The Skeeter Skelton .44 Special load out of a 3.5" barrel?

[Dunross]

I am seriously considering acquiring a Ruger GP100 in .44 Special with the 3.5" barrel.

This has me wondering if anyone has chronographed the Skeeter Skelton load of 7.5gr of Unique under a 240gr Keith type semiwadcutter out of that barrel length?

What velocity did it clock and would it have been controllable in defensive rapid fire?

I'm looking for the mythical "do everything" load that could reasonably be used for defense, close range hog shooting, etc. I'm thinking I may have to step down from 7.5gr, but want to find out what it likely clocks in at first.

 

[GooseGestapo]

They get approximately 900fps from my 4.25” 69, as they did from my 4” 329 PD. Also a 6.5” M29 I owned back in the 70’s. Used a cast 255gr Keith/Lyman bullet.

I preferred 10.0gr in a magnum case from the M29.

However, from the 329 and now 69, I prefer a 240 Lee TLSWC over 5.3gr HP38 or GreenDot, or 6.0gr Unique. Sized .431”.
The ejected.44Spl cases clear the cylinder. .44mags don’t.
I’d guess 800-850fps from 3.5” cylinder. You don’t want to try to catch one!

 

[Hondo 60]

Dunross - every gun is different!
So just cuz xyz works great for me, doesn't mean it'll work great for you.

I had several 9mms, one of 'em HATED anything in 115gr.
Bullet profile didn't matter.
My friend had another just like it & it loved 115 gr bullets.

So you'll have to experiment on your own to see what your gun likes.

Ain't reloading fun?

PS welcome to thr

 

[santacruzdave]

In 44 Mag cases,7.5 gr Unique, S&W M69 4.25" Barrel, Acme 240 gr SWC,
FYI for reference.

Created: 09-19-2017 12:04:50 PM
Description: 44 mag 7.5 240 gr
Notes 1:
Notes 2:
Distance to Chrono (FT): 0.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight (gr): 240.000
Altitude (FT): 0.0
Temp: 73 °F
BP: 30.06 inHG
Shots
# FPS FT-LBS PF
5 897 428.86 215.28
4 888 420.29 213.12
3 890 422.19 213.60
2 879 411.82 210.96
1 897 428.86 215.28
Average: 890.20
StdDev: 7.46
Min: 879
Max: 897
Spread: 18
True MV: 890.20

 

[Drail]

From a 3 in. S&W 696 I get close to 850 fps which I consider fast enough for a heavy bullet. The big advantage of Unique is that the pressures generated are amazingly low. I have used mostly 7.0 gr. Unique with a 240 gr. bullet for years and it's a great load and is easy on the gun, the brass, and my wrist.

 

[ATLDave]

The big advantage of Unique is that the pressures generated are amazingly low.

What's your data source for this?

 

[Drail]

Pretty much every load manual I have used - especially for the larger bores like .44.

 

[Dunross]

From a 3 in. S&W 696 I get close to 850 fps which I consider fast enough for a heavy bullet. The big advantage of Unique is that the pressures generated are amazingly low. I have used mostly 7.0 gr. Unique with a 240 gr. bullet for years and it's a great load and is easy on the gun, the brass, and my wrist.

Sounds like a good place to start then. Thanks.

 

[PapaG]

Not quite the same but I use it commonly in my 4" 624. A right snappy load. 429421 bullet. I also use 429244gc and drop a grain, or the 429215gc at the 7.5 level.

 

[mustanger98]

Let's see here... 7000grs to the lb. of powder... 7grs/rd... 1000rds/lb. of Unique.

1 can Unique
1000- 240gr SWC
1000- primers, Large Pistol

Like they say, handloading won't save you money, but you'll shoot a lot more for the same money. And most folks will like this better than 12-14grs of 2400.