Why the .44 Special

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I’d like to try one of the early .44 Specials from s&w. Its like the model 10, they were proportioned properly for the 44 Special.

I don’t really understand the fascination with them in SAA sized guns or crammed into preexisting frames.

Charter’s Bulldog is cool but I’d need one with better fit/finish to justify dies/bullets/cases etc.
 
LoonWulf said:
Something else to consider, is thst while the bullet weight and velocity of the .44 special is about the same as a .45ACP, its smaller diameter gives it better penetration.

I hotrod my .44 special gp100 a little with 240s at just over 950fps, and its a blast to shoot. While it wont equal the sheer energy of a .357 gp100, ill take the .44 anyday as a field gun.
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Ah the Skeeter load. I've shot it some in my 44 magnums and it shoots easy and accurately. I'd bet it would be fine for deer too.
 
I have a 6 1/2" S&W model 624 that I really love; one of my most accurate revolvers. I've thought several times about having the barrel shortened to 4" just to make it a bit easier to carry. Always decide to keep it at is. I have carry guns, this one is too special to monkey with!!
 
On page 2 of this thread someone explained that the 44 Spl. has been for many years a niche cartridge. This is true and remains true. Revolvers in 38 Spl, 357 mag, 44 magnum and 45 Colt and 45 acp continue to outsell guns in 44 Spl. alone. True some of the 44 Mag guns only, or mainly, see 44 Spl.

It is not alone is being a niche round it keeps good company. 41 mag and 41 Spl. are niche, even more so than 44 Spl. 44 Russian is still being commercially sold and loaded for. Various versions of the 38 Colt are being sold. The 32 mag is niche. There are a few more revolver rounds still niche. With semis there are more. Being niche is no bad thing and the company is fine. just means you ain't the most popular kid in school.
 
I was bitten hard by the .44 Spl bug, had 6 at one time. I'm down to 3 now but I still have the love for them, even more than the Magnum. To me the Magnum is loud and obnoxious. The Spl in a large frame can be loaded to some pretty respectable velocity. This 24-3 is my favorite.

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44SPL Just because.
 
pairof44sp said:
The Charter Boomer is what Bulldogs just naturally seem to evolve toward with time.
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I'm not hickok45...I can't hit the moon by lobbing in a projectile like he can do. I've always struggled getting any real accuracy out of my Bulldog...then, it dawned on me that it's a "TCB" pistol for up close business anyway. I use it enough to stay fresh and it's my cheap "around the house" gun. For what it is designed for, I love it.
 
I spent years shooting .38 and .357 revolvers. I also spent years doing the smithing for a local gun shop. One day the owner handed me a Rossi Model 720 that he wanted to smooth out and tune up. I did the work and loved the gun. Not for sale when I asked. So I went looking and over the next couple years I bought 3 of them. The guns in .44 Special were all well made with 3 inch barrels and about the size of a K frame S&W. Pleasant to shoot and hard hitting for guns with good penetration and 800 to 900 fps range with 200 grn projectiles. I sold off 2 in my downsizing, going to take the last one with me when I go to see if the devil can take a head shot. rossi720profile.jpg
 
Many years ago I was a poor Deputy Sheriff in a rural Texas county. I carried a model 24 for several years and never had any issues. Recoil to me as a young man was very soft, actually easy to shoot compared to all the model 19’s that were the common gun at the time. It was a bit heavy , that was the issue when I became a investigator. I traded it off for a colt combat commander in 45 acp. Still got the colt, but sure miss my 44 revolver. Wish I could have kept it all those years back
 
Typetwelve said:
I'm not hickok45...I can't hit the moon by lobbing in a projectile like he can do. I've always struggled getting any real accuracy out of my Bulldog...then, it dawned on me that it's a "TCB" pistol for up close business anyway. I use it enough to stay fresh and it's my cheap "around the house" gun. For what it is designed for, I love it.
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Hickok’s videos left me with some delusions about what I would be able to do as a shooter. He can hit an 80-yard gong with a snub nose four out of five times. In one video, he literally puts two shotgun slugs through one hole on a very distant paper target.

I figured that if a Boomer is twice as hard to hit with, I just need to fire twice as many practice shots and it’ll even out.

That turned out to be false, and I’m at the range practicing so that my 5-yard snubbie will one day be a seven-yard snubbie.
 
I have a couple of .44 Spl's, but this one is my favorite. I do like shooting my magnums, but also like a properly loaded .44 Spl. or a medium loaded .45 Colt. They seem to do most things I need without the extra drama of a full bore magnum load.

44 SPL.png
 
Getting into this thread a bit late, but.....

When I was a young man, I sought out, and obtained high power handguns. Everything "magnum", I drooled for a Wildey or an Automag. Never did get one of those. But, I wanted power. It was a lust. I even built a 10mm 1911 a few months before Colt had the Delta Elite (thanks Irv... rip).

And then, as I matured, I realized more and more, raw power no longer matters to me. I am content with 38special (though I fire 'em in 38 or 357 revolvers). I'm content with 45LC and 45ACP and .... the 44Special.

I've become a student of the big, heavy, thumper bullet philosophy. I'm good with that 255 or 246 grain bullet or even 200g bullet in a 38 special. I just.... I dunno.... I just shoot 'em better, and they're more accurate for me. I know they'll get the job done in any sort of situation I need 'em to. Just me.

So, here's to my 1911's in 45ACP, my single actions in 45LC and my lone Boomer in 44 Special.... hopefully it will have a stable-mate soon.
 
Project355 said:
Getting into this thread a bit late, but.....

When I was a young man, I sought out, and obtained high power handguns. Everything "magnum", I drooled for a Wildey or an Automag. Never did get one of those. But, I wanted power. It was a lust. I even built a 10mm 1911 a few months before Colt had the Delta Elite (thanks Irv... rip).

And then, as I matured, I realized more and more, raw power no longer matters to me. I am content with 38special (though I fire 'em in 38 or 357 revolvers). I'm content with 45LC and 45ACP and .... the 44Special.

I've become a student of the big, heavy, thumper bullet philosophy. I'm good with that 255 or 246 grain bullet or even 200g bullet in a 38 special. I just.... I dunno.... I just shoot 'em better, and they're more accurate for me. I know they'll get the job done in any sort of situation I need 'em to. Just me.

So, here's to my 1911's in 45ACP, my single actions in 45LC and my lone Boomer in 44 Special.... hopefully it will have a stable-mate soon.
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I’d like the definitive answer to light and fast vs heavy and slow in a handgun, given equal muzzle energies. What’s the difference on the target end of the equation?

I guess it’s time to buy a gel block and start experimenting.
 
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