44 Special SAA & Accurate Reloads

[Bill Weddle]

Hello to the Forum, new guy here,
I am having good luck with IMR SR 4759 powder in the 44 special. I need to identify which cylinders are shooting the best. 3 of them will group into 3/8 inch to 1" (depending on which bullet is used) at 25 yards. With all 6 chambers it groups 3" inches.
I've been reloading for this caliber and 44-40 for 25 years and thought that all I would ever need was Unique powder. With Sr4759 leading is no more. Groups are greatly improved.

Anyone else use this powder?
If not what is your favorite powder in the COLT SAA 44 special ?
How accurate are they?

thanks,
Bill

[WIL TERRY]

452AA.....2400....UNIVERSAL....POWER PISTOL....UNIQUE....

The guns include S&W M24 6 1/2", S&W M624 6 1/2" and 4"; COLT NF 5 1/2" and 7 1/2", two USFA 5 1/2", CIMARRON 4 3/4", 5 1/2?, and 7 1/2".
All of 'em will shoot cloverleafs with their best loads except the S&W M24 6 1/2" with it's 44SPL cylinder which only has two loads it can keep in the ten-ring let alone the X-ring but shoots beautifully with it 44-40 cylinder.
Interestingly enough, that M24 6 1/2" 44SPL will shoot beautifully if you load it to the gunwales and shoot Keith bullets at 1100-1200FPS. It also outkicks all my S&W 44MAGS then !!!! The very reason for being of the 44SPL now is to shoot 250GR SWC bullets at 950FPS, IMNHO.

[smkummer]

4.1 grains bullseye and the Lyman 429421 Keith bullet sized at .429. 5 shot group measures 1 7/8" at 25 yards at an indoor range. The gun is my SAA 44 special 5 1/2 barrel. That is as tight as I could get about 25 years ago and its good for any gun. I stopped any further quest for a tighter group out of a single action when I shot a Colt Python and .357 model that shot almost that good with the very first loads I fired out of them. I believe the longer hammer arc, cruder sights, narrow trigger, plow handle grip and not as tight of cylinder lock-up are factors that can't be ignored. My 49 year old eyes really like the accro/elliason sights these days. Even the 1911A1 and official police have a sharper sight picture that the SAA.
I just lately got back into shooting my single actions and keep the steel plates, cans and targets at a range that is within their capabilities.

Did you mean SR4756? I never heard of SR4759 (great 45-70 powder) being used in a 44 special.

[Bill Weddle]

YEP, IMR SR 4759. It's in some reloading manuals for 44spl.