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Author Topic: 44 specials in my Handi  (Read 848 times)

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Offline Spanky

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44 specials in my Handi
« on: July 16, 2010, 10:58:06 PM »
I want to get some 44 special ammo for my 44 mag handi. Do any of you guys shoot specials through yours? My local dealers only have Remington 44 special ammo in stock so I'll probably be buying online... do you guys have any recommendations on good shooting ammo at decent prices? I want to shoot flat point lead bullets... no hollowpoints or jacketed bullets. Thanks guys.



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Offline gendoc

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2010, 04:55:13 AM »
spanky, i know you said "no jackets"... but magtech makes a semi jacketed with lead flat point in loaded
ammunition for the 44sp.
 i think you can purchase the bullet too.  remington makes a simular bullet also, if you handload.

i have not did tha 44sp ina 44mag thing !!!
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Offline PawPaw

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2010, 05:07:41 AM »
I don't have a .44 mag Handi, although I regularly shoot .44 Specials in my Ruger SBH.  It's lots of fun and good for about 99% of what I want to shoot with a handgun.  I keep some .44 Mags on hand, but most of what I shoot is Skeeter's load (7.5 grains of Unique under a 240 lead SWC).

If I decide to keep the SBH, I may pick up a rifle as a companion piece.  I've never been a .44 guy, normally strapping a .357 for my woods meandering. 

If you're looking for factory ammo with lead bullets, I'd think that you're probably looking for something like this...  or this...
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Offline murphdog

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2010, 06:08:24 AM »
Spanky,
I've shot some factory 44 special jacketed loads in my handi.  How well they will work depends on your rifle, but I was generally unimpressed.  Be aware that because of the handi's slow rate of twist (1:38"), slower moving bullets may not have enough RPM's to stabilize.  I haven't shot any factory lead bullets, but I handload cast lead bullets using Unique.  Generally, I get adequate to good accuracy if I load 200-210 grain bullets to a velocity of 1200 fps or more, and 240 grain bullets to a velocity of 1350 fps or more.  Seems like the shorter bullets don't need as much velocity to stabilize, or maybe its just my imagination, but these benchmark velocities generally seem to work for me.  With lead bullets, bullet diameter can also be a factor.  Although "new", my 44 barrel is a little overbore (.431" diameter).  It will shoot .430" jacketed magnums just fine, but definitely prefers .431" or .432" diameter cast bullets.  I'm not much of an expert, but I hope this helps.
Duane
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Offline murphdog

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2010, 06:14:00 AM »
I just thought of one other factor.  Because my bore diameter is so large (.431?), it may be that the lower pressure of the 44special cartridge will not cause .429" jacketed bullets to expand into my rifling.  However, if your barrel is tighter than mine, lower pressure rounds may stabilize just fine.  You really ought to just buy some and see how your rifle likes them.  Every gun is different.
Duane
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Offline PawPaw

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2010, 06:55:44 AM »
Quote from: murphdog on July 17, 2010, 06:08:24 AM
Spanky,
Seems like the shorter bullets don't need as much velocity to stabilize,

As I understand such things, shorter bullets require less rotational speed (RPM) to stabilize.  The old round-ball barrels stabilized just fine with 1 turn in 56" (1:56). and a round ball is the shortest bullet you can get for any reasonable bullet. 
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Offline manatee1947

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2010, 07:37:28 AM »
That is basically correct. I have shot a lot of 44 Spl ammo, I cast and load my own, I use both 215 gr and 245 gr in my 44 mag handguns, and the 245 also in 444, same bullet. The 245 over 7.5 unique mentioned above is also my handgun load, shoots very well. The same bullet over 15 gr blue dot in a 444. You should be able to find an excellent load with a little work.
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Offline Spanky

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2010, 01:27:06 PM »
Thanks for the info guys. I guess I'll have to get some and see how they shoot. ;D



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Offline Swampman

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2010, 01:29:26 PM »
What's wrong with the Remington ammo?  I've shot a lot of it and found it to be outstanding.
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2010, 02:50:36 PM »
Quote from: Swampman on July 17, 2010, 01:29:26 PM
What's wrong with the Remington ammo?  I've shot a lot of it and found it to be outstanding.

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Offline Spanky

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2010, 04:08:56 PM »
Quote from: Swampman on July 17, 2010, 01:29:26 PM
What's wrong with the Remington ammo?  I've shot a lot of it and found it to be outstanding.

Nothing wrong with the Remington ammo... that's what I usually shoot. I'm just exploring my options.



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Offline briannmilewis

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2010, 07:21:24 AM »
Excuse the stupid question from the King of Stupid Questions:

If you shoot non-jacketed 44sp in a 44mag chamber, don't you get a lead buildup in the throat, making the need to clean more often and also making the cleaning more difficult than it otherwise would be, or is that a myth?

I thought the semi-jacketed bullets solved that problem, if it really is a problem to begin with? 
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Offline Lefty Dude

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2010, 11:40:18 AM »
 Old Bronze 44 bristle brush with Chore-Boy pot scrubber copper foil attached, makes for quick clean up of the chamber. ;)

Just make sure you use the genuine copper Chore-Boy pot scrubber. Some are copper plated steel, they are half the price of the pure Copper scrubbers.

Worx's for me. ;D
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: 44 specials in my Handi
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2010, 01:12:19 PM »
Not in a Handi but I just load the Berry's 180 grain plated lead bullet in a 44 Mag case.
For plinking and target,  Stuck it on top of some blue dot tossing it about 1,000 FPS out of my M29 and it is a joy to shoot.  I call it my hot special.
The same load really smacks stuff out of the 14" T/C tube I have. The added velocity really knock gongs.
The plated bullet tells me it is a plinking load, the Hornady JHP tells me it is a 180 grain bowling pin load.
and sticking a JSP 240 grain load on the same charge gets me 1200 FPS and more than enough as a hunting load and will cycle my 99/44 Ruger deerfield.  No need to change the reloader to load the different uses.
Found the load in the Allient loading manual in the 44 special section.  The 240 grain load was in the 44 Mag section.
Loading it in the mag case makes its it easier to clean and not a problem to go from plinking ammo to mag loads.
Not one of your concerns but the longer case also helps when using speed loaders on steel targets.
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