.44 Special as a CCW?

[Hank Dodge]

Yep...Finding a 696 now seems to be a real challenge. I love mine as I said before. I would like to find some quality wood grips for it however. The rubber grips feel good enough in the hand, but they tend to catch on a cover garment when carrying it. I'd prefer some smooth wood grips that would allow a cover garment to drape more naturally. Anybody steer me in the right direction?

 

[Walkalong]

Ahrends - Super nice grips.

Maybe Gator will post a pic of his 696 with the Ahrends Square Butt Smooth grips on it. Beautiful.

 

[Dan-O]

I really like both of my .44 Charters. Simply Rugged makes a good holster for them. I personally like using a Clipdraw in the Universal variety my self.

 

[Youngster]

The .44 is a well balanced cartridge that's rewarding to shoot but I wouldn't carry one for defence just off the fact that few good factory SD loads are available other than from specialty makes like Buffalo Bore, Doubletap and Corbon.

 

[Old Fuff]

Gee...

And to think that those old-time western lawmen weren't able to stop any bad guys because of a lack of "good factory SD loads."

Fools that they were, they thought that a well-placed .44 slug going at moderate velocities would do the job. Of course we all know that wasn't the case...

 

[Youngster]

And to think that those old-time western lawmen weren't able to stop any bad guys because of a lack of "good factory SD loads."

Fools that they were, they thought that a well-placed .44 slug going at moderate velocities would do the job. Of course we all know that wasn't the case...

Those old time lawmen stopped a lot of bad guys with .38 RNL too, but that doesn't mean I'd want to carry that load given all the better choices available today. As far as I'm concerned the .44 Special certainly throws enough bullet, quickly enough, but the lack of bullet development relative to more popular defensive calibers makes expansion somewhat of an iffy proposition.

 

[meef]

I wouldn't carry one for defence just off the fact that few good factory SD loads are available other than from specialty makes like Buffalo Bore, Doubletap and Corbon.

Ummm.... just how many good factory SD loads do you need?

I tend to be satisfied with just one in whatever I carry. Any of those should fill the bill I'd think. I wouldn't feel undergunned with any of them in my S&W Model 21.

Come to think of it, I don't

 

[Youngster]

Ummm.... just how many good factory SD loads do you need?

I tend to be satisfied with just one in whatever I carry. Any of those should fill the bill I'd think. I wouldn't feel undergunned with any of them in my S&W Model 21.

Come to think of it, I don't

What if they aren't always available or you find them too expensive to get much practice with?

 

[wheelgunslinger]

What if they aren't always available or you find them too expensive to get much practice with?

What if a bull had teats?

Most people who come onto message boards can be assumed to have internet access, I would think. These same people are always asking where and how much on guns, holsters, ammo, and those geeky amber lensed aviator shades so many gunnies wear.

So, it stands to reason that anyone on here could dial up or submit a web form to order the product they want. Not available/too expensive isn't an issue for the folk who are online, generally speaking. I mean, we're not talking about Lebel or Nambu calibers. It's 44 special.

 

[ravencon]

I don't normally CC a 4" bbl revolver. Nevertheless, I note that my S&W 629-2 weighs in at 42.5 oz loaded whereas my S&W 686-1 2.5" bbl weighs 38 oz.

Not too much weight difference. Shooting .44 spl in the 629-2 is quite pleasant.

 

[Old Fuff]

Those old time lawmen stopped a lot of bad guys with .38 RNL too, but that doesn't mean I'd want to carry that load given all the better choices available today. As far as I'm concerned the .44 Special certainly throws enough bullet, quickly enough, but the lack of bullet development relative to more popular defensive calibers makes expansion somewhat of an iffy proposition.

That's the problem with folks like the Old Fuff. They have been misguided to the point where they actually believe that accurate bullet placement is enough, and expansion isn't, in itself very important. Even more so, in real life it's often unpredictable.

If you are attacked you are probably on the defensive from git-go. To stop the action a precise hit on the other party's central nervous system is the quickest way to go. That takes marksmanship while under extreme stress, and just because the bullet happens to have a hollow nose won’t change the odds much. I could fill this thread with documented instances where (so called) high performance bullets/ammunition failed to stop a fight because the hits, when made, didn’t hit a vital area.

Too many people, depend to much, on having the latest in designer ammunition; when in reality it's a relatively small factor in the outcome in most shootings.

 

[sadp40]

a fine .44 thats not often spoke of

is the rossi 720/721 its an L-frame 5-shooter thats almost identical to the 696 smith. i was a fool and let one get away. but it was the 720 version that had adjustable sights and the fluted cylinder i really wanted the 721 bull cylinder fixed sight. the rossi was an accurate rugged shooter but i couldn't see buying .44spl for just one weapon so i let someone else enjoy her.

 

[Deputy25]

Not a .44 Special, but I often carry my 629 Mountain Gun loaded with WW .44 Special Silvertips. Holster is a Simply Rugged pancake.

 

[meef]

What if they aren't always available or you find them too expensive to get much practice with?

1.) If they aren't always available, get what you think you need/want to last you a while. It's out there.

2.) If you find them too expensive to get much practice with, you're going to find any good factory SD loads too expensive to get much practice with.

3.) If you just don't want to carry .44 special for self defense, well hey, that's fine with me. No need to search around for flimsy reasons to justify it. I forgive you.

 

[PRM]

See Pic

Picture says it all - from Tombstone AZ

 

[FoMoGo]

Blazer Gold Dots... mighty fine SD round... and wont break the bank.
My S&W M-21 is loaded up with them on my hip right now.


Jim

 

[jakk280rem]

if you can conceal it, rock it.

 

[Stainz]

Here is a Ti-cylindered/Al-framed S&W 296 - my CCW, when I can fit it and it's Mika's pocket holster in my front pocket. The combo fits ~75% of my pants' pockets.



Here it is holstered, along with a 642 in a Mika's pocket holster for scale comparison. Even though the 296 is a 2.5" L-frame, those boot grips help hide it.



The 296 is like a 642 on steroids. It - and my 696, sort of a bit nicer CA Bulldog, take the CA's HKS CA-44 speedloader. As to ammo, the 200gr Gold Dot, Speer #4427, was designed to open fully at an incident velocity of 800 fps, which it slightly usurps (805 fps) from the 296's 2.5" barrel with those Al-cased CCI Blazers in 50rd boxes. Speer also offers it in a Speer brass cased box-o-twenty. The best deal is the Georgia Arms new Starline brass loaded version - made 803 fps from my 296. They are proven to open to .7+ inches OD, too - in wet newsprint, gelatin, and even brisket. I no longer fear marauding Sunday papers - or dinner (Jell-o or roast). The GA Arms variant is less dear than the Blazers, now, too. Yeah, it's a great defensive round - I have speedloaders loaded with them for my 629s, even if they are in the safe!

Stainz