Left to right:– 250 gr. SWC, 240 gr. HP, .44 with 225 gr. SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 gr. JHP
250 gr. SWC+GC, 265 gr. JFP, 240 gr. JSP
(WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, FP=Flat Point, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), SP=Soft Point, (JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)
Loads for .44 Special:
(Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet sizes vary from .429″ for jacketed to .432″ for some lead in diameter. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.
160-165 grain Lead RNFP Cowboy loads
| Universal | 5.5 gr. | 851 FPS | minimum |
| Universal | 6.3 gr. | 1042 FPS | MAXIMUM |
| HP38 | 4.9 gr. | 893 | minimum |
| HP38 | 6.0 gr. | 1040 | Maximum |
| Titegroup | 4.5 gr. | 865 | minimum |
| Titegroup | 5.8 gr. | 1035 | Maximum |
| Clays | 3.6 gr. | 836 | minimum |
| Clays | 4.6 gr. | 1009 | Maximum |
165 grain Lead RNFP
| Trail Boss | 4.8 gr. | 865 FPS | minimum |
| Trail Boss | 7.0 gr. | 1005 | FPS MAXIMUM |
180 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
| Bullseye | 6.5 gr. | 910 FPS |
| Unique | 9.0 gr. | 985 |
| 2400 | 16.0 gr. | 950 |
| HP38 | 6.6 gr. | 941 |
185 grain Lead RNFP Cowboy
| Trail Boss | 4.5 gr. | 791 FPS | minimum |
| Trail Boss | 6.6 gr. | 944 FPS | MAXIMUM |
| Universal | 5.4 gr. | 823 FPS | minimum |
| Universal | 6.4 gr. | 1031 FPS | MAXIMUM |
| HP38 | 4.4 gr. | 810 | minimum |
| HP38 | 5.6 gr. | 953 | Maximum |
| Titegroup | 4.0 gr. | 819 | minimum |
| Titegroup | 5.5 gr. | 1025 | Maximum |
| Clays | 3.5 gr. | 810 | minimum |
| Clays | 4.5 gr. | 930 | Maximum |
190 grain Lead WC (cowboy loads)
| AA N100 | 3.7 gr. | 823 fps |
| AA No. 2 | 4.0 gr. | 836 |
| AA No. 5 | 6.7 gr. | 871 |
200 grain Lead SWC or RNFP
| Trail Boss | 4.3 gr. | 757 | FPS minimum |
| Trail Boss | 6.3 gr. | 885 | FPS MAXIMUM |
| Universal | 5.5 gr. | 802 | fps (Cowboy mild) |
| Universal | 6.5 gr. | 960 | Cowboy max |
| HP-38 | 4.5 gr. | 743 | cowboy mild |
| HP-38 | 5.6 gr. | 918 | cowboy max |
| Titegroup | 3.8 gr. | 746 | Start |
| Titegroup | 5.4 gr. | 973 | maximum |
| Clays | 3.5 gr. | 748 | cowboy mild |
| clays | 4.5 gr. | 891 | cowboy max |
| AA N100 | 4.1 gr. | 867 | fps |
| AA No. 2 | 5.2 gr. | 905 | |
| AA No. 5 | 7.4 gr. | 959 |
210 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
| Bullseye | 5.5 gr. | —– FPS |
| Unique | 7.5 gr. | —– |
| 2400 | 13.0 gr. | —– |
| HP38 | 6.2 gr. | 909 |
225 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
| Bullseye | 4.8 gr. | —– FPS |
| Unique | 6.2 gr. | —– |
| 2400 | 12.0 gr. | —– |
| HP38 | 5.5 gr. | 827 |
240 grain Lead RNFP Cowboy load
| Trail Boss | 4.0 gr. | 673 | FPS minimum |
| Trail Boss | 5.2 gr. | 763 | FPS MAXIMUM |
240-250 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check (GC)
| Bullseye | 4.2 gr. | 664 | fps (mild load) |
| Bullseye | 4.5 gr. | 765 | FPS |
| Unique | 6.0 gr. | 800 | |
| 2400 | 11.3 gr. | 805 | |
| Universal | 4.9 gr. | 721 | cowboy mild |
| Universal | 5.6 gr. | 873 | cowboy max |
| Universal | 6.5 gr. | 920 | MAXIMUM Hot |
| Clays | 3.2 gr. | 669 | cowboy mild |
| clays | 4.0 gr. | 771 | cowboy max |
| HP38 | 4.2 gr. | 717 | (mild load) |
| HP38 | 4.9 gr. | 775 | |
| HP38 | 5.2 gr. | 858 | cowboy max |
| Titegroup | 3.2 gr. | 669 | Start cowboy |
| Titegroup | 4.0 gr. | 771 | maximum cowboy |
| No. 2 | 4.7 gr. | 819 | |
| No. 5 | 6.8 gr. | 860 | |
| 231 | 5.4 gr. | 795 | |
| AA N100 | 4.0 gr. | 700 | (mild) |
| AA N100 | 4.4 gr. | 800 | MAX |
| AA No. 2 | 4.5 gr. | 711 | (mild) |
| AA No. 2 | 5.0 gr. | 808 | MAX |
| AA No. 5 | 6.3 gr. | 760 | (mild) |
| AA No. 5 | 7.0 gr. | 864 | MAX |
| AA No. 7 | 8.1 gr. | 779 | (mild) |
| AA No. 7 | 9.0 gr. | 885 | MAX |
| AA No. 9 | 10.4 gr. | 832 | (mild) |
| AA No. 9 | 11.5 gr. | 946 | MAX |
| AA 5744 | 12.5 gr. | 737 | MAX |
240-250 grain JHP
| HP38 | 4.9 gr. | 775 FPS |
| No. 2 | 4.5 gr. | 604 |
| No. 5 | 6.5 gr. | 730 |
Discussion: I no longer use the same bullets and cases for the special loads as I do the Magnum, since all my rifles and pistols use the magnum round. Normally, you use the 44. special cases in guns chambered for the .44 special cartridge.
I used to load down the .44 mag cases to .44 special velocities. Since I have experimented with case position sensitive powder and found great differences, I now want bulkier powder that will better fill the case. To use a yet larger case, like the .44 mag with only a .44 special load in it, would make the matter much worse. Therefore, I no longer use the .44 mag cases when loading down to .44 special velocities. NOTE: Velocities are lower in the larger cases so speeds and pressures are different. DO NOT use Magnum loads in .44 Specal Cases. NEVER! Not even in a .44 Magnum pistol. Because of the smaller case, pressures will be exceeded.
Unique is about the best all around powder, but if you want a slower burning powder, I suggest 2400. Accurate’s powders come in a number of speeds and there are loads from the fast No. 2 to the slow No.9. The manuals don’t show every type of powder for every bullet weight for the .44 special. That is why you don’t see FPS by every load. Hodgon only shows HP38 for the .44 special loads. I don’t know why. If you have a lightweight .44 or older gun, always start with 10% less than amounts listed above, and work up to the full maximum loads.
Below, are two loaded rounds. For lead bullets near 900 FPS, I recommend a GC (Gas Check), the little copper bottom on the lead bullet as below (5th item from left). For any loads over 900 FPS, I suggest using a jacketed bullet. However, .44 Special loads are so mild, you can really use whatever you want to. For the mild .44 special loads, I recommend all lead bullets and loads that produce 700-850 FPS speeds. It’s best to shoot all lead bullets outside to avoid lead fumes.
Left to right:– 250 gr. SWC, 240 gr. HP, .44 with 225 gr. SWC-JHP, .44 with 250 gr. JHP
250 gr. SWC+GC, 265 gr. JFP, 240 gr. JSP
*
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
No. 2, No. 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company
WMR, WSF, WST, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.
References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet – – Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders’ Guide (1995) – – Hodgdon’s Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) – – Speer Reloading Manual, #12 – – Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition – – Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. – – VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) – – Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.
2 Responses
Notes to consider…I use 44 SPL in my Taurus Model 44 in 4” (3 1/2”) frequently. Because of the muzzle break apparently, it seems to lead up seriously in the break chamber using non-plated or non-jacketed bullets even at standard velocity. I found the best results to be polymer coated or plated bullets. I like the lighter 180-185 to 200 gr. I have found them to be very accurate in this firearm. Removal of lead from this revolver is NOT a rewarding experience, so I hope this helps.
Loading for 45+ years and still enjoy it and sharing experiences with like minds! Thanks!
I have the same revolver and load 210gr Lee 430-210-swc hand cast and powder coated bullets with 7.0gr of Unique or 5.5gr of Titegroup. The Titegroup loads shoot very nice because the powder is completely position insensitive in the large case. Both are basically full 44 Special loads and I load them in 44 Magnum cases for around 850-900fps. Very accurate, clean and easy to shoot and with the powder coating I did not experience any leading even when pushing those 210’s to magnum velocity’s with 10gr of Unique. Most of my loading is with Special loads in the Magnum cases and it’s great fun ringing steel or chasing cans. It’s very cheap also with the primer being the most expansive part.