. Never a squib. I had my T handled brass cleaning rod along just in case. They were pretty low recoil, I imagine pretty slow too.

I would like a gallery load. I have only gotten as far as sizing some .375 round balls to .358. This leaves about a 1/8" flat band around the ball. should be low friction down the barrel. I've been meaning to try with just a primer and adjusting seating depth. That would be wax bullet velocities.
 
5" 629.

The balls are a good idea. I watched a video a long while back of a fellow that did just that with decent results.

Gallery load is a good name.
 
Ozzieman, your link takes us to this thread.

I think I remember yours though as I was reading about round ball gallery loads a lot.

Did you increase the powder until you did get accuracy? I'd be curious how far you had to go and if it was still like a .22
 
Well I took it down to 4.0 grains of titegroup today. The recoil was right where I wanted it to be. Not sure what thr the fps is. Ill get to the range maybe this week or weekend and see how the accuracy is.
 
Ozzieman, that was a good read. I wonder how you'd do with a larger diameter round ball. I know my molds are supposed to drop 45's at .452.

Someone mentioned using unsized cases and I kind of remember wanting to do this and that may be why I haven't gone further yet as I need a universal decapping die.

Anyway, if you could get good accuracy at under 600 fps, that would be fun.
 
We go on, but it seems to me the question was answered in post #2. I would not validate playing around off the reservation, especially in the low end of pressure and velocity.

If I want 22 LR shooting, I will use my Smith 617.
 
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