.44mag vs. .44special

[butcherboy]

what can you hunt ( effectively) with (1).44mag and (2).44special with a revolver?

i understand you can shoot 44special out of a mag revolver but, not 44mags out a special? is this true?

 

[Chevyguy85]

.44 magnum can shoot .44 special
.357 magnum can shoot .38 special

the other way around is not true. the special cases are shorter so if the gun is made only for .44 special the .44 mag rounds will not fit in the .44 special cylinders. That is if i remember correctly i haven't messed with .44 special rounds very much but if memory serves me .44s work the same way as the .357/.38. I'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong.

As far as hunting I'd say you could shoot a deer with a .44 special and with a well placed shot drop it but I'm not a hunter so again I'll be corrected if i'm wrong. I know a few people that hunt hogs with .44mags/.44 specials.

 

[hirundo82]

.44mag is suitable to hunt pretty much anything in North America, although for brown bear I'd want someone backing me up with a good rifle.

I'd consider .44 special from a revolver marginal for deer and wouldn't attempt it except for at very short ranges. From longer barrels, like rifle-length, it can approach .44-40 velocities, which has been used to take many deer (again, primarily from rifles). It would probably appropriate to use to 100yds or so; I don't see why you would though because all rifles I'm aware of that shoot .44 special also can use .44 mag.

 

[Cosmoline]

The .44 Special can be loaded to .44 Magnum levels. That's how the .44 Magnum was born, after Elmer's experiments. But it can be dangerous and it's pretty pointless.

If you stick to the standard pressure .44 Special, is a marginal to fair hunting round depending on the game, bullet and range. It's an outstanding self defense round. Given how much harder it is to even *FIND* .44 special ammo, let alone a .44 special firearm, this isn't a big issue.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

It probably isn't true everywhere but it my area .44 special ammo is much more expensive than magnum ammo. At one time it was almost double the price of magnum ammo. I haven't even seen any for sale in a long time.