Why the .44 Special
- Thread starter Ohen Cepel
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Blue Brick
Member
Love the 38 Special, but I am warming up to the 44 Special.
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Garandimal
member
Well...
To me, it's a Grizzly of a mamma bear cartridge.
More powerful than a .38 SPL +P, and less than the .357 Mag.
It's lower pressure than even the .45 ACP, and still throws 200 gr. JHP bullets at the 860 fps the .45 ACP throws 230's.
And for social work, you won't tell the difference - except for the reduced blast and recoil.
GR
To me, it's a Grizzly of a mamma bear cartridge.
More powerful than a .38 SPL +P, and less than the .357 Mag.
It's lower pressure than even the .45 ACP, and still throws 200 gr. JHP bullets at the 860 fps the .45 ACP throws 230's.
And for social work, you won't tell the difference - except for the reduced blast and recoil.
GR
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I'm a big fan of slow moving, large diameter bullets from large bore revolvers.
I have both revolvers chambered in 44 Special and 44 Magnum. I reload my 44 Magnum ammunition at 44 Special levels in 44 Magnum cases. Obviously, 44 Special ammunition is loaded in 44 Special cases.
I'm not into shooting full power magnum loads much these days, if I do, I'll roll out the 460 S&W Magnum.
Most of my loading of 44 Magnum or 44 Special these days is with 200 grain wadcutters.
I have both revolvers chambered in 44 Special and 44 Magnum. I reload my 44 Magnum ammunition at 44 Special levels in 44 Magnum cases. Obviously, 44 Special ammunition is loaded in 44 Special cases.
I'm not into shooting full power magnum loads much these days, if I do, I'll roll out the 460 S&W Magnum.
Most of my loading of 44 Magnum or 44 Special these days is with 200 grain wadcutters.
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dickydalton
Member
I love my 69.
Got to love those big flat nosed bullets! Mine are a little bigger for the ACP.
Kevin
With a slightly higher operating pressure and smaller case volume compared to the 45 Colt, the 44 Special is a bit better suited to smokeless powders. As a result, the 44 Special seems dirty up the gun less than the 45 Colt.
As mentioned, the shorter overall cartridge length and diameter (compared to the 45 Colt) could make for a bit lighter and more compact revolver. But the market seems to be too small for most manufacturers to offer a frame/cylinder size specifically suited to the 44 Specials. Nowadays they usually just make a frame that works with the 44 Mag. and/or 45 Colt and perhaps offer a 44 Special as well. But this approach detracts from what could be a very handy 44 Special big bore.
As mentioned, the shorter overall cartridge length and diameter (compared to the 45 Colt) could make for a bit lighter and more compact revolver. But the market seems to be too small for most manufacturers to offer a frame/cylinder size specifically suited to the 44 Specials. Nowadays they usually just make a frame that works with the 44 Mag. and/or 45 Colt and perhaps offer a 44 Special as well. But this approach detracts from what could be a very handy 44 Special big bore.
In 1908, when S&W introduced the First Model New Century aka Triplelock, it was chambered for the 45 S&W as they were aiming for Government Contracts. That did not happen and they offered it to the public chambered for the 44 Special.
In 1955, S&W introduced the 44 Magnum on the same frame. In time, subtle changes were made, most notably the heavier barrel for the magnum round but it was still the N frame.
So, it’s not that the factories need to create a new frame, it that the N frame was also used for the 44 Magnum and the 45 long Colt.
Kevin
XD-M .45acp -- Whether shooting steel at the house, or paper at the range, I am so damn good with this gun I had to make it my night stand gun. It is just a natural for me.
I'm also a fan of the big bullets. I've looked and looked for a .45LC option, but I just haven't found any. I mean, I have a SAA clone and I enjoy shooting it, but it isn't a go to gun for me. I also prefer loading the larger cartridges.
I have a S&W Mountain Gun in 45 ACP. They make or have made the same style of revolver in 45 long Colt.
Kevin
DM~
Member
Paul R Zartman
Contributing Member
I shoot mostly 38sp out of my DW 15-2, and 44sp out of my DW 44. Both feel awesome ...
Tallinar
Member
My first carry gun was a .44 special New Vaquero with 3.75” barrel. I was into cowboy shooting with a limited budget and wanted a gun that could serve double duty.
As others have noted, one of the main appeals to the cartridge for me was that it performs similar to .45 ACP, but in a still relatively mainstream rimmed cartridge format (e.g. unlike .45 autorim). It can be loaded down to pretty good pipsqueak levels for cowboy shooting, or act as a very capable defensive cartridge. Sweet cartridge to hand load for.
It’s one of those guns I regret selling.
As others have noted, one of the main appeals to the cartridge for me was that it performs similar to .45 ACP, but in a still relatively mainstream rimmed cartridge format (e.g. unlike .45 autorim). It can be loaded down to pretty good pipsqueak levels for cowboy shooting, or act as a very capable defensive cartridge. Sweet cartridge to hand load for.
It’s one of those guns I regret selling.
Great post and my thoughts to a "T".
I'll add that the .44 Special may be the easiest caliber to load for accuracy, that I've ever loaded. Most any mid-range powder will do...there's lots of data available...the 'hotter' loads, while well below .44 Magnum pressure levels, are thoroughly documented by knowledgeable writers, and the selection of bullets and weights, both commercial and home cast, are legion. Too, the Special round makes better use of the case's volume, and you're not faced with cleaning out the grud ring that shooting them in a Magnum entails.
Good loads, accurate to sub-2" group at 25 yds standards, and with velocities to match any taste are easy. With ANY quality 240 gr LSWC of 0.430" dia., you can PLAN on achieving accurate results with velocities that range from 650 fps to 1200 fps. Bullseye, Unique, Win 231, WST, WSF, Herco, Blue Dot, BE-86, 2400, Win 296, H110, Ac#9 will all do the job....Picking one, I'd go for Unique. Skelton's justifiably famous 240 gr LSWC with 7.5 gr of Unique at 975 fps, will do all that any sane pistolero needs in the lower 48, and do it with superb accuracy.
Summing it all up...it's not the .44 Special...it should have been the .44 Spectacular!
YMMv, Rod....Here's one of mine....
bannockburn
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- Apr 24, 2007
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Rodfac
Muy bien hablado mi .44 Especial amigo!
Your stainless Flattop looks awesome with those grips!
Muy bien hablado mi .44 Especial amigo!
Your stainless Flattop looks awesome with those grips!
Biblethumpncop
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2009
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- 400
I had a 431 but sold it a few months ago. It was the same size and weight as an L frame Smith 696 (I compared it to my friend's). It was fine for an all purpose OWB carry, but heavier than a Bulldog.
I have nearly pulled the trigger on buying a .44 special at least half a dozen times. I keep coming back to the fact that it has to make sense for me to do so. I have a CA Pitbull in .45, that I really love. 5 rounds of handy .45 acp that will feed no matter the bullet profile. The .44 being ballistically close to the .45 acp has been my big hang up. I don't currently reload and don't really plan on getting into reloading much more than using a hand press for 50/100 rounds at a time.
I don't mind buying expensive off the shelf ammo as long as it will perform as well or better as comparable .45 acp.
I think if I get one, it will be a niche gun of specific purpose. I can see a Boomer in my future. Something light and powerful. More compact than my Pitbull's XL frame and snag free like my Undercover DAO .38. I'm hoping that once the dust settles and production picks back up, I can have the LGS order me one in. I don't mind having one or two "oddball" cartridge guns laying around when there is a drought. My LGS is pretty limited on most of the popular chamberings, but I see a good bit of .44 special and .45 colt to be had.
I don't mind buying expensive off the shelf ammo as long as it will perform as well or better as comparable .45 acp.
I think if I get one, it will be a niche gun of specific purpose. I can see a Boomer in my future. Something light and powerful. More compact than my Pitbull's XL frame and snag free like my Undercover DAO .38. I'm hoping that once the dust settles and production picks back up, I can have the LGS order me one in. I don't mind having one or two "oddball" cartridge guns laying around when there is a drought. My LGS is pretty limited on most of the popular chamberings, but I see a good bit of .44 special and .45 colt to be had.
The 44 Special is great because it's more efficient than the 44 Mag, shoots the same caliber bullets, it's not as loud and will do 99% of what anyone would use a handgun for. Many don't realize you can load the 44 Special quite warm, even to the point where you really don't need a 44 Mag, what I mean by that is simply that it will work well for most anything, it's cheaper to plink with (if you reload) and it's got enough power for deer, hogs and bear. It's not as powerful as the 44 mag but the beauty of it is that it doesn't have to be in order to be very effective, that's one of the great things about a big bore cartridge.
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