44 special vs 44mag

[jeepster7567]

Just wondering why some 44 specials such as the lew horton w/ 3 inch barrels are so in demand by buyers but are not made by anyone but charter now. Also why not go with a smith model 629 w/ a 3 inch barrel instead. seems like the best of both worlds. For Home defense just load w/ specials and if hiking/backpacking load it w/ magnums?

 

[Imaginos]

Violation or Rule #1

Rule 1) Thou shalt not do that which makes sense.

 

[targetshootr]

Good question. I've heard there's not much of a market for that caliber but somehow I wound up with 7 or 8 guns that are 44 spl only. All Smiths or converted Ruger SAs.


....oops, forgot about the Colt New Frontier. Nice gun.

 

[surfinUSA]

I love shooting 44 specials out of my 629. I would never buy a gun chambered in 44 special only though. For my money I want the versatility of the 44 magnum rather than the limitation of the 44 special.

 

[targetshootr]

The nice thing about 44 spl only guns is they don't have to be on a magnum platform. And it can be loaded close to magnum levels. And you don't have to worry about build-up on the magnum cylinder. And it has a terrific history. OK, maybe there's more than just one nice thing.

 

[mrkubota]

Used to be you could get the S&W 696 (5-shot .44spl)
It's slimmer than the 629 and easier to carry as it's built on the K frame with a 5rnd cylinder instead of the N frame 629 6rnd cylinder.

http://www.daplane.com/images/3inch.jpg
http://www.daplane.com/images/696-1.jpg

 

[Third_Rail]

jeepster7567, basically it boils down to the fact that some people want a particular thing just because it's no longer made or is somehow rare or deemed "worthy" by a magazine/article/whomever. People pay outrageous prices sometimes, that's all.

Oh, and welcome to THR, mrkubota!

 

[Ranger61]

I find that as I get more (and more) guns that I shoot magnums in the magnum guns and special guns to shoot specials in. Thats why I have Model 14s and model 19s and 629s and 624s. Any excuse to buy a new gun is a good one!

 

[surfinUSA]

Mrkubota the 696 is not a K frame they were built on the slightly larger L frame (same as the 686). And although this gun is slimmer than the 629, many like myself would prefer to have a 7 shot 357 mag over a 5 shot 44 special when they are built on the same basic gun.

As far as I know, S&W never built a 44 special on the K frame. There is a picture floating around the boards of a model 19 K frame that someone had converted to a 5 shot 44 special.

 

[Marshall]

Mrkubota the 696 is not a K frame they were built on the slightly larger L frame (same as the 686).

What he said. I have one, nice gun!

 

[mrkubota]

Thanks for keeping things straight guys...

"Mrkubota the 696 is not a K frame they were built on the slightly larger L frame (same as the 686). "

Absolutely right! ....(I do know that... really...!)
Guess I've been spending too much time with my .50s lately and not enough with the rest of the family

 

[targetshootr]

basically it boils down to the fact that some people want a particular thing just because it's no longer made or is somehow rare or deemed "worthy" by a magazine/article/whomever. People pay outrageous prices sometimes, that's all.

Interestingly, sometimes a caliber is also useful and fun, regardless of writers or scarcity.

 

[surfinUSA]

There is certainly nothing wrong with the 44 special. Its a great round with a great history. Loved by Elmer Keith a great handgunner.

Like I said earlier, I really enjoy it in my 629 I just wouldn't buy a gun that couldn't also handle magnum. Prior to the 696 all S&W 44 specials were built on the N frame (same as the magnum). So for the same weight and size with the extra versatility, I like to buy the magnum gun. It makes me and maybe others, feel we are getting a little more for our money thats all.

 

[DHart]

I just bought a 3" 696.. great gun... feels a bit like a 686 (same L-frame).

I agree, though, that if one were considering a .44 special in an N-frame (24/624), then perhaps better to buy a .44 mag. 29/629 and get a lot more versatility out of that same 3" N-frame. EXCEPT... cleaning out the residue to prevent build-up in those chambers from the shorter .44 spl. loads... is a bit of a pain. Oh well... we should all know by now that in life there is NO free lunch! ;-)=

I also have a 3" 629 on the way, so I guess I'll know first hand here pretty soon about cleaning out the ends of those chambers. (I'm thinking about shooting mostly slightly warm .44 special loads out of both my 696 and 629.)

 

[Majic]

Versitility isn't always the name of the game. Some shooters just don't want the magnum power. The same is true of .38sp shooters not wanting a .357mag revolver.
If I want the power, recoil, and blast of a magnum then I have revolvers for that, but if I want the relaxing easy shooting Specials then I have revolvers specifically for that task. It does save on all the scrubbing of chambers when just using one revolver for both cartridges.

 

[Stainz]

I just bought a new 5" half-lug 686+ less than two weeks ago. I have taken it to the range four times thus far. It, like my sixteen month old 6" 66, will only see .38's and .38-level .357 loads here. I find it's longer chambers can easily be cleaned with a proper size chamber brush, Hoppes #9, and some time to permit the solvent to 'work'. In this regard, my first .44, a 629 Mountain Gun, regularly shoots .44 Russians and Specials, and is similarly easy to clean. My .44 Specials, a pair of 24's and my two-year old 696, also see their share of the short .44 Russians... and are just as easily cleaned.

BTW, I would feel more safe with my five shot 696 or 296 - as long as I can keep my 200gr Gold Dots. I don't feel that seven 158gr LHPSWC +P 'FBI' loads would be better in most self-defense scenarios... but, that is my opinion (... and, the shorter barrels help!).

Stainz

 

[zeke]

As much as i like the 44 special, if i was looking for the best versatality and ease of loading wide variety of very accurate rounds from 44 bore N-frame, a newer M629 or new 29 Mt gun would be picked over the older 3 in Lew Horton 44 specials (or 624's from same era).

This decision would relate more to the tighter chamber throats on the newer 44 mags (also on newer 44 specials), which appear to be about .429. Have an older very nice M24 3incher, and the throats are .434 (in spec when manufactured). Also have 2 pristine M624's (3in and 4 in), with slightly tighter chamber throats (.433). This situation also seems to be apparent with the 45 acp/45 LC S&W's.

Without using oversized,special soft lead or longer barrel, the difference in accuracy from the newer tighter dimensions is definetly significantly noticable, when using lighter jacketed bullets or commonly available lighter lead (.429.430 in)

The 44 special seems to always have had a smaller following, am quessing at least some of that relates to accuracy potential from the era available pistols. If had to quess, which is exactly what am doing, most older 44 specials were designed to shoot the heavier lead loads at lower pressures.

While the 24 3incher owned is downright beatiful pistol and collectible, if considering practicality would be more than willing to trade the 24 3 in for a newer M629 3 in, particulary a full lugged barrel version.

Again, the above is just opinion.

 

[surfinUSA]

Stainz why would you limit your self defense rounds to 38 special levels especially in a L frame. The K frame isn't weak and can handle substantial amounts of magnums especially the 158 gr and the L frame can go its entire life and never see a 38 special without ill effect.

Not that the 38 special is bad. The 44 special may be better than the 38P+LSWCHP but I wouldn't bet any real money on it. In the last 23 years I can think of alot of gunfights this round ended. Unfortunately sending both good and bad guys in the ground.

 

[DHart]

.44 spl. vs. .44 mag considerations for guns with 3" barrels:

For defense, I like heavy-for-caliber bullets pushed at good velocities from fairly short barrels. These specifications tend to work against .44 special.

For consideration of a 3" barrel N-frame model, I would definitely pick the .44 mag 29/629... not because I want to shoot full-house .44 mag loads... in fact, I don't enjoy shooting those at all. I would choose it to be able to make loads which are HOT by .44 spl. standards and MILD by .44 mag. standards.

Part of this is related to my preferred barrel length which, in these guns, is 3". So for me, the problem with the 24/624 is that with a barrel length of 3", the .44 spl. case has to be loaded pretty much close to or at maximum to develop decent velocity. That's working the cases and the gun pretty hard, harder than I would prefer to work them. Remember too that with a 3" barrel, it's better to use faster powders which can create their power without relying on a long barrel. This puts potent defense loadings for a 3" .44 special at or beyond maximum pressure.

It isn't that a .44 special load is incapable of defense duty, far from it, especially if you're working with a 5" or 6" barrel! But this caliber's hands are tied pretty tightly for use in short barrels.

If a 29/629 3" is selected instead, it's possible to make .44 mag loads which are right at or just beyond the maximum load for .44 spl. but still well below the maximum .44 mag. power, without working the cases or the gun very hard at all. And you can also shoot mousephart .44 special Cowboy Loads in the gun for really light shooting pleasure.

What I'd consider an excellent defense load with a 3" .44 caliber revolver (very effective, yet still quite managable) is a 245 gr. Keith-style cast bullet travelling at about 900 fps, yielding 440 fpe. This is considered a "starting" load by .44 magnum standards, but well beyond maximum by .44 special standards. This is the reason I would choose to buy a 3" 29/629 over a 3" 24/624. Certainly you could buy a 24/624 and a 29/629, but I see no need to buy nearly duplicate N-frame revolvers when the 29/629 can do it all.

In fact, I did just buy a 629 3" which I'm expecting to arrive in a week or so. Now I need to figure out a good defense load for my 696!