Well now Skeeter says.......

by Dave B , Alamogordo New Mexico, Friday, July 14, 2017, 19:31 (2694 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

http://www.darkcanyon.net/The_44Special_A_Reappraisal.htm
"For an intermediate cartridge of around 1,000 fps, 8½ grains of Unique serves well, and outperforms most factory pistol cartridges of any caliber. Charges of 6½ grains of 5066 or 5 grains of Bullseye with either the Lyman 429244 or 429421 bullets will give fine, about-factory-velocity, performance."

http://www.darkcanyon.net/Handgun%20Loads.htm
Of course he also recommended 7.5grs too.

"Because the 429421 plain base has never given me any leading problems in my .44 guns, I choose it over the 429244 and save the trouble and expense incurred by the gascheck. Since the introduction of the .44 Magnum, I have quit using heavy handloads in the .44 Special, and now put together a mild, but hotter-than-factory combination of the Keith bullet, sized .429”, over 7.5 gr. of Unique. Velocity runs around 940 fps, a definite improvement over the cream puff factory round. I use only solid head .44 Special cases, since the old balloon head versions are wont to stretch erratically, making trimming a requisite before a bullet with a crimping groove may be effectively used."

Dave