I've been loading 6.0 grains of Trail Boss in .44 special brass, it's accurate and comfortable from my 50th Anny flat top .44 mag, goes about 850 fps. I know what you mean about the knuckle buster, the trigger guard really raps my knuckle with anything close to full magnum loads. The flat top makes a great .44 special but for .44 mag, well that's why Ruger built the Super Blackhawk.