I just picked up the Taurus 445Ti and, while waiting for brass and dies, wanted to know if you guys have any favorite chrono'ed loads for the 200 gr bullet (Gold Dot, but any jacketed will do). Thanks

How about any jacketed bullet weight and any length barrel?

I shoot 200 grain cast bullets over 5.7 grains W231.

It likes 3 different loads of Unique that I gave it! 8.0, 8.4, and 8.4 grs under the 200 gr Gold Dot. Off of a rest, it put them in 2" and under (1 1/4" for the last load) with velocities ranging from 810 fps to 872 fps. The ports kinda rob velocity from half of the barrel, and it shoots to the left, but that's another story!

I don'r have a snubby in .44 Spl., but I do have a load that is interesting. Lee makes, at least I think they still make one, a mold that nominally casts a 208 gr. wadcutter. In my alloy, it weighed 215 gr. and seated over 7.5 gr. of Unique in .44 Spl. brass eas quite accurate and was what I used as a small game and all round fun load.
I gave some to a friend who owned a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Spl. and he said that it worked well in his gun. I'd still be shooting that load myself, but he talked me out of the mold years ago.
If the load is for defensive purposes, that flat nosed wadcutter would go a long way towards serious shock effect. Recoil waas a bit stiff but managable.
Paul B.

I'm sorry I didn't buy that Lee wadcutter mould when it was offered. I'm awaiting the custom 200 grain double ended wadcutter mould from the group buy that just closed on Cast Boolits. I have another discontinued Lee 215 grain round nose that works well over 4.8 grains of Nitro 100 in the Bulldog.

My 44 spl. isn't exactly a "snubbie" as it's a S&W "K" frame Model-19 5 shot with 4" bbl...



I don't use any jacketed bullets in any of my 44's, as jacketed bullets are just "harder on the guns" and they offer no advantage for me...

The load i like in my 44 spl. is a cast 215 grain HP over 6.8 of unique... It's a mild load, but if i need more power than that i'd just use a 44 mag. instead..

I also sometimes use a 240 grain soft Swaged lead bullets over the same charge of unique. It's not quite as accurate but it's still a nice load to shoot...

DM

a little dirty but the wife's charter arms bulldog likes 215 gr swc over 10.0 gr hs6.

I have a Taurus with a 3†barrel and developed some loads with Unique. The pistol has fixed sights which are regulated for 200 grain bullets. Unique has performed exceptionally well in the 44 Spl with 250’s, so I tried it with 200’s

I have been able to get 200 grain LSWC’s from Valiant Bullets of Bynum Alabama 256-236-5897 and they shot to point of aim. Bullet weight varies a bit, so while the Valiant bullets are advertised as 200 grain, the ones I have weigh closer to 205 grains. This extra five grains is insignificant and could be the weight of the lube.

My plinking load is the 6.0 grains load. Primarly due to leading problems when I push this bullet too fast. I suspect the 7.0 grain load is actually higher velocity than the factory Federal 200 LHP load. I shot some of that a long time ago, and do not have chronograph values. It was not a high velocity load, I think it was under 900 fps.

Taurus M431 3" Barrel


205 LSWC 6.0 grs Unique thrown, Midway Brass WLP
11-Dec-04 T = 54 °F

Accurate, shoots point of aim Slight leading

Ave Vel = 789.6
Std Dev = 27.18
ES 96.54
Low 724.1
High 820.6
N = 30


205 LSWC 7.0 grs Unique thrown, Midway Brass WLP
25-Nov-04 T = 57 °F

elevation good but left: leaded barrel

Ave Vel = 906
Std Dev = 16
ES 56
Low 876
High 932
N = 15

In my 44 Bulldog I shoot an NEI full wadcutter 300gr (pure lead) under just enough 231 to get 750fps out of it. They will penetrate about 2" into live ponderosa pine and expand to about .9".

Rich
DRSS