Old Shooter

I use 7.0 of Unique behind a 429421 Kieth bullet cast from wheelweights in a 5 1/2" Super blackhawk, its good for 795- 825 FPS low recoil and 2" to 3" groups at 25 yards. My favorite 44 Special load.

ratgunner

I double checked the OAL and it's fine too. Go figure.

hillbilly knifemaker

I am willing to bet that skeeter load is a reloading problem where the front belt of the lead bullet is hitting the cylinder throat, due to being over sized, and does not allow the case rim to fully seat flush with the back of the cylinder. This causes a the case rim to drag on the breech face of the gun and making rotation hard or even fully stopping the cylinder from turning. Seat those bullet another 10-25 thousands and you problem should be solved. I had this happen in a Ruger blackhawk 41 mag using cast 220 gr. Keith style SWC bullets. The front belt of the bullet is jamming into the cylinder throat that is smaller then the bullet front driving band.

weldernewt53

I just read Six Guns by Elmer Keith. The guy was the real deal. I prefer the 6 gr load with 240 gr Keith style Swc. In my late 50's and works fine for me. It will ring a steel gong at 100 yrds all day. I want to try 150 and 200 yrds just for the heck of it.

ratgunner

That sir makes sense. I'll try it.

scattershot

Could it be that your crimp is not quite tight enough, and the bullets are creeping forward as you shoot? The bullet might then rub against the barrel.

Just a thought. Could be that the particular bullet you're using is too long for the cylinder, too.

Iowegan

I'm sure I will get some "flame" here but I just don't understand why people would buy a 44 Special then load it hot versus buying a 44 Mag and down loading it. It just doesn't make sense to me .... kinda like buying a family car and driving it all day at 100 mph. Yes, it will do it but how long will it last?

I've read many of John Taffin's works on 45 Colts and 44 Specials. Seems his yardstick is "if the gun doesn't blow up, it must be OK". As a long time gunsmith, I just don't buy that philosophy. I've seen too many revolvers come into my shop with excessive endshake and premature wear ... all because of hot loads. My philosophy has always been "if you need more power, buy a more powerful gun".

opos

That's the reason I've been loading 44 special loads (or near them) in 44 mag brass and shooting them in my NMBH with the 4 5/8"bbl...I can't tolerate 44 mag warm to hot loads in that gun but it's perfect for my lighter loads...and the mag brass keeps the ring out..Same thing with my 45 Colt....200 grain RNFP from Missouri in a 12 hardness with a reasonable load of Trail Boss from the books ..gives 700-800 fps and it is accurate and perfect for what I do..no leading at all..probably wouldn't kill a good size jack rabbit (just kidding) but it's not a hunting load and I'll never wear me or the gun out.

Seneca

I shoot a 255gr. cast SWC sized to .429 over 6.8gr. of unique, with a velocity of 825 fps. out of a .44M with a 4 5/8" barrel. It's a handful, yet manageable.

A tight BC gap and lead fouling at the front of the cylinder can certainly hang things up, and make cocking difficult.

Also an unburnt powder kernel can get wedged in in the works usually under/against the ratchet and causing it to drag and make cocking difficult. Unique is known for causing this problem.

Oil in charge holes prevents the cartridge from gripping the chamber walls when its fired and allows it to slip back against the recoil shield...if the recoil shield is rough it can cause binding. Very dirty chambers will also cause binding.

Mop out (dry) the charge holes befor firing...when the cylinder starts to bind, remove it brush off the cylinder face, brush out the ratchet area and ratchet, brush out the charge holes and see if that help...provided you do not have a mechanical problem with the revolver that should solve the problem...

Seneca

Not from me...
I agree with that...also, I've met Taffin...he's a local, nicest guy you could possibly meet. I use to see him at the range from time to time...though haven't seen him there in a while....

ratgunner

Just loading it to it's potential not trying to make a magnum out of it. I already got a magnum. But it's the same as loading a .45 Colt to it's potential or a .38 special and so on. The same reason people buy a .45 and load it warm instead of a .454

ratgunner

Or why buy a .454 when you can get a .460 or a .357 Max instead of a .38/.357 mag. and down load it ? One reason is the guns are lighter and handier. And yes I agree we shouldn't load a steady diet of hot loads in any of them.

Ale-8(1)

You will note that of late Mr. Taffin has essentially stopped loading up the hot stuff. The guns might be able to take it, but his body no longer can.

With age, comes wisdom . . . hopefully.

ratgunner

A 240-250 grain hardcast slug moving at about 900-1000fps is just right from a .44 Special. Many old chamberings like 45-70 and .257 Roberts are down loaded from factory to be safe in older guns.

Seneca

One thing to be aware of is that the Unique and 2400, powders of today are more potent powders than they were in the 50's, when skeeter was developing loads.

Duplicating a skeeter load with todays powders may well, and probably would, put you over max pressure for both the revolver and cartridge...