Range report on 44SP 200gr GDHP

R

Rmouleart

New member
I worked a load using44SP 200gr Speers GDHP on top of 8gr Unique, CCI primers, Lee factory crimp. This is very accurate load in my Taurus 5 shot. I was shooting around twenty yards,put my target in front of a big wet log, shot a few shots then looked to see if I could find the bullets and see how they reacted, come to find out the Gold Dots did what I thought they would do, a perfect mushroom, A few bullets made it through the log and into the dirt. Here is a few pictures of the GDHP after shooting through a wet log. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.
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201384.jpg
 
Here is the revolver(Taurus 44 SP 5 shot) and 44SP GoldDots 200gr GDHP's, Check out the ashtrays on those babys. Aim small hit small. RAMbo
202444.jpg
 
That is a fine bullet for the .44 special. I carry the Blazers that use that same bullet, but I usually punch paper with cheaper home made stuff.
 
Thanks for the post. Nice looking bullet performance and nice looking handgun as well. Is that a four inch barrel? And how was the recoil? I always found the .44spl an interesting round, have been thinking of getting a dedicated handgun in that caliber. Over the years I have come into possession of about 300 pieces of once fired .44 spl brass. Do you have any numbers on that load as far as velocity? And you should see(I am sure you have)the original flyN ashcan in the Blazer .45 Colt round. It is also a 200 grain speer JHP but not sure if it is the gold dot version. The hollowpoint cavity is massive. Listed velocity from CCI was 1000 fps at the muzzle if I recall correctly.
 
This load is running at 950fps, never under estimate the 44SP, for personal protection its at the top of the chart for knock down power, as for recoil, well it felt like a cap gun compared to my 454 Casull or even my 44Mag working with 24gr of Win296 pushing a 240gr XTP jacketed bullet, The 8grs of unique I used is near the max load at 8.5 grs,and that will produce over 1025fps or somewhere with in that area. Nice crisp ignition, The revolver is a Taurus 44SP 3 inch barrel 5 shot, a very strong frame, locks the cylinder on both end's like Rugers do. A 44SP is a great choice for a revolver. Good shooting. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.
 
Me bein the poor man an all...I cast my own 180g WC's for my CA Bulldog. I found that 11.0g of 2400 behind the 180 is very accurate and low recoil out of the light and short barrelled gun, but I shot my chrony and haven't replaced it yet. Can anyone venture a guess of what velocity I may be getting out of the 2.5" barrel?

Sorry for the thread veer, nice looking expansion.

THX.
 
You my friend are a kindred spirit...

I just picked up a NIB S&W 696 (no dash) and am on the same trail as to loads. I've only had time to work up some 200gr hc lrnfp started with 7.8 gr of Unique with CCI Primers in new Starline brass on Lee dies. Will shoot a few next week...

The 44 spl has a lot to offer...
 
Great thread, Rmouleart! Haven't seen you around since MarlinTalk caved! I was CapeBuff on Marlin's Forum. How's it going up there in the NE?

We're bracing for Charley down here around Pine Island & Matlache. :rolleyes:

I just bought my first .44 Spl - a S&W M624 Lew Horon Version w/ 3" Bbl. - Love it ! ! ! I'm just noticing the shortage of loads printed on this wonderful ctg. ! ! ! :eek:
 
A few years back a local sporting goods store was changing Taurus distributors (so the story went), and was clearing out their existing Taurus stock at ridiculous prices. They were offering the 3" barreled 44SP 5 shot for $169, and the 2" M85 .38 SP for $139. The .38 SP was more what I was looking for at the time (and 30 bucks cheaper), so that's what went home with me. I still love the 85, but seeing the photo of that big 44 sure gives me a bad case of the "maybe I shoulda's."
 
CCI Blazers with the 200gr GDHP is what's in my 296 as we speak. (Although sometimes I get all Old Skool and load it with Federal 200gr LSWC-HP...)
 
When I had a .44spl that is the same load I ended up with. 8gr of Unique works very well with the 200gr XTP also.

I also used the same bullet loaded to full power .44mag power for some home defense loads. I assumed they would have mimimum penetration and maximum crater making ability.
 
This load is running at 950fps, never under estimate the 44SP
Click to expand...
Was that actually over the screens or is that a book figure?
The reason I ask is that my Winchester Trapper only gives my that kind of velocity when I bump the charge up to [Edit to remove over book max charge]

EDIT:
Ack! My bad. I missed the 200 gr. I was thinking 240 gr.
 
You definitely know you shot something, but its much less painful in my opinion. The recoil impulse is more of a 'push' and less of a 'snap'. Of course if you get up to the level of the Keith loads, which led to the .44 mag, they start 'snapping' too. :eek:
 
Hello. I don't have data for the 200-gr. Gold Dot over 8.0 grains Unique but using 8.5 grains, I got the following based on 10 shots approx. 10' from the chronograph screens:

Taurus Model 431 (3" bbl):
Average Velocity: 933 ft/sec

S&W Model 24 w/6 1/2" bbl:
Average Velocity: 1137 ft/sec

Best.
 
I don't have anything against the 200 grainGold Dot, I know they expand very well, and hell, 200 grains IS gonna penetrate a human enough. However I like Hornady XTP 180 grain bullets in .44 special short barrel revolvers. They expand well , almost as well as the 200 grain Gold Dot, but like all xtp bullets hold together VERY well. Because they are tougher the lighter bullets need to be driven faster. The factory 180grain XTP load does just under 950fps in my S&W296 and prints 2" 15yard groups; it is what I carry in it. The 180 grain .44 bullet still is gonna go thru about any human and might just bust a bear skull! The faster 165 grain loads are too light IMHO- like a 110grain .38. I have a few .44spls but the 296 gets CARRIED often instead of played with once in a while like the others. Nothing like a 1 pound smooth contoured .44 with ALMOST a 3" barrel that drops in a pocket whenever I go out the house. ;)
 
this is what I got with the GD factory Special load in a Mod. 29. It may or may not pick up a few fps in a special chambering
44specgdot.jpg


Bullets shot through beef brisket
 
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