I have a S&W Model 24-6 44 Special with a 2⅞" barrel. It's an N-frame.

Today I chrony'd this load (found at Alliant's site) using an F1 at 10 feet.

240 gr copper plated RNFP
6.3 gr Unique
#300 CCI LPP
1.475" OAL
½ turn crimp with Lee Factory Crimp Die
Starline brass

Got 585-610 fps !

I want to push that bullet to 800-850 fps with a 2⅞" barrel.

I have:

Clays
Trail Boss
Titegroup
H110
Unique
Red Dot
Blue Dot
2400
W231
and GOEX FFFg

Any ideas?

Standard 44 spl. loads are near that velocity but those are taken out of longer barrels most likely 6 inch ones.

You might have a hard time reaching 800 fps out of that short of barrel with out going into the territory of what would be considered +P loads.

A top end Blue dot load might be the best bet.

My Lee manual list some 17000psi loads with H4227 that might get you there. For a 250 lead bullet.

I wonder if XTPs and other HPs will expand at 600 fps. I kinda doubt they'd penetrate 12 inches in ballistic gel.

Have you checked the Hornady manual? Their loads are tested in a 3" barrel and they have many Unique, Blue Dot and 2400 loads that exceed 800' with the 180 and 200 XTP.

Hornady lists 240 grain XTP upto 750 fps in a 3" barrel. Speer goes up to 860 fps in a three inch barrel. Both of these velocities are max loads.

Hornady starts their velocities at 600 fps for the 240 XTP. Online they list the velocity range for the bullet at 900 to 2200 fps. I would doubt that you'll get much expansion at 600 fps even with the starting loads listed at 600 fps.

If you want to get the velocity up you are going to have to use lighter bullets. Bullet weight was not much of a choice for me with my Taurus M431. My 431 shoots to point of aim at 25 yards with 200 grain bullets. Obviously Taurus meant this to be used with the advanced 200 grain self defense loads on the market. My normal 44 Special loads with 240 grain bullets shot quite high. I was able to purchase 200 grain LSWC bullets, at an advertized brinell hardness of 13.

The factory wooden grips that came on my 431 were uncomfortable. Luckly a Pachmayr gripper grip was much more comfortable.

I used Unique as that is an exceptionally flexible powder, something I normally use in 44 Spl, and it did not let me down. Since I got light leading at 6.0 grs Unique, and it shoot to point of aim with excellent accuracy, and it is the lightest recoiling of the test sequence, that is what I use in practice. I suspect I was pushing the pistol on the heavier loads.

Taurus M431 3" Barrel

240 LSWC 5.0 grs Red Dot thrown, Midway Brass CCI 500

Ave Vel = 684.1
Std Dev = 17.11
ES = 57.84
Low = 654.1
High = 712
N = 16

Shoots way high



205 LSWC 6.0 grs Unique thrown, Midway Brass WLP

T = 54 °F 11-Dec-04

Ave Vel = 789.6
Std Dev = 27.18
ES = 96.54
Low = 724.1
High = 820.6
N = 30
Accurate, shoots point of aim, light leading.



205 LSWC 6.5 Unique thrown, Midway Brass WLP

T = 54 °F 25-Nov-04

Ave Vel = 866
Std Dev = 16
ES = 52
Low = 839
High = 891
N = 11
Elevation good, but left; more leading



205 LSWC 7.0 grs Unique thrown, Midway Brass WLP

T = 57 °F 25-Nov-04

Ave Vel = 906
Std Dev = 16
ES = 56
Low = 876
High = 932
N = 15
elevation good but left: worst leading

Try 8.0 grains of power pistol under a 240 to 250 lead semi-wadcutter. This load is within 15,500 lb SAAMI spec for the 44spl and is about the fastest spec load I've come across with this bullet. Substituting that copper plated bullet will raise pressures a little, but model 24's can handle a steady diet of 22k loads, no problem. Make sure got a good crimp. That lee factory crimp die is awesome, as is the Redding competition crimp die.

Matt