Skeeter Skelton's 44 special load

[50 target]

GUNHOHULK, reference post #46.For best results try that 7.5gr "under" the bullet. LOL
Could not resist. Take care and have as much fun as you can with that load. I've used it and it is a thumper. I would not use it in the older 2nd models., especially if they fall under the ser. # of where they started heat treating the cylinders. I seem to remember there was a starting point where they heat treated them but then again I am old and forgetful.

 

[Law-dog]

Current thinking seems to be that a flat-nose .44-45 caliber bullet at ~900 fps will penetrate a deer completely. I no longer hunt, so it's all academic. I will say that I've shot all my old .44 Mag full-power ammo, and the brass will be reloaded with enough BE-86 to send a 240-grain LSWC ~950 fps from my Old Model Super Blackhawk.

John Taffin was fond of saying that a 250 grain bullet at 950 fps from a 45 Colt would penetrate a deer north to south. Tim Sundles at Buffalo Bore says about the same.

I load my Ruger Bisley 45 with the XTP bullet to 1,200 fps but have not killed with it. It easily shoots 2 inch off hand groups at 25 yards and being manageable I have not tried to increase the speed. My plinking load for that gun (45) is a 200 grain FP Berrys at 1,150 fps, about 600 fpe.

I try to run the 44s and 45s about the same weight and speed, no downside I have noticed.

On the 44 special, I do not have a Charter Arms and I understand why people load them so lightly. My smallest is a 30 ounces snub in 44 mag. I do like the 9.0 grains of Unique, they are thump enough for any defense use, people, hogs, dogs, or black bear, yet not abusive.

As I have aged, (76), I have lost interest in being macho and shooting 100 rounds of hot loads at a sitting, so I shoot lots of 22s and concentrate on precision with however many of the 44s or 45s that I choose to shoot on that day. If I fire 5 groups of 5 and they are all tight groups, sometimes I just pull that target and stop right there. As an instructor for many years, I know that shooting longer times does not improve accuracy or speed, just burns more ammo. Just something that I do. I have been that guy that took boxes of top end 44 mag to the range and shot all of them, but maybe 6 from the last box to leave in the gun. That sounds silly to me now.

 

[Gunhohulk]

GUNHOHULK, reference post #46.For best results try that 7.5gr "under" the bullet. LOL
Could not resist. Take care and have as much fun as you can with that load. I've used it and it is a thumper. I would not use it in the older 2nd models., especially if they fall under the ser. # of where they started heat treating the cylinders. I seem to remember there was a starting point where they heat treated them but then again I am old and forgetful.

Maybe I’ll put half of it over and the other half under and see what happens!