I finally got a finiky 44 ruger.

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive allways preached that about any out of the box 44 ruger will be a shooter. Well this one isnt exactly out of the box its a redhawk dustin linebaugh shortened to 3.5 inchs and round butted. I wanted a fairly stout load with a heavy bullet for it. I first loaded every heavy i have which is probably close to a dozen molds with 820 and accuacy was flat miserable. I was getting groups from 3 inchs up to 6 inchs at 25 yards!! I tried varying primers powder charge and nothing worked. Now those were my usual go to loads that allways shot in a 44. Next i tried 296 it shot about the same tried the primer and powder charge thing there too and nothing! I got desperate and even tried some tried and true 250 grain bullet loads and even tried jacketed bullets and still nothing. I switched then to 4227 and 19 grains with a ww primer did about 2 inch. Exceptable but nothing earth shattering. I was talking to my buddy on the phone about it and he suggested 2400. Now 2400 has allways been a powder that did well with everything and never exceptial with anything for me. Low and behold the first load i tried a lyman 320swcgc and 19 grains of it with a ww primer went 7/8s 9/16 and 1 inch. I left it at that. That load will kill anything i point it at and its plenty of accuracy for what ill use that little cannon for. Funny how a gun can be so persnickity about what it likes. To go from 6 inch to one inch groups. Makes me wonder how anyone can go and buy a box of factory ammo and go hunting with a handgun!!

[Graybeard]

Welcome to my world I didn't know there was any other kinda Ruger.

[Lloyd Smale]

Bill i about got used to finiky ruger 45s. Finding one that shoots well without some work is about like finding the holy grail. 44s on the other hand usually shoot was well as some of my custom line bored guns. About the same thing goes for smith. Finding a 45 that shoots anywhere near good is about impossible but there 44s are tack drivers.

Welcome to my world I didn't know there was any other kinda Ruger.

[dbriannelson]

Good read.  Ben Forkin is building me a .44 Special OM BH with a 3 5/8th-inch barrel.  I generally stick with Keith bullets and Unique or 2400 for my .44s, but if I have a problem hitting, I'll work up some different loads and see if that works. 

-Don

[Lloyd Smale]

do were talking out of the box rugers. If Ben built your gun it will probably shoot tiny groups with anything you throw in it. His guns are second to nobody!

[dbriannelson]

Good to hear.  I did handle several guns Ben had in work and was impressed overall, but we didn't go out and shoot any of them.  I originally wanted about a 4" barrel but we got to talking and he said I could go all the way down to 3 5/8th and have a working ejector, so I went with that.  He's had the BH for awhile now, but I knew it wouldn't be an overnight thing.  I'm going up his way over the Holidays and will drop in - great conversationalist.

-Don

[Lloyd Smale]

bens guns are top shelf. every one ive seen has impressed me. Hes a very smart guy and if he cant make a gun work nobody can. He keeps a low profile and many people dont think of him when they do a project. One of my must have soon projects will be a 50 alaskan and hes the only one id let build it.

[dbriannelson]

Lever rifle?

-D

[S.B.]

Lloyd, couldn't of been so rough a bore and you finally swaged it smooth with hard, lead bullets, could it?
Steve

[Lloyd Smale]

yup

Lever rifle?

-D

[Lloyd Smale]

the thought crossed my mind. I dont think you could shoot enough lead to smothen a bore but what i did do before this gun settled in was shoot 20 ( its all i had) lapping bullets down the bore and about 50 jacketed rounds. Rehawks are notorious for haveing bore constrictions at the barrel threads and i think that may be the problem with this gun. I think next summer i will go about lapping it properly. Ived done a few using verals kit and it usually makes a gun shoot a tad more consistantly and ive never seen one that shot worse after doing it.

Lloyd, couldn't of been so rough a bore and you finally swaged it smooth with hard, lead bullets, could it?
Steve