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.44 spl load data for WSF?
pietro75
Member Posts: 7,048 ✭
I am reloading hornady 240 gr. Hollow points.
I will be shooting these out of a CA bulldog and maybe my .44 mag as well.
I am having trouble finding load data for WSF.
Is the WSF not suitable for this round?
Should I stick with 231 or unique?
I am currently loading 6.3 gr. of unique for these 240's.
Of course,Any advice is welcome and appreciated.
I will be shooting these out of a CA bulldog and maybe my .44 mag as well.
I am having trouble finding load data for WSF.
Is the WSF not suitable for this round?
Should I stick with 231 or unique?
I am currently loading 6.3 gr. of unique for these 240's.
Of course,Any advice is welcome and appreciated.
Comments
What's a 44WSF? Do you mean 44WCF (44-40)? And what is a CA Bulldog?
I think the CA is for Charter Arms...but I too ask 44WSF...no idea what that might be..as related to a 44spl....what is it Peter?
It is a ball powder.
Sorry for the confusion. I was asking if anyone knew the load data for me to use the WSF powder for use with hornady xtp/hp 240 grain bullets in a .44 special cartridge.
Yes, I have a Charter arms bulldog w/ a 3" barrel chambered in .44 special.
Nor do I have any experience with that powder personally. But, WSF is a fairly slow shotgun powder, on a rough par with Herco and a titch faster than 800X. If you can find data for either of those two and stick with mild load charges, you should be fine. At low pressures, you might find it burns a bit dirty, though. Use velocity as your guide and work up to 800 fps or whenever the recoil swings your "fun" needle into the red.
Also thank you for the very neat site that you have created. If you don't mind, What is your favorite load for your Bulldog?
With current powders, that 215 SWCL over 7.0 of 700X is potent at 900 fps but accurate. 6.0 Bullseye gives 825 fps and hits POA. 5.0 Bullseye gives 775 and is pleasant and accurate.
With a Speer swaged 240 SWC, 5.5 W231 gives 700 fps and my notes say "GREAT load!" That load gives me a standard deviation of TWO! The previous 5.0 Bullseye gives 715 fps and is also a POA hitter.
Most published and printed loads for the 44 Special are just too heavy for the Bulldog. The gun will stand them; your wrist won't. I look for a max of 800 fps, and something around 725 is much more comfortable.
I'm looking to do one or two articles on the 44 Special in the next year. One may compare the original with the current model Bulldog and another may be a full load test with the Ruger flattop (if I ever get mine). I'll include three cast bullet weights and shot loads.
I regret to inform you that my favorite and most accurate load uses a powder that was discontinued 40 years ago. It uses Alcan 120 (5.5 grains of it under a 215 SWCL if you happen to have a can!)
With current powders, that 215 SWCL over 7.0 of 700X is potent at 900 fps but accurate. 6.0 Bullseye gives 825 fps and hits POA. 5.0 Bullseye gives 775 and is pleasant and accurate.
With a Speer swaged 240 SWC, 5.5 W231 gives 700 fps and my notes say "GREAT load!" That load gives me a standard deviation of TWO! The previous 5.0 Bullseye gives 715 fps and is also a POA hitter.
Most published and printed loads for the 44 Special are just too heavy for the Bulldog. The gun will stand them; your wrist won't. I look for a max of 800 fps, and something around 725 is much more comfortable.
I'm looking to do one or two articles on the 44 Special in the next year. One may compare the original with the current model Bulldog and another may be a full load test with the Ruger flattop (if I ever get mine). I'll include three cast bullet weights and shot loads.
Thank you for the information.
I dub thee Uncle Rocky.
Thanks, I DO feel a bit avuncular!
Well, with all of the work,time and love that you have invested in educating all of us, avuncular is an understatement.
Something you should check, put 5 rounds into the gun, then shoot 4 of them. Open the cylinder and remove that last unfired round. If the bullet stayed put and is still crimped in the crimping groove, you are good to go. My jacketed bullets would pull themselves out so far that they stuck out of the cylinder and then you couldn't rotate it, thus jamming the gun.
Jacketed bullets are .429" and lead bullets are .430", plus usually have a much more pronounced crimp groove. At the velocities that you get from a 44 special, most jacketed bullets don't expand anyway. Besides 44 is a big hole just by itself.
It belonged to his father and he had the loads so hot that occasionally the fifth round would walk a bit. That is when he knew it was a little too hot. I do not intend to get that hot. I want something that I can count on.
Use 800fps loads and 200 grain lead SWC bullets for practice.
The 44SPL is unpleasant with 250 grain bullets at anywhere near 1000fps
in light guns.
Light handguns act as inertial bullet pullers. Lead bullets having deep crimping grooves stay put under heavy loads.
I've chronographed Keith loads using his 235 Gr gas check hollow points
over 17.5 gr of 2400 at 1250fps out of a 4" Charter Target Bulldog.
Recoil was heavy but you have magnum power in a 20oz gun.
The Charter rubber grip modified by grinding to the S&W Model 60,337 or 442 configuration works best making the gun more shootable. Flattening the wedge in the rear where grips come together reduces felt recoil and gives a better grip on the revolver.
The Bulldog has fixed sights, so the smart thing to do is adjust your load to the point of aim - or as near it as you can get. Light bullets shot fast almost always hit low from a revolver; heavy ones shot slower hit higher. Most factory guns are designed to hit at point of aim with the most common factory ammo (naturally). With a 44 Special, that would be a 240 bullet at about 750 fps.
For defense, I carry WW Silvertips, BTW. Good load.
Energy for energy,light bullets at high velocity are easier on the shooter than heavy bullets at low velocity, especially fired from a short barrel.
Let's not confuse target practice ammo with self defense loads.
Whatever the fixed sights are regulated at, they can be reregulated using a file or a torch and welding rod to shoot your self defense load if necessary.
Paper punching using 800fps loads can be for grouping.
Elmer Keith found both high and low speed 44Spl loads shot to the same point of aim. He was Mister 44Spl/Magnum and did a lot of work
on the caliber. He used heavier revolvers so it may or may not hold true with the light Charter Arms. I know I haven't adjusted mine
since I first sighted it in.
A 200 gr flat point 44 cal lead bullet at 1000fps has a long history of effectiveness out of a 7 1/2" 44-40 SAA. The issue should be discomfort at the receiving end. Using these guidelines I would like to at least match it with 44Spl handloads.
Save the 240 grain JHP bullets for the 44 Mag. They probably wouldn't open up at low velocities anyway.
Heavy bullets at lower speed and pressure are MUCH more comfortable to shoot, for both hands and ears. In my opinion, of course.
Then, of course, there is the terminal effect. Light hollowpoints can fail to reach vitals even on thin-skinned deer, while heavy bullets penetrate clear through almost always.
Again,momentum for momentum the higher velocity, light bullet will have greater energy since energy varies as the square of velocity.
Conversely, energy for energy, the lighter, faster bullet will yield
less momentum.
Jet effect and powder charge weight notwithstanding, I've concluded this to my satisfaction empirically, at least with 44 and 45L calibers.
You can easily get 500ft lbs energy using a 200 grain lead bullet over a slow powder like 4227 or 2400. Much heavier bullets at slow speed drop you in the 38Spl +p class and run you the risk of jumping the crimp in a light revolver.
Considering the lack of effect on Mr Simmons of a 40 S&W +P in a perfect center of mass shot, handgunners may need to reappraise their self defense weaponry upward.
I've been playing with the 44Spl and Magnum since Ruger issued its first Blackhawk and the Son of Sam went on his rampage using a Charter 44.
I use 7.5-7.6 grains in my special loads and it performs just fine.