Anyone tried the RCBS 44-300 SW in a Ruger GP-100 5 Shot 44 Special ?

Missionary

Missionary

Well-Known Member
As heavy as this smaller frame Ruger is, looks to me like a 300 range scrap cast at 800 fps would be a dandy to slow a corn cruncher or other critter down up close. Going to be carried in a shoulder holster or under the "hood" of our kayak so mostly handy.
So going to start out at about 700 fps and come up to my comfort zone. As heavy as this little beast is will not be surprised if 850 fps is still fun.
 
Last edited:
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
lol! You bought that 44-300 and now gotta find a 'home' for it! fwiw - I looked at the listing, and you had beat me to it. I have the 255-260 Keiths and only Specials, so really don't need a 300. I wouldn't be unhappy with a 300 for the 45 Colt Redhawk, but the 260-265s work fine as is. Good luck on the 300!
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
KeithB said:
I'm trying to figure out what 300 grs will do that 250 - 265 grs won't do...
Click to expand...
This is my thinking too. Im a lover for heavy for caliber BUT also appropriate. For i stance, many today are drawn to the 10mm. Companies are making heavier and heavier loadings. Not power bullet weight cause thats what people are asking for. IMHO, the 10 is at its epitome, with a 190g bullet. Much more and vel and energy begin to slump. But companies make 220 and even 240g offerings.

I feel its simular for the 45 Colt. 300 is tops but 325, 340 and even more are offered. Unless you really ramp up power in very strong guns one just cannot efficiently utilize the heavier weights.

Where I you, Id find a bullet I liked about 250 and work with that. As stated nothing will be better with the extra 50grains.

CW
 
J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
Has the mould, has the gun... Why not? I could do anything I need, to include deer hunting if I had time, with the 200 grain RFN with a generous meplat, but the 429421 shoots a teeny bit better and seems amenable to any (reasonable) charge of any powder I use.

Might have trouble getting the rear sight low enough though.

My front sight was too low right out of the box, even for factory-level 250 SWCs. Warm them up a little and it was worse. The RDO 265 - forget it. It was shooting 8" high at 20 yards. Reducing bullet weights wasn't nearly enough. Asked Ruger to address this when they took the gun back to correct two chambers radially out of synch with the others and they replaced the gun, but ignored the sight. Same problem.

I worked the top of the rear sight blade down to almost flush with the body of the sight and deepened the notch, still have the sight bottomed out, but at least I hit to POA now with 200 RFNs and 250 SWCs.

This was a problem with SOME of the Flat Top 44 Specials, but not all. I got two in a row - one original Lispey's from 2009, and a standard production unit about 2014.

Shooting the RCBS 300 and LEE 310 from a 7.5" OM SBH, I could not get the rear sight low enough - 10" to 12" high at 30 yards with the rear sight bottomed out.
 
Winelover

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Rick lent me his RCBS 300 SWC mould, hollow pointed by Eric. Drops one PB & GC.


RCBS 300 SWC HP by Eric.JPG

RCBS 300 HP (1).JPG


I've only tried it in the Marlin carbine and as cast at .431 diameter it dies surprisingly well. Even though, I normally size to .433 diameter for accuracy. Never even thought about trying it in the Bulldog or the S&W model 24-3..............not really a fan of heavy for caliber bullets in revolvers. They tend to shoot too high. The there is the additional recoil.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
The heaviest weight I have in 44 caliber is 265 grains or so, a round flatnose design from Tom at Accurate Molds that shoots GREAT in both the Redhawk and the Win 92 44 Magnums. I need to run it in the Bishawk Hunter, but I anticipate good things.

I have a couple heavies in 45 caliber--a 310 grain Lee GC that casts at .455" and an RCBS 325 grain FN that drops at .457". this latter design is meant for 45/70 rifles, but I have yet to own a 45/70 that shoots .457" bullets worth a ^%&$. I size & lube these first at .457", then a second time through my .454" H&I die. They shoot quite well from the Bisley Blackhawk, but at 25 yards they hit about 8" high. The Lee 310 GC does about as well. Both would serve adequately as Mastodon Flatteners if that need ever arises.

These days a Keith SWC at 900-1000 FPS gets 90% of my shooting in 44 Mag and 45 Colt. My enthusiasm for sharp recoil has waned as I have matured.
 
Last edited:
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Why a 300 in a 44? Same reason I have a 195 gr mold for the lowly 38 S+W! Because it sounds like a fun experiment!!! I've read enough "fer and agin" stuff on the "Super Police" type loads to be curious.
 
B

BudHyett

Active Member
S&W 696:
  • Double-action Practice: 6.5 grains Unique, Lyman 429215 mold, sized .430.
  • Serious Social Situation: 7.5 grains Unique, Ohaus 245 grain Keith-style, sized 430
  • Snakes: Speer shot capsule, 6..7 grains Unique, #9 shot.
The first load has moderate recoil that is good for practice, the second load has more serious recoil.
 
Missionary

Missionary

Well-Known Member
Bought it to use in our 444 Marlin which I do not have access to right now. But the Ruger is handy so hey... give it a whirl.
Have just 14 loaded cartridges with a 246 Wadcutter. All my molds are are in storage but this will arrive this week. But I have a place to build a fire. Have access to 50 pounds of truck WW. Have a stainless pot and an old large spoon.
Good friend has a press & 44 SP dies. My powder & primers are at his place.
So what would you do ? Go buy a box of overly priced ammo or load your own ???

Thank you Jeff for the info !! Had not thought of the rear sight. Could add a copper 12 gauge wire on top the front sight to get closer to centered.
Thank you Bret... That is my mind.. why not see what it will do. We shoot all sorts of heavy for caliber. 300 grains plus in all our 40 some mag revolvers. Really makes a 50 yard gong dance and sing.
 
Last edited:
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Missionary said:
Bought it to use in our 444 Marlin which I do not have access to right now. But the Ruger is handy so hey... give it a whirl.
Have just 14 loaded cartridges with a 246 Wadcutter. All my molds are are in storage but this will arrive this week. But I have a place to build a fire. Have access to 50 pounds of truck WW. Have a stainless pot and an old large spoon.
Good friend has a press & 44 SP dies. My powder & primers are at his place.
So what would you do ? Go buy a box of overly priced ammo or load your own ???
Click to expand...
A great benefit of handloading is that we are able to experiment to our hearts content, and as long as we adhere to safe practices it's all cool.

At one time, I considered casting a 300-grain bullet for the 6 1/2" S&W 624. It was so long ago I've forgotten why I never pursued the project.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Bret4207 said:
Why a 300 in a 44? Same reason I have a 195 gr mold for the lowly 38 S+W! Because it sounds like a fun experiment!!! I've read enough "fer and agin" stuff on the "Super Police" type loads to be curious.
Click to expand...

IIRC, the original 38 S&W Police (British) load was a 200 grn cast. I have 38 S&W dies and said mold, JUST in CASE I find that Unicorn 38 S&W I've been looking for for years now!

^^^^ and then, AFTER posting, I see Ric beat me to the punch - of Course!
 
Last edited:
Axman

Axman

Active Member
I’d think it would be just fine.

Years ago J Taffin gave me a load for a 335 grn Keith in a 45 Colt.
Universal powder, I’d have to look at my notes as to charge wt.
675 FPS.

Shot like a cap gun.
My brother and I were heavily into penetration testing at the time the bullet went thru 16” of water soaked industrial catalogs.
I’d imagine a corn cruncher close enough would not make it far.
 
T

Thumbcocker

Active Member
I have always been just a little leery of how thin the barrel shank/forcing cone area is in the GP .44. Hope it works out for you.
 
J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
Thumbcocker said:
I have always been just a little leery of how thin the barrel shank/forcing cone area is in the GP .44. Hope it works out for you.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing, because I've never handled the GP in 44 Special, that it has to be at least a little thicker than on the Charter Arms and I've never seen one of those suffer. I've shot a lot of 250s, warmer than factory, and a lot of 265s at probably 700 fps. THOSE were not fun to shoot up a box of, but they'd send a bowling pin flying like nobody's business.
 
todd

todd

Well-Known Member
i used a 300gr Saeco FN GC in my 444 Marlin with 2400/tuft of dacron and it goes 1624fps. i killed a few deer with it but it's nuthin special. i like a 280gr WFN GC and Reloder 7 that goes 1937fps and it hammers the deer.

i have Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 mag. i have 280gr WFN GC with Unique and thats going around a guesstimate 900-1000fps or better, IDK, never chronograph it. i have a load for it using the 44 Special, 250gr penta HP or 255gr Kieth-type boolit with a Skeeter load of Unique. i've killed deer with it, but the furthest shot was about 25 yards, 15 thru 20 yards is average. i haven't had a DRT yet, but the leakage on both sides of the deer's lungs is apparent.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.