Is the 44 special, special?

[KRP 45]

I guess I will find out. Just ordered a 97 in 44 special with 5 1/2" barrel, 3LB trigger pull with white micarta grips. I also ordered a green fiber optic front sight. Never owned a 44 special, but liked all the others that started with 4. I hope I get it before deer season ends. Sounds like Keith and Taffin liked it. They said 6 month wait. O well, should be worth it. Anyone else have one? Sounds like the Skeeter load would be good, since I have alot of Unique.

[HGunner]

I do like the FA 44 special!  I've shot mine quite a bit but haven't hunted deer with it yet. I plan to fix that this fall.  I've had good luck with 240 Hornady XTP, H-110 and WLP primers. My latest success has come with a 240 grain WFNGC cast bullet over a good dose of 4227 - I got outstanding accuracy and shoot-ability at 1080 fps.  I also like the 255grain SWCGC with 4227.


Congratulations on your order.  I agree with the action job - I woudn't order one without it.  The green bead is a nice choice.  Ramp sights are great at the range but laying that bright green bead on a deers chest is much faster in the woods.

[Graybeard]

Nice! I wish I could afford an FA97 .44 Special but these days that's out of my price range. I'll just have to live with my Ruger BH Flat top .44 Special. Like your FA97 it has a 5.5" barrel.

I sure regret letting my FA97 .45 Colt get away but as much as I liked it I'm sure I'd like a .44 Special better. Yes it is kinda special and a lot of fun to shoot. Skeeter's load is a good shooting load tho you might find a few tenths of a grain more or less might prove more accurate for you. I like the Magnus Lyman 429421 Keith bullet and GBO Sponsor Midsouth Shooter's Supply sells them at a good price. I'm using 7.8 grains in my Ruger which seems a little more accurate but honestly these days both the gun and load are more accurate than my tired old eyes can see to shoot anyway.

[KRP 45]

Does anybody know what size cast bullets you need to use? Will 430.'s work or do you need 429's?

[paul105]

Link to a previous M97 .44 Special thread that may answer some of your questions:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,184751.0.html

Here's a link to Brian Pearce's article on the .44 Special
http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Brian%20Pearce%20on%20the%2044%20Special.pdf

Personally, my best luck in the M97 .44 special has been with gas checked cast and jacketed bullets.  Here's one example that I took a picture of:



The brass ref in the picture is wrong -- it was Starline brass.

You are really going to enjoy the FA97 .44 Special

Paul
 

[HGunner]

My FA 44 special has throats that seem to perfectly fit Hornady XTP bullets. These push through with some pressure.  I don't have calipers to measure them but the box says .430  However, Speer Gold Dot bullets are marked .429 and fit almost the same. Nosler Sporting JHP bullets are marked .429 and fall through the throats with no resistance.  Laser Cast bullets say .430 but can't be pushed through my throats.  Ideally, I would measure an XTP and order your cast bullet custom sized to those dimensions.  Dave at Montana Bullet Works has made me .430 gas checked bullets that work very well (very snug throat fit) but I haven't tried .429 which might work too.

[tatonka]

I have a FA 97 in 44 special that shoots 180 gr Hornady JHP using Lil Gun powder. It also shoots 240 gr  cast Keiths well but they rap my middle finger during recoil. I've toyed with aftermarket grips to help with this problem but can not decide on a particular model.

[Drilling Man]

Is the 44 special, special?

  I see NO reason to turn a 44spl. into a "magnum", so even though i've owned many, still own some.  So, NO i don't think they are "really" spl...
 
  I like the 357 better for carry, and if i need more power than that, i switch to one of my 44 magnums.
 
  DM

[gcrank1]

44 Spl. has always been good to me, and I have had magnums but Special equiv. loads have always done the job in them too. Ive made 44 American equiv. on up loads and found that Skeeter's load advice was on the money.