44 Magnum/Special Ammo Suggestions

[4Freedom]

Hi, a new member of my family just arrived.. I just received a second hand S&W 629-4 4" barrel Pre-lock model, which I purchsed on gunbroker. It is looking very nice and I am eager to shoot this bad boy at the range. This gun will be used mostly as my outdoor defense/hiking gun. I plan on going hiking this summer and will keep this gun as my conceal piece for protection against 4-legged and 2-legged predators.

I am not an expert on .44s and I know with the wide variety of ammunition available for them, that they can be used for a number of different purposes. I am listing the different types of activities I will be using this gun for and the type of ammo I am inquiring would be the best. I am open to all your ammo suggestions for best .44 magnum and .44 special ammo. Please include brand, bullet weight and any other information.


1. Black bear defense ammo /Outdoor Hiking
(Some say 300g ammo, like to know what brands)

2. Plinking 44 magnum ammo
3. Plinking 44 special ammo

4. Home defense ammo
(I don't plan on using this is a home defense weapon, but while the gun sits in my house, I like to have it loaded with something that would be suitable for home defense, in case this is the only gun I have access too).

 

[devildog66]

Based on what you have provided for background, I recommend that you stick with 240 grain loads for a SW. It can handle the extra power of heavier stuff but some of the heavier loads do not size as well in the SW cylinder as they do with Ruger and single shots. There are also several posts around here about this topic. Good luck with it and enjoy!

Double Tap and Buffalo Bore both make very stout .44M and Special loads and I have had good experiences with both companies. Both companies have a wide variety of bullet designs for the 44M. The solid lead Keith style load with the wide front end is available through both in a variety of bullet weights and will crunch about any critter that you care to stand in front of. That said, insofar as the large bears one might find out west, I would have NO idea. Brown bears have proven unavailable for field testing at least on this side of the country .

I currently use Speer GDHP 44M 240 gr for both types of defense; Speer makes a hunting version and a self-defense version. Range ammo for me has been whatever is available at the best cost.

Can't help ya with the 44 special loads; never have had use for them.
given that I have a .45 ACP.

 

[Virginian]

I have zero bear experience other than the Teddy kind. But I would stoke it with the stiffest Magnums I could get in bear country. For protection from 2 legged critters, .44 Specials are plenty. Gold Dots (flying ashtrays) and Glaser Safety Slugs are what I load for self defense, but there are several good looking selections. I punch most of my paper with 240 grain SWCs.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

When I worked in Alaska a few years ago, I took my S&W 629 .44 magnum. My bullet choice was Federal Cast Core 300 grain flat points. That's on the upper end for shootability and for that frame size to handle. You won't want to put 500 of those through your gun each weekend but they really penetrate and pack a wallop! For my plinking load I used magtech (or any other brand) 240 grain FMJ. For a self-defense city load I used CCI blazer ammo with their 200 grain Gold Dot hollowpoint. That's the meanest hollowpoint I have ever seen! And you can get 50 rounds of it for the price of most 20 round premium boxes. Never had any ammo problems with it.

 

[raskolnikov_22]

+1 Cast Cores

 

[Oro]

You can fit up to a 300gr. bullet in the S&W cylinder. However, for most cases I think 240 had lead is find as a penetrator for bear country. Good loads noted above. 240gr or 300gr, your choice.

For in town and in the home, I like 200gr. hollow points, like Speer gold dot or Hornady XTP, loaded to .44 special levels, either by hand to that level or purchased as .44 special. These are going to be ballistically very, very close to a .45acp round with a similar projectile and a great sd round.

For plinking, 240gr lead loaded however you want, from mild to hot. If buying commercially, get some .44 special "cowboy" loads for mild fun, and similar in .44magnum for hotter practice.

A 4" 29/629 is a great gun for the woods. One of the very best. For carrying in the woods, I have an El Paso reproduction of the old military "Tanker" M-3 shoulder holster. Works great. They or others can make one to fit a 4" N frame, no problem.

 

[BCRider]

For plinking and general shooting fun I'd suggest getting into reloading. That way you can tailor load a hearty but not painful recipe. My own goals for some big cartridge reloading are based on looking for slower burn powders to enhance the fireball effect while slowing down the recoil to more of a strong longer term push on the hand rather than a short hellacious crack to the palm. I've shot some .460 reloads done this way and the concept sure does work. One helluva big bang and a HUGE fireball but the actual recoil is more like a really powerful push that doesn't hurt the hand rather than feeling like a well swung baseball bat that comes from shooting the factory loads. LOTS of fun ! ! ! !

 

[sidheshooter]

Not much to add to the above. Given that I'd be more worried about feral people than feral bears, I'd probably split the difference and just do any standard 240gr. HP in .44 mag on the trail and swap for the above mentioned blazer GDHP .44 spec as I got back closer to town.

Or do the above mentioned hard cast 240 on the trail and still the Blazer .44 special in town. That Blazer is one of the hotter big factory loads, btw, cheap and with plenty of scoot from a 4-inch.

You're not exactly going to be unarmed with any of the above...

 

[4Freedom]

I just bought 5 boxes of 44 magnum Fiocchi JSP for $26.95 + shipping/ 50 online. I would say I am paying 0.61 cents a bullet. This is the cheapest plinking ammo I could find anywhere. I really have had trouble finding anything in .44 magnum or any other handgun caliber now. I am thinking this would be both a good plinking and defense ammo in the woods. Hopefully, I did ok buying this Fiocchi, not that there is many choices these days, I am pondering my decision.

I will see if I can find some Hornady or Gold Dot 200gr-240gr HP for defense against threats of human kind. I think .44 special would be desirable here and would be what my gun should be loaded with at home and in an urban area.

I am thinking however, when I am in the woods, I will be wanting some heavier 300gr bullets. I am told that S&W 629 can handle the 300gr bullets in moderation and I don't plan on using these at the range too often. I am thinking either of getting some Double Tap or Buffalo Bore. Any suggestions between these two brands would be helpful. WHich is the best black bear load you think? I see Buffalo Bore has loads that range from like 270-340gr. Obviously, I would keep it at 300gr or under for my S&W.


BTW.. I am in fairly good shape and I plan on also carrying my lightweight S&W M&P 45 loaded with 11rds of .45 ACP Hornady XTP for defense agaisnt 2 leggers. If I ever get in any problems with 2 legged predators in the woods, the .44 mag will help buy me time so I can get to the .45. However, if I am going up against a bear, I would be happy that I have my .44 mag handy.

 

[Dr.Rob]

For my 'woods' load it's a Privi Partizan 300 gr jsp. before that I used a Winchester 240 gr jsp. The Winchester stuff is really expensive right now my single action likes the 300gr stuff better.

For PLINKING, instead of buying 44 specials I bought 44 magnum cowboy loads from Ultramax, which is like a 240 gr lead bullet at 800fps, and you still have reloadable 44 magnum brass left over.

That cowboy load is soft lead and would work as well as a soft lead 45ACP for HD.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

1. 240-gr. factory loads, preferably with a JSP or lead SWC bullet for better penetration, are about as good as you will get. (I hesitate to use the words "sufficient" or "adequate" in this case, because it will seem neither if a bear is actively mauling you or something.) My brother (the hunter in the family) has taken black bear with .44 Mag, but they were kept at bay or treed by dogs, too.

2. "WWB," CCI Blazer, Federal American Eagle and other "generic" loads (usually with a JSP bullet), while not cheap, will allow you to "plink" more due to lower cost. And they will also work for the above usage.

3. There are few if any "generic" .44 Special loads, to my knowledge. Although certainly more pleasant to shoot, they will cost as much or more than the above.

4. A .44 Special or reduced .44 Magnum load with a JHP bullet. (Cost is not as much of a factor here.)

 

[Stainz]

Georgia Arms, although their delivery is a tad slow these days, has excellent values in ammo. 'Cowboy' loads in .44 Magnum for plinking, 200gr Gold Dots (~$27/50 in new Starline brass) - actually cheaper than Blazers. Also a range of 'real' Magnums for hunting. Nice folks - good value for ammo.

Stainz

 

[4Freedom]

Called G.A., The guys at Georgia Arms have a 10 week backlog of orders, so by the time I get my ammo , summer will be over. I was considering getting some Double Tap or Buffalo Bore ammo for black bear defense. Does anyone know the wait times on these types of ammo? Anyone know which would be most suitable in the S&W 629-4 I have? Maybe I will also look around for some Hornady, Corbon or other notable brands. I am thinking I would like to use 300gr bullet, as I hear it is the most practical for bear defense and the S&W 629 can handle the bullet as long as it is not shot in it too much.

 

[Wolfeye]

It sounds like you're on the right track. By most opinions, the best trail ammo for a .44 is something heavy that's hardcast. I'd start with the less powerful of the trail ammo choices and work my way up. Buffalo Bore and Garrett both make reduced recoil ammo meant for lightweight guns. From there I'd try hardcasts by Federal, Cor-bon, Grizzly Cartridge, Garrett Cartridge, Double Tap, and Buffalo Bore, more or less in that order. I haven't tried them all so I can't attest to how they feel relative to each other. I think some manufacturers pad their ballistics numbers a little.

There are a few .44 mag+p loads out there that wouldn't be safe in a 629, but you wouldn't have to worry about them anyway since they're too long to fit in the Smith cylinder. But for reference, heavy +p loads are made by Buffalo Bore, Garrett Cartridge, and Grizzly Cartridge. I think that last one uses a bronze bullet, which is really expensive. To shoot any of these you'd probably need a Ruger or Dan Wesson revolver.

The only "plinking" magnum ammo I can think of is made by Speer. I think I'd sooner plink with specials if you could find a cheap source or load your own. The cheapest specials I've found are put out by CCI Blazer and Double Tap.

Hope this helps!

 

[batmann]

IMHO, the best load for what you want is the Double Tap 250 gr Keith SWC in .44 Mag. For home defence, Cor-Bon 165 gr HP. I use both of these loads in my Ruger Alaskan and S&W Mountain Gun.

 

[4Freedom]

I just purchased 60 rounds of Corbon Hunter 320gr Hard Cast ammo for about $109.00 w/shipping. This is the cheapest hunting type of ammo that I could find anywhere and I talked to people at Corbon and they said it would be very effective ammo for black bear defense with my S&W 629-4. Well, I think I have to save money now so this will do me for a while. This is not the type of ammo I plan on using much. I hope this ammo will work well in my gun. I will shoot 6 rounds or so at the range to see how it functions.

I saw a few other types of ammo in this category but I was skeptical. The guy at S&W told me to avoid Buffalo Bore ammo as I read him the specs of the 300gr 1300fps and he said that was bit too much pressure for the S&W 629. He suggested I use Federal 325gr, but it was no where to be found. The Double Tap ammo looked like it was not a heavy enough bullet and also was JHP, which I was told to avoid. So, I settled on the Corbon Hunter 325gr.

I also have 250 rounds of 240gr Fiocchi JSP ammo coming to me, which I will use for general plinking with the gun. I purchased these for around 0.60 a bullet.

 

[MovedWest]

For the heavy rounds out of a short revolver for a bear defense situation like that it might be best to get something that's going to allow fast shot to shot recovery. Bears are amazingly fast and that second shot might make the difference in whether or not you spend your weekend as bear poop or not. A pistol is better than nothing, but a shotgun w/slugs is really your best defense against most things bear. A second shot will almost always be a desirable option for handgun defense.

For heavy rounds and manageable recoil I really like the Hornady 300gr XTP's. The energy transfer is great and they're way milder on recoil than their 240gr XTP's making recovery between shots quicker. Also the Hornady XTP is legendary for expansion. My 2 cents.

As for plinking rounds for magnum or special, think fun and affordable. For factory loads, try to keep price per round below $0.80 per shot and you'll be alright. Nothing is more annoying than a pistol you can't afford to shoot. As someone mentioned earlier reloading is a viable option, but be careful - RELOADING CAN BE HABIT FORMING! The rounds you purchase can also vary depending on whether or not you plan to reload them.

Remington makes good brass, but the rounds are generally loaded hotter than most causing pretty heavy recoil. Hornady is amazing at quality control and their brass reloads wonderfully, but it's pricey and hard to come by if you don't know where to look. Winchester WB is cheap, but generally dirty to shoot and I find the tolerances require more attention to prep than do Remington or Hornady. Also not sure the cases of WB rounds can stand up to as many reloads. Federal American Eagle is pretty affordable, decent for reloads, acceptably accurate, and a good happy medium all around. Case discounts can make bulk purchases attractive.

For your 44spl rounds, it's tough to find rounds. Most rounds are cowboy loads which are generally lead round nose and more smokey when fired. Probably not good to be breathing if shooting indoors. Hornady makes good 44spl rounds, but they're still about the price of magnums.

What it all really comes down to though is what feels good to you.

Good luck in your search and congrats on the new addition!

-MW

 

[Travis Bickle]

4. Home defense ammo

This article says that the Cor-Bon 180 grain JHP is the best.

 

[Oro]

Let me add one other thing about "peace of mind" and guns in bear country. I don't know what your usage patterns are, but here are my most common ones: we generally go as a pair on horseback in the north Cascade range frequently April - November. Since starting this, we have averaged 1.5 close bear sighting per year. "Close" means within 100 yards. None have been confrontations, but we cross paths enough I take this seriously. Horses are also "prey" animals and inviting to bears, as predators. I take my defense pretty seriously - partly because I like living, but also I am a stupid crazy animal nut and I love my horse enough I would not for a second hesitate to get between him and a bear. Not kidding - I once spent 3 days in a hospital fighting to save my hand because I got between my dog and a predator (I had health insurance, my dog did not. It was a good trade).

What I do know is carry a .30-30 in a scabbard and a .44 mag on my person (sometimes one of my beloved .357s with hot loads when I am feeling charitable). The other thing I do now, is I arm my travelling partner with heavy hard lead .357 loads in a handy S&W revolver. If in a group of two or more in bear country, I make sure at least two people are carrying suitable hard rounds in magnum calibers.

This, in the last few years, has let me relax a bit and enjoy the travel more - knowing another pair of competent hands and eyes are armed and backing me up. If you are routinely hiking/biking/riding etc. with others, train and arm them. It greatly increases your safety factor. Of course if you are hiking/travelling alone this doesn't help, but I throw this out there for those of use who have this option and may not be thinking about it.