.44 Special as a Defensive Load?

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I just ordered some Buffalo Bore 255gr Lead Keith-Type SWC from midway, it was actually available today. I also ordered some DoubleTap 200gr Bonded Defense JHP should be available on the 22nd. I going to Chrono them with the Silvertips. The winner will be carried. Thanks for the help!
 
I do not mind spending $$$ on self defense ammo, but how much does "Range" ammo go for in .44 special, compared to say, .327 mag? (Thinking about getting a .44 special or a .327 mag)
 
The last time I saw .44 Special (Winchester Cowboy 240 gr LFN) at WalMart it was $30 or so per box of 50.

I am not sure what the current price would be, since .44 Special is pretty far down on the ammo companies production lists, and none exists in retail form at the present time.
 
I am not sure what the current price would be, since .44 Special is pretty far down on the ammo companies production lists, and none exists in retail form at the present time.
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Not sure, as I haven't seen any, either, but he did ask us to compare the cost to the new .327 Mag. rounds. That's a new cartridge that is (was, really) being pushed by Ruger, and that might mean there are a few on the shelves, but there are so few guns chambered in it, compared to the millions of .44 Special & Mag guns in the country, that real demand would seem to be pretty scant.

I'd imagine that it's a lot easier to find .44 Spc. (even at $30 a box :eek:) than .327 Mag.

I reload my .44 Spcs for about $0.10 or $0.15 a shot. It pays to shoot lead and buy in bulk! :)

-Sam
 
An old crusty Idaho cowboy named Elmer Keith knocked down a lot of stuff with hot 44 Special loads. If it was good enough for him... well...
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But Elmer's handloads were dancing on the heels of the .44 Magnum. If controllability and shootability in this lightweight revolver are key issues, Elmer's loads wouldn't be much of a reduction in recoil and pain.
 
I'm not sure about the weight of the scandium revolver herein, but .44 Special is just fine for self defense.

I'm a reloader, so ammo is fairly inexpensive. I've got a lot of confidence in a flat fronted heavy bullet at moderate velocities. A .429" 200 grain SWC or WC at close to 800 f/s should be adequate for general purposes. If that's too much recoil for the revolver under discussion, a 180 grain bullet generates less recoil.
 
.455_Hunter said:
The last time I saw .44 Special (Winchester Cowboy 240 gr LFN) at WalMart it was $30 or so per box of 50.

I am not sure what the current price would be, since .44 Special is pretty far down on the ammo companies production lists, and none exists in retail form at the present time.
Click to expand...
That's about what I remember-- one of our 3 Wal Marts got some 44spl in some time back-- it was the only pistol ammo on the shelf for about two weeks-- well except the sam old box of .357 Sig...I think it was marked at like $28.86 or something..
I love the .44 Spl, but I am money short most days and have not sprung to reload-- it is on my short-ish list though...

Good luck!
 
An old crusty Idaho cowboy named Elmer Keith knocked down a lot of stuff with hot 44 Special loads. If it was good enough for him... well...
Click to expand...

+1

That 44 special is a mighty effective round, that is plenty versatile. Honestly, I don't feel undergunned even with moderate fps rounds. Most moderate velocity 44 spl rounds nearly equate the 45acp ball round. If it's a manstopper in 45acp (which I carry on duty), it's just as effective in 44 spl (which I carry into the woods). When you load it up to Elmer's hot loads, well then, you have a real powerhouse on your hands.
 
The Winchester Silvertip sounds perfect for home defense.

Low velocity, low recoil, low blast, but still packing a formidable punch. I suspect anyone getting hit squarely with one would cease and desist and die rather expeditiously.

Seven hundred feet per second might be a little slow, but how fast do you think Elmer Keith's rounds were going when they hit the mule deer at 600 yards?

;)
 
used to carry a 44 bulldog about 20+ yrs.ago.

had it stoked w\ 200gr.silvertips.not much of a choice back then.

was also used as my backpackin' pistol.

never once did I feel under-gunned.

not many grizzly round here:p

clown
 
If you reload for .44 Mag, you might consider some "light .44 Mag" loads for defense, rather than the .44 Special.

That way, if you ever want to carry it with the stiffer loads (like for bear), you won't be fighting the accumulation issues that can occur with sustained use of the shorter brass in the longer chambers.

On the other hand, if you will always use it as a .44 Special, you can ignore this concern and just get decent self-defense loads in .44 Special.
 
The .44 spl. has become a handloader's cartridge, if you want to use it to full advantage. The Corbon loads are OK if you subscribe to the light bullet traveling at the speed of light theory. If you want a heavy bullet at moderate velocity you don't have a lot of reasonably priced choices. The CCI 200 gr. Gold Dot is a very good compromise in a snub carry gun. I like the .44 spl. well enough that it has been my choice for carry for over twenty years. It is a great cartidge, just not very popularly marketed for the masses.
 
I have used the 200 grain .44 special LHP from federal on deer and it has worked. The tissue damage was awesome, but failed to bust thru the shoulder joint. I would use it for self defense in a heartbeat.
 
If you reload for .44 Mag, you might consider some "light .44 Mag" loads for defense, rather than the .44 Special.

That way, if you ever want to carry it with the stiffer loads (like for bear), you won't be fighting the accumulation issues that can occur with sustained use of the shorter brass in the longer chambers.

On the other hand, if you will always use it as a .44 Special, you can ignore this concern and just get decent self-defense loads in .44 Special.
Click to expand...

I just did some quick counting of empty primer boxes while cleaning out my reloading area last night. 5,300 .44 Specials through my 629 this year.

I still don't have these carbon accumulation issues that I keep hearing about. I clean that gun religiously, though. At least once every 500 rounds probably. More or less. A brush takes out the carbon and I'm good to throw some Magnums.

Having shot a bunch of .44 SPC. and a bit of .44 Mag as well in competition, I can say definitively that the Special cases load and unload a LOT faster than the Mags. Line up better coming out of the speedloader and clear the cylinder faster on the way out.

So that's a pretty good reason to use the Special brass when you can.

-Sam
 
From all I've read the .44 Special round is an excellent self-defense cartridge.

I have three revolvers in that caliber and, in no uncertain terms, would I EVER want to get shot by that caliber.

I don't know from actual experience but anyone who got shot by that caliber would be in DEEP, DEEP trouble IMHO.
 
I'm going shooting as soon as they arrive, I'll report back with the results (accuracy, recoil, and velocity) when I do. Again, thanks for the help. This thread effectively made me very anxious to test the three brands (CCI, Buffalo Bore, and the DoubleTap) and I will definitely be keeping the 44 SPL.
 
I love the 200 grain GDHP, BB Heavy .44 Special Ammo - 180 gr. J.H.P. (1,150 fps/M.E. 543 ft.lbs. BB 255 Keith or CB DPX@950.

These all equal the .45ACP in performance. Any should serve you well.

Shooter429
 
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