Are 44 Revolvers Dying?

[Miami_JBT]

I would buy a 454 over a 43 mag because if bigger is required then go bigger. If I'm going to be labeled a fud mise well go all the way....

.454 Casull is a great cartridge and the extreme edge of what I'd consider the manageable magnums. But to have a gun chambered in the .454 Casull, you need a really big honking gun and that limits some options for buyers. The .44 Magnum is very manageable magnum and can be chambered in relatively reasonable sized guns that can be carried. Plus, .44 Magnum will pretty much handle everything on the North American continent without much fuss.

 

[Miami_JBT]

They did a Colt SAA in his name, all blue, chambered in .44 Special.

Forgot about that one. Ruger sticks in my brain because they did a number of Wiley Clapp revolvers. The Colts I always remember are the Wiley Clapp 1911s.

 

[CraigC]

Forgot about that one. Ruger sticks in my brain because they did a number of Wiley Clapp revolvers. The Colts I always remember are the Wiley Clapp 1911s.

I've had three of the Ruger .44 GP's but only kept the 5" Lipsey guns.

 

[KnightHawk]

I’m a 44 fan. With that said if I’m changing away from the 44’s it will be to the 45’s.
The 454 just isn’t my cup of tea. I wanted bigger, go bigger. 480 was my choice. 410, .475 diameter, more controllable very similar to the 44 mag in controllability. I looked at the 454 but the 480 with 410’s out penetrated the 454.
44 mag is my go to pistol, Smith 29-2, 4 inch, round butt. I do carry a SP101, 3 inch around the homestead stuffed with 158 sp’s because it fits in my back pocket. There’s only black bears around here and they have become much less frequent in the last couple decades.
The big monsters pistols, X Frame Smiths in particular, you might as well carry a 45-70 Marlin.
But I have discovered 45 calibers and liking them, but the mighty 44’s, magnums and Special’s are great guns.
I have a couple 9mm’s and a 45 bottom feeders, but, not for serious use in the country. I know that the younger crowd has been indoctrinated with black guns but after the funs over, hopefully some will come to their senses and get a wheel gun. My current fun gun is a Smith 625 45 auto rim. It’s currently my fun gun and will remain that way because it is the most accurate 6 gun I have ever used.
No Mike V is just full of it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Hell no. There have been more .44's on the market in the last 10-15yrs than at any other time in history. Mike Venturino has a limited scope in his shooting interests. He only likes the old stuff. He doesn't do heavy loads or hunt with pistols. Probably never even shot a .44Mag. Sorry Mike but nobody is buying 9mm instead of .44 because it's cheap. There's virtually no overlap there. They're buying semi-autos instead of revolvers. Chambering has nothing to do with it.

I second the Hell No!

.44 is just right. Not weak sauce like .357 & and arthritis like .50

 

[CraigC]

I second the Hell No!

.44 is just right. Not weak sauce like .357 & and arthritis like .50

Amen! It strikes a real nice balance of power and portability.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Well, as far as 454 Casull is concerned, I have a rifle chambered in that cartridge. When I decided I needed a companion revolver, that is, a companion for me and not the rifle, I chose a Redhawk 44 Magnum.

The loads I use in the 454 rifle will not chamber properly in any 454 revolver so why bother with one? Plus, I have shot a Super Redhawk Toklat, which is the only 454 revolver I would want, and it was brutal with full house loads. I’m not going to buy a 454 just to shoot 45 Colt like most folks do. I would just buy a 45 Colt for that but I don’t really like 45 Colt so I have the 44.

 

[doubleh]

Venturino is a writer and they get paid to write. What they write doesn't have to be accurate. If it did there would be tons of writers out work. Chill out and enjoy your 44 whatever despite what Mike wrote. I have only three so no authority on the subject and have about run out of shooters I know. I am the only one of the bunch that plays with a 44. Guns have become somewhat like women's fashions. They wain and gain in popularity. Everybody has to have it and then no one is interested.

 

[Styx]

There’s an article in the most recent Handloader magazine titled: Are 44 Revolvers Dying?

It goes thru the list of 44 caliber cartridges for wheelguns: 44-40 WCF, 44 Russian, 44 Spl, and 44 Magnum. After reviewing the guns chambered for these rounds, it asks:

The article concludes:

Is he right? Or is this far too pessimistic? Ruger did recently bring back the 44 Mag Marlin levergun.

S&W offers 16 flavors of 44 magnum, Ruger has several offerings, Colt brought back the Anaconda, Taurus has several offerings, and Charter Arms has 44 special offerings. Then don't forget the rifles that are chambered 44 calibers.....

For a caliber that's primarily 4 legged predator or hunting related, they seem to be well represented. There are collectively more 44 caliber offerings then there are 10mm offerings in both revolvers and semiautos from what I can see. Does that mean 10mm is dying too? How anyone could figure 44 cals are "dying" is beyond me. Then again, I get it. The author creates a controversial heading and article, readers stupidity take the bait each and every time (me included), and the publication or YouTube channel makes a profit.

 

[AJC1]

Well, as far as 454 Casull is concerned, I have a rifle chambered in that cartridge. When I decided I needed a companion revolver, that is, a companion for me and not the rifle, I chose a Redhawk 44 Magnum.

The loads I use in the 454 rifle will not chamber properly in any 454 revolver so why bother with one? Plus, I have shot a Super Redhawk Toklat, which is the only 454 revolver I would want, and it was brutal with full house loads. I’m not going to buy a 454 just to shoot 45 Colt like most folks do. I would just buy a 45 Colt for that but I don’t really like 45 Colt so I have the 44.

That's exactly how I feel about 460. That's like having a 444 pistol for 44mag. I appreciate versatility but the 38/357 45c/454 are the groups.

 

[WisBorn]

I think that the shift from revolvers to semiautomatic pistols is larger than any reduction in 44mag availability.

10 years ago the 44mag was the king for wilderness defense. Today the 10mm is taking over the title. The reason for this is because of capacity and the 10mm is easier to shoot quickly.

My S&W 69 is great. So is my Glock 20 and XDM. For hiking in the Yellowstone area it's the 10mms, if I get a chance to go fishing in Alaska it's the 44mag.
Why? biggest threat in Yellowstone is 2 legged. Alaska is 4 legged IMO....

 

[Styx]

I think that the shift from revolvers to semiautomatic pistols is larger than any reduction in 44mag availability.

10 years ago the 44mag was the king for wilderness defense. Today the 10mm is taking over the title. The reason for this is because of capacity and the 10mm is easier to shoot quickly.

My S&W 69 is great. So is my Glock 20 and XDM. For hiking in the Yellowstone area it's the 10mms, if I get a chance to go fishing in Alaska it's the 44mag.
Why? biggest threat in Yellowstone is 2 legged. Alaska is 4 legged IMO....

More 44 caliber pistols and rifles are available, sold, and owned today than in any other time in history. How do you figure the available has suffered? Then there are not a lot of reliable 10mm semiautos on the market vs. 44 caliber revolvers. There are as many 10mm revolvers as well compared to 44 caliber revolvers.

Glock and Springfield are basically the only semiauto pistols that I know of that are reliable and don't have a lot of reports of random issues. Most of the gun owners who recently jumped on the 10mm bandwagon are shooting 40s&w disguised as 10mm. They aren't generally shooting full powered loads or are hunting/hiking with them. They simply are followers who are following a trend, or they got 10mm aka 40s&w to EDC because they feel more manly and think it's a magic one-shot stopper bullet.

The demographic who typically buys 44 caliber revolvers either carry 44 special for range and EDC usage or full power 44 mag for 4 legged creatures. They are typically reloads or serious shooters.

 

[WisBorn]

More 44 caliber pistols and rifles are available, sold, and owned today than in any other time in history. How do you figure the available has suffered? Then there are not a lot of reliable 10mm semiautos on the market vs 44 caliber revolvers. There are as many 10mm revolvers as well compared to 44 caliber revolvers.

My comment is more about the popularity of the cartridge. I should have been more clear in my comment.

 

[Old Dog]

It means Venturino is trying to be controversial.

No offense toward Mike, but he is just recycling old ideas for his columns these days. Like John Taffin, he's styled himself as an old-timey revolver guy, and frankly, there's really nothing new under the sun in this arena these days to write about anymore.

Way back in the '90s we were seeing declarations that revolvers, even the vaunted .357 Magnum (and especially, the .38 SPL) were "dead" because of the perceived advantages of the "wondernines" --and a lot of that even came before Glock exploded on the scene.

Seems for a lot of us, the old revolvers are still the best, or at least, mostly our favorites. What new and earthshaking revelations can be written about the Model 27 or 29? (At least Colt gave us all something new to think about and maybe buy since 2017.)

The gun magazines (the print periodicals, anyway) have steadily been losing readership and advertising revenue over the past couple decades (who knows how they're staying afloat?) and aside from reviewing (and picturing) the latest new guns and gear (and these days, it seems like more new gear than new guns), they're over 50 percent of their pages devoted to advertising.

The writers for the gun rags, just like the podcast and YouTube "content creators," do seem to be aiming for controversy, or at least something to provoke letters to the editor, more clicks or dissenting opinions in comment threads, emails or re-tweets...

Everyone's gotta try to stay relevant these days, it seems.

 

[Old_Grouch]

I think popularity is waning for the .44, particularly the .44 Remington Magnum.
People who want a powerful, but pleasant to shoot, more easily controlled big-bore are finding the .45 Colt superior.
For those who need, or just want, absolute power there are several calibers to top the .44. .454 Casull, .460 S&W, .500 S&W, etc.; none of which existed in 1955.
The .44 magnum appealed at its inception to essentially two categories of people: Those who wanted it because it was, after all, "the most powerful handgun in the world and will blow your head clean off" [raising my hand; "guilty your honor] and those who hunt with a handgun or need it for protection against dangerous animals. When I was stationed in Alaska in the mid 70s very few people could scrape up enough money to buy one even if one could be found for sale.
Today it's in no man's land. It offers nothing over the .357 for defense against two legged vermin and for wow factor and pure power there are better choices.

 

[Rodfac]

Seems for a lot of us, the old revolvers are still the best, or at least, mostly our favorites. What new and earthshaking revelations can be written about the Model 27 or 29? (At least Colt gave us all something new to think about and maybe buy since 2017.)
The gun magazines (the print periodicals, anyway) have steadily been losing readership and advertising revenue over the past couple decades (who knows how they're staying afloat?) and aside from reviewing (and picturing) the latest new guns and gear (and these days, it seems like more new gear than new guns), they're over 50 percent of their pages devoted to advertising.
The writers for the gun rags, just like the podcast and YouTube "content creators," do seem to be aiming for controversy, or at least something to provoke letters to the editor, more clicks or dissenting opinions in comment threads, emails or re-tweets..

Yep...Can't remember the last Gun magazine I've bought. What's new pops up here on THR or another quality forum, hence, no need for a subscription. But back in the day, with writers like Whelen & Crossman, Skelton, Jordan, Askins, Trueblood & O'Connor, Carmichael, & Keith there was plenty to look forward to each month. Hell, even the adds on the last page of the pre-'68 "Rifleman" were interesting....not to mention Herter's catalog...You younger guys don't know what you missed.

Best regards, Rod

 

[Styx]

I think popularity is waning for the .44, particularly the .44 Remington Magnum.
People who want a powerful, but pleasant to shoot, more easily controlled big-bore are finding the .45 Colt superior.
For those who need, or just want, absolute power there are several calibers to top the .44. .454 Casull, .460 S&W, .500 S&W, etc.; none of which existed in 1955.

I don't know. Seems like I know of a lot of people who own and are buying 44 mag revolvers, and not too many who are buying the much more expensive, bigger, heavier revolvers in .44. .454 Casull, .460 S&W, .500 S&W, etc. that cost more over $1 feed.

 

[gwpercle]

Nope ... the 44 has been around far too long to walk off the stage now .
Too many good 44's to just all shrivel up and blow away .

Mike V. just didn't have anything interesting to write about .... Controversy is always something to toss out when you got nothing . I guess he was tired of the the 9mm vs 45 acp subject matter and went with the 44 is Dead thing ... the 44 Special / 44 Magnum and most other 44 cartridges are still alive and well !
Gary

 

[bigpower491]

I've had three of the Ruger .44 GP's but only kept the 5" Lipsey guns.

View attachment 1208712

View attachment 1208713

And the 5", half lug, model 1770 is next on my list

 

[Rodfac]

I think popularity is waning for the .44, particularly the .44 Remington Magnum.
People who want a powerful, but pleasant to shoot, more easily controlled big-bore are finding the .45 Colt superior.
For those who need, or just want, absolute power there are several calibers to top the .44. .454 Casull, .460 S&W, .500 S&W, etc.; none of which existed in 1955.

Heck, I don't know...about the .44 Magnum's popularity...but it does have a sizeable presence in my safe, for needs more imagined nowadays, than actual for a 78 YO; but a cpl decades ago, one was a comforting presence, slung, cross-chest in a tanker rig, while packing out quarters in the high country.

Now, I'll opine, some of the .44 Mag's "waning popularity", vis-a-vis the vaunted 10mm maybe misplaced.. First I really question anyone's ability to get more than one or at most two rounds off on a charging animal. And second, I fear the 10's real world ballistics/bullet choices don't measure up with a full house .44 Mag. We all have our sacred cows, me too, but accepting the 10mm's abilities is not one of them....flame on, Brothers.

As to the .44 Magnum, fully loaded, in a handgun, is a handful that few, very few, can manage with the accuracy required in a bear defense beyond one shot. The top calibers mentioned above, .454, .460, and 500, do too, but with even greater recoil and with gun weights that are beyond the pale. The guys that love 'em and shoot them regularly & accurately enough at full strength to be effective, IMOP, can be counted on one hand....and that hand is sure to be arthritic before they're out of their 40's.

Best regards, and of course YMMv, but thank God we've all got our favorites, as the ammo shelves would be empty otherwise. Rod

 

[.45Coltguy]

I agreed with a couple posters here about the .44 mag starting to wane a bit. Let me clear that up a bit. A number of friends have, load and shoot the .44 mag. I've never owned one, but, have shot theirs. For me, it was/is more than I need for target or plinking. Then, I became interested in the .45 Colt. Bought a Henry, then a Pietta. Especially for me, it was an eye opening event. Powerful, but, no where near the recoil and blast of a .44 mag. Viola!, A very good happy medium for my desert plinking. Nothing wrong with the big .44's and I certainly don't believe they're disappearing any time soon. Least I hope not.

 

[silicosys4]

The .44 will always be more popular (imo) than the .454, .460, .500, etc...
Its big enough to impress but not so big that its unpleasant to shoot.
The 454 and bigger cartridges are unpleasant to shoot for most people. 95% of the people that own one of the heavy big bores do so for bragging rights, not for any practicality. The .44 is the best balance of power, size, and recoil. It will do anything necessary in the lower 48, and it will do it without beating up the owner.
I'll bet if you compare the round count of the average used .44 with the average used 454+ big bore you'll find a big difference.

 

[Miami_JBT]

No offense toward Mike, but he is just recycling old ideas for his columns these days. Like John Taffin, he's styled himself as an old-timey revolver guy, and frankly, there's really nothing new under the sun in this arena these days to write about anymore.

Way back in the '90s we were seeing declarations that revolvers, even the vaunted .357 Magnum (and especially, the .38 SPL) were "dead" because of the perceived advantages of the "wondernines" --and a lot of that even came before Glock exploded on the scene.

Seems for a lot of us, the old revolvers are still the best, or at least, mostly our favorites. What new and earthshaking revelations can be written about the Model 27 or 29? (At least Colt gave us all something new to think about and maybe buy since 2017.)

The gun magazines (the print periodicals, anyway) have steadily been losing readership and advertising revenue over the past couple decades (who knows how they're staying afloat?) and aside from reviewing (and picturing) the latest new guns and gear (and these days, it seems like more new gear than new guns), they're over 50 percent of their pages devoted to advertising.

The writers for the gun rags, just like the podcast and YouTube "content creators," do seem to be aiming for controversy, or at least something to provoke letters to the editor, more clicks or dissenting opinions in comment threads, emails or re-tweets...

Everyone's gotta try to stay relevant these days, it seems.

Piece I wrote about the wheel gun a few years back.

Is The Revolver Dead? Is That a Trick Question? - The Truth About Guns

&#9664Previous Post Next Post▶ That was the question asked back in 1989. The Era of the Wondernine was upon us. Higher capacity 9mm semi-autos that held 15 or 17 rounds was becoming the new standard. Technological wonders from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, GLOCK, SIG SAUER, HK, Beretta, and others...

www.thetruthaboutguns.com

 

[.45Coltguy]

Piece I wrote about the wheel gun a few years back.

Is The Revolver Dead? Is That a Trick Question? - The Truth About Guns

&#9664Previous Post Next Post▶ That was the question asked back in 1989. The Era of the Wondernine was upon us. Higher capacity 9mm semi-autos that held 15 or 17 rounds was becoming the new standard. Technological wonders from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, GLOCK, SIG SAUER, HK, Beretta, and others...

www.thetruthaboutguns.com

Excellent write-up and thank you for posting.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I think popularity is waning for the .44, particularly the .44 Remington Magnum.
People who want a powerful, but pleasant to shoot, more easily controlled big-bore are finding the .45 Colt superior.
For those who need, or just want, absolute power there are several calibers to top the .44. .454 Casull, .460 S&W, .500 S&W, etc.; none of which existed in 1955.
The .44 magnum appealed at its inception to essentially two categories of people: Those who wanted it because it was, after all, "the most powerful handgun in the world and will blow your head clean off" [raising my hand; "guilty your honor] and those who hunt with a handgun or need it for protection against dangerous animals. When I was stationed in Alaska in the mid 70s very few people could scrape up enough money to buy one even if one could be found for sale.
Today it's in no man's land. It offers nothing over the .357 for defense against two legged vermin and for wow factor and pure power there are better choices.

Prior to the release of Dirty Harry, the .44 Magnum was dead. S&W literally stopped making 'em when Dirty Harry was being made and S&W had enough inventory on hand since they weren't fast movers. The guns they made were just sitting on their shelves, slowly being doled out to a few orders here and there.

The moment Dirty Harry hit the silver screen, it was a hit and orders for the .44 Magnum jumped through the roof. Then, for a few years afterwards, you'd find a used .44 Magnum with a 3/4 full box of ammo for sale. Why? Because the novice shooter purchased it, usually someone who never owned a gun a day in their lives, and they discovered the recoil was stout.

Well, that didn't matter..44 Magnums were still gaining popularity. Ruger started to make one as did Colt, Taurus, and Astra Then, the 1990s and early 2000s happened and revolvers plummeted in popularity.

But the mighty .44 Magnum kept right on trucking. They never lost popularity.

And the 2010s happened and you had increased popularity. To where now, the .44 Magnum is king of the magnums.

For the North American continent, the .44 Magnum can handle everything.

Sure, is 10mm gaining ground due to a resurgence in popularity? Yup. And 10mm is here to stay. But it can't do what .44 Magnum does.

And .45 Colt can't do what .44 Magnum does since the majority of the guns chambered for it aren't older large framed Rugers. The heavy duty Ruger only loads were meant for the large frame Vaqueros and Blackhawks. Not a S&W Model 25 and a Uberti or Colt 1873. Heck, even the current production Vaqueros and Blackhawks can't take those stout Ruger only loads.

And I'm a .45 Colt fan. But I know that .44 Magnum is the better of the two cartridges.