44 Special Shooters chime in

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357smallbore

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I am a huge fan of the 44 Special. I own a Rossi 720 and it is in my weekly ccw rotation. I carry Blazer 200 GDHP for defense. Roll my own for practice in 200 RP.
Anyone love, shoot and carry this special caliber like me? There is just something wonderful about a big bore caliber revolver.
 

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I agree.

It appeals especially to people like me who are cheap. I'm fairly certain some of my brass is still in use after forty years. And with too many six-guns, especially fixed sighted six-guns, you're going to be better off finding a load and sticking to it. With the .44 Special, I can usually find an acceptable working load with just about any fast to medium burning powder that comes along.

Generally, too, after a properly placed load from the .44 Special and things shot with it wait patiently to be eaten.
 
Ruger new model Blackhawk flattop for strolls at the farm. Smith 624 for pins. Bulldog (original) for the city. Loads, some old Federal lswc for the city, Lyman 429421 hp for the farm and 429421 solid for the pins. Had a 720 and gave it to a friend who was getting transferred to Detroit. My second favorite cartridge.
BTW, Skeeters favorite load always seemed a little hot so I backed down from 7.5 to 7 grains of Unique.
 
I like 44 special a lot. I'm also a fan of the Rossi 720. The hammerless one I have is kind of "meh", but the one with the hammer and the adjustable sights is terrific. I have several actual 44 special revolvers, and that's what I usually shoot out of my 44 magnums, too. Sometimes I carry my CA Bulldog. I like to see those big fat bullets in there. :)

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My first revolver was a Colt New Service in .45 Colt, which later became a .44 Special. That got away from me and I bought one of those new Charter Arms Bulldogs in .44 Special, this around 1976 or so. Got rid of that and was .44 Special poor for awhile. Then, realizing my predicament, made haste to rectify the situation. Now some of my .44 Specials:

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Now I usually tote a .45 Colt, I have at times carried this little jewel of a .44 Special for social purposed:

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Holster is by Graveyard Jack Gunleather and is a modified Tom Threepersons design.

Bob Wright
 
The 44 special is a sweet cartridge...my favorite revolver cartridge if you disregard 45 acp in a 325. I have a Taurus Total Titanium 5-shot and a couple of Smith 629s that may never see another magnum round.

BOARHUNTER
 
I have been carrying .44 Spl. snubs since 1987. I like hard cast flat nose SWC or WC bullets. The Speer 200 gr. Gold Dot is a very good bullet if you like hollow points. 200 gr. full wadcutters do terrible things to soft targets.
 
There is something special about shooting 44 Special ammunition in a gun chambered for 44 Special.

I have several 44 Special revolvers and enjoy shooting them. I have a nice wadcutter load for them.

Heck, most of what I shoot in my 44 Magnum revolvers are 44 Special loads although they are loaded in 44 Magnum cases.
 
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I gotta say I really enjoy mine. It's smaller lighter and probably more practical than my .44 sbh.
I've shot a couple hundred rounds out of it so far.
Most are 240s over 231, but I've got some loaded with a hefty charge of longshot that the guns actually sighted for. They don't shoot too different at 20yds.
 
I gotta say I really enjoy mine. It's smaller lighter and probably more practical than my .44 sbh.

I feel the same way but those flat tops are sexy little devil's in 44spl. I think I'm gonna have to get me one before it's over. There I go being an addict again.
You guys are gonna get me in trouble here!
It's warm enough to sleep in the garage now. Haha!
 
I'm a younger and more recent member to the cult of 44 special. It started with my getting a Charter Bulldog Jan of 2018, I then bought a S&W 629 4" a few months later. Shooting factory ammo was killing me so I got into reloading Feb of this year, been playing around with the round ever since. For the time being I'm sticking to 240 grain bullets, mostly Hi-Tek from Missouri. My loads have ranged from 5-7.5 grains of Unique.

The GP100 is definitely on my short list to pick up, I want one badly.
 
The 44 Sp. is my favorite revolver round, accurate, easy to shoot and reload. I have Ruger flat tops in a 5 1/2" blue Bisley and a 4 4/5" stainless Blackhawk, a Freedom Arms 5 1/2" model 97, and a S&W model 696.
 
Are you shooting cast or jacketed 240's?
Cast, from MBC. They lead some in my . 44 special, probably to hard, or a little to small, but not enough to bother me.
They are also what I shoot in my 7.5" sbh, and don't lead that one.

I do have some xtps that I use also, but haven't run them in the gp100
 
Howdy

Mu 44 Specials tend to be a little bit older.

Like this S&W 44 Hand Ejector 1st Model (Triple Lock). It left the factory in 1907. The SN is below 200. Hardly any blue left on it anywhere, and the checkering is almost completely worn off the grips, but I got it for a terrific price. And it still shoots great with my mild 44 Special loads.

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There are some blemishes on this nickle plated Triple Lock, but the grips are in pretty good shape. It left the factory towards the end of production in 1915.

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This Target Model Triple Lock left the factory in 1913.

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A 44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model that left the factory in 1921.

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44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model (Model of 1926) that shipped in 1929. It was carried by an officer throughout WWII. I even got his beat up holster with it. Yes, it has been refinished, and not a great job at that, but I love this old Smith. It is the first 44 Special revolver I bought.

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44 Hand Ejector 4th Model Target. I was looking for a Model 24 for the longest time. They are scarce as hen's teeth. When I found this 4th Model, which left the factory in 1955 I stopped looking for a Model 24.

44handejector4thmodel02.jpg




Almost a Model 24, this Model 624 shipped in 1985, my newest 44 Special. I picked it up during my quest for a Model 24. It originally came with oversized target grips, but I put these Magnas on it instead. Very easy to manage recoil with my mild 44 Specials and the small Magna grips.

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Here is something you don't see everyday. A Colt Bisley chambered for 44 Special. That's because Colt never chambered the Bisley model for 44 Special. At some point this one had a 2nd Generation barrel and cylinder fitted, and fancy new grips too. It originally shipped in 1908. I have no idea what it was chambered for back then, but definitely not 44 Special. This is my only single action 44 Special, I have some work to do trying to catch up with Bob Wright.

BisleyColtb.jpg
 
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