300 Grain 44 Special loads

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Bullard4075
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300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by Bullard4075 »

The situation is thus: I no longer have 44 mag pistols nor rifles. What I do have is a box of 500 (or so) 300 grain, cast, bevel base SWC. I can find no data for such for 44 Special. Anyone waded in these waters? Safely out a 4 5/8 barrel is the the minimum, even close to max not desired. Unique the powder. A good close hunting load with superior penetration it may be even though I've never recovered any cast 240's from any game (big Montana and Idaho mulies) I've ever tagged.
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Jeff Cooper
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by 44shooter »

I don't think I have ever seen data for the Special with 300 grains. About 6 grains of Unique seems to duplicate standard velocity with 240s so I would think a bit less than that. We know most large frame revolvers can safely take a bit more though.

You could probably easily sell your bullets if you wanted.
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Ray
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by Ray »

Deleted.
Last edited by Ray on Sat Apr 16, 2022 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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mickbr
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by mickbr »

I dont have any advice to give but I have to admit I like the idea. How practical it is one thing, but definetly has some cool factor attached. Like fellas running 230 grain pin bullets in 38 special or 700 grain in 500S&W. Why the heck not :)
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

I'd start at 6 gr of Unique and work up from there. I imagine you will end up at 6.5-7 gr.

But I would not use these in a Charter Arms Bulldog.

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_S ... pecial.pdf

Here is some data from Brian Pearce that may be helpful.
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earlmck
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by earlmck »

I had a box of those 300 grain 44 cal bevel bases one time I picked up cheap when I lived in Nevada. They didn't shoot like anything else I was shooting so I melted them down and made them into the bullets I normally use. The lube smokes a bit when dropped in a pot of molten lead -- I took my pot outside to do the deed.
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Old Savage
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by Old Savage »

What gun ate you using? Ruger? What velocity do you want?
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Bullard4075
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by Bullard4075 »

Old Savage wrote: Mon Feb 01, 2021 12:20 pm What gun ate you using? Ruger? What velocity do you want?
They will be used in a Lipsey's .44 Special Blackhawk. Hotrodding is not an object. That said this Ruger will hurt you before you hurt it with any reasonable Special load. These bullets going to waste is what I'm trying to avoid.
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by Blaine »

" IF " that shooter is made on the same frame as the 50th Anniversary Blackhawk (and I don't know if it is or not), be careful. I broke mine with not all that many stiff loaded 180s.....
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horsesoldier03
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by horsesoldier03 »

With todays market, any bullet will resale if it isnt something you want to shoot, assuming you dont cast your own, in that case melt them down.
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KWK
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by KWK »

One must extrapolate here. One can look at 44 Mag data and 45 Colt data and work backwards from there.

There's also QuickLoad, but it's generally inaccurate at low pressures, especially in regards to velocity. However, I looked at some heavy bullet loads in the 44 Mag and 45 Colt and got reasonably close with regards to pressure.

How long is your 300 gr bullet and what COL can you get with these in your 44 Spl? What sort of pressure are you willing to give your Ruger?

Using some S.W.A.G., I'd try 5 gr of Unique, but I'd want more accurate bullet dimensions first.
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by stretch »

Probably not quite what you want to hear, but I'd swap 'en with somebody
for some 240 gr. projectiles. 300 gr. is usable in HEAVY 44 Magnum loads,
but I'm thinkin' 240 gr. would be better in all respects in the 44 Special.

YMMV, of course.

-Stretch
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Re: 300 Grain 44 Special loads

Post by piller »

stretch wrote: Tue Feb 02, 2021 3:15 pm Probably not quite what you want to hear, but I'd swap 'en with somebody
for some 240 gr. projectiles. 300 gr. is usable in HEAVY 44 Magnum loads,
but I'm thinkin' 240 gr. would be better in all respects in the 44 Special.

YMMV, of course.

-Stretch
Sounds reasonable to me.
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