624/24 Smith loads

[Brad]

Seems a fair number of guys here have a 24/624.
What kind of loads do you like?

I have become very partial to 4.5 gr Titegroup and an NOE 503 clone. Bullets are generally cast from range scrap and run 265gr.

Shoots better than I can, recoil is easy, velocity in the 750 fps range. Lots of wallop at that speed.

 

[KeithB]

I've had good results with Unique and 231 with a Lyman 429421. I had gotten a 6 cavity Lee 240 gr RN mold and was getting ready to try some of them when health issues got in my way. Makes a really retro looking .44 load that just drops into the chambers. I never load above .44 Spcl levels, I've got a magnum if I want that much power.

 

[Brad]

I am with you Keith. I have a Super Redhawk to handle the mag loads. I am actually amazed at the wallop on the berm from 265gr of flat nosed lead at 750 fps.
I sure as hell don't want to be downrange of it.....

 

[fiver]

for pop type loads 4.1grs of the titegroup under a 240 is actually pleasant to shoot in a 44 special case.
I done up a bunch of the 241 on top of 7grs of unique before I found out it was some kind of special load.
it has more thump than I like in the special case, but it would surely be effective at 25-30 yards.
I have kind of just taken to using 45 acp 230gr loads with 240gr bullets in the 44 special cases but dropping them by a grain of powder, I have had real good luck doing that and having both super manageable recoil and accuracy.

 

[KeithB]

A 240 gr SWC @ 800 FPS will take down a bowling pin decisively.

 

[Dale53]

My most used load is the "Skeeter" load (Mihec H&G #503 ahead of 7.5 grs. of Unique). But, an excellent target load is the 200 gr Group Buy dbl ended W/C ahead of 4.0 grs. of Red Dot. A great field load using that 200 gr. W/C is 5.0 grs. of Red Dot for a bit over 900 fps. With that WIDE meplat, it really SMACKS and is comfortable to shoot all day, too.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[freebullet]

Working the tg load up/down would find something not often beat by any other powder for the intended purpose imo. Using the weakest primers that fit can change the sweet spot.

Red dot is also one of my favorites for those loads, however in big-ish cases find it to be more position sensitive, sometimes.

Using a start charge of hs6, but working backwards, & using mag primers can produce good results. More work & $ per round though. My 44 is a 454 anyway.

 

[Bret4207]

My 24-3 seems to like the old standby type loads with the 429421 and Unique. I don't hotrod it much since the same loads also go in my Charter Bulldog. IIRC last batch was 6.5 gr Unique. They also get shot in a Rossi Puma and have put livestock/varmints down decisively even though they sound like a popgun out of a longer barrel.

 

[Ben]

One of my favorite loads in my S&W 624, 6"revolver is 4.5 grs. B'Eye and a 200 gr. SWC. I use this bullet quite often, it is a 200 gr. target bullet made by Walt Melander. Mine drop at .433" with clip on WW's.

 

[RicinYakima]

My favorite 624 load is Lyman 429421 sized .431" over 6.8 grains of SR7625 for 750 f/s. It is as accurate as 7.5 of Unique, but burns cleaner and is softer shooting.

 

[KeithB]

Ben. that looks a lot like a Lyman 185gr .45 bullet I have, don't remember the designation. I like it, that's a good weight for a .44 special.

 

[Ben]

Yes, I also have a SAECO # 130 that Erik Ohlen HP'd for me using his " insert bar " system.
A wonderful bullet for my 45 ACP / Colt revovlers.
Erik also did an " insert bar " conversion on an IDEAL 454424 that is dear to me.

 

[Brother_Love]

I'll be watching this thread as I just brought home a Ruger GP100 in 44 special. I've been wanting one for a while since I've always been a Ruger "nut." ;>)

 

[Bret4207]

My favorite 624 load is Lyman 429421 sized .431" over 6.8 grains of SR7625 for 750 f/s. It is as accurate as 7.5 of Unique, but burns cleaner and is softer shooting.

Thanks Rick. I've still got 90% of a pound of SR7625 I've had since 1982 or so. Never had any luck finding a use for it really. I'll write down your load for reference!

 

[RicinYakima]

My shooting buddy and I got 10 pounds from a estate 10-12 years ago. We have shot up about 1/2 of it. It is very good light charge load powder, but pressure go up very quickly at the top. So it isn't a high performance high velocity powder. It is my favorite for 32 S&W Long wadcutter loads at 2.5 grains. And it measures very accurately in small charges, just like ball powders.

 

[Richinsd]

Ruger NMBH 44 special 4 5/8"
7.5 grns. of my vanishing supply of SR4756 and old RCBS 44-246-SWC PB 1" five shotters at 25.
or
5 grns of Unique

 

[Brother_Love]

I'm gonna start my Ruger GP100 off with this old timer.

 

[Ben]

You could do far worse than the 421'.
Many excellent groups fired with that bullet through the years.

Ben

 

[fiver]

it's real popular in the 44 special too.
I prefer it in the shorter case and rarely shoot it in the mag any more.

I'm gonna have to try the 4756 load, I had been using it in the 45 colt but I'm getting tired of looking at that last pound sitting there and need to burn it up.

 

[Brad]

I found an old Lee group buy 429421 clone mould. Might see what it does? The 503 is gonna be hard to beat.
I do wish I had a nice 200-210 gr wadcutter at times.
I have a hard time feeding handguns with less than a 4 cav mould. When I cast I want lots of bullets fast.