.44 Special loads for Revolver

Good afternoon everyone:

Now that my outdoor season is pretty much done for the year I figured I would mess around with some of the other things I have in the back of my safe. 

I have a late 80's Smith Model 24 6 in 44 special which I am looking for a good load for.  

What are you using for lead bullets, OALs, and what kind of powder charge?    I'm guessing that it's going to be a fast powder like bullseye, 241, titegroup, etc.?

Can I assume that people are using taper crimps as opposed to roll crimps so as to not mess up the bearing surfaces of the bullet?

I also might have a line on a c.a. 1950's  S prefixed Model of 1950(?) N frame in 44 special.   Friends have told me in the past that the older 1950s and '60s vintage guns shoot way better than the 1980s guns? True/false?

Regards,

Wally

They all have shown great performance regardless of year make.
The 429214 lyman bullet and a charge of Universal Clay to put it the 750-850 fps range works well.
My experience with the heavier Kieth Style bullets were universally disappointing. The 200 to 215 gr bullets seem to shine. Those bullet results seemed to repeat even with cowboy lever rifles.

I’d opt for a 215 cast SWC like this one

https://bayoubullets.net/44-caliber-215-gr-swc/

And find a suitable load that gives a velocity of 800-900 fps.  Essentially youd duplicate a 200 SWC 45 Auto Rim load.

Matt’s Bullets 215 gr hbwc loaded with 5 gr Bullseye per old load data from Matt’s old web page. Shoots just great out of a 1913 hand ejector (1st model) out to 100 yards to hit 12” gong. Shot a few center fire matches with both load and gun when I just started shooting Bullseye so I sucked but it would group nicely at 25 . Never shot load at 50yd target. Safe for a 100+ years old revo should be good in your newer gun . 

44's, Special and Mag, Unique was all I ever used for cast. 2400/H-110 jacketed, Mag only. I was maybe missing something ... or Bullseye was somehow too 'precious' ...

Later, AA5 substituted for Unique, AA7 for BlueDot (9mm/40 SW), AA9 for 2400/110 ... NOT EQUIVALENT ... just 'application' related. Might be some AA2 floating around somewhere ????

Disclaimer:

Both 45 ACP and 38 Special are 'new' to me, relatively speaking. 9mm HP my dad signed for, M-29 I bought after I turned 21, 1980 ... the M-27 I bought ON my birthday is in a good friend's hands now ... :-) POS 45 Colt SAA Army is long gone ... .457 throats ... ????

Let’s try 7.5 hrs of Unique under a 240 gr LSWC.
Roll crimped.

HEY THERE WALLY. TRY THESE LISTED BELOW.

BEAR CREEK SUPPLY BULLETS. 
THEY HAVE SWAGED COATED BULLETS FROM 165GR TO 320GR. THEY EVEN HAVE A HBWC BULLET IN 44. THEY HAVE A BLACK COATING AND LOOK LIKE THE OLD "ALBERTS BULLETS". BUT ARE MUCH CLEANER THAN THOSE USED TO BE. I KNOW YOU REMEMBER THE OLD ALBERTS. HARVEY'S FAVORITES AT THE TIME.

185GR BULLET 3.5GR CLAYS OR 4.5GR TRAILBOSS

200GR BULLET 3.5GR CLAYS OR 4.3GR TRAILBOSS

lol its gonna be what the gun wants to shoot, not what YOU want to shoot. 

long run, crimp is up to you. 

Bulleseye tisnt that special

Maybe he’s looking for a place to start.

My fun load for 44 spl that I shoot often in my 3 " 629 is 6.5gr of unique with a 245gr  Keith style bullet.. like shooting a 38 spl in a 357.

I have a favorite in 44 Special as well. I shoot a 200gr round nose flat point (RNFP) with 4.6 gr of Bullseye. I'm sure a lot of different powders would produce same results.  Roll crimp in cannelure.