Author Topic: Unique and 44 mag 255 cast (Read 1998 times)

1895m · « **on:** June 16, 2007, 04:56:00 PM »

I finally got to the range with some of my loads from the winter. SRH 44 mag 7.5 inches. I loaded 255 grain Cast Performance WFN PB with 10 grains of Unique. They shot real nice. Best accuracy was about 1.5 -2 inches at 20 yards. Mind you I just put a new front sight on too. Real mild load and not nearly as dirty as I hear. I am used to shooting 240 XTP's with 23-25 grains of H-110. I was pretty happy with this load. Going to make up another batch and see what I can do with accuracy. Anyone ever use this combo or close to it? Wonder about performance on whitetail and also FPS. Thanks. Bill

EdinCT · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2007, 03:31:49 AM »

I know Elmer Keith used 10 gr of Unique in the 45colt with a 255 grain bullet and loaded it for friends as well. He told one story of someone shooting through a Black Bears head that run through a pack string with that load.I load 9 grains in a 44 for a every day load with that bullet weight and if I remember it chronyed 950 out of a 5.5 barrel.
A friend gave me 4lbs of Red dot that I have been shooting up and as soon has its gone I will go back to Unique.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2007, 11:35:05 PM »

Im not much on wfns but shoot alot of swcs and 10 grains of unqiue and 11 grains of herco in my 44s. Its a great load that will take care of most of what a 44 will be hunted with. Ive taken deer bear and pigs with those loads and never found it lacking in killing power. It has allways given me complete penentrations and quick kills.

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2007, 04:46:38 PM »

Lloyd you have probably mentioned on here what 44 you use but I have forgotten or missed it. What make/model is your 44? Thanks, Charlie

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2007, 11:44:29 PM »

Ive got a 4 inch 629 thats my favorite. A 4 5/8s super a 5.5 inch accusport bisley and a 44p marling guide gun in 44 mag. Ive had quite a few more over the years and even though right now ive got more 45s the 44s the 44 is my favorite handgun round. Ive yet to find an inaccurate one and at least these three 44s will go to my grave with me. I probably shoot them more then the rest of the guns combined. I was looking yesterday and have gone through 7 bricks of mag pistol primmers this summer and you have to keep in mind that i had back surgery and its really put a crimp on my shooting this year. Now thats just mag pistol primers and all have been shot out of one of the 3 44s. I dont know how many standard primers ive shot in loads out of them as i dont keep very good track of them because theres a good stockpile. I know a day never goes by that i go to the range and dont have a 44 mag with me. Loaded ammo for them goes in buckets not boxes anymore. The 45acps usually go neck and neck with it for volume but i havent been competeing much this year and there kind of collecting dust right now. Bottom line is that if i was limited to keep only one gun of any kind it would be that 629. Its accurate hard hitting easy to conseal for ccw and a hell of a hunting machine. I have no clue as to how many rounds it digested but its been many many thousand. Its been totaly trouble free and other then a trinium front sight and a set of beautiful select walunt herret grips is completely stock. Not even an action job as it didnt need it. two loads it sees the most are a 240 swcgc and 10 grains of power piistol and a 280lbt lfngc with 19.5 grains of aa9/wc820. The frist load runs about 1000 fps and has taken deer and hogs and the heavy load runs about 1200 and has taken deer and bear. Im sure the lighter load would do just as well on bear too its just never been in the gun when the oppertunity presented itself. I went through a stage in my handgunning when i was convinced that a guy had to have a 45 because thats what everyone said was best. Ive gone full circle and came right back to the 44mag. It will kill anything the 45s will and for the most part require alot less load developement and experimenting and tinkering with guns to get to shoot well. Ive yet to see a ruger 44 that wasnt a shooter right out of the box and cant say the same about there 45s.

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2007, 02:15:12 AM »

Thanks Lloyd. A 629 4" is what I have. I bought it a few months back used at the local pawn shop for $400. I am working up some loads for it now using Unique and 240 gr jsp's from Magtech. I am also going to buy some cast 240-240 gr. What swc shoots best in yours and where do you get them? Or do you cast your own? Thanks again for taking the time to write a good detailed reply. Charlie

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2007, 08:37:07 AM »

I cast all my own bullets charlie. I could never afford to shoot if it didnt. By the way you stole that smith!!!

Quote from: cbourbeau32 on July 14, 2007, 02:15:12 AM

Thanks Lloyd. A 629 4" is what I have. I bought it a few months back used at the local pawn shop for $400. I am working up some loads for it now using Unique and 240 gr jsp's from Magtech. I am also going to buy some cast 240-240 gr. What swc shoots best in yours and where do you get them? Or do you cast your own? Thanks again for taking the time to write a good detailed reply. Charlie

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2007, 04:46:54 PM »

I feel like I got a good deal. I am taking it Monday to the "Smith" to have it drilled and tapped for a scope mount. I am excited to work up and get out and shoot some hunting loads for it. Charlie

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2007, 09:34:46 PM »

your losing me there charlie those 4 inch guns are so darned nice packing guns id hate to see you drill and scope it. Before i did that id take it out and shoot the crap out of it and see if you cant master shooting at hunting ranges without a scope. Once you drill it you cant go back and it will decrease the value of the gun.

Savage · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2007, 02:51:12 AM »

Whoa, Charlie! Please don't butcher that magnificent 4" "N" frame! The beauty of the 4" is a lot of power in a reasonably small package. With practice, you can make hits on deer size targets at reasonable handgun ranges with the factory sights. My favorite revolver is my 29-3. I even carry it concealed on occasion in the winter. In a good belt or shoulder holster, it carries great in the woods as a companion gun to a long gun, or even as a primary. If you just have to scope a handgun, pick up a SRH/SBH that's already to large to carry well.
Love those "N" frames!!!
Savage

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2007, 03:41:51 AM »

Charlie, don't ruin a perfect packing gun. I used to have a few of my wheelguns scoped years ago. Never had them drilled, I used the mounts that clamped on. They fit in the rear sight slot and clamped to the front of the frame. Never had a problem with them. Over the past few years I've taken all these scopes off my wheelguns. Because a revolver just looks, feels and carries alot better with out a scope. For me the wheelgun just balances better without a scope. All my Contender barrels have scopes on them. The Contender feels right with a scope on it.
I also shoot alot of Unique ( Like Lloyd ) in my 44's with my homemade cast bullets. 7.0 - 7.5 grs. Unique for 44 Spl. And 9.5 - 10.0 grs. Unique for 44 Mag.
Nothing anymore rewarding than taking game with a revolver with open sights.

crabo · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2007, 04:10:19 AM »

The Weigand scope mounts will drill and tap under the rear sight. Take the sight off and use the scope, take the scope off and go back to open sights. No harm, no foul. Many of the newer S&W are already drilled and tapped here.

I think the real value to the scope on a 4" gun, is in working up the loads and seeing what bullet/load combination shoots best. It is a lot easier to test loads at 50 and 100 yards with a scope on the gun.

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2007, 04:23:26 AM »

charlie: don't scope that Smith and Wesson, it ain't right. If ya have to scope something, go buy a rifle or a Ruger something or another and scope that, but not the Smith...........

If, for any reason, you doubt your ability to hit accurately with a 4" S&W within the effective ranges of the loads you are going to brew up, then practice with that revolver until you can. If you can hit a 6" diameter target at 50m you should be OK and even do better than that. I firmly believe that if you can hit accurately and effectively with the open sights on that 4" revolver you will be a better shot. I can almost guarantee ya that if you scope a revolver it won't help your hunting or shooting techniques.

If, for any reason, you doubt the ability of a 4" Smith and Wesson Model 29/629 to hit accurately with the loads you intend to use, then tell me what loads you prefer so I can load a bunch of them, send the gun to me and I will shoot it a couple of thousand times to make sure its the right gun for you. Just tryin' to help. Mikey.

kennisondan · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2007, 10:42:25 AM »

I've had them scoped and not scoped, and after a lot of range shooting, was amazed how difficult it was to capture a moving deer in the forest and keep him in the scope at arm's length, compared to open sights...I scope my tc's now only...but if you have to, there is no reason to have a four inch gun, just as soon be longer and heavier, cause it is not at all the same carry gun at all..
It is still a pistol and a greater challenge to shoot well and to hunt successfully with, and if you decide that it is right for you now, then every one here will still be good with that; it is a personal choice...others just share they did make that choice and ended up taking off the scopes before it was over...( I am the type that has made many mistakes, many times - and often learned the hard way, but learned..)
I am sure you will be able to shoot just fine in the field with iron sights with some practice. I could shoot minute of deer's boiler room and keep all in the right area at a hundred yards with my smith open sighted and a rest for my arms to steady me.
you can do that as well for sure. I found the scope limited me at times for anything but targets under good conditions ..just do not sell iron sights and practice short.. on a clear day in good light the scopes served me well but in shadows the smaller aperatures and their light gathering abilities did not serve me as well as irons at the distances and in the circumstances I was actually shooting game in the field.
If you try the iron sights for a while and still decide you want to scope it, try a friend's with a scope first then get it on.. I hope you decide to learn the open sights first if you have not..
JMHO
dk

Davemuzz · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2007, 11:32:12 AM »

FWIW, I'll throw in my opinion. That and $1.25 will get you a coffee at the local gas station.

(maybe)

I don't know if I would scope that 4" 629. I think maybe I would not scope it. For all the reasons the above guys have stated.

Now, that being said I own 2 629's. A pre-lock 5" with open sights and a post lock 6.5" that I have a Simmons Pro-Hunter 2-6X mounted on it. I use the open sighted gun for range, pin shoots and "plinking" as it has a very light trigger pull (2.85lbs in SA). I use the scoped one for hunting. I agree that there are times when the scope will not be your friend. If you have that buck running past you it's darn near impossible to get him in the cross hairs, and if you do, you don't know what part of him you have in there. However, in low light situations, the scope (at least my Simmons) really comes thru. It will let you see the deer when your naked eye will not, and with the variable power, it will let you see the points on the rack as well.

If your knowledgeable about your hunting grounds, and you know where the deer are going to be running (generally) when they are pushed, and when they are going to be holding up, sneaking, or stopping to look back, then you may want to think about investing in a set of the Quick Release Rings. http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2581 My shootin buddy has a set of these on his 629 performance center 44 mag and they really are slick. I don't know about "true return to zero" for rifles, but for handguns, I'm certain they will bring the scope back to "minute of deer heart\lung" out to 100 yards. At least that's what I've seen on his.

So, if your in the "hey....the deer are probably going to be busting thru here like a Macy's Mothers day sale, then take off the scope...it only takes 15 seconds, if that. If it's going to be quiet, put the scope back on.

MHO

Dave

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2007, 02:27:04 PM »

+1 on no scope. I haven't seen it mentioned, but the muzzle blast of a 4" barrel is pretty hard on scope coatings and lenses. I've seen a couple of scopes on short guns that had their lenses marred from the hot particles of the blast. Just something else to think about. Besides, why mess up the balance on a good holster gun?

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2007, 04:56:32 PM »

Wow. I caused no small stir by saying I wanted to scope my 629. You guys give me some interesting things to think about. Thanks for all your input. If I decide to I did buy the mount that mounts under the rear sight so when you take the scope mount off the rear sight goes right back in its place. Charlie

Davemuzz · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2007, 12:57:21 AM »

Charlie,

BTW, that's a great looking kid you have in the photo. You must be very thankful that his good looks obviously come from his mother.

Dave

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2007, 06:33:05 AM »

He does get them from his mom. Maybe I should put his and her picture on here.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2007, 07:50:47 AM »

Well........either that or you could just put a brown bag over your......oh never mind.

.

Dave