I've shot a lot of light 44mag loads over the years that were the same power range as 44 special in my Dan Wesson 44 mag. They are just as accurate as the full power 44mag loads.

Those look like Grasshorn stocks. Are they?

Couple of years ago, I was looking for the "perfect" model 21, and ended up buying a "classic" 21-4. That's when S&W was issuing them with the round butt. After searching....and finally finding....a better grip from Hogue, I've discovered that it really is one of the most accurate revolver.....at least to date.....that I own. Guess, for that, I can live with the ugly left-side lock and the "ting" the hammer block makes when dry-firing.....

Besides, street price, even new, isn't all that bad.

I use various lead 240 gr. bullets, mostly with 231 and Accurate #5. I'm thinking Green Dot would be good too, just haven't found a load yet.

Based on Ken Water's recommendations, in "Pet Loads," I tried Blue Dot. I get too much un-burned powder and crud using his loads; maybe it's because the 4" barrel isn't long enough. I understand that may not be a problem with 6" or rifle barrels.

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That sound comes from the frame mounted firing pin, not the hammer block. The hammer block has been in S&W revo's for 60+ years.

OK, thanks. Regardless, it's not a "suitable" sound for a kick-*** handgun!

Any suggestions on how to mute it?

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No, a fellow named Sack Petersen made them.

Quite an interesting read fellas.

I just picked up a Smith 29-5, a blued 4" magnum. Today I purchased 100 pcs. of the Starline brass from Cabelas, and I plan on loading 240gr and 300gr cast.
Onhand I have H110, and Hodgdon's Universal clays. I'm not looking to hotrod, and was just wonderin' if you guys do load H110 at all, and what are your recommendations. I can always get some 2400, but thought why not use what I have onhand. Hodgdon's site says I can in fact load the universal for the 240's.

Thanks in advance,

Chris~

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Chris in NH.

"some days, I wish my dogs could talk"

I just ran across this. The 44 spl case will handle the same pressures as the 44 magnum case will. I load my "rifle" loads using R-P 44 spl cases using 19.5 grs of 296/H110 under a 350 gr FNGC bullet. I up the charge to 21.5 grs under a 290 gr FNGC bullet. These are completely safe in my Rossi 92's and my B-92. I've weighed cut down R-P 44 mag cases and they weigh the same as factory R-P 44 spl cases. They're one and the same case, except for the length. The 350's clocked in at 1500 fps out of the B-92. The Rossi's magazine tubes however won't stay put under the recoil. I have these loads clearly marked in their boxes as "RIFLE LOADS ONLY" to avoid shooting them in any of my 44 spl revolvers. Three of the 350 loads were fired out of a Rossi 720 years ago by my son who ignored the labeling. Other than his hand taking a beating, the revolver handled those three. It's never been repeated though.

Yea, I know. Poor choice of wording on my part. I should have been more clear and said 44 Special cartridge.

I'm well aware of the case strengths and the surrounding controversey's that pop up from time to time on gun boards about them. I have sectioned many of them lengthwise and then measured them over the years. They're the exact same except for length. I run loads that I wouldn't ever post on a public board through the weak .44 Special and even weaker () 45 Colt cases. Dick Casull used factory std .45 Colt cases to develope his original .454 loads, yet the myth persists that .45 Colt cases are weak.

10-4, we're on the same page then.

Definitely. Though it does help me try harder to do better.

I'm fond of the .44 Special round, having grown up reading Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton - may they Rest in Peace and spend time on the range in Heaven.

Aside from several .44 Magnum revolvers, I have a Second Model Hand Ejector in .44 Special that is my Sunday-Go-To-Meeting gun. I like to shoot it, but it is an older darling and like me, not suited for earthquake level loads any more.

WinMike, you mention using Blue Dot and having unburnt powder kernels. From things I've read concerning interior ballistics (notably Firearm Pressure Factors, by Lloyd Brownell, PhD) unburnt powder is typically caused by using a powder under its optimum pressure level. Since I DO NOT want to load this old dear to near Magnum pressures, I use a faster powder at lower pressure.

However, my own theory is the 'fast' powders, like Bullseye and 231 generate the same pressure as a slightly slower powder but with a more abrupt pressure curve. So I tend to stay in the 'middle' range (for handguns) burning rate powders.

All that to say this: 7.0 grains of Power Pistol powder with a 250 grain lead SWC gives about 820 fps velocity from this particular revolver and according to the Speer #13 and Hornady #9 manuals is within acceptable pressure levels.

For any serious use, this is about the same as .45 ACP hardball with the advantage of a flat meplat bullet.

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Archie the Preacher

Nice old gun. I agree with you on your powder choice for low pressure loads that still perfom well and burn clean. 231 has been very good in my old TL.

Did you see the old TL in my post way up top?

Yes, American Made, I did see the photo of the Triple Lock. (You puzzled me a moment with 'TL'.) It promptly raised my levels of lust and covetousness.

I've always wanted a Triple Lock, but the price eluded me when I was younger and they've gone up more than my discretionary income since. Sigh...

The only reason I could afford the Hand Ejector is the barrel has been cut back to about 4.5 inches and the sight remounted - accurately and securely, but not all that artistically - it's been re-nickeled, not as bad as might, but obvious and it has 'genuine Texas pawn shop engraving'. (Which in the common tongue translates to 'electric pencil doodling'.) However, it shoots and has character.

According to the seller - a serious collector of old Smith & Wesson revolvers - it probably was once owned by a Texican lawman in the days when sidearms doubled as night sticks. Why not? It is solid and shoots well - and to the replaced sight, I might add.

Still, a Triple Lock is on my 'Holy Grail' list.

Oh, something akin to possibly raise your level of lust and covetousness, I barely missed a Grover #5 revolver in .44 Magnum a couple weeks ago. I had the money, but I got to the show late and someone else was just wrapping it up when I found the seller. But I know the buyer, and he might sell it later. Again, sigh...

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Except for Jesus, there is no free lunch.

Archie the Preacher

Ain't it always the way? Been there, done that more times than I can count.

That TL was a pawn shop find. It was factory re-nickeled back in '63, and has the proper rework/refinish marks/date stamp. It letters as a 5" nickeled gun though (though nickel was a common finish back then, for some reason nickel 5" TL's were scarce which adds to the value of it), and will be 100 years old this Oct 1. The bore is kind rough, not extreme, but not new like either. Still, with the load I listed above using 5.5 gr 231 and a 240 Dry Creek SWC, it shoots to POA and very tightly to boot.

A Grover #5, now THAT is something to lust over.

I'm very happy with 12.5 gr's of 2400 in my new model flat top. I cast a 429421 that weighs 255gr's lubed. If my pact chronograph is right, I'm getting close to 900 fps out of a 4 5/8 barrel. Mostly though I use SR 4756. It meters nice and burns very clean.

Bert, does that load leave much unburned powder kernels? The results are just fine, 255 gr @ 900 will do most things which need doing, but that load sounds a bit on the low pressure side for 2400.

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Except for Jesus, there is no free lunch.

Archie the Preacher

Archie, that load is within 1/2 gr of what Alliant shows on their site.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

Though I seldom carry them any more, my favorite all day carry is a S&W Triple lock, built much like a mentor of mine Mr. Bryce, 4" barrel and stag grips, not sure of the speed, have never ran it over the screens, 240 SWC or a 240 SWC gas checked 12 grains of 2400, was a great duty load. The other is a Charter Arms 1st model 3" barrel and shoot a modified 250 grain bullet that looks like a version of the old Brit man stopper, basically a full heavy wad cutter, that load is normally 10 grains of 2400.

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