.44 S&W Special Revolver Shooter's Thread

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Well, sir, you have insulted my favorite pocket protector. I may have to take her to the range and let her make some noise. Poor gal - I told her how cute she was, emblazoned with the Ti atom on one side. Her diet reminder - 200gr or less does distress her. I even offered her some new britches (See below.) - and changed topics when she wanted to know if it made her butt look big. She did like knowing they were universally sized. I couldn't bear telling her they were actually for a .500 Magnum!

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Words hurt. I had several folks some years back besmertch my 7.5" Ruger .454 SRH. One later saw it sporting a scope - said he didn't think it could get uglier - but he was wrong! I tried to make fun of it, too - almost - called it a 'techno-ugo' on several occasions. Oddly, my 'less pleasing revolvers' have all been very loud and real hand slappers, when fed properly. They do have feelings - let's be kind - more considerate.

Case in point - my younger sister - so ugly, she had to sneak up on a gourd to get a dip of water. Loud - and a recoil, too - just like those revolvers. Once, she told me in front of our mother that she couldn't wait to 'dance on my grave'. I told her nobody would ever take her out to teach her to dance... and I got grounded. She found a nearly blind & deaf fellow with a poor sense of smell who would marry her - Carter was Prez - they are still married. I am sure he watches his words. Words can hurt.

Gotta go console that 296...

Stainz
 
OK Stainz, your heart's in the right place and all that - but I'm not fooled.

Taking that thing to the range.....

Well, that just qualifies as a pity shoot.

But good on you I guess. Somebody has to do it.



icky
 
PITY SHOOT?? Gasp... luckily, the little pig, er, 296 is in the other room.

Now, taking this thing to the range defines a pity shoot!

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This is my lightest triggered 1895 Nagant - still over 20 lb in DA. I don't know which is more pitiful - the gun or the ammo (I have to do obscene things to .32-20 brass to make it fit.).

I'm about to go to a monthly SPC contest. Several years ago, I did well with my 696 and some wimpy 240gr LSWCs in .44 Russian cases at one shoot. Five for five every stage - until the shoot-off with a sixth tie-breaker plate. Note to self... the little .44s are fun - especially with those cute Russian rounds. I just need more than five - reloading isn't good!

Stainz
 
Ohhhhhhhh, I do love my .44 Specials!

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S&W 624 engraved by Michael Gouse as a Skeeter Skelton tribute with a gold bead front sight, Deacon Deason Bear Hug Skelton style birdseye maple handles, and Skeeter's Bar-T cattle brand:

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1962 2nd Gen Colt SAA .44 Special 4 3/4" with old sambar stag handles:

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1982 3rd Gen Colt SAA .44 Special 5 1/2" with Executioner's American Elk stag handles:

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Cimarron 1872 Open Top .44 Special with Navy grip, brass gripstrap, dark blue finish and a 5 1/2" barrel. Custom action by Bob Munden with an 11 degree custom cut forcing cone:

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Pair of American Western Arms Peacekeepers in .44 Special:

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Ruger Blackhawk .44 Special Lipsey's Exclusive with 4 5/8" barrel. It has Cary C's birdseye maple stocks and American Scroll engraving as a Skeeter tribute to match my S&W 624:

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The Ruger, filthy dirty after shooting a bunch of Keith 250 grain bullets over 17.0 grains of 2400 last week:

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Yep, I sure do like the .44 Special!
 
And the winner is mm6mm6!!!! All I have to say is damn, beautiful revolvers. Bill
 
messerist: That sure looks like a twin to mine! The Bob Munden action on mine now is a night and day difference. My trigger pull is just a hair over one pound! The action is light and smooth and perfectly timed. It shoots like gangbusters too!
 
How is the price on a action job by him, if you don't mind me asking?
I did a lot of reading on the CAS website before deciding on the .44 special. I originally was going to go with a .45LC but was dissuaded from doing so by several Cowboy-Action shooters who said there have been barrel cracking issues with the .45 LC pistols due to metal thickness. The Open tops were just never designed for the larger .45 LC they said. Longhunter Supply has a complete action job and also will do the forcing cone to 11 degrees for $125. I have watched Bob Munden in action and I bet his work would be second-to-none. P.S. I am still cleaning up the drool after looking at your photos! I love gun porn:)
 
I carry a 329PD often. Although it's chambered as a .44 Magnum, I prefer shooting Specials in it. This revolver is without a doubt the most painful .44 Magnum I have ever shot, and I own a LOT of .44 Magnums (7 to be exact)! But as a carry revolver, this revolver is so light you hardly know you have it on.
 
I got Munden's $185 action job (but that includes return shipping) and the forcing cone cut for (I think) $40 and I had "Custom by Bob Munden" engraved on the barrel's right side (you can see it in my "playing cards" photo) for another $40. I figured if I'm having Munden do the work, I wanted the gun marked forever as such.

His prices are on his website at www.bob-munden.com

I think his action job is well worth the $185 because he uses his own hand made replacement springs, he replaces the hand, and takes the gun apart, files for perfect timing, reassembles the gun, checks it, disassembles it again, checks it, etc. His $185 price also includes return insured shipping (for a heavy gun like the 1872, that was $65 via UPS next day from him to me here in Illinois).

I'm sure there are plenty of gunsmiths who can smooth out an 1872 just as well, but none of them are as famous as Munden and none of them are on tv's Impossible Shots like Munden.

Plus, I really like him! I think he's hysterical!
 
Thanks, mm6mm6. I was getting ready for church - found the PC still on - and here at THR. I didn't know I was incontinent until I got to your Skeeter 624. I guess I'll be late. I hang my head in shame, too. My .44s are that butt-ugly 296, in a Mika pocket holster in my pocket now, the ugly 696, and a pair of 629 posers. Gotta go - thanks for the pictures. Will I make the service? I guess it Depends...

I remember Super Bob and his bride in cowboy garb - with Carson - on the 'Tonight Show'... just glad Don Rickles wasn't guest-hosting!

Soggy Stainz
 
One of my favorite .44 Especials

An old 3rd model that went to Houston PD and was heavily modified by a gunman somewhere in the past to fit his needs............


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Sorry about that Stainz! I hope you're not stained too badly!

lawandorder: I've seen pics of that amazing .44 before and those grips still make me wonder how that was accomplished. I can only imagine how that Colt SAA style grip must feel on a DA S&W! Super neat!
 
Steve I hope someday you and I get to run a box or two thru it, maybe down on Tierra Blanca Creek.
Stay Safe Amigo!
 
I don't have a dedicated .44 spl revolver, but regulary shoot specials through my .44 mags, which include a Super Blackhawk Bisley and a new-to-me three-inch 629-1.

I'm getting set up to reload at the moment. For all you reloaders, is there any reason to prefer .44 spl brass over downloading .44 mag brass to .44 spl velocities? I've accumlated way more .44 mag brass than .44 spl over the years.
 
Legionnaire,

I've used Accurate Arms 5744 for downloading large capacity cases to get reduced velocities. I've never used it in a .44 magnum case yet, but I think it ought to work pretty well to get .44 Special velocities without the problems associated with too little powder in the case.

As an added benefit, 5744 isn't the most popular powder, so finding it in today's market conditions is a little easier.
 
Purty pistola there jfh........... :)

Great caliber.

I've used Accurate Arms 5744 for downloading large capacity cases to get reduced velocities. I've never used it in a .44 magnum case yet, but I think it ought to work pretty well to get .44 Special velocities without the problems associated with too little powder in the case.
Click to expand...
No such thing back when I used SR-4759 in .44 Special. I am quite sure it was over normal pressure. Sure did bark, but I had no chrono at the time, so I have no idea of the velocities, and I would be leery of posting the charge weight. I do have some 5744 now. It may be worth a try. Dang. You've got me wanting to try yet another combination. ;)

Of the limited powders I had back then, 700X was easily the most accurate with lead.
 
For the .44 Special:

http://www.reloadammo.com/44sloads.htm

240-250 grain Lead SWC or RN + Gas Check (GC)
AA 5744 12.5 gr. 737 MAX
Click to expand...



Hit the .44 Magnum page - http://www.reloadammo.com/44loads.htm - to see some pretty smokin' magnum data using it. It's a really bulky powder.

Accurate now has reintroduced XMP-5744, a slow burning, bulky powder and is good in magnum pistol loads. Get a copy of their booklet and check this powder out. It may be the best of all.
Click to expand...


If I were to use .44 Magnum cases to shoot .44 Special velocities, 5744 is the first powder I'd try it with.
 
What's the general feeling about the quality and strength of Cimarron revolvers? I just purchased one without doing much of my usual thinking. Ok, I'll admit it, I don't think much before I buy most of my guns. But its a 44sp and it feels great. Haven't shot it yet.
 
well that 624 I bought really is a keeper--

at least insofar as the recall issues on them. I talked to S&W CS about an hour ago, and they confirmed that it had been in for the cylinder check.

I found the brass, fortunately, picked up some 200-gr. LRNFPs and 200-gr. GDJHPSBs, and am awaiting the arrival of the dies and a new turret. The rest of the components are on hand. I think I will try 231 and AA#5 first; those are powders I have on hand in big quantities, and it does look like they should work OK....

So, perhaps over the weekend we can find out a bit more.

This thread is a valuable resource, IMO.

Jim H.
 
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