.44 Magnum Home Defense?
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hankdatank1362
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Depends.
Do you have neighbors, or others living in the same house as you?
Are bears kicking down your front door?
Do you have neighbors, or others living in the same house as you?
Are bears kicking down your front door?
GP100man
Member
fine if you live alone!!!!!
i use 357 with wadcutters at low loadings inhouse.
GP100man
i use 357 with wadcutters at low loadings inhouse.
GP100man
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.38 Special
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I don't know anyone who can shoot full house .44 Magnums accurately and quickly. Lots of people can do one or the other, of course, but putting it together seems to be a bit tougher. I'm sure there are people who can do it...
So my question would be based around that. Assuming that you are accurate with it slow fire, can you get the gun down out of recoil quickly enough to satisfy your needs?
Clint Smith did a recent article about the .44 for defense. He claimed that he could not manage the full power loads, so downloaded (handloaded) his cartridges to a lower level -- though he didn't give any specifics.
Along those lines, I personally would absolutely depend on a .44 Magnum gun for defense, with reduced loads or .44 Specials.
HTH!
So my question would be based around that. Assuming that you are accurate with it slow fire, can you get the gun down out of recoil quickly enough to satisfy your needs?
Clint Smith did a recent article about the .44 for defense. He claimed that he could not manage the full power loads, so downloaded (handloaded) his cartridges to a lower level -- though he didn't give any specifics.
Along those lines, I personally would absolutely depend on a .44 Magnum gun for defense, with reduced loads or .44 Specials.
HTH!
GearHead_1
Member
Blow your head clean off. Now do you feel lucky? 
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dwave
Member
Way too much power, and it could cause some hearing damage to boot. Biggest problem would be over penetration, unless there are 3 charging in a row!
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
- Practice, practice, practice.
- If you have to choose between accurate and fast, choose accurate. Inside your home, you have the enormous advantage of knowing the territory, which the criminal doesn't.
- One of the tangential advantages of big calibers is that the sound of the first shot may bring hostilities to a screeching halt.
.38 Special
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I don't. I use the .357.
GearHead_1
Member
Clean off!!!!
My bedside gun is a Redhawk. I hadn't shot it in a while so I took it out on the 4th. I had several "almost empty" boxes of ammo that I wanted to clean up and most were 300gr loads. After a few of those I was starting to question my choice in HD weapons. Then I switched to the stoked up 200 gr Gold Dots that I keep in it. Like night and day, there was very little recoil. I haven't really tested this load out but I don't think overpenetration will be a problem. The opposite is possible.
The blast...well that's a good point. But at least it will be just as bad for the BG. Gun has a mechanical issue anyway. I think it needs a new mainspring. Glad I found out on the range.
The blast...well that's a good point. But at least it will be just as bad for the BG. Gun has a mechanical issue anyway. I think it needs a new mainspring. Glad I found out on the range.
zxcvbob
Member
Load it up with .44 Specials and you'll have one of the best HD handguns available.
GearHead_1
Member
Do you feel lucky!!!
Seriously though, I think it is a reasonably good choice but don't think it would be my first choice. .357/38, .40, .45 would probably all rank a little higher in my book for the very reasons listed. Shooting virtually any magnum load it's going to be tougher than many calibers to get back on target and the muzzle flash can be blinding on both ends of the confrontation. That could be said of the .40 and .357 depending upon load also. I've got a Glock .22C that has almost unbelievable muzzle flash, not a good choice for a night defense weapon. A .44 loaded with .44 specials would be a good choice.
Seriously though, I think it is a reasonably good choice but don't think it would be my first choice. .357/38, .40, .45 would probably all rank a little higher in my book for the very reasons listed. Shooting virtually any magnum load it's going to be tougher than many calibers to get back on target and the muzzle flash can be blinding on both ends of the confrontation. That could be said of the .40 and .357 depending upon load also. I've got a Glock .22C that has almost unbelievable muzzle flash, not a good choice for a night defense weapon. A .44 loaded with .44 specials would be a good choice.
Mark K. C.
Member
If a .44 mag. is all you have then of course it is perfect. I love my S&W mod. 29 and I shoot it regularley but it is not what I keep handy for home defence. My main concern with the .44 mag. is over penetration.
+1 to what zxcvbob said. Load it with .44 Special ammo, and it'll have roughly the same stopping power of a .45 Auto with FMJs. A .44 Mag with .44 Specials in it reminds me of a medium frame .357 (A Colt Trooper or S&W M19) with 148 grain WCs, in terms of recoil. Stopping power along the lines of the .45 ACP with the perceived recoil of a .38 wadcutter sounds like a DANDY home defense gun.
Confederate
Member
You'll do okay if you use .44 Spc. loads, preferably a little hot, but nowhere near magnum outputs. The .357 mag is your best revolver defense bar none. You can pick loads all the way from .38 Spc wadcutter all the way up to major loads. If you're camping or hiking, a good magnum will always be advisable. But a .44 mag is too powerful for home use. Listen to what these guys are telling you.
Me, .38s in the house, .357 out of the house and on the road. If you've got a Mighty .44, use the Spc loadings in the house. Once you're out of the house, or in the outhouse, magnums are fine.
Me, .38s in the house, .357 out of the house and on the road. If you've got a Mighty .44, use the Spc loadings in the house. Once you're out of the house, or in the outhouse, magnums are fine.
klover
Member
.44 magnum is too small
What you really need to start with is a 454 Casull
No, but seriously, 44 specials unless it's a bear makes for a very versatile weapon. You could add a lever rifle to really give bear a headache or go pig
hunting. Love the .44 magnums and specials!
What you really need to start with is a 454 Casull
No, but seriously, 44 specials unless it's a bear makes for a very versatile weapon. You could add a lever rifle to really give bear a headache or go pig
hunting. Love the .44 magnums and specials!
I do.....NOT use .44 mag for HD.
I have a speed loader with winchester ST .44 specials hollow points loaded up. Thats a 200 grain bullet going about 900 fps seems pretty good.
1000 fps would be better but I would have to start reloading for that......hummmm.
use .44 mag for HD. I have a speed loader with winchester ST .44 specials hollow points loaded up. Thats a 200 grain bullet going about 900 fps seems pretty good.
1000 fps would be better but I would have to start reloading for that......hummmm.
Mine has served that roll from time to time ,and I consider it a great choice.
I do admitt I also loaded mine with .44 Spl for the most part, but typically would do 3 and 2 . First three rounds .44 Spl and the last two .44 Mag.
My reasoning has something to do with my house and location - I want the ability to penitrate, and my house stands alone, it is old ,having plaster and layth (sp) construction.
In urban area and modern construction I also would stick with .44 Spl ammo and feel confident in the outcome if needed.
I do admitt I also loaded mine with .44 Spl for the most part, but typically would do 3 and 2 . First three rounds .44 Spl and the last two .44 Mag.
My reasoning has something to do with my house and location - I want the ability to penitrate, and my house stands alone, it is old ,having plaster and layth (sp) construction.
In urban area and modern construction I also would stick with .44 Spl ammo and feel confident in the outcome if needed.
Stainz
Member
A 4" 29/629 is a great HD firearm - if you don't have a .357M/.38. For the former, I'd load either the Blazer 200gr GDJHP or, better yet, the GA Arms Starline brass loaded with the same bullet (Speer #4429). That round opens reliably over 800fps, which it barely eclipses from my 2.5" 296.
Of course, for a 2"-4" .357M/.38, I'd load the tried and proven 'FBI' load, the +P 158gr LHPSWC, like the Remington R38S12. True Magnums are great - for hunting or protection from dangerous animals - not for HD from two-legged predators.
Stainz
Of course, for a 2"-4" .357M/.38, I'd load the tried and proven 'FBI' load, the +P 158gr LHPSWC, like the Remington R38S12. True Magnums are great - for hunting or protection from dangerous animals - not for HD from two-legged predators.
Stainz
robsc
Member
.44mag. is a great choice. Include a 3in or 3 1/2in 000 buck in 10ga. shotgun. You`ll never know the taste of sweet justice until you
ram the muzzle of a .44mag or 10ga up their nose.
Intruder stoppers/they won`t be back.
ram the muzzle of a .44mag or 10ga up their nose.Intruder stoppers/they won`t be back.
jrou111
Member
I find my ported 4" .44mag is WAY too loud for indoors use...without hearing protection would be like shooting a M44 Mosin indoors. And the muzzle flash at night is really bright.
The Tourist
member
bg226 said:
If you are determined to do this, I have two 6-round bubble packaged Glazer Safety Slug rounds.
Contact me PM.
A .44 Mag loaded with .44 Specials is an excellent home defense round.
You don't need the magnums ---- .44 Special Cal. is more than enough. Plenty of "knock-down" and a "large hole" without the over-penetration of the magnum rounds.
Don
You don't need the magnums ---- .44 Special Cal. is more than enough. Plenty of "knock-down" and a "large hole" without the over-penetration of the magnum rounds.
Don
smirnoff a
Member
Sounds like an overkill to me, unless you have a Grizzly breaking in. Hearing damage would also be an issue.
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