.44 spl defense loads poll for use in .44 mag hunting cannon

[kmrcstintn]

here's the topic...you own a .44 mag hunting revolver with a longer barrel (6" or longer) and you want to have some .44 spl hollowpoints around for home defense; in my case the hand cannon in question is a S&W 629 PowerPort with 6 1/2" barrel; the brands that I have listed are the ones that I see at different shops in my area; I'm not really up to date on stuff by Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, or other up and coming companies, so feel free to vote other and list them; whatever you pick, please give a brief why you like with it; thanks

 

[kmrcstintn]

to start out the poll, I currently have the Hornady 180gr XTP; their 'relative' velocity rating of 1000 fps is achieved in a 7" test barrel...I feel that will give me between 950 fps to 975 fps out of my tube; while not 'magnum' performance, I get a fast bullet that is designed for adequate penetration & good expansion without the muzzle blast, recoil, and audible report associated with a traditional magnum hollowpoint load;

out of curiosity of what others use & why, I opted to post this poll

 

[Tom Servo]

I carry a S&W 696 loaded with Gold Dots. Velocity is around 870 f/ps. It penetrates 12-13 inches and expands to 0.6", which is plenty.

A bit more info here. The .44spl doesn't need supersonic bullets to achieve good penetration and expansion, and out of a steel framed revolver, the Gold Dots are pleasant to practice with.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I'd skip the .44 Specials and opt for the 200 grain Short Barrel Gold Dot in .44 Magnum.

 

[un_lucky]

cor-bon loads a 165grn jhp at 1050fps. Also the magnum version is only 1300fps, and in my 629 it seems to recoil like a 45 auto out of my 625.

 

[ewayte]

I've shot the Winchester Silvertips out of my 50th Anniv. Blackhawk and they felt like .38 wadcutters. Very accurate as well.

 

[anytym]

Just a thought........
Years ago I made up some home loads for my .44 Mag. after reading an article in a outdoor magazine entitled "Junkyard Dog Loads."
You used the .44 shot capsuls, in which you could place shot, BB's, and up to brazing rod which was loaded for winter time when the perp would likely have on a heavy coat.
In the article it explained how carefully these loads were assembled and tested.
The author, shot these handloads into a chicken he said he planned on having for dinner. Pictures showed 1 inch long gashes sliced into the fowl.
The big brazing rod would make anyone forget what he broke into your house for.
I tried them on plastic jugs at 10 ft.
and they are wicked. They will go through the coat, into flesh and if a miss occurs, will not penatrate the wall. I loaded 4 in the cylinder followed by 2, 240gr. HP's, with a medium charge of powder.
If you have to shoot in the dark, this auto work.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Magsafe or Glaser Silver Safety Slug...

If you want a top SD/protection load in .44spl check into the Magsafe or Glaser Silver brands. They would work great!

For the types listed, I'd pick a Speer Gold Dot in 200gr JHP.

Rusty

 

[cookekdjr]

I used 200gr gold dots in my Ruger Redhawk (boy I miss that gun). Very soft shooting...about like shooting .32 longs. Quite accurate, and its as good a personal defense load as you can find.
-David

 

[Virginian]

My primary are Glasers, but my back up are Gold Dots and Silvertips.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I cast up a 240g Keith and fuel it with 7g W231. Works great and a 240g keith at @ 900fps is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Moonclip]

I like the Federal load for this purpose, I've done it before. I feel at low .44spl velocities, the lead bullet will probably expand.

I'm surprised this load gets little attention, it's like a bigger .38spl "FBI load".

 

[LawofThirds]

I'm going to have to be a naysayer here and say that unless you're completely comfortable with all the "features" of glaser safety slugs, I wouldn't suggest using them.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/Brassfetcher_evaluates_9mm_Glaser_Safety_Slug.pdf

My money would be on either the Gold Dot 200gr or possibly the XTP 180. It's a shame they don't do a 300gr XTP in a 44 spl loading.

 

[grendelbane]

I favor the 200 grain Gold Dots. They work well both in my 6 1/2" model 29, and my 3" 696.

If I still had a Charter Arms Bull Dog laying around, I might feed it the 200 grain Silvertip. The Gold Dot is loaded to a higher velocity.

 

[Lashlarue]

My handloads in 44 sp using a speer180 gr JHP were close to factory power 44 mag when fired out of my 1894S, poi was less than 2" low at 100yds.

 

[thunder173]

Occasionally carry the Speer 200 gr Gold Dot in my 4 5/8 bbl SBH when out and about where it's only dogs and dumb-Zxz's that are the most likely recipient,....easier on the hand than a 148 gr WC out of my 3" S&W 36,..and accurate too. Tried them in my 16 inch Winchester Trapper,....a real powder puff.

 

[Rampant_Colt]

I voted for 200gr Gold Dots, but would feel well-armed with the Hornady 180gr XTPs or 200gr Federal lead hollowpoints.

Winchester loads their 200gr Silvertips way too weak for me. [probably a liability thing]

Don't forget to check out Corbon's 200gr DPX .44 Special

[oh how i wish Remington would make a 240gr Golden Saber .44 Special...!]

 

[Deanimator]

I've got both the 200gr. Gold Dots and the Federals for my 4" Model 29. I didn't have enough of the Federals to get a real feel, but the Gold Dots were VERY accurate.

 

[SMore]

I've used the Speer Gold Dots and Cor Bon DPX in 44 Special. I find the Cor Bon has higher velocity from my 3" guns (right at 1000fps). I would use the Cor Bon DPX or, as an earlier post suggested, use the Speer 200 grain GDHP Short Barrel 44 Mag. I find that load very controllable in a 3" 629.

 

[kmrcstintn]

nice mix of responses...

the majority of votes going towards Speer Gold Dots...seems the electrolytically bonded core/jacket bullets that prevent jacket/core separations are all the rave

if yer into 'speed is king' then Corbon is speeding along

 

[Dr.Rob]

Instead of buying .44 special ammo for my .44 magnum belt gun (that really likes 300 gr Privi Partizan SJSPs), I put cowboy ammo in it.

Soft lead roundnose flat point by Ultramax is a 240 gr bullet at 750fps. Out of a 7.5 inch barrel that's a little faster, and on par with a soft lead bullet from a 45ACP.

Also means I don't end up with oddball .44 special brass when reloading.

There might be better ammo choices, but when it was my only night stand gun, that's what I put in it. Soft lead deforms & makes big pancake shaped globs at muzzle loader velocity, should be the same from centerfire.

 

[Stainz]

Georgia Arms loads the 200gr Gold Dot, Speer #4427, in new Starline .44 Special brass now for $27/50 - cheaper than the Al-cased Blazers, yet equivalent chrono-wise. I get 800-805 fps from my 2.5" 296, 835-840 fps from my 3" 696, 874 fps from my 4" 629, and, years ago - before I sold it - 947 fps from my 20" Henry. To me, the plus side over the Blazers is that I get nice Starline brass, not to mention the Al cased Blazer that split it's side in my 696. It is my night table .44 defensive round.

Stainz

 

[FoMoGo]

I have nothing but good to say about the 200 gr gold dot... it is even manageable and accurate in a 2" taurus snubby.


Jim

 

[LeonCarr]

Shot an armadillo at about 10 yards with the Federal 200 grain SWCHP out of a 7.5 inch Ruger Redhawk. DRT, complete penetration from front to back.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[jjohnson]

Winchester Silvertips

I'd have voted to the .44 Special 200 gr Winchester Silvertips.

I bought a pile of them years ago. Remember back to the days when 44 Mag ammo was under $20? I mean FOR 50 of them.

I'm too tight to buy ammo for a buck a piece. The round is pretty good - I bought them to stuff in my Charter Arms Bulldog, long before I added a Taurus 441, a S&W 629 Classic, and a .44 mag Contender barrel. The round is fairly potent - and I have enough of them I can practice often enough to hit pretty well with it.

My current budget doesn't allow for me to buy enough of the specialized SD ammo to really practice with. Shooting a hundred Glasers or the like would cost me more than just my lunch money. I know, there are rounds that perform better, but I don't consider the Silvertip load to be underpowered for my use.