44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith Chroni Results

[mesinge2]

I recently bought a 3 inch barrel .44 Mag S&W 629-6 Deluxe Talo Edition and I've got to tell you that I have not had this much fun with a new gun purchase in a long time. At first I was worried about the recoil from the 3" but I've got to tell you I was worried over nothing. I have posted on this gun before (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=542718) but I keep trying new ammo in the gun and I thought I would post an update.

I am currently carrying 44 Mag Fiocchi Extrema loads with the 240 grain Hornady XTP bullets. But so far I have tried 44 Mag Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads, 44 Mag Hornady 240 grain XTP, CCI Blazer 44 SPL 200 grain Speer Gold Dot loads, and Winchester 44 SPL 200 grain Silvertip loads.

Here are the chrony results per 10 shot average:

44 Mag Corbon 300 grain - 910fps
44 Mag Hornady 240 grain - 1175fps
44 Mag Fiocchi 240 grain - 1122fps
44 SPL CCI Blazer 200 grain - 720fps
44 SPL Winchester 200 grain - 772fps

Here is a video of the 44 Mag Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads at 17 yards:

YouTube - 3 inch barrel .44 Mag S&W 629-6 Deluxe Talo Edition with Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads

Maybe it is just me but the recoil of this gun it not what many people warned me about, it seems far milder than I was expecting.

Also the first pic is a Winchester Slivertip and the last is a Corbon Penetrator:


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Click Images to Enlarge

I always carried a .45ACP 1911; however, I have been carrying this ever since I bought it. The way I figure it is that in this 44 mag, a 240 grain round at 1122fps is faster and heaver than my 45 ACP with a 230 grain round at a 900-1000 fps and only 0.023 of an inch smaller in diameter.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

You'll find a 240 grain lead bullet at 950-1000 is all you need, costs less, allows you to recover more quickly, and fills the gap between the .45 ACP and a fullhouse .44 Mag. I am quite satisfied with a 240-250gr lead .44 at 900fps in a .44 Special, which was Skeeter Skelton's favorite load. I have a 3" S&W M24.

 

[mesinge2]

Thanks, SharpsDressedMan

These are next on my list to test, but I have had trouble acquiring them:

44 SPL DoubleTap 240gr. Semi-Wadcutter Hardcast
44 SPL Buffalo Bore 255gr. Lead Keith-Type Semi-Wadcutter Gas Check
44 Mag DoubleTap 225gr. Barnes XPB HP
44 Mag Federal Premium Personal Defense 44 Mag 240gr. Hydra-Shok JHP
44 Mag DoubleTap 300gr. JHP

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Get yourself a used reloader. You can start our cheap, and loading .44's is pretty easy. You might even get a Lee Hand press. You'll need dies, a scale, cartridge tray, and funnel, but with stuff that will fit a large shoe box, you can load your own on the kitchen table....until you get hooked and buy a full reloading outfit! Anyone that regularly shoots .44 SP or Mag NEEDS to reload (so you can shoot MORE for the same money!)

 

[Stainz]

I am concerned about your chrono results with the 200gr CCI Blazer Gold Dots. I used them for years in my 2.5" 296, 3" 696, & 4" 629 - and chrono-ed them, the 200gr Gold Dots in new brass from GA Arms, and my reloads with the same Speer bullet over 5.7 gr Titegroup. They all made 800-805 fps from the 2.5", 835-840 fps from the 3", and 870+ from the 4" barrel. I quit buying the Al-cased Blazers some years back when one split it's case in my 696, despite 1,500+ through that 296 then over the years. That Speer #4427 200gr .44 Spcl Gold Dot bullet will double it's surface area at 800fps in gelatin - I have an idea that it won't be as effective at 720 fps, like the OP's. I wonder if CCI detuned the Blazers?

I went with the Georgia Arms round - similar cost to those Blazers - and you gained once-shot Starline brass afterwards.

Stainz

 

[mesinge2]

Stainz, I was surprised by the low velocity of the specials as well. I plan to try another box in my next range trip to see if this lot of ammo was loaded light accidentally.

 

[CSA 357]

love the 44 special and magnum, this got me thinking i down load my 44 magnum and up load my 44 special, i guess all in all there about the same i do load heavy loads for the magnum but dont use manny as i used too!

 

[Walkalong]

You tough guys can have your full load .44 mags in a 3" "snub". I'll stick with the .44 Spl.

 

[bluetopper]

8gr of Universal powder in a 44 Mag case behind a 240gr cast lead SWC is nothing but pure sweetness.

 

[Prosser]

Factory .44 Special ammo was why I went to .451 Detonics. If I could have got 240 grains, at 950 fps, which I did with handloads, and, not shot my bulldog loose, I'd still be using 44 special. Remington 44 special was sooo bad you could see the bullets go down range, and hit nothing, along with huge flash, and bad recoil, for such an anemic, inaccurate round. Oh, it also cost more 30 years ago then .475 Linebaugh ammo costs today.

For some reason the .44 Special seems to be the dumping ground for all the world's garbage powders, sold at super high prices. AS A GENERAL RULE, NEVER BUY .44 SPECIAL FACTORY AMMO. At the very least, that rule applies to anyone with a shortbarreled gun.

 

[CSA 357]

i have the first 3 boxs of the only 44 special ammo i bought, 246 rnl, yes factory 44 spec is weak as water, i guess because all the old black powder guns still out, but its a handloaders dream! might get out my two 624s and do some plinking today!

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

.44 Special factory ammo can be anemic, but then shortening the barrel of a .45 to 3.5 inches also reduces velocity/power a bit. The short barreled Smith 24/624 can easily be loaded up to exceed ballistics from a full size .45, so that puts those two guns about equal given size, weight, and power. I guess you can always find a smaller, lighter auto pistol, but some guys just like the comfort and simplicity of a fast 5-6 .44's.

 

[32 Magnum]

Mesinge2,
Thanks for the chrony info. I routinely carry a 2.5" or 3" CA 1st Gen. Bulldog 44 and either one is loaded with the CCI Blazer Gold Dots. I recently got two boxes (of 20 rds) of the Federal 240 gr LSWCHP - but haven't fired any as yet, so don't carry. Any ideas on this round? Good information.