Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello. Eleven years ago, I bought a like-new S&W Model 24-3 for three-hundred bucks. The gun's not been customized other than replacing the factory stocks with the N-frame "small" Pachmayrs. The gun's advertised as having a 6 1/2" bbl, but measuring from the rear of the forcing cone to the end of the bbl shows 6 3/8". I guess "6 1/2" sounds better!
I don't know whether or not .44 Special is an "inherently accurate" round or not, but I do know that most loads group quite well out of the .44 Special handguns I've owned over the years. This one's no exception. Not a magnum by any means and too lightly loaded in most factory rounds, I think this a round that benefits from efforts of the handloader more than some other calibers.
The Revolver: This S&W M24-3 has had no gunsmithing done to it. Only the stocks have been changed. Externally, except for the lack of checkering on the top strap, it resembles a Model 27...until you see the larger diameter hole in the bbl!
Ammunition Used: Only three factory rounds were used; they were:
PMC 240 gr JHP
PMC 240 gr "Copper Plated" SWC
Triton +P 165 gr QuikShok
As mentioned earlier, this is a revolver for the handloader and I flat didn't have much factory stuff around. Handloads used were:
Hornady 180 gr XTP (moly-coated)/9.0 gr Unique/WW Cases/Federal LP primer (Est. velocity: 1000 ft/sec)
200 gr Speer Gold Dot HP/7.6 gr Unique/Starline Cases/WinchesterLP primer (Est. velocity: 875 ft/sec)
Rucker 240 gr CSWC (moly-coated) /Same as for 200 gr Gold Dot
(Est. velocity: 850 ft/sec)
Rainier 240 gr "Hex Hollow Point" (moly-coated) /7.7 gr Unique/Winchester cases/Federal LP primer (Est. velocity: 850 ft/sec)
Speer 200 gr JHP (moly-coated)/8.5 gr Unique/Winchester Cases/Federal LP primer (Est. velocity: 1000 ft/sec)
None of these loads were chronographed today and I can only estimate velocities. Also, in playing with these loads in the past, I note no differences in the moly-coated bullets or in primer changes between the brands listed. Right now, I think the moly's more trouble than it's worth.
Recoil was so light with the PMC factory loads that I'd guess them in the 800 ft/sec range. Triton lists their QuikShok @ 1100 ft/sec. I've chronographed Triton in various calibers and found it to be very close to what's advertised. Out of my 3" bbl Taurus M431, this same load chronographs 1088 ft/sec.
Here are the loads tested with the exception of the Triton.
Left to Right: PMC 240 gr SWC, PMC 240 gr JHP, Hornady 180 gr XTP handload, 200 gr Speer GDHP handload, 240 gr Rucker CSWC handload,
240 gr Rainier Plated Hex Point handload, and Speer 200 gr JHP handload.
The Speer 200 gr GDHP is designed for the .44 Special and the bullet's box mentions that it's best to be used at speeds under 1100 ft/sec.
While the GDHP shot well enough over 7.6 gr Unique with an estimated velocity of 875 ft/sec, I think that's a bit too much "under 1100 ft/sec." The picture below shows a 200 gr GDHP recovered from an informal expansion test in water. Penetration was about 12." The weight remained 200.5 grains and the expanded slug was 0.61" across the widest point.
This one's not loaded warm enough...yet. "Back to the drawing board"....and probably about 9 gr. Unique!
Hopefully, I can come up with an expanding bullet that would expand well enough to do coyotes, and smaller critters. I'm also of the belief that for larger animals like whitetail deer, one is likely better off with a hardcast SWC at about 1000 ft/sec in this caliber.
Shooting: Except for the 50-yard targets, all were shot standing, with 2-hand hold. All shots were fired single-action. No "combat" type DA shooting was done with this revolver.
Distances fired: 15 yards, 25 yards, and 50 yards.
15 Yards: Each group's composed of 6 shots and not all from the same cylinder chamber. There are two sets of targets used to group all 8 loads.
25 Yards: Each group contains 12 shots. Three loads were used.
I don't believe that the PMC Copper Plated SWC shoots quite as well in this particular handgun. The shots fired felt "good" when fired.
50 Yards: All shots fired single-action and while seated at a bench with my wrists supported. Eighteen shots were fired using the 240 gr CSWC handload listed above.
Observations: A .44 Special in a large-framed revolver is a peach to shoot. This gun wanted to shoot itself and the post front sight really allowed for a clean sight picture. There were no malfunctions, no pressure signs in anything tried today, and all hulls ejected easily. Primer edges were still rounded. Recoil was a "shove" and not bad. I find a full-house .357 Magnum in a similar-sized revolver to have more "objectionable" recoil. By the same token, what makes this handgun a heck of a shooter also might work against it with expanding bullets. I strongly suspect that with the exception of the Gold Dot Hollow Point in this test, the rest of them as well from other makers like Sierra are tuned more for magnum velocities. Obviously, the QuikShok's meant for self-defense and has done well in "water tests" I've tried in the past. I am encouraged to try the 200 gr XTP loaded to about 1000 ft/sec as well as the 200 gr GDHP. Right now, the slower 240 gr CSWC handload hits very close to the same points of impact. I'll also work up a bit hotter CSWC load. Depending on what I find, I'll likely have 2 or 3 loads for this revolver: 200 gr GDHP, 200 gr XTP, and a 240 gr CSWC. If expansion tests go the way I think that they might, I might just wind up with one: 240 gr CSWC @ 950- 1000 ft/sec. This would be more economical and could still be used for appropriate hunting.
If you get the opportunity at a nice .44 Special, grab it. They are much fun.
Best.
I don't know whether or not .44 Special is an "inherently accurate" round or not, but I do know that most loads group quite well out of the .44 Special handguns I've owned over the years. This one's no exception. Not a magnum by any means and too lightly loaded in most factory rounds, I think this a round that benefits from efforts of the handloader more than some other calibers.
The Revolver: This S&W M24-3 has had no gunsmithing done to it. Only the stocks have been changed. Externally, except for the lack of checkering on the top strap, it resembles a Model 27...until you see the larger diameter hole in the bbl!
Ammunition Used: Only three factory rounds were used; they were:
PMC 240 gr JHP
PMC 240 gr "Copper Plated" SWC
Triton +P 165 gr QuikShok
As mentioned earlier, this is a revolver for the handloader and I flat didn't have much factory stuff around. Handloads used were:
Hornady 180 gr XTP (moly-coated)/9.0 gr Unique/WW Cases/Federal LP primer (Est. velocity: 1000 ft/sec)
200 gr Speer Gold Dot HP/7.6 gr Unique/Starline Cases/WinchesterLP primer (Est. velocity: 875 ft/sec)
Rucker 240 gr CSWC (moly-coated) /Same as for 200 gr Gold Dot
(Est. velocity: 850 ft/sec)
Rainier 240 gr "Hex Hollow Point" (moly-coated) /7.7 gr Unique/Winchester cases/Federal LP primer (Est. velocity: 850 ft/sec)
Speer 200 gr JHP (moly-coated)/8.5 gr Unique/Winchester Cases/Federal LP primer (Est. velocity: 1000 ft/sec)
None of these loads were chronographed today and I can only estimate velocities. Also, in playing with these loads in the past, I note no differences in the moly-coated bullets or in primer changes between the brands listed. Right now, I think the moly's more trouble than it's worth.
Recoil was so light with the PMC factory loads that I'd guess them in the 800 ft/sec range. Triton lists their QuikShok @ 1100 ft/sec. I've chronographed Triton in various calibers and found it to be very close to what's advertised. Out of my 3" bbl Taurus M431, this same load chronographs 1088 ft/sec.
Here are the loads tested with the exception of the Triton.
Left to Right: PMC 240 gr SWC, PMC 240 gr JHP, Hornady 180 gr XTP handload, 200 gr Speer GDHP handload, 240 gr Rucker CSWC handload,
240 gr Rainier Plated Hex Point handload, and Speer 200 gr JHP handload.
The Speer 200 gr GDHP is designed for the .44 Special and the bullet's box mentions that it's best to be used at speeds under 1100 ft/sec.
While the GDHP shot well enough over 7.6 gr Unique with an estimated velocity of 875 ft/sec, I think that's a bit too much "under 1100 ft/sec." The picture below shows a 200 gr GDHP recovered from an informal expansion test in water. Penetration was about 12." The weight remained 200.5 grains and the expanded slug was 0.61" across the widest point.
This one's not loaded warm enough...yet. "Back to the drawing board"....and probably about 9 gr. Unique!
Hopefully, I can come up with an expanding bullet that would expand well enough to do coyotes, and smaller critters. I'm also of the belief that for larger animals like whitetail deer, one is likely better off with a hardcast SWC at about 1000 ft/sec in this caliber.
Shooting: Except for the 50-yard targets, all were shot standing, with 2-hand hold. All shots were fired single-action. No "combat" type DA shooting was done with this revolver.
Distances fired: 15 yards, 25 yards, and 50 yards.
15 Yards: Each group's composed of 6 shots and not all from the same cylinder chamber. There are two sets of targets used to group all 8 loads.
25 Yards: Each group contains 12 shots. Three loads were used.
I don't believe that the PMC Copper Plated SWC shoots quite as well in this particular handgun. The shots fired felt "good" when fired.
50 Yards: All shots fired single-action and while seated at a bench with my wrists supported. Eighteen shots were fired using the 240 gr CSWC handload listed above.
Observations: A .44 Special in a large-framed revolver is a peach to shoot. This gun wanted to shoot itself and the post front sight really allowed for a clean sight picture. There were no malfunctions, no pressure signs in anything tried today, and all hulls ejected easily. Primer edges were still rounded. Recoil was a "shove" and not bad. I find a full-house .357 Magnum in a similar-sized revolver to have more "objectionable" recoil. By the same token, what makes this handgun a heck of a shooter also might work against it with expanding bullets. I strongly suspect that with the exception of the Gold Dot Hollow Point in this test, the rest of them as well from other makers like Sierra are tuned more for magnum velocities. Obviously, the QuikShok's meant for self-defense and has done well in "water tests" I've tried in the past. I am encouraged to try the 200 gr XTP loaded to about 1000 ft/sec as well as the 200 gr GDHP. Right now, the slower 240 gr CSWC handload hits very close to the same points of impact. I'll also work up a bit hotter CSWC load. Depending on what I find, I'll likely have 2 or 3 loads for this revolver: 200 gr GDHP, 200 gr XTP, and a 240 gr CSWC. If expansion tests go the way I think that they might, I might just wind up with one: 240 gr CSWC @ 950- 1000 ft/sec. This would be more economical and could still be used for appropriate hunting.
If you get the opportunity at a nice .44 Special, grab it. They are much fun.
Best.
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