.44 Russian in S&W 629s & Taurus Trackers chambered for .44mag

[40SW]

I have two revolvers chambered in .44mag, they are the Taurus Tracker and S&W 629. I usually shoot .44 specials in them ,but will occasionally run a few cylinders of .44mag. I love both revolvers, but have also come across occasional specials offered by places like The Sportsman's Guide and Midway where they offer cases of American, and Ultramax .44 Russian ammo priced way below what .44mag and .44 special would cost. Example, .44MAG runs about $25-$30/box of 50 at Walmart (Remington/Winchester), .44 special is similar price at gunshops, but the .44 Russian can be had for as little as $150-$170 for a case of 500 for the more generic brands, so thats almost half the price of the .44mag and the .44 special. I know the .44 Russian is anemic compared to both the .44mag and .44 special. I think the 200gr lead offerings run about 750-850 fps with approx 300 ft.lbs of energy, but I am not looking for it to be a hunting or defensive load. My goal is to build muscle memory with the afore mentioned pistol models so that I can become more proficient with the heavier .44mag and .44 special loads. I have also heard that the .44 Russian leaves heavier deposits in the cylinder chambers and requires more cleanup, which I don't mind. What about accuracy? Any tips in the S&W 629 and the Taurus Tracker would help. Thanks.

 

[Old Fuff]

There is no reason you can't shoot current .44 Russian cartridges in a .44 Special or .44 Magnum, but afterwards you will have to remove ALL lead fouling in the chambers or you will have trouble extracting the longer .44 rounds later. Recoil will be very light, which for your purposes may be fine, but be sure they aren't loaded with black powder before you buy them. Unlikely, but possible.

 

[40SW]

OldFuff:
Excellent feedback, any specific brands/loads that you would recommend in .44 Russian for the above mentioned two models of revolvers.?

 

[Old Fuff]

Not particularly. In the distant past I trimmed .44 Special cases and loaded black powder to shoot in original S&W Russian model revolvers. Obviously you do not want to use black powder.

The cartridges they are making today are intended to be used by Cowboy Action Shooter is replica top-break and open-top revolvers that shouldn't be used with anything stronger. I can't see any reason to use them in anything else, except for what you stated - for the moment you can buy them for less, and that's a pretty good reason right there.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I've tried the Ultramax 44 Russians in a couple of 44mags. They work fine, but in my guns leaded severely. Those bullets are soft. Plenty of cleanup to keep you busy.

 

[40SW]

Makes sense to me. Also, for the longest time, I have neglected this issue, I do have to admit that I am excited, for the simple reason that I have never shot this cartridge before.
Technically, I knew for the longest time that I could shoot .44 Russian in my revolvers chambered for .44mag , but simply never got around to trying it.
In the end, its simply fun to try something new. I am excited.

 

[40SW]

What do you guys think of this special for 500 rds?
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=293302

 

[Old Fuff]

The price is right, but in exchange you are going to have to do a some extra work cleaning the chambers. If money is more important then time and effort this is a good deal - or an excuse to buy one of the old-time reproductions that are chambered to use it.

 

[DaleCooper51]

I am not sure what kind of brass it is loaded into, but buying 500 pieces of brass would run me about $100. For a few dollars more you get a fully loaded cartridge with brass to reload. I would seriously consider reloading if you do not already. I can load 500 hardcast for under $50 not including brass amortization. I have a very small setup with my press and powder measure bolted to a 18" of 2x10. It gets clamped to my desk and put away neatly when done. It is not the optimal setup, but it does the trick.

 

[40SW]

Excellent feedback, thanks, also does anyone have specific experience shooting .44 Russian in the S&W 629 & the Taurus Tracker? How about accuracy at 10-25 yrds? Both are the 4 inch barrel.

 

[44and45]

To each his own, but I'd never shoot shorter .44 Russian, .44 special, in a .44 magnum revolver.

I detest the lead and fowling that builds up in the cylinder throat jump of .44 maggies.

Plus, all the thrill of cleaning guns after shooting has departed decades ago.

Jim

 

[DaleCooper51]

I don't have a 629 or a Taurus tracker, but I do have a 4" 624, a 696 and a taurus 431. From the 624, my russian loads feel like a .38 wadcutter from a 6" model 19. They are poof loads, but still bang the steel plates pretty well. I can look up my load data as I mostly shoot specials. I get about the same accuracy with the russians as I do with the specials from my revolvers. Some days its good, some it isnt, but that is mostly operator error.

 

[40SW]

Thanks DaleCooper and everyone else, More feedback always welcome.
Also, some folks look at cleaning as a chore, for me its very relaxing. I enjoy cleaning and working on my guns almost as much as shooting. Truly.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Also, some folks look at cleaning as a chore, for me its very relaxing. I enjoy cleaning and working on my guns almost as much as shooting. Truly

In my opinion, sitting together and cleaning guns after a shooting session ranks right up there with sitting at the dining room table and having coffee after a satisfying meal. The opportunity for conversation and bonding is incredible.

 

[SWMAN]

I've used all three in my six inch 629-6, and the most accurate at 25 yards was the 44 Russian. Clean up is not hard. The Russians were lead, I forget what grain.

 

[Stainz]

I have shot, reloaded, and shot the same 600+ Starline .44 Russian cases many times. I use Meister or Oregon Trails Laser Cast 240gr LSWC & LRNFP over 3.5-4.0 gr Titegroup with Fed LP primers. Yep, they leave some carbon & lead - as do the .44 Specials, in my 4" & 6" 629s - and, Ruskies only, in my 696. Hoppes & Breakfree - and a chamber brush - remove it quite easily. Just start with longer cases, progressing to shorter cases, during a shooting sessions - and clean those chambers before going 'long' again. I have experimentally proved the folly in NOT doing this - at the cost of my original 4" 629 - a Mountain Gun. I replaced it with a standard 4" 629. I sold my blued 24's several years ago, replacing them with a new 6" 629. That's two current production, IL included, 629s used for Russians & Specials, and when cleaned - for Magnums.

I load a poof load of 3.5gr Titegroup in those Russian cases under a 240gr LSWC - yields 692 fps from my 3" 696 - which, despite it's mild report, yields a 'major' power factor >165! They are super fun... but get good ammo.

I bought nine boxes of that same 'American Ammunition' 240 gr LRN(FP) .44 Special ammo for $45 from a local store several years ago. That's $5/50! I took most of it back and swapped it for primers. It was nasty - not crimped, so it only made 689 fps SD +/-19 fps from a 4.6" Ruger SBH. I ran it through my reloading press's crimper and got 710 +/-10 fps. Still, nasty! The flash holes were not centered - I now toss 'A-Merc' headstamped brass. We had one of their .223 cases that had NO flash hole! It ruined an AR's bolt.

Try smaller ammo makers - Alabama Ammunition - Georgia Arms - they may load .44 Russians & Specials more affordably. Like tools & guns, you can't pay too much for 'good' ammo!

Stainz

PS I love those .44 Russians - they are very accurate at 12-25yd. The LSWC drags a bit - and doesn't start at a high rate, so accuracy starts to really suffer at 50+ yd.