Not sure why they uploaded sideways but it's still readable:)

Always interesting to see how the loads chronograph in your own guns and how that compares to others' data. Barrell length does make a difference. Just for comparison sake, here is some of my data from back in the late 1980's:

357 Mag - 356158 @ 14.0/2400
..Ruger 10" 1467
..Ruger 6" 1404
..Python 8" 1434

44 Mag - 429421 @ 10.0/Unique..Redhawk 7" 1157
44 Mag - 429421 @ 21.0/2400..Redhawk 7" 1472

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A tight BC gap helps too. My 5.5" TLA will out run both my 7.5" SBH and 8 3/8" S&W by 50 to 100 FPS.

I would have to look at my notes but 10.0 gr Unique breaks 1200 and 21.0 gr 2400 is nipping on 1500 FPS.

It always amazed me how hard you have to run a .357 out of a 4-5" barrel to break 1200-1250 FPS with a 158gr bullet. Where .44 will do it from a 4" with out much trouble with a 250gr. For me the .357 gets to be unpleasant to shoot when I really start to stand on it. I just don't like the blast and snappy recoil.

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Look what you get in a .44 Magnum with a 250 grain Keith bullet and10 grains Unique...1100+ fps, easy to shoot all day long and extremely accurate. The 21/2400 load is very accurate as well but you feel that extra 160-170 or so fps in the S&W. Not bad at all though in my 4 5/8" SBH. I'd carry a .44 over a .357 any day if it wasn't for the size difference. I still haven't settled on a .357 load that is a keeper...at least in this GP100 (my only current .357)...save for 4.5 grains unique over cast 158-160's in 38 cases. But I'd really like to find a good accurate 158 XTP full power magnum load (at least in the 1100 fps range) that is accurate for a carry load. The 16.7 is ok but not anything to get excited about. Still working on it though.

Tight chambers make a huge difference as well.

The way I look at it is 10.0gr of unique comes pretty close to the Keith load in a .44 special. I seldom shoot anything heavier through my S&Ws.

I looked at my notes and I was little off 21.0 gr 2400 and a Keith go around- 1450. And 10.0 unique was 1165.

With the 2400 load the TLA beat my 8 3/8" S&W by 82 FPS and with 20.0 gr WC820 it beat my 7.5 SBH by 35 FPS. With a MAG primer in the TLA jumped to 110FPS gain, but I didn't shoot that primer with the S&W . Or if I did I didn't record it.

What kind of velocities are you getting from 20/WC820 and especially if you shoot it in other guns than the TLA since it would be higher than usual. I'm guessing you're talking about with a Keith bullet. I worked up to 20 or 20.5 grains with it and I'll have to look back and see but I think it was with XTP's rather than the Keith's. I didn't want to go further until I chronographed them and it's been on my to-do list ever since. I also think I was using standard primers at the time forgetting that I used WLP in my old .45 Colt loads with WC820. I need to start over with Keith bullets and WLP primers.

250gr Lyman 429421 WC820 21.0gr Federal LP Mag. S&W 629 8.375 1494fps 9/3/2001

That's moving pretty good. My 20 or 20.5 grain load sure felt a lot milder than that but it was with a jacketed bullet and a 4 5/8" barrel. That is gonna be my next chronograph test starting at 20 grains and Keith bullets. It was extremely accurate in my .45 Bisley and I suspect it will be in the .44 as well. I sure have a lot of it!

lock, blueprinted everything and set the b/c gap at .0015". Too tight, really, as it will drag in less than 100rnds. But I wanted to see, so I saw.

My lot of 820 was WAY slower that what most everyone else reports. It is very close to H110/296. To equal H110 velocity I only have to reduce the powder charge by about 3-5%. I went through a 8 # jug just working with loads in all the calibers I have that it is suitable for. I still have a jug or so left but wish I would have bought more.

That was a start load for working up with a Win primer. The 7.5" was going around 1215 FPS. In my TLA it was going 1240 FPS. I topped out at 23.0 and a CCI 550 for around 1400-1450 out of my TLA. ( depending on which brand of Keith bullet or a 429244) with 22.0gr CCI550 and the 429244 my TLA is really accurate. It shoots the Keith bullet quite well too but there is a slight edge with the gas check over 1400.

One probably has 5 pounds left and the other is unopened. I figure I'll start back at 20 grains and work up with the Keith bullets and the chronograph shooting for 1200-1250 fps. I really don't need anything more than the 10 grain Unique load but I have all that powder so I ought to use it. I may see how it does in the .357. It might give me a good magnum load and would certainly go farther and I may just stick with the Unique load in the .44.

1200-1250 with mine is on the bottom end of the usefulness of the powder. My ES was over 100. A mag primer and more powder brought that number into the 40s, but velocity is well above what you are looking for.

Ignition can be sporadic if you go too low. I stuck a bullet in my .500 Linebaugh 27.0 gr and a 450gr bullet. Velocity was about 1075 but one shot left the bullet in the forcing cone with a glob of charred powder behind it.

I like it in the smaller calibers like .327, .30 Carbine .357 it works great.

And if it works, reserve it for that. There really isn't much to gain in the .44 over 10/Unique and 21/2400 other than economy and I'm not sure we can replace the 820. I figure it will go farther in the .357.

I would give you the data I worked up but since my lot is so different it wouldn't do you much good. Mine does much prefer magnum primers.

in my .45 Colt load. 23 grains ran a 270 SAA almost 1250 fps. That was the most accurate load I ever ran through any of my .45 Colts.