44 spl prices

[coondogger]

What's going on with 44 spl? I can't believe this round is $45 for a box of fifty.

 

[GRIZ22]

Caliber not used by many but really liked by those that do. Ammo companies don't make much compared to other calibers. All supply and demand.

 

[khari]

I couldn't believe it either after reading this, so I looked it up on ammoseek.com. It looks like there's a number of places where you can get it for around $25/box.

 

[243winxb]

Cheaper by the case?

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

For the price of 200-250 rounds you can get everything you need to reload 44's.
It costs as little as 15 cents a round to reload 44 special brass.

 

[PapaG]

Khari, are those prices for fifty or twenty. Performance loads at 20 or 25 per box are in that price range. Just curious.

 

[ATLDave]

If you want to shoot worthwhile volumes of anything other than 9mm, .40, .223, and maybe 45 and .38 special, reloading is just about essential.

For an ammo maker, it doesn't cost any less to buy the equipment used to make .44 special than it does to buy the stuff to make 9mm. It doesn't take any less time to change over production from 9mm to .44 spl than vice versa. For a retailer or wholesaler, keeping .44 special on hand doesn't take up less floor/shelf space than 9mm.

Both those parts of the supply chain are going to recoup those costs... but with .44 special, they have to do it over fewer boxes (and a longer space of time). So there will be more "overhead" tacked onto every round/box/case. Much more.

Throw in the fact that there are not going to be periodic dumps of huge quantities of mil-surp or LEO contract surplus to drive down the price, and you lose a big constraint on the ability of those makers and merchants willing to make the investment (and accept the risk) of making a relatively-niche round to raise prices to account for those challenges.

 

[Legionnaire]

2,000 200 grain wadcutters from Rim Rock for $192 (shipped free during March)
200 Starline cases for $50 (assume 10 reloads)
2,000 Winchester LP primers for $68
2 pounds of Hodgdon Titegroup for $50 (you'll use less than the full two pounds) [Edit: Just found a pound at Academy for $21, so my estimate was high ...]
Total cost: $360

$360 divided by 2,000 handloaded rounds = 18 cents per round. Even if I'm off by a few bucks on one of the components, 20 cents per round is a good estimate.

Yes, you need a press and dies. But for those of us who have them, the savings make .44 special quite reasonable.

 

[P5 Guy]

S&W introduced the 696 back in the mid 90s and I had to have one. The gun store threw in a box of 50 Remington 44SPL lead semi-wad cutters. When I went back to buy some more ammo my wallet jumped out and ran to the car.

So, started my venture into hand loading.

 

[Panzerschwein]

What's going on with 44 spl? I can't believe this round is $45 for a box of fifty.

Have you tried casting your own bullets and reloading? Not really much room to complain about if you don't reload.

 

[eastbank]

loading is the key, when i was in my cheap mode 50 years ago i bought a used double cavity .429 lyman mold with handles in ex condition for 20.00 and cast 240gr bullets with free wheel weights(not free any more) and shot them as cast with 6-8grs unique. a little leading, but a few strokes with a brass brush took care of it. the revolver was a large frame S&W that i wish i had now. fast for ward last year i bought a 4" ss S&W 624 in 44 special and i don,t think there,s a better 44 special made today. eastbank.

 

[CraigC]

The .44Spl has always been a handloader's cartridge. It's the only way to explore its potential and enjoy it economically.

 

[JeffG]

That is one caliber that I can say, I save money by handloading.

 

[Legionnaire]

Eastbank, what I've never understood about the 624 is the frame window sized for a magnum cylinder. Seems like chambering a long-action rifle for a short-action cartridge; it works, but what's the point? I do wish I had bought a 696 when they were more readily available and far less popular ...

 

[KeithET]

When I got my Ruger Flat Top in 44spl I purchased one box of 50rds for $45 just so I could shoot it right away. Then I ordered Brass from Starline and got a couple 44cal molds from Midway. Shot a bunch out of that Flat Top for way less then $45 a box. I knew from the start that with 44spl handloading was the way to go. More fun to!

KeithET

 

[CoalTrain49]

I had several of those 696's and sold them both. I wanted to consolidate my reloading stock and decided on 45 acp. I have a 625-8 now that replaced my 696's. I like the larger N frame anyway for the 4's. If I had gone to 44 I would have bought a 629 or 624. The way it worked out my 45 acp goes into my revolver and my 1911. 45 bullets and brass are less expensive. Almost everybody shoots a 1911......or should.

 

[eastbank]

legionnaire, i agree. it would have shaved a little more weight off of the 624, i guess you could load 300gr bullet seated out a little more. but just about 90 percent of the bullets i shoot thru it are old fashion cast 240+- GC,s. i have four S&W model 29,s if i need more power. eastbank.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got a couple of 44 Specials now, both S&W's. A 24-3, and a 396-1. I bought a couple of boxes of Magtech Cowboy loads for IIRC, about $30.00 a box, which I thought was pretty cheap considering the last factory 44 Specials were 38.00 and 52.00.

I agree with the others. Reload.

I don't bother with anything much more than "cowboy" type loads though. I just punch holes in paper so I'm quite happy with them.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If you don't handload, ya ain't right!

Same goes for casting bullets.

 

[khari]

Khari, are those prices for fifty or twenty. Performance loads at 20 or 25 per box are in that price range. Just curious.

Here's a link for 100 rounds of 240 grn from LAX for $52, that's $26 per box of 50. Their price drops as the amount increases, as you would expect.

https://www.laxammo.com/lax-factory...tion-factory-new-44-spl-240-gr-100-rds-detail

There's a bunch of 200 grn cowboy loads for less than $25.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Gotta know how to roll'em..

 

[PapaG]

Cool. Thanks. Since I have been loading my own for virtually everything but 22 since 1958, I'm at the mercy of what our suppliers provide for price info. I know we have boxes of 44. Special on the shelf at $46. Mine cost me about $3.00 using free wheel weights and quantity bought primers. Prices double for gas check loads and go up more using my Sierra back door store jacketed rounds.

 

[CraigC]

Eastbank, what I've never understood about the 624 is the frame window sized for a magnum cylinder. Seems like chambering a long-action rifle for a short-action cartridge; it works, but what's the point? I do wish I had bought a 696 when they were more readily available and far less popular ...

Do you know what a logistical nightmare it would be to produce several different versions of the same frame?

And technically, the N-frame was designed for the .44 S&W Special.

 

[Drail]

I was already reloading when I bought a S&W 696 in 1996 and I will never sell that gun. Since then the .44 Spl. has become my favorite caliber. It's like a .38 Spl. - but for men...... Cocked and Locked - really nice knife. I have one I bought in 1978 and it is still in daily use in the kitchen. Carbone steel rocks. Tomatoes tremble at the sight of it........ you can almost hear them scream.

 

[Legionnaire]

Do you know what a logistical nightmare it would be to produce several different versions of the same frame? ...

Good point. Thanks.

And gotta say, Cocked & Locked, you take some really fine photos!