.44 S&W Special Revolver Shooter's Thread

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sorry no pics. 696 (3),3 in M624, 4 in M624, 3 in M24 (80's version), 3 in M24 newer version, Taurus 445, 4 5/8 and 7 1/2 in awa's, Ruger 4 5/8, Colt 7 1/2 New Frontier, S&W M24-5 (2).

The S&W M24-5 is the 6 1/2 skinny barrel with high brass bead front site, and is the most accurate of the bunch.

Am loading 200 lrnfp's (800 fps from 696), 200 gn Speer GDHP (900 fps from 696) and Hdy 180 xtp's (1000 fps from 696)
 
I will try to get pic's up later. But my favorite plinking revolver is a semi custom SBH, cut down to 5" with a Wiegang front and Ivory grips. Took some Mothers Mag Wheel polish and got her to shine like it was chromed. Makes for easy cleanup. The gun only sees my handloads, all Skeeter and Keith loadings (429421 and 429244GC). The most accurate by far is the 7.5 grains of Unique over the 429421. I regularly hit metal bowling pins at 50 yards with that load and it is my standard. Hits em hard every time. I have a lot of love for the .44 Special. Bill
 
OK, now that I have time here is my collection of .44 Specials.

624 with 6.5" barrel
SW624.jpg

624 with 4" barrel
SW624-0.jpg

24-3 with 4" barrel
IMG_0004.jpg

Taurus 445
445SS.jpg
 
Ah, some pretty things here that do that savage number on the heart :)

So what is an inexpensive way to get into a used .44 special as a shooter?

William
 
Inexpensive

I don't know what a Blackhawk in 44 Special costs, (recent addition to the Ruger line.) but Blackhawks in general are not too steep.

Then there is Taurus. You see the snubby two frames up? This was available in conventional blued steel and in titanium in assorted colors. The same frame was available with a six inch barrel, slightly bigger wood grips, and adjustable sights if you can find one. It's a five holer on a frame about the size of a S&W K frame so it's a compact revolver for 44 Special with a six inch barrel and adjustable sights.

Charter has sold a 5 holer snubby for years, but I view it as at the bottom of the heap for desirability.

S&W 24s and 624s in good condition will bring a price. For vintage guns, the Colt SAA and New Service were so chambered, but they don't qualify as cheap these days.

Some people in the past have had a S&W 27 or 28 converted, but that doesn't strike me as cheap either.

Some of these guns will stand up to hot rodding, some won't. Be sure of what you have before you take up hot rodding.
 
My favorite SA .44 - a 4.6" SBH I bought new just to fit a QPR Bird's Head Grip to - for .44 Specials and Russians (No, that .458 Lott wouldn't fit...). I tried a 180gr SJHP UMC .44 Magnum with it so gripped - once! The thing rotated in my hand, ending with the muzzle pointed skyward - and the hammer spur on the top of my hand. The slick Micarta was like a slick plastic gearshift knob - round. Fine for Specials & Russians.

BHGSBH.jpg

It had similar siblings here in .32, .357M, & .45 Colt - all 4.6" SS BHG with black Micarta grips. All are gone now - victims of my Ruger-purge of '08. I miss the SBH conversion the most... just not enough to get it back - or make another one. I like DA's now.

Stainz
 
The little Taurus 445 was also available in Stainless which is what mine is. I first tried a Bulldog from Charter but found it to be junk. After selling it off I came across the Taurus. It's a decent gun for what I bought it for. It is also the first ported gun I've ever owned, now I'm sold on porting. Believe I paid $260 for the 445.

It isn't hard finding a .44 Special, the hard part is finding an affordable one. The Special has almost a cult following. The one's I have I found at gunshows or gun shops. To be honest I prefer the .44 mag, it's more versatile. As long as I own the mag version I see no reason to push the Special. And I have a fair amount of S&W mag revolvers.

Also, I don't push the .44 Mag. My favorite load for them is 15.0 gr of 2400 with a 250 gr LSWC at about 1050 fps. For the Special I like the same bullet with 7.5 gr of Unique for about 900 fps.
 
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You can shoot a Blackhawk for under $400 by going through the CDNN site and getting the 50th Anniversary model. The guns are 44 mags, but my 44 Sp rounds don't seem to mind.
 
nulflsin: Ur rite. I considered a Lipsey 44 special but it looks like my BH 44 mag. Same gun but mine is 44 mag vice 44 special. Why spend the money. I shoot mainly 44 special in mine but have the option shud I want it.
 
General question for you .44 Spec. afficianados: How does the recoil and blast compare to a .38 Spec. and .357 Mag.?
 
In "my" opinion, a .44 special is similar to a .38 special.
It has the same kind of push... only bigger, instead of the snap and blast of the .357.
I have a taurus445 5 shot snubby, my wifes 12 hear old can easily fire it with factory rounds.
I honestly dont know anyone who should have any issues firing them from a steel gun.


Jim
 
I have a taurus445 5 shot snubby, my wifes 12 hear old can easily fire it with factory rounds. I honestly dont know anyone who should have any issues firing them from a steel gun.
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Oooohhhh, can I post my favorite pic?

Teaching-1.jpg

My 7 year old daughter shooting .44 Specials out of my 4" 629.

While you can push it harder, a .44 Spc. is generally a very soft-shooting round, IMHO.
 
My newly refinished S&W Model 29-2. I've shot almost nothing but .44 Specials through it.

29-2R.jpg
 
calaverasslim, the .44 Special is built on what Ruger refers as their mid frame size, the frame and cylinder are smaller than your .44 Mag BH. Many people have been badgering Ruger to bring back the mid frame and chamber it in .44 Special for many years.

.44 Mag BH on the left and .44 Special on the right.
IMG_5139.jpg
IMG_5140.jpg
 
Sam, what load is she shootong there? I want to get my oldest son started on the big guns too.
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That's my IDPA load. I run 6.9 gr. of Trailboss and a 200 gr. LRN-FP. Makes about 850 fps or a bit more out of my 4" barrel.

You could cut it way down from that, though. 6.9 is at or maybe even a hair over the max .44 Spc. Trailboss load. [EDIT: Actually, it appears to be significantly over... .44 Mag guns only I guess.] According to Hodgdon/IMR's site you can go to 4.3 gr. of Trailboss with a 200 gr. LRN for a 757 fps load that would be a pussycat to shoot.

A bit of irony:

When I first got the gun I thought I wanted some "premium" .44 Special loads for carry. I bought 200 gr. JHP Winchester Silvertips at about $1.00 a round. They seemed a bit light when shot so I chrono'd them.

Imagine my surprise when I found they barely made 700 fps! :eek: :fire:
 
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Custom Built Bisley

Custom built Colt Bisley in .44 Special with elephant ivory grips. Yep!!! It shoots and carries as good as it looks. It rides high and out of the way in an El Paso Saddlery "Cross Hair." http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-162-11-crosshair.aspx
 

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Just an old taurus :cool: Looking for matching ones in diff barrell lengths.
 

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Just a personal observation and opinion......

The Smith & Wesson 296 is one of the ungainliest pieces of shooting machinery I have ever laid eyes on.

Looks for all the world like a bull preparing to mount a cow.

Blah....

:barf:
 
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