Heavy 44 special

[Mike in Virginia]

I reload the .44 Special, but I haven't found anything better than the factory DoubleTap 180 grn. load.  It ain't all that fast (1150 fps out of a Blackhawk), but it's plenty, and superbly accurate.   

[RevJim]

 "Not sure this goes along with this .44 special conversation but.."
 
 I don't hunt with a pistol, but always have one with me,especially in the woods. I was thinking of one of these new BH flattops in .44 Special, 4 5/8" barrel as an option. I just bought a Glock 29SF for "town & country",ha so I decided to wait on the Ruger. I have a Lone wolf stock barrel coming and I'm going to try the Double Tap 230gr WFNHC in it. It has been clocked in others' Mod 29 going around 1050. I felt I was in .44 Special territory with this load ( if it shoots it well) and would work for finishing shots, occasional coyote, and maybe keep a black bear from biting me on the leg! Am I onto something or am I kidding myself? I have never made a finishing shot past 10ft, but I would want the bear a "little" further out! ha.

[ratgunner]

I took my three Black Hawks out to my range today. Most of my groups were just barely under or over the 2.5" mark for five shots at 25 yards.

The load I mentioned above with 9.0 grains of Unique under the Sierra 210 JHC was 1.8" so was my best five shot groups of the day. That was with my 5.5" Bisley flat top 44 special.

Any idea of the velocity you got with those.

[HGunner]

I've done a lot more shooting and testing with my FA 44 special over the summer and that 19 grain H-110 load is a good one with the 240 XTP and either CCI 350 or WLP primers.  But what I've really been enjoying is a 240 grain WFNGC over enough IMR-4227 to push it about 1070 fps using the WLP.  This load is very accurate and I shoot it well offhand (which is not true of every accurate load).  I'm really looking forward to hunting this year!

[BigBoreSixgun]

   Lyman 429215- 17.5grs/2400-CCI 300. FA97 6.5" barrel=1225fps.
 Have shot 3 deer with this load.Farthest was 71yds.
          BigBoreSixgun

[HGunner]

I assume you're happy with the load since you've used it on three deer but I would love to hear some bullet performance details from your hunts.  Have you tried any other 44 special loads hunting?


Thanks,  HGunner

[BigBoreSixgun]

  HGunner,
          Not much bullet performance to report. Two bullets excited, the third bullet hit the deer at the neck body junction. The deer was facing me with head down feeding. Hit her in the spine, through the lungs into the stomach area. Could not locate the bullet.That deer was the 71yd shot.
         I've played with other bullets with all good results. The RCBS 225 GC is also very accurate. The reason I use the Lyman 429215 is because I can get a little more velocity because of the lighter weight.
         My FA97-44special has a 2x B&L on it this year. Its not unusal to shoot a 4" group 100yds from a sitting position over my knees.
                                                                               BigBoreSixgun

[HGunner]

I'm planing to try some 44 special hard cast this season.  I was curious about where you hit them, if they ran far, what kind of blood trail you got, were they dead when you found them or did they need a finisher -- that sort of thing.  I plan to build my own experience but it takes a lot of deer shot to form an accurate impression. 


Thanks, HGunner

[BigBoreSixgun]

HGunner
    First deer I hit was shot from a tree stand. Bullet went down between the shoulders and exited.The deer dropped in its tracks.Deer  #2 was shot at about 30yds through the front shoulder /heart.Bullet exited, deer went 40yds.
      Its been only the last 5-6 years that I been using cast bullets to hunt with. What I noticed is that not much of a blood trail the first 20yds or so,but from then on a very good path to follow.
                                             BigBoreSixgun