Big Bore 44 Special for self defense.

[azgunner]

How many folks are carriers of the big 44? I carry a Taurus 431 and a Rossi 720C. I love both weapons. They balance well,carry well, and they shoot to point of aim. And I know if I do my part, the 200 grainer Gold Dots will do theirs if I need to shoot.

 

[pendennis]

I alternate between a S&W Model 65 and a Model 696. The 696 is a good shooting .44 Special, and probably one of the best ideas ever to come out of S&W. My load for the 696 is the Wichester 200gr STHP.

 

[calaverasslim]

I carry the Charter Arms , 3", 44 special with either GDHP or STHP. I just got a pair of Taurus 441's one with a 3" and one with a 4" and plan on carrying them.

44 special is my favorite caliber and why shouldn't we carry a 44. It does the job.

 

[PapaG]

A 4" 624, an original Charter Bulldog, and a Rossi 720, all 44 specials. The Smith is very accurate but large. The Bulldog is light, compact and fine for 10-15 yard encounters (which I hope never to have) and the Rossi is fairly heavy and I find the adjustable sights to be clothes snaggers. Bottom line, for carry, the Bulldog and JHPs. For the farm, just bushwhacking around, the Smith. For the nightstand, the Rossi.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I have been known to carry a 696, a 624, and a 29 loaded with specials from time to time.

 

[waidmann]

S&W 21-4 during big coat days. Often a Charter .44 DAO at other times. Have owned Taurus and Rossi previously. Would recommend Taurus over Rossi.

 

[WC145]

I'm wearing this Mag-na-port custom Charter Arms right now. Great little gun, light and handy, perfect for up close and personal work. I keep it loaded with 200gr GDHPs.

 

[cochise]

.44 spcl = low flash, low recoil, lower blast noise, but a big bullet, big performance, big fun

 

[4thHorseman]

I love the 44 special, just love the caliber and revolver. I have a S&W 396 Night Guard. Unfortunately it has been back to S&W more times than I have taken it to the range for cylinder going out of time. The fourth time it was back for the same problem in six months, the S&W rep tried to get me to swap it for another model or give me my money back. I told him I wanted it fixed and returned. He was very nice about it. JMHO

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

WC145, how do you aim your CCW? Or do you just point it?

 

[WC145]

Point and shoot or stick it in and shoot. I'm not sure of Mag-naport's thinking back in the late 70's when these guns were made but I assume the idea was that they'd be used for fast, close self defense situations. That's my take on the design.

 

[josephbw]

Has anyone shot a short (2-3") ported 44 Mag? I was wondering about the recoil on one compared to the 44 SPL. I've been looking for a 44 Mag that I can afford, but haven't found one yet.

 

[DaleCooper51]

I have a 696 and 624 that I tote around on a regular basis.

I always shoot my 240 grain hard cast lead reloads from them.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

I carry a S&W 296 with Corbon 200 gr DPX and Crimson Trace LG-306 grips in a Mika pocket holster and sometimes a Lobo gunleather IWB rig.

 

[Frank V]

josephbw
I've shot a full size S&W 29 4" with .44 Mags. that a friend owned. I couldn't tell much difference in recoil between the before & after gun. I'd known him a long time & he had this gun a long time I shot it numerous times with him. The only real difference I noticed was a huge increase in noise. If you held the gun at waist level near your body, you'd also get a push of warm gas in your face. I didn't like it.
I also had for a short time a Taurus Tracker. It was a ported 4". I thought I wanted to try a medium frame .44 Mag to carry. I found I wasn't using it much & sold it about a year after I bought it. It was loud with factory ammo too. I'm not really sure compensated guns work all that well till you start running them to the red line. Aside from the "ribber grips" & the porting which I found I really disliked, it was a good gun. With wooden stocks & without the porting, I'd have another.

I don't think I'd ever have another ported gun for myself. Others may disagree?
Frank

 

[WC145]

Has anyone shot a short (2-3") ported 44 Mag? I was wondering about the recoil on one compared to the 44 SPL. I've been looking for a 44 Mag that I can afford, but haven't found one yet.

I've got a Mag-na-port M29 3" with their "QuadPort" porting. It makes full house .44mags quite manageable. Recoil is definitely less than my friend's 6" Redhawk, I can pull some decent double and triple taps with it. I haven't tried any .44spl ammo in it so I can't speak for the difference.

 

[Owen Sparks]

How do you aim that thing with no front sight? What if you had to make a head shot in a hostage situation?

 

[StrawHat]

My brother carries a 44 Charter. One of the older ones. I am not a 44 fan so my carry piece is a 45 ACP revolver. Ballistically, just more of the same.

 

[WC145]

How do you aim that thing with no front sight? What if you had to make a head shot in a hostage situation?

For the hostage's sake, I hope I'm standing pretty close.

Obviously this is a pocket/ankle/back up gun made for personal defense at spitting distance and closer, not for taking head shots in hostage situations.
If I'm off duty and find myself in that situation I guess I'll be holding my fire until back up arrives with a more appropriate gun for that shot. Or I'll excuse myself and go out to my vehicle, retrieve the 1911 from my bag, go back and then shoot the bad guy in the head.

 

[4thHorseman]

The 44 special is a great caliber I think. I have a S&W 396 Night Guard and absolutely love it.

 

[Tallinar]

I carry a New Vaquero in .44 special.

 

[EMC45]

I have a Taurus 431 and enjoy it.

 

[chutestrate]

I have a ported 3 inch 44 mag, and the porting makes a big difference in the recoil, IMO. With 44 specials no difference. I would rather shoot a hot 44 special anyway.

 

[mavracer]

I have a Charter Arms Bulldog DAO, A Smith 3" 696 and a Sheriff's Vaquero and carry one or the other quite often. My carry ammo of choice is Georgia Arms 200gr golddots.

 

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It doesn't get any better than this. My old Charter Arms, 200 gr Buffalo Bore
Wadcutters at 925 fps Then 200 gr. Gold Dots for reload.